Chapter 3
The door closes and so does his chance for meeting Kumud. Saraswatichandra had a bunch of questions in his mind. He was so baffled about the situation. There are so many questions rolling up and down in his mind- Is she the same girl whom he used to see in his flashbacks? Why was he so desperate to meet her? Why does she matter so much to him? And the biggest of all was why is he even thinking about a person whom he has never seen?
"Never seen?" a voice came from the corner of the room.
Saraswatichandra turned around to picture the voice but was confused to see his own self standing there.
"Why are you so confused Saraswatichandra, I am another face of yours. The face you had left long back when you left this place."
Saraswatichandra was still not able to figure out what was actually happening.
"Yes dear, don't you know that girl? How can you be so ignorant to your own story?"
"Own story? What do you mean?" Saraswatichandra was already tired and he didn't want to think more. So he simply started conversing with him.
"Of course, don't you remember that girl who was the dearest of all, the perfectionist, the loveable and for sure, the most charming girl."
"N…No… I don't remember anything of that kind?", Saraswatichandra joked.
"Then let me tell you that now since you've come into this magical world of your own. You need to explore for your questions. You need to understand the depth of relations. You need to understand that sometimes, it's not just a fairy tale.
And abruptly a knock at the door was heard. He twisted his head backwards to glance at the door and again when he looked in front, the person, his own self, was gone. He then frowningly went to unlock the door. He opened it and well, there she was. A girl with think black watch in her hand with beautifully embroidered 'ghagra'. He moved his head upwards to see the face. Her shiny, soft, long, waist-length, hairs caress her face as the wind blows. Her eyes glow like they've been longing to meet his eye. She bites her lips and then with her eyes stuck with his, she says, "Vo…Badi Maa aapko…neeche bula rahi hain…app taiyaar ho kar aa jaiye."
Saraswatichandra nods at her and with this walks down. Again the door closes.
"Tumhare aankhon ki kashish, the udate ye zulfe, sundar se hoth…kaun ho tum? Naa jane kyun….kyun essa lagta hai ki mai tumhe janta hu. Kya tum wahi ho?"
He fell into the sea of questions, again.
After an hour.
Saraswatichandra enters his mom's room. Kumud, Golu and Maa are sitting and chatting amongst themselves.
"Oh dear, Saras…come here. Sit beside me."
Kumud was feeling a bit awkward. She was sure that she didn't want to ruin this sweet caring moment between a son and her mother and so, she decided to leave.
"Badi Maa…mai bahar ke kaam dekh kar aati hu", Kumud said.
"Arre Kumud beta betho na…"
As soon as he heard the name 'Kumud' he again fell into his flashbacks. Now he saw the girl and yes…yes…her name was Kumud!
"Kumud?", Saras said it in an unexpectedly sweetest way which sounded so great.
"Haan yahi hai Kumud…yaad bhi hai ki nahi? Tumhari bachpan ki dost??", Badi Maa said.
"Bachpan ki dost?" Saraswatichandra was perplexed…He could feel that bonding between them. He knew that there was something that was unexplainable between them. It was a miraculous feeling, a feeling that came from their souls, the feeling of love and affection.
Saraswatichandra was staring Kumud which brought in an awkward silence in the room. Soon he realized and shook his head off pretending to search for something. Kumud felt a way more awkward and started off with her own conversation.
"Badi Maa…I've got some works to complete. And Golu, tu b chal…""Golu ko kaha le jaa rai ho? At least ussse toh rehne do."
"Theek hai Badi Maa…mai Golu samjha deti hu ki vo Saras ka khayaal rakhe…kyunki…ajj pure time mujhe bahar kheto ka khayaal rakhna hai. Koi janwaar baar baar sare phasal kha jar aha hai…"
"Kitna kaam karti ho tum. Kabhi toh aaram kiya karo."
"Badi Maa…mai at least app ke paas toh reh pati hu in kaamo ki wajah se…warna kuch log toh samjho hamesha ke liye he chale jate hai."
Badi Maa…gave that 'wronged-look' and Saras acted like someone poked him on his nose.
Kumud left. Saraswatichandra and Badi maa…kept talking for little while.
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