Pt -1 pg-1; Pt-6 Pg 27; pt-7 Pg 32;pt-8 Pg 38;Pt-9 Pg 45;P11 Pg 51; P12 Pg67;P13-Pg72;p14-Pg96;P15-Pg111;P16 - Pg122;
Laaga Chunari Mein Daag
PART - 1
Prachi was sitting in the economy section of the airplane. She had gotten a window seat but none of that registered nor did she want it to register. Her head was resting against the window sill as she sat numbly watching the world outside from that small window on the airplane.
Tendrils of hair were escaping from her tight clip that held her hair back from her face. There was sadness in those eyes. A bleakness which said she had seen it all. It looked like there was nothing new left for her to see or understand in this world or to be shocked about it.
The air hostess informed everyone that it was going to be a smooth ride to their destination and the weather was going to beautiful.
Nothing registered inside her. When there was a hurricane brewing inside the heart there was nothing left to think about? She held the bundle close as she sat staring out the window.
She stared into space as the flight took off. She was in no hurry to think about anything right now.
Prachi got off the plane after an uneventful ride. She was numb. Her heart had frozen over completely. There was anger, pain and misery that would never go away.
Exiting the airport, she waited at the curb. Prachi was dressed in a pale green chiffon sari. The sari draped over her slender frame beautifully. She did not wear any jewelry except for the simple gold chain and a diamond earring that was a present from her father.
Prachi looked at her watch. It was 3.30 P.M in the afternoon. She was about to look up when someone placed a hand on her shoulder, startling her.
'Prachi, how are you? How was your trip?' Ayesha asked with compassion as she saw the sadness in her friend's eyes.
'It was o.k' Prachi as answered as she bent down to pick her luggage with the weight of the soft bundle on the other hand.
'Give him to me. I will carry him.' saying Ayesha got the one year old baby boy from Prachi's hands. Giving Ayesha a sad, tired smile Prachi handed over her son to him.
Ayesha looked at the baby. He was absolutely adorable. He had long curly hair and he had the face of an angel. Ayesha glanced at her friend. Prachi had lost weight in the last year or so. She looked as though a slight wind might break her at any moment. But beneath all this fragileness, Ayesha could glimpse the strength of steal.
With Rithwick in her hand and Prachi following behind, both of them walked to Ayesha's parked car. Ayesha opened the door for Prachi and handed over Rithwick to her in silence.
Starting the ignition the car slid slowly across the highway as Ayesha drove towards the suburbs in Delhi. It was a new city, a new place, a new way of life but Prachi needed and craved this change.
Ayesha parked the car and came around to collect Rithwick. Freeing him from Prachi's hold she waited for Prachi to get out of the car.
Prachi got out and walked with Ayesha towards her apartment. Ayesha lived on the ground floor and she had asked Prachi to stay with her once she had found out that Prachi was moving to Delhi.
Everything was eerily quite as they both entered the apartment with the sleeping baby. Ayesha was carrying Prachi's luggage while she carried the sleeping baby on her shoulders. Her eyes were empty with sadness. Anyone seeing her would know that there was total bleakness in her soul.
Nothing registered, the apartment, the tasteful decorations or the peacefulness of the place.
The apartment was indeed beautiful. It had a hall with a beautiful Kitchen to the right. It was done up in pastel shades and two huge couches occupied the hall. Ayesha led Prachi to one of the rooms that were on one side of the hall.
'Prachi, this is your bedroom' saying Ayesha opened the door for Prachi. Prachi silently entered and looked around. Ayesha had furnished the room very well. She had even anticipated Rithwick's arrival and had made sure that he had some toys to play with.
Laying Rithwick silently on the bed, Prachi sat down beside him. She looked at her 1 Year old son who was peacefully sleeping. He did not have any care in the world and she was going to make sure that it stayed that way for him. With love she pushed the unruly curls that were falling on his forehead away from his face.
With tears that refused to spill she got up from the bed and looked at Ayesha.
'Prachi' Ayesha said as she came towards her with a solemn smile on her face.
'No, I am fine. Did you look for a daycare? for Rithwick?' Prachi asked ignoring the help and refusing to share her pain with Ayesha.
Not wanting to say anything that might break her fragile looking friend, Ayesha smoothly switched topics.
'Yes, I have. It is on the ground floor of the office. We can enroll him tomorrow. I have made all the arrangements' Ayesha said as they both stepped out of the bedroom leaving Rithwick to sleep peacefully.
The next morning they had a somber breakfast where Ayesha carried bulk of the conversation between them. Prachi listened to her friend's non-stop chatter. She knew Ayesha was trying her best to cheer her up. But when there was nothing left in her to cheer it was a tremendous effort to even bring out a smile.
Ayesha watched her friend. Prachi was dressed in a pale pink chiffon sari. She had let her hair fall loose today which enhanced the softness and the beauty of her features. But the sadness and the bleakness of those eyes, it bothered everyone who was around her. She wore a diamond earring, a gift from her father, Ayesha knew. There was a small and slim gold chain around her neck. On her hand, there was nothing but a watch and handbag on the other.
Ayesha was dressed in jeans and a pale green kurta. Her hair was flowing down her back as she walked besides Prachi, carrying Rithwick with her. Once in the car, it was absolute silence. Ayesha glanced at her friend as she drove to office complex where Ayesha had gotten a job for Prachi.
Both of them were going to work in the same company and Ayesha had decided that Prachi needed this change to move ahead in her life.
Once inside the day care, the person in-charge of handling the admissions welcomed them inside. Prachi with Rithwick on her shoulders walked inside as Ayesha waited in the lobby of the building.
'Sit down, please'
Prachi sat down in the chair opposite to the woman who was handling the admissions. The lady was going through the paperwork and she glanced up at Prachi 'Your friend has already filled in the form but there are some areas that have not been filled yet'
Prachi looked at her silently as she carried on. 'Can you tell me the father's name so that I can fill it in for you' the lady asked not looking up at Prachi.
Anger that she had not shown to anybody before came boiling up and threatened to break free. Her knuckles whitened as she held her son tightly. Anger, pain and hurt, a whole gamut of emotions played across her heart and it showed clearly on the pale white face of hers. She struggled to control it.
One single question and she was about to break. She ruthlessly tried to stomp those emotions that were building up in her. She was not going to breakdown today or anytime in the future. With a hand on her son's back her breathing slowed and she looked at the lady.
With a tight suppression of emotions, the only leeway she could find for her emotions was a film of tears that formed in her eyes. After a few seconds, once she had a semblance of control she looked at the lady and said,'The father is dead'
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