SS: Madhabilata (Completed)

Madhabilata

As I boarded the train, I felt empty inside me. This is nothing unusual. For the last 10 years, I've been only feeling this emptiness, nothing more. I sighed as I looked out of the window; today I'm going to meet those eyes once again. Those fascinating eyes that made me believe in dreams once, that made me believe in love once. Today after such a long time, I took a journey back through the memory lanes which are hidden beneath my heart, with years' old dust.

When I first met him, I was fascinated to see him - a very charming person with a powerful personality. I found it hard to speak looking at his eyes. I don't know about the others, but for me, those eyes were something I had never experienced before in my life.

They were grayish brown, innocent and spoke volumes. One look at those wonderful dreamy eyes and I was gone. He was embarrassed as he found me staring at him. We were in a program of Red Cross. I went to donate blood. I smiled embarrassingly and asked if he came for the same reason.

"No, I'm a regular donor and also a volunteer." He has offered her a smile, he indeen had the best smile of the world as well.

I was awed by him, so was many other women in the program. He was dark, tall, lean and extremely handsome. And there was an odd mixture of maturity and childishness in his behavior that you could not help but adore him. I lost my concentration from the rest of the program as people donated blood, someone spoke the necessity of donation etc. My eyes were only following him. But he seemed too busy to notice that. In that two hours, I found that he was the most devoted volunteer I've ever met.

In my state of incredibleness and his busy movement, I forgot to ask his name.

The next time, I saw those eyes in my dreams. Then again, then again, until I got frustrated of life. I wanted to see him badly, I wanted to have another deep dive into those pools of dreams, hope, fire, kindness. Oh god, what can I say to describe those eyes. If you show me 100 pair of eyes, I'll recognize his eyes. I know I was in love with the man who owned the most beautiful pair of eyes.

Being restless, I tried to locate him everywhere. I became regular donor of Red Cross, if only I could see him again. But no, luck was against me. I became volunteer of Red Cross. I tried to work upon his devotion. One day, on a rural area, as I was explaining the illiterate people the importance of blood donating, I stopped in the mid sentence as I found those intense pair of eyes staring at me. There was admiration in his eyes with the same glint of dreaminess. I was gone.

When we finally got some time alone, he said, "You did a real good job."

"Not as much as you." I replied, I was so eager to meet his eyes, but he was not letting me have a chance. He kept his head bowed, god knows why. When god gave him this possession, had he requested him to hide this eyes from intruders like me?

"Do you like Madhabilata?" I was taken aback from his question. I, for the first time, noticed that he had got a bunch of Madhabilata flower in his hand. I automatically reached for them and he dropped them in my stretched hand. The scent was too much to bear, it was seducing, intoxicating and same time very innocent; just like him.

"These are my favourite flowers." He smiled at me as he looked up and our eyes met once again. Once again I drank from that enormous source of intensity. As the sweet scent of Madhabilata filled my nostrils, I knew, from now on, it is going to be my favourite flower as well.

………………………

Then there were no stopping us. We became inseparable. The love within us was too much to bear for us. We were happy just with ourselves. While our friends complained that they are not getting enough of us, they also complimented that such a couple was very rare. My female friends were all envious of me. Why won't they? I think, every woman in the world should get envious of me. I got the best man god has ever created. I had got my Krishna.

As I began to know him better, I fell more in love with him. His everything amused me, amazed me. I loved his every being. He had a strong dedication and devotion for the dying and destitute people. And for that, he often heard taunting words of the people, "This is only a disguise."

"you are just some old freak"

"Buddy, don't fool us, we know you earn lot doing this stuff."

Sometimes I felt bad for him as I knew that his dedication for those people were real. He only smiled, "They are just jealous dear, nothing else. I'm happy with what I'm doing. I don't do it for people's praise."

That made me adore him more.

………………


We dreamt of having a small home of ours, with one or two child. We planned so much things and had so much dreams that they reached the sky. But we were happy with ourselves. He was a cute person to be in love with. He gave me a handful of Madhabilata every time we met. He's so adorable. He promised me that, when we'll have our wedding night, he'll fill the room with Madhabilatas. I was up in the sky with shyness and happiness.

But it is told that happiness doesn't long for long. My parents started finding a good husband for me. I refused to marry anyone but him. My parents said, they'll agree anyone of my choice but him.

When being desperate I asked, "What's wrong with him?"

Their reply was like this, "He's a crazy man out to help everyone around the world, how can he keep you happy?"

But I knew no one, no one in this world can make me happy except Krishna. I discussed it with him.

"what do you want Pratigya?" he asked.

"let's elope." Was all I can say.

"Ok,"he agreed readily.

Our friends helped us planning. On the fixed date, I ran away from home and went to a farm house one of my friends owned. All our friends were present and they kept making fun of us and teasing us. Krishna seemed to be tensed and worried, while I was happy. When I asked him whether he was not happy, he said, "Of course I'm happy. Just thinking if I'm making the right decision. You know, I don't know if I deserve someone like you…."

I cut him down, "Krishna, you are my happiness. I don't need anything else."

He smiled. At last when it was time for our wedding, he suddenly took me aside and said, "Pratigya, I'll be back in few minutes."

"But where are you going?" I asked, tensed.

"you don't want our wedding to be happen without Madhabilata, Do you? I'll just bring some of them."

"Seriously Krishna, we don't need them. Don't leave now, please."

"Don't be ridiculous Pratigya. I promised to you. I don't want our relation to start with a broken promise. It'll just take 10 minutes. Wait for me." And he was gone.

And, he never came back to me.

And I kept waiting for him all these years.

…………………………

As I hesitantly walked towards the door, I felt something that I haven't felt for years. The same anticipation and hope that I felt when I was with him. I am going to see those eyes again today, those eyes which even today haunt me all the days and nights.

I ringed the bell. The door opened and the breath was taken from me. I saw them, the same pair of grayish brown eyes staring back at me. The same dreamy look, the same dedication, the same emotions, I felt my heart reaching to my throat as I tried my best to camouflage my tears. The boy of mere 14 was standing in front of me, with those eyes I once fell in love with, waiting for me to say something.

"Yes?" he finally said.

"What's your name son?" I asked.

He hesitated then replied, "Aakash."

"it's a pretty name." I said and I pinched his cheek and then I ran from that place with all my might.

Even after all these days, he is still keeping his promise to serve people. I can still remember the day, which was supposed to be my wedding day. He had always stubbornly said that he'd donate his eyes once he's dead. And he did. It was on his last wish that he want his eyes to be donated.

Even after his death, his eyes are living, giving light to someone else, to some other family.

But what about me? What about the darkness that engulfed me for the rest of my lives? Why do you have to leave so quickly? You told me to wait for you, I waited, and I'm still waiting. But you never came. The only thing that came was you dead body, crimpled by the car that hit you on the road…..and…..and….yes, and the packet of fresh Madhabilatas in your blooded pocket.

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