Lakshya held the door open for her as she stepped outside. They were standing in the shadow of a huge building, towers, balconies, tiled roofs met Swara's curious gaze. It looked too beautiful like a mirror glittering in the morning light, but the reflection there worried her. For the first time she had second thoughts about her decision to come back.
From the top floor and through a half blemished window someone watched her wondering gaze. Her pale skin, dark hair, shimmering eyes made an impression even from a far. Slowly a hand smeared off the dust from the glass and watched as she talked with Lakshya, smiling at something he said.
Had I known you'd take me to a fairy castle, I might have listened to Mama and stayed home,' Swara laughed. I don't like too large homes.'
Homes are homes,' said Lakshya. Large or small. Love makes a home, not bricks and stone.'
Yeah right, Mr. Philosopher!' She smiled and took another step towards the shady entrance; Lakshya followed her, carrying the luggage.
She heard a sound. It was better she had and she jumped back instantly. A shower of broken glass fell down, right at her feet, laying in countless glittering, sharp edged pieces.
What was that?' Swara looked up, trying to spot the broken glass which showered upon her.
Lakshya briefly grabbed her shoulder.
Someone might have made a mistake,' he said casually but not quite meeting her eye. Let's go.'
Nodding slightly but hardly convinced Swara followed him, her mind on the approaching meeting with his family and worried enough to disregard the pieces of broken glass that crushed beneath their feet.
It was not a good omen, not at all.
*
A thin string of moon was visible outside, wrapped in the bluish haze of the twilight. Raspy shadows of the branches outside made impressions on her walls. Swara had never spent a night in a vaster or more ancient room; never had she felt this uneasiness either. The room had dark, lavender walls and white curtains, a large square mirror covered most of the wall opposite the bedpost and wide windows opened in to a semi circular balcony.
As she watched the shadows made movements caught in the slight breeze her mind wandered through the memories of earlier that day. Lakshya for some reason did not like the room she had been given. When she inquired on this, he simply shook his head and said; being wings away from her bothered him.
But still you know the way to reach me,' she had pointed out.
Yes,' he said uneasily. But I want to be with you, always.'
She watched him for a moment, overwhelmed with guilt.
Why do you stake so much Lakshya when there's a plenty of chance in losing everything?' She said then, slowly but in a curious tone. I said this when you proposed. I have to say it again although I hate hurting you. You know why I wanted to come here. Your family wasn't the only reason.'
I know,' he admitted gradually.
Then why? You are helping me reach a goal which might strip you from everything you have, I can't accept such sacrifices.'
You're considering one of the possibilities, I see many more.'
But still you promised me to let go whenever I want right?'
Yes.'
Be honest Lakshya, would you be able to do that if ever such an opportunity comes?'
He exhaled deeply, looking profoundly disturbed.
I don't know,' he said then. But I promise to try.'
And I feel like I'm using you.'
I want you to find your answers Swara. You're not using me there. I want you to find out what happened to the person you loved and I hope the truth will help you move on.'
But...'
I want you to love me. For that you have to let go of him first. You won't be able to do that until you know the truth.'
There was a deep silence between them, in which her eyes filled with tears.
Thank you,' she said then, in the steadiest tone she could manage.
But in this entire incident there was something Swara did not know. It was not Lakshya who wanted her here; in fact Lakshya had opposed her arrival when his parents suggested it. Promises are easily made than kept and Lakshya was closer to the truth than Swara ever was. He knew perfectly well, the opportunity would never arise. She would never find her phoenix again.
*
Something jerked her out of those thoughts. It was a slight sound that came from the room itself. Swara looked around startled. With a sparking sound the lights of her room went off. The night had fallen now, completely surrounding her in the bluish darkness. From her childhood she had no problem with darkness, standing up and searching through the bedside drawers she found a candle and lit it, illuminating the room in the amber light for a moment.
From the light of the candle a giant shadow of her graced the opposite wall, behind the bed. She had unintentionally glanced at it when she saw there was another shadow, right behind her, a taller one of a man. Reflexively she snapped around, or tried to as that person held her shoulders, stopping her from turning around. Had it not been for his next words she would have screamed.
Be quiet and listen.' She struggled against his hold, trying to turn around. Don't,' he said quite firmly. Beware anything offered in the name of god.'
What?'
He repeated the sentence.
Who are you? How did you get in? What do you mean?'
A friend,' he said shortly. Who wants you alive.'
The doors leading to the balcony were thrown open with a strong wind the next moment. The candle went out and the shadows vanished from the walls. Swara turned around immediately. Only to find herself along in the room and after a moment the lights flickered back to life and someone was knocking her door.
*
The flames of the Havan kundh captured her attention, they rose and fall, rhyming the holy chants, casting amber glow to the surrounding and flickers of sparks to the atmosphere. The air was of a silent understanding, of submission and devotion circled her. It was the familiar environment of the Maheshwari mansion as Lakshya said.
The Maheshwaris had welcomed her warmly. They seemed affectionate and willing to accept their son's choice of wife silently. But for some reason Swara still felt uneasy, as a man trapped in a yacht floating on unknown waters would. Reluctantly she realized a part of her restlessness came from the resent experience with the shadow in her room and its warning, but a part of that came from a sense superior, something that made her untangle herself from Ragini's too wiling companionship and find a place as far away from her as possible.
Once again her eyes caught the flames licking the air in their sensuous dance. The fire brought out some strange thoughts to the surface of her mind, not utterly restless. Phoenix represented fire. It was an odd name to represent someone, an even odder a nickname. She remembered inquiring about the same and the reply she gained.
I hate endings, phoenix is eternity.'
Nothings eternal, not in the real world.' was her retort.
Love is.'
For you maybe,'
Why? Will you ever forget me?'
Do I have a choice?'
Nope.'
That answer had shaken her then. It still made her wince when she remembered those words. It was true. Forgetting was not a choice for her. She blinked once more, returning to her surroundings as the Havan ended.
Swara was sitting beside Aditya, Adarsh and Parineeta's five year old son. He was muttering non-stop with his eyes closed.
Please god ji, drive that ghost away! I heard it again last night. You promised me na? Please drive him away! Mama says he'll eat me one day if I skip school, please god ji!'
Swara gulped the laughter that burned her throat. The kid was adorable.
I don't like walking shadows in my room god ji,' Swara's throat felt dry suddenly, walking shadows?
Slowly she touched the boy's shoulder and nudged him. He opened one of his eyes and looked at her, then tilted his head as if waiting for an explanation.
There are walking shadows in your room?' She said in whisper.
The boy nodded. Have you seen them as well?' He whispered back then. Pursing her lips Swara nodded at him. You know auntie, there's a ghost in this house, a very dark, very bad ghost. It plays a violin. Mama says it eats bad children.'
Aditya!' It was Annapurna; by the look she was giving them it seemed she had heard their conversation. She gave Aditya a stop-talking-right-now look and turned to Swara. Her lips curled slightly. Children have their own imaginative worlds. We should know better than to encourage them.' She said sweetly as she pushed Aditya towards his mother. Run along now!' The havan was over and Ragini, in her dazzling avatar glided towards them.
Hold this for a moment please,' she said handing Swara the thali with Prasad as she touched Annapurna's feet. Annapurna blessed her with an impassive expression. Ragini turned to Swara. Sorry, Swara. I forgot to give you Prasad,' she said then and picked up a piece of sweet from the thali. Here you go,' she said holding it for Swara to take a bite.
Beware anything offered in the name of god ... the words rang in her head. Did the shadow by any chance mean this Prasad?
Ragini I...' She said thinking of the best way to escape taking a bite. Ragini employing the moment she opened her mouth, pushed the sweet inside and snatched the thali from her hand. Don't be so figure conscious Swara,' she added laughingly as she went away, distributing Prasad to other people. Annapurna watched her for another moment and left, leaving her still feeling the heat of her sharp gaze.
*
I want to know what your thoughts are right now, please take a moment to tell me.
If the turn of events anyhow disappointed you I am sorry.
Thanks for reading!
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Cricket
