"Raghavendra Pratap Singh" the name echoed in his heart. It's been ages since he set foot on his house and for the past five years he kept on contemplating on how to face his future when it ooze out from his grip. He felt that the world paused for a while to let him ponder on his fate and decide on how to make the path clear.
It was on a bright Monday he last saw of his family, since then the world has been void for him. He walked further reaching an unbelievable position in life, grabbing in all possible way of success and life kissing him with elegant pride and confidence.
He thought of the day which lead him break his idea of living and move further and his mind paused again as the name echoed once again realizing his life's most important day was also the cruelest. Raghavendra Pratap Singh, that's him and he rarely, hears of him addressed like that. A day before when silence enveloped his room he took in a book and browsed through its blurb when with a jerk he turned back to face an elderly lady calling him "Raghavendra"
"I know I m Raghavendra, yes it's me for whom the parcel addressed Raghavendra Pratap Singh came" he thought and looked at the elderly lady. Her way of speaking, walking and standing reminded him of his mother and the day of his life where he senselessly walked out of his house. He thanked the lady and looked at the parcel. It was from his sister and in lightening speed he decided to meet them and packed his bag and made his journey back home.
Flashes of that bright Monday came to him, he tried shrugging them off and let the fresh breeze in but all seemed in vain as he allowed the flashes to flow through him reminding him of each helpless second which passed by.
That day bright and beautiful welcomed him to rise up from bed fresh and happy. He was in a spirit of playfulness; he looked around and saw his sister deeply engrossed in reading. He walked around her peeping into the book and trying to catch up some with its letters. His prying in started irritating Tashu and she was about to move out from room, he snatched her book and ran out. She came running behind him when he saw his beloved nephew all set for school coming out dressed in school uniform.
"Krish come here" he said and little cute boy ran towards him. He held him on his lap and whispered something inaudible looking at Tashu. Nodding the tiny head Krish went and pulled Tashu upstairs.
Feeling bit happy he flipped through the pages of the book when an uneasy feeling irked in. he rubbed his eyes and was reading through the pages of the book and eerie bad omen feel rushed through him. He closed his eyes and thought of walking. After a stroll in the garden he walked through the kitchen thinking about Krish. How he and Krish used to hide from his bhabhi and eat ice cream from fridge. He thought of those endless punch and boxing they had and a smile passed his lips. He always used to take Krish to school and Krish felt pride in getting out from his chachu's bike. All thoughts of Krish made him happy and smile and he got lost in the innocent world of his beloved nephew.
A shierk from upstairs and his world was turned upside down.
He ran through the stairs and it seemed there were endless stairs to climb and each time he step he gasped in for breath, for him his world was at stake. On reaching he saw himself turning numb as Tashu held in her hand a pale Krish. He looked at her and then at Krish. Questions popped up but his sense was lost and knew nothing to ask or learn of what happened. He stood there witnessing a terrible fall of world and kept on standing there for hours. He didn't want to learn why Krish went pale and what made Krish leave him forever. He gulped in the reality and moved out from knowing and understanding the situation. He closed his eyes and left the place and since then he never bothered to look back at those footsteps of his which led him here.
And today after a long gap of five years he is making his way back, hoping to know of that day as he has gained strength to bear anything over these years.
As he neared he heart beating pause and fastens, he collected himself from the shattered bits and composed to face his family. He was anticipating on how they will react on seeing him. Will they accept him or blame him for running away. Will they understand him or should he understand them. He moved each step of his cautiously and knocked in the door expecting no one to hear and excusing him and move out. To his surprise the knock was heard and door opened, he faced his bhabhi draped in simple sari welcoming him with a smile. He looked skeptical but went in to see his whole family standing there smiling happily on receiving him. Confused he looked at everyone and his eyes fell on the photograph over the wall where his beloved nephew was smiling effortlessly. He remembered clicking the picture as Krish gobbled up two ice creams he took in the camera to click without letting Krish know, but catching up what his chachu was up to Krish smiled with ice creams leaking out from mouth, a mixed hue of pinkish strawberry and white vanilla.
Raghav's eveys welled up as he thought of that day and a smile passed his lips. He turned his head and saw Tashu, she came hugged him and wept. A minute passed by and she looked at him and opened her mouth to speak.
"Curse me Bhaiyya, I did the wrong, punish me"
He looked into her deep eyes and wiped her tears and hugged back.
"You don't want to know what happened."
"Tashu, I lost my world, and so did everyone. It's hurting thinking of all sad happenings in life, you did nothing wrong, let all remain as it is" he said and looked at her, she opened her mouth to speak again but he cut in saying "you can't harm any, so why blame, I wish not to relive the day so does you then why break in with it"
She looked at him and saw the pain and relief in his eyes
Anupamaa
