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Chapter 8
Leaning on the wall, he couldn't get the dream out of his memory. He wanted his intellectual to deny whatever he witnessed. Was it a chimera? Imagination? Or a dangerous construction of vague thoughts buried deep in dark niches of consciousness?
A gloomy, desolate feel enveloped his already vulnerable self. Was he so weak at heart? That just by a dream he felt like a exposed criminal.
Defenseless against the panicked face of that woman.
Defenseless against his very own self.
It was about time to get going and Meera all dressed and changed came out of the cottage and headed for the car. Thanking God for stopping the downpour, she walked towards him and looked straight in his eyes.
"Thank you for whatever you did for me."
Prithvi raised his eyebrows.
"Whatever. Get in the car. I think you had to reach Barahgaon?" he said nonchalantly. Pushing Meera aside he jumped in his jeep.
Whats with this attitude?
Scowling and cursing under her breath she started the car.
I am in such a mess.
Ugghh. I don't know what I am supposed to do!
Prithvi's behavior was strange. No doubt. Was she responsible for it? What rebarbative did he see? Was it so formidable? Most importantly, why was he shouting her name? He barely knew her.
After contemplating a string of continuous thoughts for two hours and listening to Jeevanlal's constant chattering, she saw a glimpse of small cottages and huts at a distance. A smile broke on her face.
Jeevanlal shouted.
"Barahgaon!"
"Yes we are here."
Prithvi's jeep stopped a few meters ahead. Meera stopped too,came out of the car with Jeevanlal and walked towards Prithvi's jeep.
"Why did you stop? Are we there?"
Prithvi, who was already feeling debilitated, was not at all interested in any more blabbering by the city girl. He had had enough of her and the dream confirmed it.
"This is the village. Go wherever you want..." he trailed off absentmindedly.
Meera pouted.
"Shut up. Why are you acting so strange?"
"Don't you know the reason already?"
Prithvi was now at the end of his patience.
"Fine! But just tell me the way to Thakur haweli, will you?
His eyes lit up at the mention of haweli. He told her the directions and continued.
"Go straight and take the first left. You have to go to the haweli?
She smirked.
"Why? Yes. Thats my home. I am returning almost after twenty years!" she completed feeling exultant and gave him a satisfied smile.
Prithvi looked at her dumbstruck.
"Really?!"
"Yes I am. I left everything and came to this village to stay with my parents, forever." Meera emphasized on the word 'forever'
He didn't, for a second, understand what to reply of this revelation.
" Oh God!! Don't tell me I will have to see this face everyday, and make me remember that DREAM !" He looked up to the sky and muttered as if talking to God.
Meera didn't quite catch his words so she just turned to her car and took a last look at him.
With a cheerful voice she called out.
"See you soon, Prithvi!!!!" adding a playful, evil laugh to it.
He clenched his fist.
"Don't you dare ..."
Before he could complete his sentence, her car zoomed past him.
Jeevanlal, who was watching the whole scene with awe, looked at Prithvi and asked innocently.
"Bhaiiya, isn't she beautiful?"
Prithvi gave a stern look which made Jeevanlal scamper away...
In a few minutes, he found himself standing in front of the only mandir in the village. Being a staunch atheist he didn't actualized when his feet made him walk all the way to this holy place.
All the years that he lived, never did he believe in God. Never folded his hands in worship.
He detested the very belief that worshiping God will make you free of suffering and fulfill all your wishes, in exchange bribing God with everything to make wishes fulfilled.
But then, Panditji was the only other person who knew about his misery and distress and dreams.
Seeing Prithvi staring absentmindedly- in deep thought- at the temple, panditji called out to him,breaking his complex brainwork.
"Prithvi, won't you come inside the mandir?"
"Huh? Yes..."
Prithvi took seat on a stair. Panditji sat besides him and smiled.
"You saw her again, didn't you?
Prithvi flinched. Sure, he wanted to talk about it. How did Panditji know about it already?
"Yes. But today, there is more to it." he said, his head hung low.
Panditji patted his back.
"Tell me everything."
Prithvi narrated the whole dream sequence in great detail. He also said that the girl in his dreams looked familiar and known. He didn't dare tell that the lool alike girl stayed at his house for the night and that she was going to stay in Barahgaon from now on.
He dreaded the fact that on a day or other he was going to bump into her.
Panditji smiled seeing the uneasiness overflowing through Prithvi's body.
"Life is a big puzzle which needs each and every piece of it, without which, it is incomplete."
Prithvi looked at him in a confused expression. Panditji continued.
"She holds a very important place in your life. Don't lose her again."
Prithvi scratched his head in frustration.
"I am not able to understand a single word you are saying. . . "
"You will understand soon, beta."
Smiling, the old man got up and went inside. He knew the real reason of Prithvi's turmoil.
Seeing Prithvi walk away, he muttered.
" You will accept your destiny, Prithvi."
xXx
Another chapter done.
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Ye Hai Mohabbatein
Mangal Lakshmi
