Saudade? ... PrAnushka FF Epilogue Page 104 and Pg 107 dt 28 Dec 17 - Page 11

Posting part 6 of the story. This is a less dramatic part, needed to move the story ahead.

Hope you all like it.

Look forward to your views/ suggestions 😛

Here goes

...

Part 6

Vedant stared down at the cup of coffee nestled in his hands, as he waited for Saroja to speak. He wondered how they had landed in this situation, it was night already, other members of the family having retired for the day. Something told him that his parents would not be happy with him for this discussion.

That something also told him that it was his obstinacy that led to this situation.

And here he was sitting, with a cup of coffee in his hands, generously provided by Gopi Mama, and waiting for Saroja to speak.

Saroja stood in front of him, her back to the door. Vedant was seated on the single chair in her room.

"I know you think that I am kind of a jigsaw puzzle, Mr Raju, and you want to put all pieces together so that everything makes sense to you.

What is it exactly that you want to know about me?" she asked simply.

"Vedant" he said simply. "You can call me Vedant. I'd like that"

He was embarrassed at how accurately the girl had read him. But he was going to persevere. Taking a sip of the coffee, he continued

"I just wanted to know what happened outside in the alley yesterday evening. I was on the terrace, you see"

He gestured towards the same.

"Vedant ... " she rolled his name on her lips slowly, as if trying to get associated with it.

Looking straight into his eyes, she continued

"I will tell you what I can. And what is absolutely necessary for you to know. Although I still don't know why I am even doing this. Honestly, I don't"

Vedant smiled gently.

Saroja continued

"I am here in Hyderabad for a very simple reason. Compounded by a slight mistake. I am pursuing CA, and am in the final years. Erroneously, I chose Hyderabad as my exam centre. My late Father used to be a good friend of your Father's. We requested Uncle if I could stay here. Far away from all the madness, so that I can study in peace. That's all that there is to this issue, and for you to know."

Vedant got up from the chair and walked towards her.

"And what about the alley?" he asked.

She looked into his eyes

"You know how it is for single women in cities. I can handle it."

He peered back

"Are you sure?"

Saroja nodded.

"It is extremely important that I do well in these exams. And I don't want any sort of disturbance. Its just two more months."

Vedant nodded as he kept his coffee cup on the table, beside her untouched one.

"Saroja I want you to know that I am here in case you need any help, any support. God knows I don't buy your story, though it may very well be true. But there's something missing there, which my Dad is going to fill in."

"Why?' her voice was now a whisper.

"Because I value human beings. And relationships" he answered.

He stepped over the threshold and then turned back

"Tell me something. Back in the alley ... was it an outsider? Or somebody from the family?"

She flinched visibly. He had his answer.

As he climbed the stairs, lost in thought, he failed to notice the shadow that followed him.

...

Next Morning

His Father sat stunned as Vedant recapped his meeting with Saroja the previous night.

"Ved, you shouldn't have. How could you?" his Mother quipped.

Vedant was now irritated

"Mom please. Hope could I not want to know? There's a girl staying in our house, in the servant quarters, when it's clear that she is not a servant. Nobody acknowledges her, she is like a shadow down there. Come to think of it, she is just a young girl ..."

"Stop it Vedant" his Father got up from his arm chair, seething in anger.

"There's a reason why she is staying here like this. And I don't think I need to give explanations to you."

A phone call from his Boss ensured that the matter ended there, for that day.

He heard her Mother say as he left the room

"That's why I had told you not to bring this girl home. She's bad news for everybody ..."

Vedant didn't wait to hear his Father's response. He however knew that this matter was far from being over.

...

Late Evening

Vedant had gone out to meet his friends. He was to start Office in a few days time and was looking forward to it.

The atmosphere at home was now electric following his half-baked discussion with his parents, and he wanted the situation to tamp down before he could take this up further.

He parked in front of a CCD and went inside, intent on spending some time alone, to silent the demons screaming inside his head.

The more he tried to stay away, the more his thoughts turned to Saroja, and he wondered why. Was he falling for her? He started laughing at the silly question, almost spilling hot coffee over the table top, when he realised that he was indeed victimising her. Like everybody else.

Hell no, he didn't even know her.

He just knew that she was just a young girl, trying to find her way in the world, whilst fighting against the odds (?). She was beautiful, but totally unconscious about it. And that Gopi Mama and his wife adored her.

Nothing matched. Saroja's reasons for being there in their house was simple enough. But it wasn't enough, Vedant realised.

Why was she put up in the servant quarters?

Why did the other members of his family not acknowledge her?

Why was she not allowed to enter the kitchen?

Why did she use the back door?

Why did she not make any efforts to associate herself with others in the house?

He was totally intrigued ... she was a mystery and she mesmerised him. He smiled as he remembered the warm chocolate brown eyes, peering at him, the previous night.

A sliver of laughter entered the Cafe as somebody opened the door. He looked up and his heart skipped a beat. As if on cue, he spotted her outside the CCD, laughing. She was with a friend.

The smile refused to leave him as he sat there transfixed, watching her, observing her, drinking her in. He leapt into action only when Saroja wished the friend good bye and started on her way.

...

Present Day

Vedant returned home after nearly 2 and half months at the Hospital. He was definitely much better, though his entire body hurt. He was using a walking stick now; Dr Rao had mentioned that he would need it for some more days. The bandage on his head has now been replaced by a dressing on his forehead.

He was now in one of the Guest Rooms in the ground floor, for matters of ease and convenience. And ... always hoping against hope that she would float into his room sometime, and hold him close, soothing him. Body, mind and soul.

His heart that hurt the most. He had known back at the Hospital only, that she was no longer there in the house. She was in her own hell hole now, and he had failed to keep a promise.

He maintained a respectable silence about her once back. He was not going to discuss about her with people, who did not understand her, who did not value and cherish her.

He closed his eyes and sighed.

Sarojaaa ... wait for me, sweetheart !

The tears refused to come.

...

End of Part 6