This is an entry from the diary of mahendra pratap.
To my beloved wife,
it has been so long since I have held you in my arms. Five years ago you left me alone and even today I can smell the scent of your skin. Your laughter still rings in my ears. Why did you leave me? I miss your head on my shoulder at night, you never did like using a pillow and always ended up with your head there. my nights are so lonely and the days so long. I dream of you every night, you dance and twirl around and I watch you. I sometimes feel your hands caress my cheek, is it you or am I dreaming?
You occupy every corner of my life. Everywhere I look I see you. So many memories I have of you, they will last me a lifetime. There can never be another for me. You told me that I would laugh again. You made me promise to love again. I am sorry, my love, I cant keep that promise. I love only you.
My heart hurts for you. Ever since you left me I have never been able to pray. Your God took you from me and left me to bear this pain...of your loss. I will never forgive him. I have learnt to live with the pain but I assure you it never leaves me. I laugh and smile and the world thinks that I have moved on but the truth no one can see. I ache for you and only you. Julia, I love saying your name. It is a mantra I repeat in my mind.It calms me. What wouldn't I do to talk to you, to touch you and kiss your lips. You were torn out of my life too soon. You were my solace and my happiness. You were my family. We were supposed to raise a large brood of children ' you always wanted a large family. We were supposed to grow old together. I would cut your nails and you would search for my reading glasses. We would have white hair but you would still be the most beautiful woman in the world for me. I would hold your hand always, even when you didn't need me. Why did you leave me? Anyway ,my love, I am off to your resting place. I have bought your favorite white lilies.
Your and your alone,
MP
p.s ' I love you, I worship you, I miss you.
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Chapter 1
"excuse me, how dare you sit on top of my wife's resting place?" demanded an angry voice from behind her. she gave a start and whirled around to see who was so angry. "i am sorry. i was just resting my feet. these heels were killing me. i didn't mean..." aaliya rushed to say. the man infront of her was staring at her as if he was in shock. there was no anger on his face only disbelief. "julia..."said the man and stared at her some more, the white lilies he was carrying fell from his hand. Aaliya felt even worse, she had hurt a man who had come to meet his dead wife's grave and found someone sitting on the wife's tombstone.'crap' thought aaliya 'what do i do?' aaliya looked at the tombstone that read:
Here lies Julia Gomes Pratap, beloved wife and sister, forever in our heart and thoughts.
she gathered her heel in her hands and giving the husband an apologetic smile said "i'm sorry, mr pratap. i didn't mean for this to happen." she turned and was walking away when the man seemed to come out of his trance and yelled "stop. who are you? stop!" aaliya got scared.'will this man kill me?'she thought'run, aaliya, run for your life!' aaliya ran and jumped into one of the car departing from the wedding venue. she turned back to see the man was running after the car, but when the car turned the bend he was no longer there.
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MP came out of his rivierie and looked at Pat, his brother-in-law and closest confidant, who was looking at him with a perplexed expression. MP scowled and knowing what the next words out of Pat's mouth would be replied "I am fine, Pat. i saw a girl who looked exactly like Julia, she was sitting on Julia's grave and then ran away in a car. i have to find her, Pat." Pat looked at MP and said slowly as if he were talking to a child "ok brother, calm down. you say you saw a girl who looked exactly like Julia, who was sitting on my sister's grave and you want to find her? what was this girls name?" MP looked at Pat with annoyance and said "dont patronise me, Pat. i dont know her name. but she looks like my julia. julia is trying to send me some kind of message. find that girl, damn it. find her now. i want all details about her, by today evening. got it, Pat? today evening!" "but brother where will i search for her? lets talk to the Father, maybe that will help. you should talk to the Father. come brother, lets get you out of this sun and lets talk to the Father."Pat said conjolingly. MP gave him a disgusted look and walked towards the church. he did not even realise that he was entering the house of God who he no longer believed in.
the church was decorated. these were flowers everywhere and the father was standing by the alter and telling people to pack up the decorations. MP walked up to the father and kissed his hand. "father, there was a girl who looked like my Julia. she was sitting on my wife's tombstone. who is she? does she come here often? father please tell me." implored MP. the father stared at MP and then at the crucifix and then back at MP and said "you have come here after five years, my son. i am so happy to see you. i am sorry that i dont know who you are talking about. i have seen no look-a-like of Julia. i was administrating a wedding here. maybe she was a guest or just a passerby who happen to walk into the cemetry to rest her legs. we get that sometimes."
"father, this is my number, please any information. i need to find her. my julia is trying to show me something, maybe tell me something. please father."MP the proud man said to the Father with his head bowed over the Father's hand.
"ok my child. i will try. did she tell you her name?"asked the father. "no, she ran without telling me anything." said MP dejectedly. "have faith, my son. God will help you."consoled the Father. MP kissed the Father's hand and with a last thanks walkes out of the church.
next edition - another excerpt from MP's diary and chp2
teaser of Chp 2
MP's phone rings. MP answers with a crisp "hello, MP here. who is this?"
"hello my son. this is Father Rodrick from the St George church and Cemetry. that girl you were searching for has come and left you a letter. she didn't tell me her name. hello?hello? are you there? my son. hello?" said the voice on the phone.
MP is stunned. two days ago that girl had run away from him and now she sends him a letter. he breaks out of his trance and quickly says "father, i will be there in an hour. keep the girl there. i need to talk to her."
the Father said "she is gone my son. she left you a letter. come collect that. will talk to you when i see you. god bless you." and the line got disconnected.
MP stared at the phone in his hand.
CID
Anupamaa
Tum Se Tum Tak
