Posted:
Light Me Up...
It was another cold and lonely night.Sakshi was feeling miserable as she had been feeling for the past month and a half.But then she had been warned of this among other things to the point of irritation when she had been furiously preparing to leave for the UK to do her Masters.She had set her heart on studying further in one of the premier institutes of England and possibly settle to work also.It was the happiest day in her life when everything fell into place and she had landed in the country of her dreams.It was a glorious period which had lasted all of two weeks.The ice at school still had to be broken and she hadn't yet made close friends due to the busy nature of the course.Homesickness along with culture shock set in and she began to miss home.
She was from the big city where the culture of keeping to oneself was slowly setting in but she had been raised in a huge colony where it was common for neighbours to be in and out of each others homes.She also had a huge extended family who loved to keep in touch either physically or via phone.It was fun most times but she did crave a bit of metime.It was one reason why she had wanted to live by herself in a far off country.She mentally kicked herself now for all the times she had groaned at the intrusion by relatives and neighbours.
Here she had no relative and the neighbours were visible only by their nameplates hanging in the lift lobby.She only saw them occasionally in passing.And all they did was nod politely and keep walking.
There was some hope when she had noticed her next door neighbour identified as A.Rawte on his mail box.Here was another soul from Homeland and a Maharashtrian to boot she had thought happily and had begun fantasizing of hot chais and samosas and gup shup filled evenings.But that guy had turned out to be the rudest of all.He didnt even extended the courtesy of a nod when she first saw him striding off right past her from the lift towards his car.
His look also scared the hell out of her.Half his face was covered by a four days growth of beard and the other half by dark Gucci shades.To complete the look he wore his Hoodie and carried a heavy back pack everytime he stepped out of home.He never spoke to anyone and looked straight ahead even if there were people around him.Nobody ever visited him.It was clear he was a loner.
Raised on staple of American crime shows whose favourite criminal were always serial killers she began to be afraid of him and gave him a wide berth every time they crossed paths.She never took the lift with him alone.
Sakshi was sure she had a serial killer or a terrorist for a neighbour.She was an imaginative girl and began thinking of novel ways the man might have did away with his victims.They must be young girls like me she thought fearfully.Does he torture them before killing them? she wondered.Or is he as of now assembling some bomb in the darkest room of his house to mass murder?Adding to her misery and loneliness fear too became a newest companion to her in this big strange city.
The sight of parcel from home lifted up her spirits and she hooted with joy.Her mom had sent her Diwali gift which was tomorrow.She pounced on the box and tore open the wrapping.There was steel box of besan laadoo and chakli her favourite Diwali fare.There was also a small box of assorted sweets that are a Diwali specialty in Mithai shops.She reached below a lifted out the beautiful pink and orange Anarkali suit and the matching choodis, jewelry and jootis.
The sight of all this overwhelmed her and she burst into tears remembering all those happy festival nights she had spent in fun and laughter with her loved ones.
She woke up and saw it was dark outside.Yet again she had cried herself to sleep.She came to a decision.She would not continue her studies here.She would go back to India at the end of the first semester.Feeling somewhat better she put away the gifts and went to make herself a cup of tea.She was low on milk she noticed and decided to run out to the corner store to buy some.
She always hastened her steps when crossing A.Rawte's door for fear a hand might pop out of there and pull her in.
The smell of agarbattis hit her nose as she came up the steps.She slowed down and was agahst at the sight in front of her.A.Rawte's door was wide open.There were a couple of diyas lighted on either side of the door step.An attempt was also made at drawing a small rangoli in front.But the most heart stopping was the lovely soft chanting of the Gayatri Mantra
"Om Bhur Bhuvah Swah,
Tat Savitur Varenyam,
Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi,
Dhiya Yo Nah Prachodayat"
Sakshi was an extremely curious girl by nature and her nose would usually be found in places it had no business to be.She slowly went towards her neighbour's door and peeked inside.
The sight there enchanted her beyond words. Gone was the sullen"serial killer/terrorist" in a hoodie.Here was freshly shaven tall young man in a lovely pale green kurta and white trousers.He had closed his eyes and with folded hands was deeply engrossed in his pooja.Sakshi could just stare at him.All her fears washed away and new awe and respect bloomed in her heart in its place.
A line that was frequently used by the hero of her favourite crime show ran through her mind."Kyun ke aksar jo dikhta hai...woh nazar nahi aata!!" She smiled and ran back to her house.
In a jiffy she showered and slipped on her new Anarkali.She wore the jewelry and a nice double bindi of orange pink.Dabbing on a bit of gloss and kajal she grabbed the small mithai box running back next door.Hesitantly she knocked.
He was aroused from his prayers and he turned to look at his visitor.Softly she smiled at him and wished,"Happy Diwali, Mr Rawte!" To her utter surprise he broke into a little smile and welcomed her with,"Sakshi? Happy Diwali.Come, join me!"
Surer of herself she walked in and handed him her gift.She simply could not look away from his scrubbed innocent look.Together they folded their hands and prayed.
He then offered her prasad and she took it smilingly."You know my name?" she asked him happily."Yeah!Howz college? Have you settled yet?" he asked her.
Immensely pleased that he hadn't been ignoring her she poured out her heart to him.He listened quietly and when she stopped for a breather encouraged her to get over her homesickness and pursue her studies single mindedly.He told very little about himself but Sakshi was grateful for whatever friendliness he was showing.
"Err..What does A in A.Rawte stand for?" she asked him nervously.He smiled and she was bowled over."My name is Arjun." he answered.
She saw left over rangoli powder and grabbed it.She drew small but pretty designs near the pooja room and at the door step.He surprised her more by opening a box of phool charees and she squealed like a kid.They went to the balcony where he had lighted more diyas.They finished up burning the firework.It was a most beautiful fun filled evening she had had in many months.
She looked at him and noticed how much he too was enjoying her company.What started out as a dark day ended being so bright.
Go back to India? No wayyy!she smiled to herself.
The Beginning...
Happy Diwali!đ
Tum Se Tum Tak
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