Kalarikkal House [4] - Thread 5 link posted - Page 84

Read this FF in one go. Took me few hours but enjoyed every minute of it. What can I say about your writing skills that you haven't heard before - difficult but am going to try. Your ability to weave an incredibly interesting story interwoven with culture, religion, family values, love, passion, respect and above all sacrifice is simply mind-blowing. Keep this going girl :)

Chapter 54: Fifth Day

[Not proofed yet]

On the fifth day, she broke her silence.

When he went to see her that night, it had been later than usual.

She had finished her dinner long before and he had found her leaning against the railing on her elbows.

He walked up several feet away from her and stood against the railing as well, just as he did every night.

He had thought to stay for fifteen minutes or so before leaving, but ten minutes in, she had finally spoken.

"I thought you wouldn't come today."

For a moment, he was caught off guard that she had spoken at all.

"One of my meetings ran later than I expected." he offered quietly once he collected himself.

She nodded and they remained in silence for another few minutes before she said, "Now, I have spent just as many days in your home as you did in mine."

It took him by surprise, her observation. He hadn't had time to think about the passage of time aside from as a marker for how many days it had been since they had lapsed into their silence.

To compare her five days here to his five days at Kalarikkal House seemed preposterous somehow.

"Somehow seems an inadequate comparison." He spoke out loud.

"For whom?" she asked, although her tone was without rancor.

Once again, he had only thought of his own experience. The passage of years, even decades, or possibly even a lifetime, couldn't measure up to the five days that he had spent in a land shielded from any worldly dimensions. In comparison, his past five days had been a blip on his screen, the rigamorole of his dialy existence rewarded only by her presence – even a silent one – at the end of it. He couldn't imagine what it must have felt like for her.

Before he could ask as much, she spoke again. "Time has infinitely ceased on this balcony. If I go on like this, I am afraid I will become mummified right here and one day you will return to make your nocturnal visit only to find a deeply unhappy sarcophagus."

He was taken aback once again. "I am not sure if that is morbid or humorous." He said for lack of a better response.

She gave a short laugh that had no humor in it even as she said, "It can be both. I have moved past despondency and into tedium sometime in the past three days and I find that I cannot stand it."

"Tedium?" he asked.

She turned to look at him for a moment in the dim light of the distant wall-lamp.

He thought she smiled, but he couldn't be sure.

"Don't I look it? Bored, I mean?" she asked.

He returned her gaze intently before asking, "Have you spoken with your sister?"

It had been a slight smile after all because he saw it disappear now as she turned back to gaze into the night once more.

"Not yet. But I will."

"She is worried." He told her the obvious. He spoke with Pallavi daily and knew that Kashi refused to pick up any calls even though he had gotten her her own cell the day that they had arrived.

"I am sure you told her I am safe and sound."

"It is not the same as hearing from you and you know that."

She was quiet for several long moments after that.

"I don't want to sound like this when I speak to her." She finally said, exhaling deeply.

"Sound like what?" he asked, taking a risk and pushing her to speak of it.

She didn't give in easily and when she lapsed into another bout of silence, he thought that she had clammed up for good.

"Fatigued… Morose… Hopeless…" she gave in.

He didn't know how to respond to that.

And so he said nothing and instead leaned against the railing fully, balancing on his elbows as well.

Silence fell again and they both stood there for a long while, staring into the darkness where there were no ghosts lurking to trip him into trances and strangely vivid dreams.

I was wishing for an update, let me wish I shed 10 kilos quickly and that may happen too 😆

Edit

and so the girl spoke again!

and again, kashi turns to the only familiar thing/person in the unfamiliar urban jungle. i'm glad that the thawing has begun.

when arnav was stranded at kalarikkal house, kashi was not the only friendly face there.. he was left rudderless and tossed into the storms of myth and mysticism, but he latched on to kashi like they were meant to be.. she was not just a friendly face.

when kaveri is offered a home at the guesthouse of shantivan, arnav is her only tangible thread to reality.. him, and that tree near the balcony. i am in awe with how well you illustrated her pathos and arnav 's hesitancy .👏

great update!

one step at a time, one step at a time, slowly and steadily they will be there, but I wonder it cannot be like in KH!, I'm missing the house as much!, I didn't think will tell this out loud , but I do surely miss KH

This is simply amazing story! I have thoroughly enjoyed each word about Kalarikkal House and its surroundings. Took me back to my childhood when I lived a couple of years in Kerala. Still is one of my favorite places.

Never thought Khashi was counting the days and will compare it... its a different feelings for both of them...it is understandable that the way she is feeling herself nw...

the comparison came out of the blue for me.. i must not be paying enough attention..
but how beautifully you compared the days..you didnt say much, but there it was..
I am glad she finally realized that she is getting into a realm that she will not be confortable with..Kashi and morose don't go together, do they?
Did Arnav have any contribution in melting of this proverbial glacier that is Kashi? May be patience does pay some dividends, some time.
I am unable to understand what is going on in Arnav's mind though.. but I know you will tel us soon enough..