Chapter 3

[MEMBERSONLY]

Back with the update.Sorry for keeping you waiting.

But foremost, I'd like to do the honors of thanking all those who commented on my prologue.

Siaa: My very first commenter. Than you for that amazing appreciation of my plot.

Shagun: You are always a great encourager, dear!

Shweta: Your comment as always struck me deep and made me understand myself more. You always stand by me...

Leafs: Here's to your comment: The first person who actually said she was a fan of my style of writing *chuckle* *blush*

Dingle: The era and country are all fantastically constructed and you'll get an idea of it from the Preface on the first page. There may be some loops in it but I'm trying to give you a mental picture of the world we are about to see here in this story. Thanks for liking my beginning.

207shika: Loved the positivity you emanate when you try and boost my spirits! Thanks dear!

Molten_lava: Glad to see you're trying to love my story. I'm with you, dear...all the way.

Areeba: thanks for giving me a share for yourself in every visit you make in every posts!

Darshi: your comments are always heart-touching and connect with my insight. Thanks dear!

Guturgutur: Another of my regular followers. I was so happy to see that you actually fell in love with my story. Real heart felt!

Lovely: In spite of your ill health, you never stop making me smile. Your happy comments are always encouraging!

Vidya: Glad to know you liked it, dear. Thanks for sticking with me in all my posts...

ASRsweetKKG, Raadhni, rina25, Ms_Perfect, serialmaniac, 007008, march2011, barun2297 and spancer: Your comments are all valuable to me. I would prefer it more if you could open your heart out and tell me what you really think of it. Listening to your thoughts will help me see the story through your eyes better.

Okay, in the first two chapters, I'm just introducing the characters and setting the mood of the mood for that which is about to happen. Maybe it might sound awkward but I intend to build the characters as the story proceeds (for instance where one is weak now, they will be shown strong as the end of the plot nears). Do comment from your heart, I would love to know what you liked in the chapter, and what you would have preferred... Oh and look out for the symbolisms in the chapter: there are a few hidden in some lines and images.

CHAPTER ONE: The Love They Shared

Present year...

He stared at the reflection of his head in the mirror, running the comb through the grey. He sighed: ten years had passed and he almost looked over 50. The sound of excited laughter reached his ears and he paused his examination to glance at the sight out the window. A smile of affection spread out on his features and people would have rightly calculated him to be around 40 now. The sound and vision of his two daughters always made him feel and look younger. And as he watched them play and run on the fields, he was overcome by a sense of pride that his eyes moistened and he had to look away from the happy sight. As though wanting to hide his tears even though his children couldn't see them.

Just then a thump resounded followed by a girlish yelp, and before he knew it, he was running out of the door and into the fields. His feet stopped only when he reached his daughters, where one crouched over the other who was sitting on the ground and holding her ankle with both her hands. (It was a beautiful sight actually. The two girls, innocent and pretty, surrounded by the tall yellow grass, one concerned for the other. I would pause to appreciate the scene but not their father). Apprehension pulled at his heart and no sooner had he reached them that he fell on his knees and his hands replaced the ones that were holding the ankle.

"What happened?" he asked quickly, examining the ankle, "Did you fall?"

"I tripped," said the hurt one, her eyes moist with tears but none falling down, "I wasn't looking where I was going."

"It's all my fault," said the other one, kneeling beside her sister, and this one had tears streaming down her cheeks, "If only I hadn't asked you to chase me a third time, you wouldn't-"

Slap! The hurt one had hit the back of her sister's hand, admonishing her sternly, "Don't you ever tell that again. You always think everything bad in the world is your fault. When will you learn otherwise?"

"But it is true-" she began again, only to be stopped by her father's warm hand on her shoulder.

"Accidents happen not because we intend to them," he said, gazing at her, "But because they are meant to serve a purpose."

She gazed at him, her face paled with memories, "Like how my parents perished was meant to happen."

He smiled only a little but his eyes twinkled with joy, "Yes, or I wouldn't have got you as my daughter."

"And I wouldn't have got a silly sister to care so much for me," added Payal ( the hurt one) holding her ankle again but she had a wide grin on her face as she looked at Kushi.

Kushi was still not satisfied, "But how can this," she waved her hand at Payal's ankle, "be meant for a purpose?"

Her father stood up as he said, "Only time will show."

And then both father and sister helped Payal to the herbals, bed and mother that were bound to cure her sprain. Of course, the third one on the list made on the list made an uproar when she found her daughter in that condition but she was soon calmed down and spend the rest of the hour composing its cure.

After dinner when all had retired to their beds, Kushi peeped into the living room where Payal had insisted on sleeping. Their parents were probably asleep and Kushi didn't need to focus on her tip-toeing right up to the bedding before the fireplace. She had expected her sister to be slumbering already, but she was surprised to find her lying there, watching the flickering fire, her eyes moist and her leg propped up on a thick cushion.

"Jiji?" Kushi whispered, and Payal yelped with a start.

"It's me," Kushi said hastily and rushed to Payal's side.

Payal held her hand on her chest and frowned at her sister, "You scared me, you pipsqueak!"

"I thought you'd be sleeping," explained Kushi.

"I couldn't," said Payal, "I wanted to sleep with you. Like we always do."

"Then you could have," said Kushi.

"No," Payal said, sighing as she watched her sister squat on the bedding next to her, "Amma said I had to sleep alone and undisturbed for the night."

"You can," said Kushi, "On the bed. And I would have slept on the floor."

Payal frowned at her again, "That's exactly why I insisted on a separate room. You always want to act servant and sleep on the floor and I hate that!"

Kushi began, "But-"

"And today!" Payal was not finished yet, "Why in the world do you, when in pain or regret, always refer to your parents? Amma and Babuji are your parents now. Don't go back to the past over and over again. It hurts me to hear it from you. "

"I'm sorry," said Kushi laying her hand on her sister's hand, "I just...whenever I...every time I feel I'm wrong or the reason for someone's hurt, I wish I had sunk with them."

Payal slapped her hand, harder this time that Kushi flinched, "There she goes again! I'm not talking to you anymore, if this is all you think of!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, please don't stop talking to me," said Kushi, pleasing, "I won't speak of it anymore, if it hurts you that much. I promise."

Payal stared at her for sometime, and then broke into smile. Kushi's returning smile was a reflection of her relief. "Well...I'll see how far you can take that promise of yours to. Now go to sleep."

"I'm sleeping right here," said Kushi, laying down on the couch and Payal made room for her, "I'll leave for our room before Mother wakes up in the morning."

And so the two sisters lay next to each other and let sleep envelop them in their embrace, not knowing that they were being watched by a certain someone by the window. The shadow moved from where it stood and walked through the fields that looked grey in the moonlight where it had been golden under the sun.

She stopped in the middle of the patch where the father and daughters had been crouched on the ground a few hours back. A smile spread on her face that was still concealed beneath the hood. She turned and gave one last look at the house, where she knew the two sisters were fast asleep, and drifting in their young dreams, "Now things are going to happen." And then she vanished. Aquiline2012-12-19 11:31:53