Chapter 3B:
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It had been almost a month since Khushi and Asha had come to Connoor. Asha was admitted to a school there and Khushi continued with her job.
Well Connoor changed nothing for her. It in fact it added to her already aching heart with its silence. Yes, silence killed her. The serenity she got here, gave her the time to think and ponder. The two things she didn't want to do since they brought back all the painful memories she had buried. Her surroundings had changed and her had colleagues changed. These were the only two things that had changed. But these two amendments didn't give her the peace she yearned for.
Suddenly she felt she had become old. "Age is a number as long as you don't mind." This thought often rang in her mind. With the whole responsibility falling on her shoulders, she felt she had become 10 years older. She was no longer the young kid who ran behind her dad in a bid to imitate and follow him, or the young kid who always tried escaping her mother's scolding or the young kid who always fought and patched up with her sister. Life has a strange way of giving us a wake up call. Yet here in this case, it was not a wake up call, but a mourning call which forced Khushi to grow up too early.
She now realised why an accident, a natural calamity or a terrorist attack is highly publicised but the aftermath is forgotten very soon. Everyone remembers the tsunami that took place but no one other than the indirect recipients remember it. Even those who survive a close death call, can forget it but not "those" whose close ones had fought with the evil called "death" and emerged unsuccessful. No one can word the pain they undergo, which is why it is left unrecorded. This at least prevents them from getting tormented further. She realised that now.
The initial few days, she remained in delusion, even after telling Asha the truth, she hoped. But all her magical hope came crashing down few days back. Her heart finally accepted what her brain had believed long back. She had been blaming the God she had so faithfully prayed, loved and cherished. She finally let go off that since he was her only solace after Asha. All through her life, she had been taught that whatever God does has a reason, it is only that we aren't wise enough to understand it. And the fruit you receive is essentially due to our karma. "Karma", this is one word that has so many meanings and interpretations. Our deeds determine the joy, sorrow and happiness we get. But she failed to understand what bad deed a five year old had committed to be deprived of her rightful share of love?
There are so many criminals out there, walking free. Had they done any honorable work that God had left them? Why isn't karma performing it's duty here? These were some of the questions she pondered over and over. She wanted answers for them, yet they remained hanging without any solution.
Her father always asked her to "trust" her "life". He used to tell her, "Life has the strangest way of throwing surprises. So you have to trust your life to learn and enjoy those surprises." But could she ever trust her life again? She just hoped she gets an opportunity to do so.
Sometimes after Asha had slept off on her lap, Khushi used to gaze outside. The thick fog prevented one from looking at the vast nature behind it. It acted as a barrier, preventing the beauty that was hidden behind to come alive. Her life was no less. The sorrow had snatched her soul from her and left her covered in the fog of gloom, the bubbly young girl lay dead and gone.
But she was a fighter. So for the world and for her Asha, she smiled. She laughed yet they were the monotonous forced laughs. It was only Asha who made her "smile". She didn't want to become too serious to save her own sanity. At least if she smiled at others, she would not lose anything. The person who used to laugh genuinely at the most lame jokes, now found it difficult to laugh for the best jokes.
Khushi was never fond of nature nor the silence that accompanied it. She had always imagined herself to live amongst the hustle bustle of a metropolitan city. Never in her whole life, she wanted to live in such a place. Her life was now limited to the small political setup of Connoor. Khushi, who was a constant pest to the top officials, was now leading an almost boring life, according to her. Well, there were occasional buzzed happenings, but not much. In fact, Khushi had started taking interest in the Publishing part too.
Asha had been diverted or rather distracted most of the time, since the new place and new friends had excited her. But still there was not a day, she passed without questioning about Pooja and Raahul. All Khushi could do during those times was swallow the thick wall of anguish and answer her.
She was very familiar with Connoor since every weekend both she and Asha spent their time in the natural settings since they had no other work to do.
Through Khushi's senior, Aakash had come to know about Connoor and he had suggested that Arnav visit it. He had also arranged for Khushi to act as a guide for Arnav during his stay. Khushi had agreed to it since her boss, Mr. Madhavan had been a moral support for her always.
Present (December 2, 2014, Temple):
There were few times, when Khushi had let her guard down and cried. Today was one of those few days she had lost herself to her past. Her mother used to tell her, "Cry to let out your pent up sorrow, but make sure you never cry for the same reason again." But she was helpless here. She had not really mourned for her loss, in fact, she had had no time to. So all these short sessions of loneliness made her release her sorrow and standing their in front of the God, she never realised she was crying until her vision was blurred. Yet, she never understood that all she needed was to let everything go completely, however difficult it may be.
And that is when destiny had made her to meet him. As she again willed herself to be strong, the Almighty decided to give her the strength she was so desperately waiting for.
"Excuse me."
"Yes?"
"Are you a local of this place?"
"Yes?" She was growing impatient. She needs to go home.
"Do you know where is Khushi Gupta? I was informed that she had gone to the temple."
She stared at him with a dubious expression.
"And May I know who you are?"
"Am Arnav Singh Raizada. And you Miss?"
"Khushi Gupta."
"Oh you are Khushi Gupta? I hope Mr.Madhavan briefed you regarding the reason behind my arrival."
"Yes, he did. But weren't you supposed to meet me yesterday at my work place?"
"Well, as a matter of fact, yes. But due to the heavy rains here and in Delhi, my flight got cancelled and I came here by train. As soon as I got down, I went to your work place to find you and your colleague informed me that you had left for this temple."
Khushi groaned. She was torn between helping him and going to Asha. It was Asha's vacation and she wanted to spend all her time with her. Yet she couldn't refuse her boss.
"Um is it fine if we start with this tomorrow? You should be tired too", she told him.
Contemplating for a few minutes, Arnav accepted and asked her for directions to his guesthouse.
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Arnav had not been able to visit any part of Tamil Nadu other than Kanyakumari. As soon as he came to Connoor, he got to know that a very rare bewitching beauty was still unexplored by him. He never really had or wanted any Guide, but it was due to Aakash's insistence that he was having one here. "Maybe that girl was in dire need of money", was his thought as he accepted Aakash's offer.
He sighed. He just hoped that the girl would not be a pest and allow him to soak in the basket of nature. The last thing he needed was someone's constant hovering and chattering. When he was with his love, the nature, he loved speaking with it rather than with others.
But now standing there in front of Khushi Gupta, he doubted, if she would even whisper. She was drenched yet she didn't bother. He was not sure if she even realised that it was raining. Her hazel orbs were playing peek a boo with him. Those eyes remained emotionless yet it was bloodshot. As soon as he mentioned the word "rain", he could see her flinch and there was a fleeting agony in her eyes. That kind of agony, which would stun you since it held so much intensity.
When she had suggested they start touring around from tomorrow, he had accepted, not because he was tired but he sensed her wanting to be somewhere else. Maybe with someone else.
So he had left for his guest house, hoping that the hazel orbs would have a better morning. As he passed the lush green, he found himself to be highly distracted. A certain Gupta kept flashing in front of his eyes. Nature had always held him as a captive by its astounding beauty, yet today he just couldn't focus on it nor enjoy the unpolluted rain.
His phone's vibration brought him out of his reverie. It was Anju calling him.
"Hi Anju."
"Yes, I have reached and I met Ms.Gupta too."
"No, I am still going to the guest house. It is raining here."
"Sure I will. You too take care. Give my love to Karishma, Aakash Bhai and Payal."
"See you. Good Night."
He had reached his guest house by then. He closed his eyes in a bid to get rid of those haunting hazel orbs which had stared at him without the "happiness" it should have rightly held.
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Next day, both Asha and Khushi left to meet Arnav at the railway station. As Khushi, parked her two wheeler, she noticed Arnav standing at the far corner near a Rose plant.
He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't notice Khushi approaching him. She cleared her throat in a bid to gain his attention. He turned around and gave her a full blown grin. She gave a very small smile in return.
Arnav's eyes fell on the naughty looking Asha, who was clutching Khushi's hands. He thought she was her daughter. But she looked way too young to be a mother. So he stood there thinking that Khushi would introduce Asha to him.
Khushi did no such thing. She didn't want anyone to know anything about their relation. So she didn't bother introducing them. But destiny and fate always had different plans which is why it is said that Man proposes and God disposes. Soon Asha spoke up.
"What your name?", she asked him.
"Arnav Singh Raizada. What is your name?"
She repeated his name thrice as if memorizing it. It was like she sensed the need to know that name for her whole life.
"Asha my name."
"Nice name. You look beautiful princess."
"Princess? Chithi appa ena apdi thane kupduvanga. (Princess? Chithi, dad will call me like that only.)"
Arnav, who was closely watching the duo, could spot a trace of happiness in Asha's voice. He could also see that Khushi Gupta, who was looking somewhat better than the previous night, shuddered at the kid's words. He wondered what her words meant since he didn't understand the language. He assumed that it should be Tamil.
Before Asha or Arnav could talk further, Khushi intervened.
"Can we start?"
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Edited by Sadh123 - 9 years ago
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