Chapter 22
A fair woman is standing in front of him having a smile on her face with hidden secrets in her eyes while a dusky woman is standing right behind her an annoyance with a hint of curiosity in her eyes. from some distance he could see two men with a small girl clutching one of that persons hands having a protective stance towards the women. He smiles at the fair woman and said "yes daughter?"
Sim: baba, are you a fortune teller?
Baba smiles as the mistake regarding his getup is again made. he said "people think so. Me, I am a wanderer spreading the meaning of life and being at the service of people." from the corner of his eyes he saw the dusky woman favoring her right leg to stand. Smiling at the obvious stubbornness of hers to stand he said "why don't you two sit you bitiya. I am an old man and it is difficult for me to get up again. Please humour me." riya and simran sat down and he heard a sign of relief by the dusky girl as she stretches her legs. He then said "what do you need bitiya?"
Sim: to have our fortunes read.
He silently held out his hand indicating her palm. Simran places her palm on his and he looks at it. he said " it is strange how a choice can change your destiny. You have made a choice of choosing acting instead of getting married to your fiancee. You have fought against everyone you love and have reached till here. you will face a choice of having success in your life but it will come at a price. The time will come when you have to again choose a path and walk on it. let god give you that strength to make that choice."
Simran removes her palm stunned. She never told anyone not even karan about her fiance. Whatever the baba said in one way had been a deepest darkest secret. And now baba could see the wondering on her face of what price she has to pay for her choice. He then indicates riya to show her palm. As soon as riya hesitantly puts her palm on his hand he inhales a sharp breath. He said "you have always difficulties in your life and made a choice to overcome them. but the biggest difficulty has'nt yet arrived. You will again have to make a choice of what you are going to do. Beware of what you believe as you are unaware of the circumstances. Death was commited by your hands once and it will be commited again. Your choice will not only affect you but will affect the one you desire."
He felt a lose on his hand as riya snatches her hand back. He sees her eyes dilate with fear not at the prospect of making a choice but at the prospect of making death again. Weariness overcomes him as he raises his hand in blessing and said "bless you both my daughters. I hope that you find the strength to make your destiny again."
And he gets up and walks away while karan, arjun and anjali advance towards them. he feels the glare of the all 3 of them and he looks and smiles at them.
Baba: you are more entwined than you believe to be. With time there will be more challenges as each of you will make a life altering choice. Choose well and wisely. Let go of the past and concentrate on the present because the present is a fruit of the past but not the past. You will find your answers not by going back but by living in the now. Your life can change in a moment but that moment is the present so live in the now. You cannot always protect whats yours but you can ensure the protection of theirs is there. Not all is what it seems and not every hurt is ever healed. Heal yourself and you will heal those around you. never let go and you will never find the results you want.
He left as riya and simran got up. Arjun angrily said to simran "seriously simran why do you care what your fortune says?" before simran could say anything riya said "can we please go back. Its getting late and dark and we don't even know the area." Arjun looks at riya's downcast eyes and knows she is upset what the baba says. He nods his head and everyone leaves. Baba looks at the group as they reach the stairs and the man carries the woman without a protest from her. he looks up at the sky and said "give them the strength for they don't know what they are facing. Give them the strength to make a choice to change their destiny." And he walks to the dargah murmuring his lord's name.
Everyone is quite on the way back to the hotel. Not one pinch of sound is heard from them as they enter the hotel, have dinner and go to their rooms. Anjali is staying with riya and simran . all of them get quietly dressed and go to bed to sleep. While anjali falls asleep within seconds, riya and simran are unable to fall asleep. After tossing and turning for a few times, simran asks "riya."
Ri: hmmm.
Sim: are you feeling sleepy?
Ri: no. you?
Sim: no. that baba's words keeps coming into my head.
Ri: mine too.
Sim: riya, do you think that I should have stayed back and married my fiance.
Ri: are you happy where you are right now?
Sim: yeah, I am
Ri: then don't regret that choice. It was already made and there is no point in pondering over it. besides I am glad that you made that choice. If you had'nt made it then I would'nt have met you.
Sim: yeah, I know. my mom used to always say to me that my destiny is fixed and it is to be a housewife. I used to always wonder that why she used to say like that. when a boy has the choice of choosing any profession he likes then why can't a girl do the same. And when it came the time for my marriage, I ran away.
Ri: I am curious. When did you run away.
Simran smiled a devilish smile and said "the wedding day itself. Everyone was just downstairs and I ran away from the back stairs. And you know like in jab we met, shahid and kareena waited for the rest of the family to go and then left, similarly I did it. and no one till now from my family has caught me."
Ri: and if you were caught?
Sim: I would have been beheaded or hanged from the town square.
Ri: simran.
Sim: what? it is the truth.
Simran looks down at anjali's peaceful face and asks "do you think riya that what nupur said in the letter can be true. You know your brother..."
Ri: if it was anyone else, then I might consider it. but this is my brother we are talking about. He is the one who raised me after my parent's death, been my strength and inspiration in the toughest of times. Would you have believed it instantly if you were in my place simran?
Sim: I am not you riya. But somewhere I might consider. No offence.
Ri: none taken. I am not feeling sleepy. You go to sleep. I will just take a walk and come.
Sim: its midnight riya.
Ri: I won't take long. You sleep. I will take the key.
Before simran could say anything more, riya puts on her shawl, takes the key and goes from the room.
Precap: riya breaks down
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Edited by abjeya - 10 years ago
148