I woke up to the loud noises from the hall; I could hear someone shouting at the top of their lungs. I got down from the bed and quickly changed into a baby pink anarkali gifted by Beeji on my last birthday. I couldn't guess who it was but I had a gut feeling that I heard this voice earlier; somewhat familiar. I slowly descending from the stairs stood near a pillar, hiding a little so that I couldn't be seen by others. Stretching my head a little I looked at the figure shouting which had its back turned at my side. I waited for the person to turn around and to my dismay it was Virat shouting. I quizzed through the faces of the people present in the hall, they were tensed. I thought of going in front of them but then, the hall had only his family members so I preferred standing behind the pillar.
"Mom how could you even ask me to marry her?You now how I am, and how I lead my lifestyle. She won't be able to adjust. She's a girl brought up here in Ri-shi-Kesh he spoke hysterically as if the place is a part of some other planet. "And how could you even think of her getting acquainted with high society people in Mumbai? How would I introduce her to my friends? Hey! This is Manvi, my wife she's from Rishikesh. She doesn't what a pub is but soon she would have vodka shots with you guys. He stated in a melodramatic tone flinching his hands. "Mom please spare me from this trouble" he asked his mom folding his hands. I felt disgusted at him, if it was not for the promise I made to Beeji, then I wouldn't even think of marrying him, at least not a person whom I started hating at the first sight, not even before talking to him. But then I didn't take him totally at fault, which generous soul on this earth would agree to marry a person whom they know just by their name and who doesn't fit into their lifestyle according to him.
"Virat, life always doesn't depend upon how well you get along with people and your status sometimes you also need to think about others. The girl is left to her fate, with no one in this world. Have you ever thought of how painful it would be to her to lose someone she loves in a moment? I've promised to her Beeji that I'd make her marry you. And it's final Virat, haven't you heard of Dadaji's opinion on the phone? Even he thinks the same as I, not only he but all the family members. Vanshika mom tried to calm down his anger but he being the arrogant brat he is punched the pillar in anger which made blood ooze out of his fist. I got panicked on seeing the blood and not anymore going to stay a mute spectator and stand like a statue I ran swiftly to get a first aid box. Slowly walking to him I handed him the box. I saw fire fuming eyes glaring in my direction; he looked at me like he would gulp me down any moment. He grabbed the box from my hand and shortly wincing in pain he continued "Mom that's fine by me, I'll marry Manvi, but on one condition, I would lead my life how I lead now even after the marriage, I won't like others putting restrictions over me about what to do and what not to" He spoke as he rubbed an ointment on the injured part and wrapped the cloth around his fist. Vanshika mom nodded her head and took me by her. I smiled a faint smile and narrowed my eyes at him looking at the two new faces facing me. Vanshika mom introduced them to me as Viren and Jeevika her son and daughter-in-law. Looking at the clothing of Jeevika I could totally get what Virat meant by his lifestyle, dressed in full fledged jeans with a red knee length top she looked no less than a bollywood heroine. I wondered if I have to dress up like her after marriage. Then beside her stood her husband not less than her dressed in a smart Armaani suit. Jeevika hugged me and soothed my back whilst Viren gave an assuring smile. I don't have siblings but these two looked like defining the definition of it. Siblings shouldn't always be someone with whom you share blood relation with instead they could also be someone who soothes your pain and promise to make your problems their problems.
I found Jeevika bringing a thaal and handing it to Vanshika mom along with a red heavy cloth designed with thin golden threads. Jeevika wrapped the cloth on my head and made me stand next to Virat. I would've known by now that they were preparing for marriage. I tried hard not to bring back those flashes of my past, which I now consider, to make an entry before my eyes again but all in vain. I tried diverting my mind. Just then I felt Virat putting a red powder in my maang, and then tying a magalsutra along my neck rather tying a thread which meant responsibilities. Surprisingly I didn't feel anything about it; I take it as a way of engaging around people and living in to the promise I made to Beeji. I felt at relief how they understood I'm not comfortable with the idea of marriage and so ended it up in about five minutes.
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I stuffed my bag with already stuffed up things. I pushed every possible thing into my bag right from each photo to a small earring Beeji gifted. They may be holding a very less value for others but for me they meant world. I searched every nook and corner of the room before leaving so that I had not left anything. Every picture, everything had something related to Beeji, I didn't leave anything behind as these are the things which would keep me live the rest of my life. The loss of a loved one turned my life upside down. My world as I knew it has changed completely and those changes require that I in turn adjust to a new "normal". I looked around the room and recollected those happy moments spent with Beeji. The most heartbreaking situation I would be in now is living this house- leaving this house meant leaving my Beeji, but I'm going to do it because I'm sure she would be smiling at me from the heaven along with Mumma-Papa over my decision. So that's how we live our lives. No matter how deep and fatal the loss, no matter how important the thing that's stolen from us - that's snatched right out of our hands - even if we are left completely changed, with only the outer layer of skin from before, we continue to play out our lives this way, in silence. I closed my eyes and tried to bring to mind as many beautiful lost things as I could. I felt at numb; life has changed so much, changed to such an extent that I've to leave my house now. Tears trailed down my cheeks as I picked my bag to leave behind the memories.
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The cold wind sent shivers down my spine. Shuddering to the coldness of the breeze I struggled and pulled the woolen cardigan I'm wearing closer to me. Unknown feelings erupted in my mind as I found myself travelling away from the memories of Rishikesh. Ganga ghaat; where I considered my soul rests remained past behind me as the car moved through the dusty streets of Rishikesh. Until now I didn't know how attached one can get with a place, a place where I'm born and brought up are left behind me in a matter a seconds leaving clouds of dusty air. A lone tear escaped through my right eye which I rubbed off as Vanshika mom put a hand around me and assured me that everything will be alright. It feels strange travelling with unknown people, not having a slightest of idea where the path will lead to. Now, the car almost reached to the outskirts of Rishikesh, a place where I would never return again. ... I looked through the car's rear window for a final wave, and it felt like someone had invaded my chest and squeezed all the juice out of my heart until it was a tiny dry sponge.
Sometimes god puts you in a difficult situation just to check with how much strength you fight back the obstacle before you, and if you succeed well in it then life is bliss to you.
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Okay here it ends. Hope that you all liked this part 😛. Thank you for all the comments and likes. Let me how's it!
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