FF: Unloved (Complete) - Page 32

Rudra arrived at the orphanage just after noon. The sun was at its peak, and the rays beat down against him as he parked his motorcycle on the graveled pathway. He took off his helmet and observed his surroundings. The main hall and buildings were decorated with multi-colored streamers and balloons. It was simple, yet festive. The children were nowhere in sight, but their voices resounded throughout the orphanage. The laughter and playful screaming was somewhat distant, making him wonder where they all were. Parvati did say the party was today.

As if they had heard his thoughts, the familiar group of kids he had met with the first time he visited ran from around the corner of the main office. They were all chasing the little boy in front, Rehaan, who was wearing a birthday cap with the words birthday boy' inscribed in blue. He was so busy looking back and trying not to get caught by the other children that he failed to notice Rudra. It wasn't until he collided right into his legs that Rehaan paid attention. He stumbled back and looked up to see what he had run into, and upon seeing Rudra, a huge grin broke onto his face. Rudra couldn't help but chuckle.

"Rudra Uncle!" Rehaan shouted. He turned around to the other kids, who had stopped behind him. "Hey everyone, Rudra Uncle is here!"

The kids smiled and crowded around him like he was a celebrity. Each of them were vying for his attention, trying to get Rudra to listen to them. They were all excited to see him, and he could clearly see so by they way they were jumping around and pulling at him. He knelt down and listened to the kids, even though they all spoke at once and it sounded like a crowd at a cricket match. Finally, he decided to delegate a little.

"Woah kids!" he raised his voice a little. "Settle down for a second!"

A hush fell over the children.

"Yeah, I'm here. And yes, I missed you all. And yeah, I'll play with all of you, but let's not forget that I'm here to celebrate Rehaan's birthday just like you guys."

The kids looked at one another's faces before looking back at Rudra.

He looked at Rehaan, lifted him up in his arms, and smiled, "Happy birthday buddy."

"Thank you Rudra Uncle!" Rehaan exclaimed. "I'm glad you came! Now we can have a soccer rematch!"

"I'll beat you this time."

Another little boy, Aman, fake coughed, "Doubt it."

Rudra looked at Aman and laughed, causing the rest of the children to break into fits of laughter. The merriment quickly died down as a familiar female voice yelled out, "Kids!"

The voice made Rudra's heart beat faster. He knew who it belonged to. His head shot in the direction of its origin, searching for its owner. He didn't realize how desperate he had been to see her until she came running around the corner into view. What he also didn't expect was his heart stopping upon seeing her. She looked beautiful, dressed in a deep purple lengha, which she was holding on to so she didn't trip. Her blouse, which peeked through the matching purple dupatta that was delicately draped to cover her waist, was sky blue color. Her hair laid open and was pulled to one side of her face, revealing the modest, yet low cut of the back of her blouse.

Rudra could feel a warmth radiate inside of him as he watched her look around for the children. She was completely oblivious of him staring at her, and he was oblivious that he was lost in her. That was, until Rehaan tugged on the collar of his black leather jacket.

"Rudra Uncle I'm falling!" he said loudly.

Rudra snapped out of his trance and looked at Rehaan, who was, in fact, slipping out of his arms. Apparently, he was so busy gazing away that he didn't realize his grip on the child in his hands had loosened. Rudra tightened his hold before turning his attention back to Parvati. By now, she had heard Rehaan's voice and caught sight of all the kids and Rudra. She began making her way towards them, smiling. With each step, the pounding in Rudra's ears got louder and louder. She looked even more beautiful up close. And she was smiling again. That smile that he so desperately wanted her to have more often, the one that made him smile. Out of nowhere, Mala's words replayed in his mind. People do crazy things...when they're in love. His eyes widened as he shook the thought out of his head once again. Him? In love with Paro?

Parvati walked up to him and spoke, "When did you get here?"

"Just now," he replied calmly as he put Rehaan down.

"Thank you for coming. I know it means a lot to the kids, especially Rehaan."

"It was nothing."

"Pari didi!" Naina shouted. "Is it time to eat cake yet?"

Parvati chuckled, "The cake is ready. Everyone, let's all head back to mami-sa!"

The children cheered and ran back to where they had come from, the back of the orphanage. Parvati and Rudra trailed behind silently. They glanced over at each other every now and then, but neither of them broke the silence. Rudra began fidgeting as he stuck his hands in his pockets, unsure of what to say to her. Every time he glanced in her direction, he caught her smiling away as she watched the kids in front of her. He forced himself to look away because he knew that if he didn't he was going to make a complete fool of himself. But he couldn't help but sneak peeks to see that brightening, rare smile that always managed to leave him speechless.

Parvati finally looked at him and spoke, "How are your maa-sa and bapu-sa?"

"They're fine," he replied. "Maa-sa was busy in the kitchen when I left, and bapu-sa went to work right after breakfast this morning."

"I see."

"They like you, you know."

"What?"

"My parents. They like you."

"Oh. Well, I like them too."

Rudra looked at her, "You do?"

She nodded, "Your parents are very nice. Your bapu-sa is quite the charmer."

"That he is."

"And your maa-sa, she was very sweet, just like you had said. And..."

"And?"

Parvati's gaze softened as she looked away, a smile played on her lips, "And when I spoke to her...she made me feel..."

"What?"

"She made me feel like I was...it just felt like...home."

Rudra gazed at her, completely touched by her words. The way Paro said it made him understand her desire to belong. All she wanted was someone to be nice to her, someone to shower her with a few words of kindness, someone to make her feel like she mattered. That wasn't too much to ask, yet she struggled to get it. Nor did she complain about not receiving it. By the tone of her voice, Rudra could tell the tenderness that Mala had shown her was something she cherished deeply, like a precious gift from a loved one.

"Paro-," he began.

Rehaan's voice came yelling across the yard, "Pari didi! Come cut the cake with me!"

Parvati yelled back, "Coming!"

She dashed towards Rehaan, who was eagerly awaiting her to help him cut the cake. Rudra watched her make her way towards the small boy as he walked over and greeted mami-sa, who was standing on the porch of the main office, a short distance from where everyone else was. She smiled at him and patted his cheek softly as he stood next to her. They both watched the scene play out before them, almost as if it were happening in slow motion. The children were standing around a small table that held a cake with lit candles. Rehaan stood right in front and smiled cheekily as the other kids sang Happy Birthday' to him. After he blew out the candles, Parvati stood next to him and helped him cut the cake. She gave him a bite, and in return he made her take a bite. She pecked his cheek softly before she moved away and let the other kids feed Rehaan. The entire time, Parvati laughed and smiled without a care in the world. It was as if she was another person when she was around them, as if all her troubles disappeared, even if it was just for a little while.

Without tearing her gaze away from Parvati, mami-sa spoke to Rudra, "I haven't seen Paro this happy in a long time."

Rudra turned his attention to mami-sa, "Really?"

She nodded, "When she is with the children, it seems that she forgets all her troubles."

Rudra's expression hardened. He remembered how he told his mother that he was going to make sure Paro got the happiness she deserved. But for him to do that, he had to know what was so terrible about her past in order to help her move forward. Since she wasn't going to tell him anything anytime soon, maybe the next best thing was mami-sa, the only other person that knew Parvati better than herself. It was a long shot, but he had to start somewhere.

In a firm, serious voice he said, "Mami-sa, I need to ask you something."

Mami-sa turned and faced Rudra, giving her full attention to him.

"Why is Paro always sad?"

She looked away for a second before meeting his gaze once more. He didn't miss the fear that momentarily flickered in her eyes before she looked away. When mami-sa didn't respond, Rudra continued.

"I know," he said. "I know something happened in her past. Something bad, but I don't know what exactly. I can see the way it has eaten away at her, and still is. Paro tries to hide it, but when you look in her eyes, you see the pain and sadness. She won't tell me anything about it, and I don't want to end up hurting her by pushing her into telling me. And I know that if there is anyone who knows her better than herself, then it's you. So, will you tell me the reason behind Paro's sadness?"

Mami-sa stared at him for a moment before speaking, "You care about her a great deal, don't you?"

He nodded.

"I wish I could tell you," she said painfully. "But I can't. I swore to Paro that I would never tell a soul. I swore on her."

Rudra sighed and looked down, "I understand."

"But..."

His eyes shot back up to mami-sa.

"But I do feel that she will tell you herself...when the time is right."

"How do you know?"

"Whether you know it or not, and whether she even knows or not, Paro does care for you and trust you. And for her, care and trust are a very big deal, which she doesn't give that easily."

"Really?"

Mami-sa nodded, "More than you will ever know. She may never say it, but I can tell. Paro wouldn't let just anyone come here to the orphanage. These children mean the world to her. They're a part of her. This place is a part of her, and she wouldn't let someone she didn't trust or care about come here."

Rudra looked back at Parvati. She was now handing out pieces of cake to the children, who were eager to have a slice of the sweet treat. She knelt down to Rehaan, who was beckoning her to come closer so he could whisper something in her ear. As she leaned in, he kissed her cheek softly. Her eyes widened as she looked at Rehaan and grinned as he shyly ran off with his piece of cake. Rudra couldn't help but smile as he watched the scene before him. Parvati looked over at him, smiled, and waved. Rudra thought about how mami-sa had said that Paro cared for and trusted him. That truth shook him, especially after knowing that she hardly trusted anyone. It made him feel happier, almost lighter. But why?

Because you want her to care about you like you care about her, the voice in his head shouted. You want her to trust you.

Was that true? Did he want her to put her faith in him? Why was this such a big deal to him? Why did he want to do so much for her, without expecting anything in return?

Because you love her, the voice answered.

Rudra shook his head, trying to shake those thoughts out as well. But when he looked back at Paro and saw her smiling and gesturing him to come, he felt his heart flutter as he waved back, then began walking over to her.

Mami-sa stayed on the porch, observing silently as Rudra left her side to go to Parvati. She watched as Paro handed him a piece of cake, which he gladly took. As she took out a piece for herself, Rudra held her arm and guided her down to the grass to sit and eat with the rest of the kids. They sat next to each other, silently enjoying the cake while the children ate and told silly stories. Mami-sa focused on the way Paro was, once again, laughing without a care in the world alongside Rudra, and how Rudra was acting goofy, like letting the kids smear icing on his nose, just to get Paro to keep smiling. But what touched mami-sa, what forever remained embedded in her memory, was the way Rudra looked at Parvati when she wasn't looking. Even from the small distance from where she stood, mami-sa could see the longing and affection in his eyes. It wasn't anything scandalous or vulgar, it was quite the opposite. It was as if his entire world was slowly beginning to revolve around her...almost as though he were in love.

Mami-sa looked up at the clear blue sky and closed her eyes. She sent a silent plea to Bholenath, praying that, if what she saw was true, Rudra would stay by Paro's side and give her strength to step out of the darkness that has slowly consumed her over the years.