Os: A New Dawn
He leaned against the railing of her terrace and waited for her to come up. It had been more than a hour and she had still not come. But how would she know, he didn't inform her before entering her ashram and that too not from the main door but by scaling the walls behind. It wasn't easy reaching here but then ever since he had spotted her nothing had been easy for him. Forgetting her was not easy, to not think about her was not easy, to stop himself from not to fall for her was not easy. And then confessing his feelings to her was also not however what was most difficult was to make her realise and accept her feelings for him. Though he hadn't succeeded fully but he had complete faith in his love...their love. One day together they would succeed and he anxiously waited for that day to arrive.
The sun was setting behind him and his eyes were fixed on the stairs that lead to the terrace. He hoped she had some work that would bring her up. His flight was just two hours away and he didn't care if he missed it but he wouldn't leave without seeing her. So what if he had seen her in the morning when she was visiting the temple, tomorrow he wouldn't be here. In fact he would be out of town for a week, so he couldn't just go away without informing her. Agreed their relationship had not reached a point where they owed each other any kind of explanation but he knew that her eyes would definitely search for him. Though she wouldn't admit but he knew that she cared for him and he couldn't stay somewhere else peacefully knowing that she would be worried for him. His boss had unexpectedly brought up a case for him and he had to take it up. It was urgent thus he had to leave today itself.
At last she came to the terrace. Engrossed in her thoughts she pulled down the dried clothes that were hanging on the nylon rope. Flopping the clothes on her shoulder she slowly moved around. And then she jumped. Her eyes were big as saucers and her mouth dropped open. He flashed her a wide smile like always and waved at her. Still in a state of shock she closed her mouth and looked frantically, what if someone spotted him?
" how and why did you come here?"
With twinkling eyes he pointed at the walls that he had climbed indicating how proud he was of his act.
" actually I came here to see you." She batted her eyelids in response. She wasn't convinced. He saw her every morning then what was the need to come to her ashram?
" I'm leaving."
Instantly her eyebrows furrowed in confusion as though he had spoken in a foreign language. He liked her reaction. In fact he didn't know that not just her mind went blank for a moment but even her heart skipped a beat or two.
" I am going to Delhi for some legal case." She stared at him wordlessly, still a little puzzled.
He was breaking the news slowly to her and in turn was enjoying the reactions that were coming from her.
" I will come back in a week. But still thought that I should let you know."
She slowly blinked her eyes and nodded her head. And when the news finally sunk in that he would return in a few days, her stiff shoulders relaxed and she realised that she had been holding her breath for sometime.
The corners of his lips twisted in a smile seeing her getting relaxed.
" and don't miss me a lot. I will be back sooner than you know." He snapped his fingers before her indicating that the time would fly off like this.
To which she simply rolled her eyes and shook her head as though his absence wouldn't matter to her but deep down they both were aware that it would. Turning around she began tugging down more dried clothes and started folding them. He gazed at her back that was facing him with the hope that she might say something to him or at least wish to look at him before he left but sadly she didn't.
He had brought something for her which he kept on the steps. She didn't notice and as he walked past her, he glanced at her one last time.
" take care."
" you too."
He stopped dead in his tracks. Did she really whisper those two words or was he hallucinating?
He turned around and smiled. She cared and for once she must have expressed her concern in words.
" listen!" He called her. She glanced over her shoulder and he immediately clicked her picture with his cellphone. Though he would have preferred a smiling picture but even this one would do. For the next seven days this picture would be his companion.
She gaped at him and opened her mouth to protest but he simply waved a good bye to her and turned on his heel to climb down the wall.
However just before jumping down he peered at her retreating back. She stopped at the steps bent down and picked up the rose that he'd left for her.
He grinned to himself and was now convinced that she more than cared for him. The feelings were deeper much deeper.
She hid the Rose between the clothes that she had picked. And then ensuring that nobody was around she went to her room. Taking the flower in her hand she caressed its petals and admired its beauty, it's deep scarlet color. Her thin lips stretched in a smile. The Rose was tender and it smelled sweet. She noticed it was devoid of thorns. He must have plucked them off. The thought touched her. There was someone who cared and wished to comfort her.
But he had gone away. If a moment ago she was delighted then now she was sad. She felt the flower one more time before taking out an old book and placing that flower in it.
One week later
As per her daily routine she followed the same path to reach the temple. It was a pleasant morning with the sun beginning to rise. She deliberately slowed her steps, unknowingly today she'd been walking briskly. No she wasn't in a hurry to visit the temple. Nevertheless her heart was beating rapidly inside her chest and she felt butterflies in her stomach. She was anxious extremely anxious and was unable to control her anxiety. Gulping the lump inside her throat she wet her dried lips as she approached the street across which he waited for her everyday.
She thought that she would behave normally and not let him know that his return affected her. She gripped the plate firmly in her hand and held her head high as she neared that street. She casually allowed her eyes to wander in the direction of the oak tree under which he always stood. However her gaze stilled for a moment then hurriedly moved around.
He wasn't there.
Was he again teasing her by hiding somewhere? Maybe yes. He enjoyed seeing her getting worried for him. But today she wouldn't fall for his silly prank. Dropping her eyes she continued to walk toward the temple. If he was sitting on the branches or hiding somewhere close by then she wouldn't go looking around for him.
Surely when she'd be heading back home he would come out of his hiding and surprise her. She shook her head, sometimes he'd be such a child.
After offering her prayers she once again found herself on the same street. Unknowingly her eyes scattered around to find him, expecting him to suddenly appear before her but nothing of that sort happened. There was no one standing under the tree.
Now she was worried. Where was he? If he had come back then why was he troubling her? Failing to control her emotions she approached that oak tree. She circled it, raised her head and peered up at its sturdy branches, attempting to find him, but couldn't.
He was nowhere around. She let out an audible sigh. Didn't he say that he would return after seven days then today he should have. Why was he missing?
Probably he would return home later in the day and come to see her tomorrow. Yeah that could be the reason. She pursed her lips in annoyance, and here she was waiting for him like an idiot. No she wasn't exactly counting days, just that she had a good memory and remembered that he was supposed to return today.
One month later
Holding the terrace railing in her hands she leaned forward to glance down the busy street. People were moving around briskly to get back to their homes, shopkeepers we're shutting down their shops after end of their working day however her eyes only searched for him. It had been more than four weeks and he had still not come back.
What could be the reason? Her mind couldn't stop thinking about it.
Her eyes wandered around her terrace where she had seen him for the last time. She remembered his words asking her not to miss him and how casually she had ignored his statement as though she wouldn't think about him, missing him was out of question. But now every single morning she hoped to spot him under the oak tree and every evening hoped to find him here waiting for her.
She glanced at the walls of her terrace and wondered how he must have climbed up and down these huge walls? It was risky! What if he had fallen off while getting down? She hadn't bothered to see if he had reached down safely and now she regretted. Her heart raced rapidly and she folded her hands praying that he was fine. If something happened to him because of her carelessness or arrogance she'd never forgive herself.
She exhaled an audible sigh attempting to calm her jittery nerves. Nothing must have happened to him, he must be alright, she kept telling herself.
What was wrong with her? Why couldn't she help worrying about him? Why was she desperate to get glimpse of him? Why was she so damn restless? After all he didn't mean anything to her.
Or were her feelings changing for him? There were so many questions running in her mind that she feared her mind might explode.
She wanted answers or was it she had all the answers but wasn't ready to acknowledge them. Whatever it might be, she didn't care all she wanted him to return.
Frustrated with the emotions that were running out of her control she peered up at the sky. The sun was setting in. The sky was changing its colors. Unknowingly even her life was changing, different colors were being added.
Six months later
It was a dark silent winter night. As her eyes glanced out of the window she could only see darkness, there was no light. The sky twinkled with its stars yet it was not as luminous as other nights. It was a moonless night. The Stars attempted to decorate the sky but they couldn't replace their beautiful and glowing moon.
She opened her book and gazed at the rose. It was no longer colorful and fragrant. It had dried up..it was dead. So was a part of her.
This long and endless wait was like a slow poison, penetrating into her life and killing her with every passing day. She held the rose and gazed at it. Surely he had removed all the thorns yet something sharp pricked her heart.
In these six long months she realized what she actually felt for him. Her feelings were strong and deep for him. It was love.
Yes she loved him.
She didn't fear to acknowledge it. However the realization and the admission didn't please her. It didn't bring a smile on her face instead it twisted her heart. This love failed to bring happiness in her life on the contrary it showed her how lonely she was in his absence. Even before he'd entered her life she was a loner however when he left he made her even more lonely.
Maybe even he realized that there was no future with her. Maybe the path ahead was not as rosy as he had imagined. Maybe there was just attraction between them. And now sitting far away he had overcome his feelings and the momentary attraction. Time had succeeded in killing not just this rose but also what he felt for her.
She snapped the book shut and curled up on the floor like a ball, sobbing her heart out. Every night she cried herself to sleep hoping her tears would wash away his memories and the dreams she dared to dream about him..about them together. However she failed to get him out of her heart. Perhaps he was meant to be there.
In these several months the hope and desire to see him again didn't lose their sheen. One day he would return. This glimmer of hope managed to illuminate a dark corner of her heart and kept her going.
Thus like every morning even today she found herself waiting for him under that tree.
Standing across the street his eyes twinkled at the sight of her. He had come running down, he was breathless but he didn't care as the relief that swept his body made him forget everything. God he had missed her so much!
That fateful road accident when he was about to catch his return flight had forbade him from coming back. For six months he had been confined to a hospital bed however day in and day out he'd only thought about her. Before he'd sleep and after he'd wake up and all the hours in between she'd occupy his mind. So practically every moment he'd longed for her.
For him missing her had been the worst feeling in the world however it had also been his heart's way of reminding him that he loved her. Glancing at her photograph in his cell phone every day, he would realize the sad truth that he yearned to be with her and he would hope that she too craved to have him by her side. There had been fears, there had been insecurities however all that just vanished in thin air today seeing her wait for him.
In long and brisk steps he crossed the road and stood before her. She was sitting under the tree, lost in his thoughts. Her aching eyes after shedding endless tears took time to notice someone's feet. And then ever so slowly her gaze moved up and froze on his cheerful face.
She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Was he for real or was she day dreaming? He had said he would come back, so had he?
He noticed the questions that were swimming in her eyes awaiting to be answered. And he replied by letting his hand out. She peered at his outstretched hand. It said a lot. It promised a lot.
Her wait was over but not his. Today would she break the walls around her to reach him?
She closed her eyes...she saw him. And when she opened her eyes...she found him.
A new life awaited her.
She placed her hand in his. And he at once pulled her up.That was all that he had been wanting. One step from her and the rest of the distance he'd cover for them.
Her lips quivered and tears of happiness shimmered in her eyes. Before those pearls could fall he pulled her in his embrace.
She wrapped her arms around him and closed her eyes. Now there was no darkness. The night had ended.
It was a new beginning in the bright and colorful days of life.
Shiv Shakti
