Chapter 9
Silence
Until that moment, Omkara had forgotten all about that favorite spot of his teens; the pool in the terrace. It was where he found his bride, stretched out on the comfy cushions by the pool side, one of her mehendi adorned hands dipped in the pool water along with the bejeweled ornate bangles she wore. He stood in the shadows, observing her, as she stared up at the stars with a wistful expression, oblivious to his presence. Annika had chosen a pale gold and dark maroon bridal for her, under the starlight the tiny stones stitched into the embroidery glittered like drops of dew. She had let her hair loose, her heavy, ancestral neckpiece and the matching earrings were gone. Before setting out in search of her, he had found her ghoongat carelessly thrown over his recliner back in the bedroom.
"What are you looking at, he asked her finally, leaving the shadows to join her, staring up at the stars himself.
"Kabhi hum taaro mein
teri aankein dundthe hai
Kabhi ishq mein jalne wale
apne dil ko dundthe hai She did not turn around or sit up to acknowledge his presence, her eyes remained on the cosmos as she replied.
"You bleed in shayaris don't you? Omkara wondered out loud. Without a word her surprised gaze turned upon him. She found him already changed into his casual wear; he might be planning to work on his studio that night, that he had worn a paint splashed shirt and his spectacles. It didn't surprise her; he had an6 exhibition in a few days time; but his words most certainly had. He smiled and explained. "Each time I found you heart broken, you ended up quoting a couplet.
"Some people's pain is beautiful " she replied wistfully, "like the stars that burn to light a moonless night. Their efforts go in vein, those they watch over never notices them but still how beautiful they look even when they fall?
Her words reminded him of the Omkara of yore one that might wistfully agree with her philosophy and the thought bothered him. He liked dealing with that sarcastic, sly and grinning Gauri over this thoughtful one any time. They were opposites of spectrum he wanted to keep it that way.
"Where is your phone? I was calling you for a while now, Omkara tried to distract her.
"Back at home, locked in my drawer, she replied nonchalantly. "Call me a coward or a sadist there are some questions I don't have answers to.
"It's not my place to judge you, he said slowly, looking at her puffed eyes. She might have spent the entire night before crying that she didn't even shed a tear at her Bidaai.
"Why were you calling me? She broke the silence curiously.
"Oh I was wondering where you were. It's not easy to search an entire floor.
"I told you I'm not gonna leave, her voice was empty of any emotion. "I got lost in this maze of corridors, before realizing this entire floor doesn't have a soul apart from the two of us.
"And that bothers you?
Ri shook her head.
"I like the silence it's calm in here.
She did not elaborate but he knew what she meant. The entire day had been a chaos, from press to guests, rituals or celebrations, they've been through a whirl wind of activities. The tabloids were still exploding with snapshots of various functions, fashion blogs going gaga at their attires. Nobody looked closely enough to notice how detached both of them were.
"Haan kabhi kabhi tanhayon mein sukoon hai, he agreed with her, wondering why his voice suddenly sounded so bitter.
"That's Sirius, the brightest in earth's night sky. It's my favorite star, she decided to enlighten him abruptly. "D' you know why? He shook his head watching her curiously. "Because it's not alone, there are two stars, one circling the other together till eternity. Because they burn for each other they burn the brightest, a light no one can diminish.
Omkara closed his eyes, letting her words wash over him. They had a nice ring to it, a light no one can diminish. She continued to speak, oblivious to his thoughts. "When I was young, I was afraid of darkness. Maa pointed it out to me, and said as long as I have someone anyone with me, no one can diminish my light just like Sirius. Like you have your brothers? She opened the conversation for him. "You don't fall weak as long as they are with you. And you burn bright as long as it's for them.
He didn't ask her how she knew the exact words to describe their bond. She had no siblings, or that mother she so fondly spoke of with her anymore. But still Omkara looked away from Ri and her favorite star, trying to crush that stray thought as soon as it sprung to life her words tasted of love and left him with a yearning that burned his throat. He'd like to be loved like that. Wanting her friendship in itself was a big thing to ask and now, he caught himself hopelessly wondering what it would be like to taste her love.
God must be hysterical somewhere.
**
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Love,
Sakura
Anupamaa
Health and Fitness
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