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The night was cold, the sky covered with grey dusty clouds. The occasional thundering cut through the silent music of the night leaves. The thunder threatened the earth, the trees trembled but the Mansion stood firmly unaffected. The Mansion was dark as the dwellers had retired for the night. Dim lights lit sporadic spots of the Mansion, oblivious to the each other.
The inside of the Mansion was warm compared to the dark biting cold inside, despite the open windows and a countable three garden doors.
Tej silently walked to the open poolside garden, after Shwetlana was asleep. He looked at the sky as soon as he reached where he wanted to be. The clouds were heavy just like his heart. Why had he been blinded so far? Today, he knew what a family meant. Oh, how he craved to be the Tej Singh Oberoi who once received the family's love, respect and care. He deserved much worse than he was put to. But his heart pained. He had not valued what he had got without asking and now his dry heart craved. His heart craved for the rains, it was scorching hot under the guilt and anger at his own deeds. What had initially begun as a "vaccination process" to help his sons learn the hard ways of life had turned into 'selfish sins '. He had been harsh to his sons because Jaanvi always spoilt them with love. He fought with her on the same lines. But when the tamed harshness became wild and fights grew to loathed quarrels even he hadn't realised. He was disgusted with his own self.
But, today when he had danced with each of the members of his "once upon a time " very own family, realisation had struck hard and tortured him till the core, and left his soul with deep wounds. What horrid ways had he made his own? What a terrible beast had he turned to?
Today, it was the same Jaanvi whom he had once threatened to kill, with tears in her eyes, as she saw his helplessness. Oh where had he been lost on dark roads, that the lanes of his very home seemed so afar to reach.
Unknown to him tears rolled down his eyes as he sat on the bench regretting his past and anguished at his present.
The family still loved him despite his deeds, that had done everything to break it.
The moisture in his mother's eyes and despair in her voice. The hate in Omkara's eyes and the coldness in his words and voice. The affection in his younger one's smiling squeezed eyes and the care in his voice. The respect, despite everything in Shivaay's deep blue eyes. The undying love and hope in his wife's eyes. All stabbed him in the heart. Did he deserve all of it, after all he had done? Not a chance. But, perhaps that's why they were called "Family".
Ahh. The warmth!
Somewhere in another lit and yet shadowed boundary of the Mansion stood Pinky. As she looked stood out scanning the dark clouds for a glimpse of the moon. She should have known that it was a new moon night and her efforts were futile.
But, adamant she stood like a rock, her heart crying in pain and mind grieving about the "intruder" who had conquered her son's heart. Her soul burned. She had screamed and yet not a ear had heard. Were they all deaf? Now again they made her feel she was never one among them, despite all she had done.
Ahh. The Heat!
Not once did she see the view from the other part. Not once did she reflect back at the bygone.
The path you took would also affect where you were and how you would be! But she was oblivious to all for she was living under the shelter of a so called family that she once was a perfect fit too.
"Rim-jhim"
The rains were finally pouring to quench the thirst of parched souls. The earth rejoiced. Alas, the sky but cried .
The dark night sighed. Stupid was the Sky that failed to see what the Earth saw. The sky was being relieved of its load and the earth was being nourished by the coolness.
After what seemed a century did a small smile grow on Tej's face as he saw the droplets pitter-patter against the surface of the water, making a melodious sound that echoed in the air as though Happiness had just composed a new song.
Smiling Gauri who had been a silent oblivious companion to Omkara's father, stepped ahead offering him the sweet candies she had in hand. He looked at her in surprise and was about to switch back to his pretense- being the Jolly Peter Dsouza who atleast dint make people cry and hate him. She nodded in a no giving an assuring smile. She sat on the other extreme end of the bench watching the droplets that made her forget the pains that love had inflicted on her poor innocent heart. She occasionally extended the packet to him and he happily took a small piece.
Both had found a new friend!
While a confused mind and a content heart of a certain philosopher witnessed just like the splashing droplets the making of a new bond-a bond of friendship. Weird enough though the two were beyond for him to comprehend, seeing them together that way filled his heart up with a refreshing joy, and off he went to capture the moment in an artist's signature style.
The droplets came crashing down, Pinky's face grew a frown. Angry she stared up at the sky. Stupid Sky hurts everyone when it cries. Should perhaps get a private corner for itself to cry!
She let out the curses to the sky. An angry Shivaay looked on disgusted as he stood by his wife at the door refusing to leave his dad's wife alone. Pity was evident in Anika's eyes as she finally decided to give in to Shivaay's request.
Pinky shut the doors as she moved inside. Oh, if she knew the rain could cool her burning self. The moment she had slammed shut the door, Anika and Shivaay left her the door from where they had been silently witnessing.
The Rim-Jhim of the droplets sounded like crashing cries to Pinky. While the same Rim-Jhim was melody to Tej's deprived ears.
The "Saavan's " first rains gave three souls a new hope, a new chapter of life.
While the same rain was the old bore to a adamant soul who shut herself to the new hope that could give her a fresh path, to a better tomorrow. But she chose to see the droplets as nothing but a nuisance while the same droplets were like "Amrit" to another.
While one let go off the ego to hold on to what could remain, to re-build a castle of hope again.
The other chose to cling on to the ignorance and ego and left the new opportunity to seek another way that would lead her to a magical castle better than her old dusty cursed fort.
The Night Sighed, the Mansion Smiled.
While to Rim-Jhim the droplets danced and the air enjoyed.
P. S
The exam effect!
How hard I tried not to write! š
Eagerly looking forward to read your comments, views and feedback on this one shot.
Indian Mythology
