second attempt at posting this. hoping people are still interested. thanks to Bhav and Mee for reading through for me.
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"Ashlesha Bua! Ashlesha Bua!"
The shouts drew nearer and nearer as the five children tore towards the outskirts of the village. The small house they were running towards was not visible unless one knew where to look, and the villagers were very familiar to the lone occupant. The tall woman who stood at the doorway was middle-aged, and still very attractive.
She waited for the children to draw nearer before calling out, "Kya hua? Kissi ke ghar pe aag lagi kya?"
Her eyes flickered from child to child; attentive dark eyes, very familiar to those who had known her mother and sister. Many a suitor had attempted to woo her in her younger days, drawn to the mystery and pain shrouded in her eyes, but she had never married. Only a handful of the villagers still alive knew the reason.
"Sumer Sa'ab aap ko bula rahe hai," one of the boys replied, gesturing behind him vaguely. "Aap jaldi jaayeeye, woh kuch zaroori baat thi."
"Sumer Kaka?" Ashlesha murmured to herself, eyes already moving beyond the children. Others would have been offended by this treatment, but they were used to their Ashlesha Bua getting lost in the past, and in the mystery of her life.
The woman walked down the steps into the garden, pulling her dupatta over her head as she moved. "Chalo, agar Sumer Kaka hume bula rahe hai, toh hum abhi chalte hai."
They made an odd sight to the few visitors that were in the village, this procession of children and a lone older woman. The villagers called out greetings to the woman, and when one visitor asked after her, they were told that she was the daughter of one of the oldest and most well-respected families to have lived in the village; that she had lost her family at a young age, and now lived on her own and helped the families of the village in any way she could.
Upon reaching the residence of Sumer Singh, Ashlesha paused. There had been a spike of something in the pit of her stomach since the words had left the lips of the young boy, but now dread consumed her. What if this had nothing to do with what she hoped?
"Bua?"
Her attention fell to the little girl tugging on her hand.
"Aap theek toh hai?" She could not help but smile. "Toh hum andar chalein?" Ashlesha steeled herself and nodded. The old hermit had not called her for so many years, what he had to say would be important.
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They sat in silence for awhile, Ashlesha not sure where to begin, and Sumer Kaka gathering his strength. He was ailing, everyone knew that, but this was important. He may not be able to see it to its end, but it was finally coming to an end.
"Woh aa gaye hai."
His wavering voice became more firm as he continued, assured of not just Ashlesha's attention, but that of the few others in the room with them.
"Woh vapas aa gaye hai, Ashlesha. Woh apni kahaani ko pura karne aa gaye hai."
Her eyes widened, and her breath caught. "Kaka?"
He smiled gently. "Ab toh tume unko yaad dilana hai, unko apne manzil tak paunchana hai."
He took another deep breath.
"Sab tumhare haath mein hai beti."
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Ashlesha raced down the familiar turns and worn path, uncaring of the odd looks she was getting or the fact that she was not as young as she used to be when she would race down these very lanes chasing after her friend. Her hands grasped the long cloth of her lehnga skirt, her dupatta trailing behind her.
"Harman! Harman!" She cried, spotting his form in the distance.
"Harman!" She raised her voice again.
She could see him pause, and turn around. She picked up her speed, heart racing. And barely a foot away from him, stopped abruptly. Her chest heaved as she struggled to catch her breath, eyes shying away from Harman's penetrating gaze. He had always had that effect on her, even after all these years. Finally, she was composed enough to look up into his eyes. Hers sparkled with joy and hope and many years of unshed tears.
"Woh yahaan hai, Harman. Humne job hi saalon se maanga, woh sab kuch hone wala hai. Jiji aur aapka bhai, woh hume vapas mil gaye hai."
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