Part 8:
Vikrant placed the finishing touches to the dinner table. He lit a candle and watched as the flame darted around in the breeze. Sarita's terrace gave an impression of a romantic atmosphere.
The sky was blue and beginning to darken with a few stray wisps of teenage clouds lagging behind the older clouds of hours ago. The stars twinkled brightly and Vikrant winked back at them; they too knew what was coming.
He played around with the cutlery nervously, fixing all that didn't need to be fixed. He tightened his new blue silk tie, loosened it again, opened the button of his navy black suit jacket, and decided to close it again. He had been so busy all day arranging the setup that he had barely taken time to think about the feelings that were stirring inside him. Glancing at his watch and at the darkening sky, he hoped Sarita would come.
Sarita walked nervously in the red saree. It was really dificult for her to carry red chiffon saree for a complete day. Her saree irritated her throughout the day, but she wanted vikrant to see her in that saree only. she wanted to do some efforts for him.
the sight of Vikrant standing dressed in a smart new suit beside a small, beautifully set table for two, candle flickering in the center, casting shadows across his smiling face took her breath away
The sight was enough to bring a tear from a stone. It was an image her mother had stamped in her mind, an image she had whispered excitedly into her ear about moonlit dinners, so much so that her mother's dreams had become her own. And there Vikrant was, standing in the picture Sarita and her mother had painted so vividly and that had remained etched in Sarita's mind. She understood the phrase, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, and so she unashamedly did both.
Vikrant stood proudly, blue eyes glistening in the moonlight. He ignored her tears, or rather, accepted them.
"My dear""he bowed theatrically""your moonlit dinner awaits you."
Wiping her eyes and smiling a smile so big, she felt she could light the entire world, she took his extended hand and stepped out of the car.
Vikrant inhaled sharply. "Wow, Sarita, you look stunning."
She smiled proudly. "Wearing red is my favorite thing to do now," she said, imitating him, taking his arm and allowing him to lead her to the dinner table.
"Vikrant, this is beautiful, thank you," she whispered, not feeling able to lift her voice over the peaceful lapping water.
"Thank you for coming." He smiled, pouring her a glass of red wine.
After dinner Vikrant turned to look at Sarita, who had her hands wrapped around her wineglass and was staring wistfully out to the scenery from her terrace. She never got the time to adore the sea from her sea facing bungalow. he asked,"Would you lie with me on the garden?"
Sarita misunderstood vikrant, she started to go when she saw the moonlight and as she glanced up, her mouth dropped open. Above her in the black cloudless sky was a hive of activity. Stars glowed brighter than she had ever seen before, some darting across the sky, and a shooting star passed. Sarita whispered,"Its beautiful".
They studied each other's faces in comfortable silence until more action above diverted their attention.
"Why don't you make a wish?" Vikrant asked her.
"No." She laughed softly. "I'm still waiting for my Well's wish to come true."
"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that,"Vikrant said seriously. "It takes a while to process, you won't be waiting long."
She laughed and stared hopefully up into the sky.
Sarita shivered and wrapped her shawl around her tighter; the night was getting cooler with each passing hour.
"Are you cold?" Vikrant asked with concern.
"A little," she admitted.
"Right, well the night isn't over yet," he said, jumping to his feet.
"Time to warm up. Wait i will be back". He said
He retrieved something from under the table. Moments later, music was softly drifting.
He went upto sarita, and asked," Would you like to dance with me??"
Sarita held his hand, and he brang sarita closer to him. They both started dancing, enjoying together in eachother's company. With each passing minute, the intimacy between them was growing up. Vikrant picked up Sarita in his arms, and took her to her room. He made her sleep on her bed, and turned to leave, when Sarita held his arm. He kissed her on her forehead and sat beside her till she drifted into a deep sleep thinking, "i know what I have to do next.I need to for do what I was sent here, make Sarita's life as comfortable for her as possible. But now I have gotten so much involved with her I will have to help heal old wounds and the new wounds that I'd foolishly caused myself".
Next Day:
Vikrant was passing by a park, when he saw a lady silently weeping in the park. He knew that she wouldnt be able to see her, so he went closer to her. As he reached to her, he realised that its sheela. And as sheela could see him, Sheela saw him, wiping her tears, she addressed him,"Ohh Hii, how are you?? Howw...How is Saritaa??" He was baffled by the response she gave, but he kept himself calm and replied," I m fine, and even sarita is fine". Sheela turned and said,"I hope she is. her life has been harmed alot because of me". he was shocked to see the concern in sheelas eyes for sarita.
He asked her,"But you hated her??"
"Why do you think i hate her. i have no reason to hate her, i hate the fact that she still is taking care of me despite the fact that i killed her husband".
"wait...what but that day..." he trailed off.
"That day i was rude to her. I knowts funny but i was always jealous of her. i realised it late that she actually was my parent when i killed armaan. i wanted her to hate me, but she never did. i wanted the world to hate me for what i did".
"And where have you been since so many days??"
"I...I just went away from her life. That day when i came in office. i Saw her and you sitting close together. I thought that it was the time to leave her life, and let her live for herself".
Vikrant smiled at the thought that that day sarita didnt even see him. He was invisible to sarita that day.
"And why did you call that day".
"I was just missing her. i cant live without her for a long time. I do fight with her, but still she is the reason why I am living".
"If you love your sister so much, then you shouldnt be here. you should be with her. She has been searching for you since the day you called. She heard your silent sobs that day, and since that day she just wants to see you. And..."
"Andd???"
"And she needs you at this time the most."
"Wha...what, what happened to her??"
"Do you believe in angels?"
"Why are you asking this??" She asked still unable to understand his question.
"Do you believe in angels?"
"Yeah i do, but how is it linked to Sarita."
Vikrant started narrating the whole story. How he met abhi, How he saw Sarita. Why she saw Sarita. How he started loving her, and now how he needs to go back leaving Sarita alone again.
"ARE YOU FREAKING CRAZY??- Sheela stood up in a shock-When you knew you had to leave, why did you make my sister fall for you".
"Dont over react, sit down. Everyone is thinking you are mad".
Sheela glanced at the people looking at her and she sat.
"I dint do that intentionally. I fell for her, even i wanted to live with her. But" Vikrant trailed off.
"But what??"
"Sarita will age, and i wont. With each passing birthday, Sarita wouldnt be able to see me".
"What about today?? Today is her birthday"
"I dont know about today. i just know that i have to make her happy as soon as possible. And for that she needs you."
Music Corner
Geet - Hui Sabse Parayee
Advocate Anjali Awasthi
