Chapter 2:The Enemy Within
''gunjan why did you stop me??'' Gunjan tightened her hold around nupur protectively watching her whimper and cry in her arms. She felt so helpless at times, not being able to do anything except give her comfort her watch her slide her pain away.
''di are you insane, what were you going to do'' gunjan yelled authoratively and protectively also, caressing nupurs hair slightly over and over.
''I don't want to live gunjan, Please why did you stop me?? Why do you care?? Why can't you hate me like the rest why?'' her questions were getting to gungan but for some reason, she chose to stay queit and not say one word.
Gunjan cupped her cheeks and starred onto her face, she was so beautiful, her skin wasn't the fair kind but it didn't matter her dusky color gave her an edge and those big brown eyes that one could literally drown into were engulfed in tears, her long auburn colored tresses were tied into a small around her shoulder,'she was a piece of artwork, '' di, I love you okay! Do you understand me I don't care what this world says, you are my sister'' gunjan whispered softly to her.
Nupur pulled herself away looking to the other side and not meet her love filled gaze, it was these times she felt so guilty about her thoughts, her actions realizing how much pain they brought to the one person in the world who cared about her.
''di, you can't do this to me, I can't be there at all moments with you but you can't give up not after all you have overcome in life'''gunjan tried to persuade nupur, whose tears knew no bound spilling gushes and gushes of that salted water from her eyes, she collapsed on the floor.
'' I'm some child whose parents didn't care enough to want her and left her alone at some strangers footsteps, and then those footsteps became her tomorrow, but even those were taken from her and now she is rotting away in some corner dealing with her cursed life'why does god always have to put the good ones to test? I never thought bad of anyone than why did he take away the two people who gave me hope that my existence counted for something!! Why couldn't he let me be happy'why did I have to be cursed ///why gunjan.''
Gunjan rushed over to her side and hugged her tightly letting her weep silently wetting her suit but it didn't matter, maybe this overflow would help her move on and realize that she did have something to be worth living for, '' di, don't do this to yourself, Please just stop!''
Nupur placed her arms around gunjan and held her tightly afraid that god might even take her away one day, leaving her all alone, '' don't ever leave me Gunjan, i won't be able to take it''
She couldn't take in anymore the quietness in her life, the shrewdness of the people whom she had become a burden on'or how she was worthless. Even though she was living, it would amount to her being non - existent.
''di stop it, i won't ever leave ever, I promise ...now stop crying pleaseee'' parting herself away from nupur, gunjan held on to nupurs face and wiped away the tears softly giving her a smile.
''is everything okay?'' hearing the knock on the door both looked up shocked and than gunjan slowly realized who it was on the other side, She gave nupur her scarf back and helped her up.
''just wait i'll be right back'' nupur nodded watching her leave her side of the room.
Gunjan slid the door partially and walked to the other side to greet mayank with a smile, she noticed the hint of fear in his eyes and his impatience, '' is she okay?'' he asked hesitantly, afraid gunjan might not like the fact he knew what had happened just moments ago.
''Yea she is fine!'' Gunjan spoke swiftly and moved across the room settling on her bed.
''Gunjan --'' mayank spoke after a long silence but gunjan stopped him, '' don't, its not my place to say anything''
Mayank took her answer and shook his head in approval, '' lets go downstairs'' gunjan suggested feeling akward in the room alone with him. Before they could leave, both noticed the voilin had begun playing again. there was so much ease in the notes that it brought peace to all, as soon as the music hit their ears.
mayank smiled '' she plays it really nicely'' he said to gunjan who smirked, '' so i have been told''
walking down the stairs gunjan looked at mayank and stopped,'' listen do you want to come to her recital this weekend with me. I have two tickets'' seeing mayanks confused gazed she smiled wickedly, '' you should be happy a girl is asking you out because i think that rarely happens to you''
mayank saw her laugh, and he was defintely caught off guard, with everything running through his mind he couldn't get that image of the girl trying to end her life, he still felt afraid for her, for himself. Why? he had no idea but he was scared.'
''we'll just go as friends'' gunjan whispered once they reached the end of the stairs, suprisingly all the adults had gathered there and were conversing, while he still kept his gaze fixed on gunjan, how could she be so normal after what had happened? he wondered.
''the offer expires tommorrow, call me if you want to come okay?'' gunjan said and than turned around to face the elders.
''we were just about to call you both down'' savitri spoke holding gunjan in her arms, '' shilpa i think your son has done some magic on my daughter she is never this queit'' Gunjan looked at her mother akwardly and excused herself once bidding them goodnight.
Mayank also took a leave with his parents, still thinking about that same girl in that room. He wondered what was wrong with her, something had to off. But gunjan spoke of her as if everything was normal, than why did he get the feeling that she wasn't like the rest.
''are you okay beta'' shilpa asked sliding her arm into mayanks
''yes, mom i'm fine'' he assured her and than opened the car door for her, while he went around to the other side, just as he was about to sit in he heard the voilin being played, he had never heard a more beautiful sound in his life, whispering like the wind and warm like a blanket and then he saw her near the window with that voilin in her hands and her eyes closed softly swaying to the sound of the music that she played. And that made him relaxed he didn't know why? but just seeing her there smiling amongst the dark it didn't make him restless anymore. he felt at peace.
sitting in the car, he drove away with a big smile on his face that had his parents confused and restless to know what or whom had made their son so happy that he was smiling like a fool.
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''mom, not again i don't want to hear it'' gunjan yelled out to her mother who was up to her no good tanturms again,
''ofcourse ofcourse, its your mother who is bad! the same woman who gave you birth and than raised right?'' savitri asked trying to emotionally blackmail gunjan who knew her mother too well to fall for her tricks.
''don't mom, you know i love you, but i love di more and the reason you! if you had given her half as much as the love you give me. we would not be standing her today'' gunjan advised her mother who refused to believe any good of that girl rotting away in their attic.
'''don't speak of that girl gunjan, you know how much i despise her'''savitri snapped back hearing her own daughter, her blood go against her.
''mom, i love her and i don't care okay! she might be some orphan for you but for me she is my elder sister and will always be '' pausing she went up to her mother, 'and you know why because i have come to realize that blood isn't the only way you get bonded to someone, there other ways also..like the heart and in my heart that same girl you despise is my elder sister so i will not have you bad mouthing her right infront of me. do you understand me mom''
before gunjan could realize what was happening,she heard a loud sound and a sound she knew too well, '' dii'' bewildered gunjan pushed nupur out of her way and held her , '' are you okay? ''
Nupur pushed away gunjan and turned to face savitri with her eyes downcasted on the floor fiddling with the hem of her scarf, '' badi ma ''
''don't call me that! i'm not related to you any way what so ever'' savitri lashed out angrily
''i'm sorry for everything gunjan said, she is child and unknown to the way things are. don't take her childish behaviour to heart'' savitri raised her hand to stop nupur.
''i don't need lecture from you about my own daughter and yes you are right she is a child while you are mature. show her the right way don't set her on a blind route, what will happen tommorrow no one can be sure of it'' nupur nodded in agreement watching savitri walk away in a huff.
''di, i'm not a child and i know what ever i said to mom was true, you mean the world to me''gunjan said walking forward and hugging nupur slowly, while nupur looked at her helplessly.
''but tommorrow is not promised gunjan ...especially for a girl like me'' nupur whispered to herself but gunjan had heard her words and clung to her more tightly.
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'' you look nice'' gunjan remarked opening the door, Mayank puffed his collar and smirked looking at her, she was dressed in a plain white sun dress with her hair left open and that beautiful smile of hers was adorning her face beautifully.
''you look --'' pausing he looked at her with a hint of naughtness, '' fine'' gunjan grinned and walked out with him once she informed her parents.
Gunjan stopped after not finding mayank by her side, '' what?'' she asked looking at him.
''isn't she coming?'' gunjan smiled but wiped it right off seeing him glare.
''your interest in my sisters seems to growing day by day'' mayank smiled slightly and walked up to her, '' and no she was picked up already by her mates''
Mayank opened the door for gunjan and than joined her in the front, '' i have never been to a recital before'' he spoke in a apprehensive tone suprising gunjan but what she didn't realize was his nervousness was not of the recital rather the person who was going to be there. today he would fine meet her, the same girl who had given him restless nights ever since he had met her..well not officially met her but came to know about her.
''you'll be fine...'' gunjan assured him and they set off for their journey.
When the car halted to a stop mayank looked out and saw a big hall infront of them, many people were going in and some were also coming out.
''shall we?'' Gunjan nodded and stepped out of the car along him, mayank entwined his arm with hers and lead her into the hall.
There seats were reserved right in the front of the stage, once the had taken their seats the lights shut off and the curtains were pulled. Mayank looked on eagerly awaiting the arrival of someone, while gunjan couldn't help but grin at the anticipation and eagerness mayank held in his eyes.
''eager much?'mayank looked at gunja and rolled his eyes.
People came and left but mayank eagerness was still there, the one person whom he had been waiting for, still had not come on. his eyes were desperate to catch of glance of her, his ears were yearing for the music that left her voilin strings...lost in his thoughts he hadn't realized when she had come on the stage.
''so how is she??'' gunjan asked , mayank was lost looking at the stage, she was there, actually there in a beautiful burgandy colored gown and that voilin was snuggled on her left shoulder, her eyes were closed closed and those luscious lips of her were formed into a smile. He was so lost in her that he wasn't even listening to the beautiful sound of that voilin which spread whispers of sweet and mellow music into everyones ears. It was a sorrowful, soulful sound, yet was very pleasing to the ear and heart.
Gunjan pinched mayank when the lights had come back, '' ouch'' he shrieked being caught off guard.
''why were you starring at the stage like that?'''she asked inquisitively.
Mayank shrugged and got up, '' like what'?'' gunjan smiled at his nervousness.
''like you were in love with it'' mayank eyes windened hearing the word love, '' are you crazy, i was just thinking about something''
''are you sure you weren't thinking about someone??'' she nudged him but mayank walked away with her trailing behind.
They stopped at the backstage door, '' so do you want to meet her??'' gunjan questioned teasing him abit.
'' well if she is your sister then NO'' gunjan looked at her angrily and opened the door pushing him inside.
Inside was bustling with people running around here and there with make up supplies, clothings, or instruments.
''so where is this unique sister of yours??'mayank asked when he heard someone scream.
''NPUR WATCH OUTT''
within seconds a slim body flew into his arms screaming in anxiety and fear while everyone looked on.
she was trembling in his hold but he couldn't help but stare at her again, this time he was so close to her in real and not far off. Her facial features was beautiful, her puffy cheeks turning crimson red, her eyes jeweled and her moist lips were painted scarlet red.
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I hope you like the story, theres more to it than it meets the eye but all will be revealed in due time.
Do comment.
Sajjal.
Edited by -Sajjal- - 14 years ago
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