Samarpan
Surrender can be likened to making the leap and just letting go
with a sense of calm resolve that you will safely land as intended.
Part 15
"You warn me?" He pointed a finger at naanimaasi and laughed, "When you know very well that…." He couldn't complete what he was saying as the very next moment he was punched to the ground. Yash saw red the moment he heard the disgusting man call Aarti his to-be wife. Since morning he had heard and seen enough to know that the lowlife was out to take advantage of naanimaasi's and Aarti's helpless situation…a situation they were in because of him. He was about to pick Prashant up and continue teaching him a lesson he wasn't likely to forget when naanimaasi stopped him by holding onto his arm, "No Yash! He is not worth it."
Prashant picked himself up, protesting furiously, "How dare you? Who the hell are you?" He looked at naanimaasi, "Bhabhi, now you are harboring ruffians in the house…is it? Don't think you can threaten me. I will have what is mine. You won't be able to stop me."
Yash walked up to Prashant and grabbed him by the collar. His voice was deathly quiet when he spoke, "If I see you near this house or near these ladies, I swear I shall see you behind bars before you even blink. That's a promise, Prashant. Get Out."
Prashant straightened his collar and turned to look at his sister-in-law angrily who returned his stare blandly, "You heard what Yash said. You have cheated me off my husband's hard-earned savings Prashant…I'll rather die than sell his house to you or let you even come near my Aarti. Even if you were the last man living, this house will not be sold to you. So, go and get a life. Just leave….And don't let me set eyes on you again. Next time I just might have to lodge a police complaint."
Prashant walked away, looking back once at the man who was now escorting the old lady to the house. Who was he? Not to worry. He would soon find out. But first he had to think of the next course of action, since it was evident that bhabhi had not cracked or weakened even after knowing she was facing bankruptcy. When he had seen her in the morning in the Mishras' offices, he knew why she had come. He had assumed that full knowledge of her financial woes would break her and she might reconsider her opinion regarding the house and the girl. It was apparent that he had assumed wrong. Well, he still had an ace up his sleeve.
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Yash held naanimaasi by the shoulders with one hand and gripped her hand with the other as he walked her inside the house. The moment she had seen Prashant walk away, she had sagged against him…her strength giving away. No words were exchanged as Yash held her. Her shoulders drooped as she walked….and she was unnaturally quiet when they stepped inside. Yet, the moment she saw Aarti hurrying from the kitchen toward her with a glass of water in her hand, she straightened up and left Yash's hand, giving a bright smile to her granddaughter, "Aha…I needed this. Trust you darling to know exactly what I wanted. How about a cup of tea, Yash? Aarti makes wonderful tea."
Aarti made naanimaasi sit on the sofa and knelt in front of her, "I'll get the tea, but first tell me, are you alright?"
"Of course I am, child. That rascal could never upset me."
"Why was he here, naanimaasi?"
Naanimaasi glanced at Yash before cupping Aarti's face in her warm hands, "It was nothing child….He just wanted to discuss about some bank notices. He's probably in trouble, so…Anyways, you don't worry your sweet little heart. I can handle him….Now go and get that tea. Also get those ginger cookies we baked with Anna."
The moment Aarti left, naanimaasi turned toward Yash, "Yash I need a favor. Aarti…."
Yash sat next to naanimasi and took her hands in his, "Miss Aarti won't know what happened, I promise. I won't ask you what was all that about, naanimaasi, but if ever you need me I shall be around." Naanimaasi smiled, her eyes glistening. She saw a lot of Raj in this young man. Also the fact that even though he hardly knew Aarti and yet had defended her honor twice in two days had not escaped the old lady's experienced eyes. Nor did she miss the look in his eyes whenever he looked at Aarti. If only he had a good job and stability…Naanimaasi sighed and looked toward the kitchen.
In the kitchen, Aarti watched the water come to a boil as she recalled what she had seen from the sitting room window. She saw Yash punch Prashant and some words being exchanged later. What kept playing on her mind was what happened after Prashant walked off. Never had she seen naanimaasi so low and so dispirited. Something was wrong…very wrong. She had had that feeling since afternoon…ever since lunchtime. Naanimaasi was holding back something, Aarti was very sure. She decided she would give naanimaasi a couple of days before broaching the subject.
Yash thanked Aarti for the tea and got up. He turned to naanimaasi, "If it's OK by you, may I shift in tonight itself? My things are already packed. I can join my work early tomorrow then."
"Of course, Yash. Aarti, give him the keys to the outhouse."
Aarti nodded and went to fetch the keys as Yash turned to wave a goodbye to naanimaasi who mouthed a smiling thank you. She looked much relaxed knowing Yash would be around in the night. She couldn't tell him that she was scared that Prashant just might try something drastic after what had happened.
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Aarti peeped out of the kitchen window and saw lights in the outhouse. Almost an hour back she had heard the gate creak and knew he had come. Garima had taken the evening off as naanimaasi wasn't feeling up to a proper dinner and wanted to retire early for the night. Aarti had insisted that she go and freshen up and watch TV in the room while she makes some soup. She let the curtain fall back and walked toward the stove. She poured the soup into a bowl and arranged some bread and boiled vegetables on the plate and took the tray to naanimaasi's room.
Once naanimaasi had eaten and taken her medicines, she tucked her in, promising her that she will go down immediately and have her meal. Naanimaasi spread her arms for a goodnight hug. Aarti hugged her and wished her goodnight. She was about to get up when naanimaasi asked, "Has Yash come?
"Yes naanimaasi."
"Hmm! I wonder if he has eaten anything. Goodnight beta! Switch off the light before you go."
Aarti went to the kitchen and stood before the counter, thinking. Then she arranged another tray of soup, bread, and vegetables and placed a bottle of water on it. She carried the tray to the outhouse, stepping out from the backdoor. She kept the tray on the table in the front veranda and walked up to the door. Thrice she lifted her hand to knock but couldn't bring herself to do it. She rubbed her hands against her kurta, took deep breaths, and lifted her hand again, only to drop it with a sigh.
"I am right here."
Aarti swirled around so fast that she missed her footing, slipped on the footmat, and went flying into Yash's arms who had miraculously appeared from behind her. His arms secured her against himself, breaking her fall, as she clutched onto his shirt, her eyes shut tightly. Yash blinked. Her sudden nearness caused him to suck a breath as a shiver of intense awareness ran through the entire length of his frame and he felt the hard stutter of his heart, even as he tried to breathe through it. A few strands of her hair had flown across her cheeks, brushing into her eyes; he couldn't stop his fingers from reaching out and freeing her lovely face from the strands by lightly brushing them behind her ears. Aarti opened her eyes slowly, as if coming out of a fog, and found herself gazing into his concerned ones.
"Aarti!"
Her name on his tongue had an intimate touch that caused ripples down Aarti's spine. The unknown stirrings sending a jolt of electricity through her heart.
"Are you OK?"
She nodded.
"You are trembling so much," he whispered. That's when Aarti noted where she was. She shivered again and backed away, terrified of the feelings his proximity had suddenly evoked.
Her voice was unsteady as she spoke, "I..I am sorry. I s..slipped. I brought some din..ner for you. I…Goodnight!!
She turned abruptly and walked away. She had taken a few steps when his voice halted her, "Aarti…wait!!"
In her agitated state, Aarti didn't even notice that Yash had let go off the formality, as she waited for him to approach her. She couldn't bring herself to look at him. Her heart was still pounding against her chest.
"I am sorry I startled you…I was on the other side of the lawn making some calls when you came."
Aarti didn't speak…her eyes fixed to the ground. She looked up at his next words.
"Aarti!...May I call you Aarti?" She nodded and he continued, "We met under very unusual circumstances, so didn't have a proper beginning. Now that I am going to stay here and we are going to…."
He looked at her confused expression and decided to be direct, "What I mean to say is, Can we be friends?"
She stared back surprised. He held his breath, waiting, but what she said hit him like a blow, "I don't know…I have never had a friend. Probably because I am not a right person to be friends with. I might end up disappointing you."
"Why don't you let me decide that? For the time being let's just say that I would rather have you as a friend than any other. So…What say? Friends?"
Aarti looked down at his outstretched hand and nodded. Very slowly she lifted her hand and put it in his. Her hand was cold. Yash's long fingers automatically covered them. "Good! Now that we are friends…let's eat. I am so hungry. What have you got?" He pulled her toward the table.
"Err…Mr Scindia. Hold on please. That's for you."
"Yash."
"Huh!!"
"I would like it if you call me by my name. We are friends…remember?"
She nodded and looked at their handclasp. Yash let go off her hand reluctantly and asked, "Have you eaten?"
"No, I was going to."
"Would you mind if I join you?"
Aarti felt she was on a roller coaster ride. Things were moving too fast for her and she felt dazed, a little out of breath. Within a matter of few minutes she had ridden multiple waves of strange emotions…none of which had found shore, leaving her oddly unsated. None of it made sense to her, except that she couldn't say no to him.
Yash knew exactly what he was doing. He wasn't letting her think. His instincts told him she needed that…she needed a little pace in her existence. He saw her now, flushed and hesitant; so, he offered her the choice, "It's OK if you don't want me to. I don't want you to do anything against your wish."
"No...no. It's nothing like that. I…I would like to have dinner with you…though it's not much of a meal. I and naanimaasi take it easy one or twice a week."
Next few minutes were a blur for Aarti as Yash immediately went and picked the tray and waited for her to lead. In the kitchen, he kept the tray on the small coffee table and helped her in filling her plate. As they ate, he kept the one-sided conversation going. He told her that Payal was joining him on Thursday for her vacation. He narrated her a few antics of his daughter, which brought smiles on her face. Soon he found himself talking about Aman. With intense satisfaction he noted an expression of keen interest replace the haunted look as she found herself getting involved in his trekking stories with Aman.
She interjected once, "You are lucky to have such a good friend."
"Yes, I was." Yash nodded grimly.
As she looked askance, he answered, "He died of cancer a few weeks back." There was a long pregnant pause and then, "God…I miss him!" For the first time he felt his heart give in to the grief, as he fought to blink back tears.
Aarti's heart went out for him. He looked so sad…. Her natural compassion took over and she didn't think twice before reaching out her hand across the table and putting on his, "I am so sorry Mr Scind…Yash. I am sure wherever he is, he is looking down at you and feeling proud of how you are moving on with your life…for you and for your daughter. I may not have had friends in my life…but I know this much…that a friend is a feeling of forever in the heart. He will always be with you. Let him go…because he would want you to."
Yash was stunned, not because of what she said but the words she used in the end. He had read similar words in the journal. That was the first thing he did, after he had helped her clean up and wished her goodnight…take out the journal from his briefcase. He found what he was looking for.
I am not alone, for I can still feel you here,
Not close by…yet very near
I walk the extra mile so that the grief is easier,
And because you would want me to!
Whether we are close or lives apart
I know I should let you depart
Because a friend is a feeling of forever in the heart
And because you would want me to!
It was as if the girl who wrote the words shared a part of her soul with Aarti. Yash clutched the journal to himself as he walked toward the window, staring out. He should be feeling happy. He felt closer to Aarti tonight…She was opening to him…had let him in a little. Yet, he was not happy. And he knew why? It was guilt…guilt for deceiving those trusting eyes…for being dishonest with her regarding his identity. He had come so close to telling her the truth tonight, but couldn't. He couldn't because what he had to do was most important now. Naanimaasi and Aarti would never allow him to do what he was going to do if they knew his identity.
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Aarti had already left for work by the time Yash came to the house in the morning next day to take naanimaasi's blessings. She had a left a hand-written note for him, which simply said, "All the best for the new beginnings!!"
Aarti didn't see Yash for the next two days, as she worked late and he too came in late from work and would keep to the outhouse. It almost seemed as if he was avoiding her.
On Wednesday, she was busy checking some invoices in her office when Maansi came in, "Aarti, did you read the newspaper today?"
"Not yet…Why?"
"I was going through it during my tea break when this caught my eye. You never told me that your grandmother was planning to sell the house." Maansi pouted.
Aarti's heart sank as she all but snatched the paper from Maansi. It was an ad calling out for buyers to state their bid for the property. Naanimaasi's name and phone number were given below. After Maansi left, Aarti stared at the opposite wall. She felt numb. So this is what was worrying naanimaasi. She was going to lose the one thing that had memories of her life with her husband…The gift of his love...their love! Her days of happiness were stored in every nook and corner of that house. It was a living memorial of her vibrant past.
Aarti couldn't help but stare at the obvious….once again because of her someone's life was going to be filled with an unavoidable void. She took a deep breath and muttered, "No…not this time. Not if I can help it." She picked up the phone directory to look for the number. She was flicking the pages when the phone rang.
To be continued….
Edited by InduG64 - 12 years ago
