PART 11
Shaurya gave the principal a firm handshake and thanked him twice for giving "his wife" Lavanya admission in his college. He then wrapped his left arm around Lavanya's waist making Lavanya's heart skip a beat as she felt his warm hand against herself. She gave Shaurya a quick glance and tried to smile. For the moment he was her husband and there was no reason for a wife to blush or feel flustered when her husband held her close to him. Shaurya's arm moved from Lavanya's waist to her hand, he entangled his fingers with hers as they prepared to leave. Hand in hand, smiling at each other Shaurya and Lavanya left the principal's office, with Lavanya's acceptance letter.
The moment Lavanya felt they had covered enough distance away from the Principal's office; she freed her hand from Shaurya's, and threw her arms around Shaurya's neck, she beamed with excitement. "We did it! We did it! And all because of you!" Lavanya now jumped up and gave Shaurya a quick kiss on the cheek and then muffed her hand through his hair. Shaurya watched smiling, as Lavanya skipped down the hallway, merrily. She was crazy. However, he had made her happy and for some unknown reason to see her smile made Shaurya happy.
***
Lavanya lazily opened her bedroom door, rubbing her eyes. She walked down the dark hallway, wondering why it was so quiet, why there was no sound of the maids. Confused she continued walking, when a ray light pierced through the darkness, making Lavanya walk towards it, it seemed to be coming from the end of the hallway. Lavanya walked faster trying to reach the source however, the faster her pace would get the further the end would seem. She ran faster and faster. She felt uneasy and wanted to be out of the darkness.
Huffing and puffing Lavanya stopped when she reached a door. A door stood between her and the light she was trying to reach. Slowly she turned the knob and opened the door, a gust of wind of wind pushed her back but she fought back and managed to walk in. The door slammed shut behind her. Where was she? Blinded by the bright light Lavanya continued to walk forward. The light slowly started to dim, and once again Lavanya found herself walking towards the dark. However, this time the dark was more inviting.
Lavanya walked into a room, where she found a young girl sitting by her window, tears streaming down her face. Lavanya walked closer to the girl, who was this girl and why was she crying? She stood behind the girl and tried to see what the girl was watching from her window. However, raindrops that covered the window obstructed her view. She did not know why the girl cried, but she could comfort her, with this thought, Lavanya placed her hand on the girl's shoulder, making the girl turn around. Lavanya gazed into the girl's lonely eyes. The girl was so familiar to Lavanya. Tears continued to drain out the girl's eyes, and at once Lavanya recognized her. Lavanya was staring at herself from three years ago.
Beads of sweat glistened under the moonlight that spread around Lavanya's room. She was out of breath and her heart raced. She shut her eyes, making herself realize it was a dream. A dream. A memory. A memory that had haunted for too long. A dream which had to be broken. ;
***
Lavanya greeted Shaurya with a bright smile at the breakfast table the next morning. It would just be the two of them for breakfast as Anjali was out due to a charity event she was helping organize.
"Good Morning to you too, Miss Lavanya. You seem like you are in a good mood." Shaurya joked.
"Of course I am in a good mood. Thanks to you. Shaurya I was thinking…"
"Wow you think! That is great to know!"
"Not funny Shaurya!" Lavanya noticed how she had called Shaurya, Shaurya twice, yet he had not corrected her even once. She was amused. "Anyways, I am thinking Shaw-rya since you helped me I am going to help you!" Once again Shaurya had missed to notice, despite Lavanya's emphasizes on his name. Where was his mind wandering?
"What?"
"Yah! I am going to help you. Listen I have a plan."
"Wait! Before you go on about another crazy plan of yours. I have a question. Where were you early this morning?"
"What do you mean? I was in my room!"
"Not when I knocked."
"I must have been sleeping and so didn't hear you."
"Are you sure? The dark circles under your eyes seem to be telling a different story. Is everything okay?"
"Why are you asking me so many questions?" Lavanya snapped annoyed at Shaurya's interrogation. However, Shaurya was right. Lavanya was not in her room when he had knocked. She had not been able to sleep all night after that dream. She had stayed up thinking, thinking about the past and the future. When the first ray of light had hit the ground she had left the house in hopes of escaping, leaving. She hadn't gotten very far when reality of the situation sunk in. India was a big country which she knew very little about. What she wanted to do was not realistic or practical and would not work out. Thinking out the situation Lavanya had re-traced her steps back to the house, and before entering the house again she had a new plan in mind.
"Shaurya, you helped me out so much yesterday. So now I want to help you. Uncle has been gone three weeks, he will be back soon and you still haven't decided about your marriage. Well, since I don't start college till next term and you don't seem to have much to do these days. Why don't we take a little trip to Bombay? You can meet your maybe to be wife, get to know her and then make your decision." Shaurya did not reply. Lavanya's plan seemed appealing however; taking a trip to Bombay without his father's knowledge was a bit risky. Lavanya noticed the doubt on Shaurya's face and continued to entice him. Without him she could not do what she planned. "Unless you are okay with marrying a complete stranger. I mean she could be just like you and you both could get along really well, and live happily ever after or she could turn out to be the one person in the world whom you could never get along with."
"I think I have already met that one person, so that is not possible."
"You have already met the person who you want to be with for the rest of your life?"
"No! The person I can never get along with. You!"
"Well it is a good thing we aren't getting married then!" Lavanya retorted leaning forward towards Shaurya. In an instant Lavanya found herself gazing dreamily into Shaurya's eyes, just like her gazed into hers. Blood rushed to her cheeks, making them burn. She quickly broke the contact and downcast her eyes.
Shaurya cleared his throat and announced that Lavanya go pack her stuff because they both were taking a road trip to Bombay, and left the room himself before another word was said.
Hey Everyone😃
Well nothing much to say today, just please let me know what you think...😊 ... and of course thank you for all you comments 😃
Channel V Dil Dosti Dance
Arjun
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