Hello friends.. I know I am late.. In fact very very late.. I am really very sorry.. Everything is not good around but trying to cope up with it.. And thank you so much for your love and support.. I will try to be regular but can't promise.. And I am sorry for not replying to your comments.. I read them all.. They are like my strength.. Thank you once again..
Here is the next update.. I hope it reaches your expectations.. Please share your views and kindly ignore mistakes.. And Nyna dear, Kavitha is not dead.. She may come back sooner or later..
Chapter 5:
I know not of a guide who's true
And yet I travel
Quick and far
With every traveler
I meet on the way
(chalta hun thori dur ik tez rau ke sath
Pahchanata nahin ko abhi rahbir ko main
- Mirza Ghalib)
Sanskaar woke up the next morning to the chirping sound of bids right outside his window, which overlooked the garden. Looking at the alarm clock on the bedside table, Sanskaar saw that it was nearly 6 a.m. He wished he could sleep some more but realized that for the last few months, all he had been doing was sleeping at odd quarters, all through the day, sometimes to forget the physical and mental pain, or sometimes due to medication and their drowsy effects. Nowadays he had fewer medicines to take and he was happy. It seemed that Sister Regina was an early riser as well, as she knocked on the door to Sanskaar's room and entered it after a brief pause. Wishing Sanskaar 'Good Morning', she quickly checked his vitals. Then helping him to freshen up, she adjusted him comfortably on his wheel chair, after emphasizing for the hundredth time probably that Sanskaar needed to start trying to get back on his own legs. Sanskaar listened to her disinterestedly as usual and proceeded to check the newspaper.
'Oh no, young man, you are not going to do that now' Nurse Regina said 'It's such a beautiful morning. I am going to wheel your chair near the window and you can look out at the beautiful garden that you have and the sea, waking up from its sleep. This print stuff you can see and read later.'
Saying this, she wheeled Sanskaar towards the window and pulled the curtains apart. Squinting at first, Sanskaar slowly opened his eyes to look down below and see their garden in full bloom. Sister Regina excused herself and went down to look after Sanskaar's breakfast, as the sound of rolling waves swept inside the room. Sanskaar could see the sea clearly in the background, though it was quite at a distance from the Mansion. The birds chirped around happily, pecking at each other and sometimes chasing each other. Involuntarily, Sanskaar's face broke into a smile as he saw the birds frolicking at a distance. A few of the bolder ones sat on the window sill and looked at him inquisitively. Sanskaar wheeled back to the table at the far end of the room and opened a container, which contained biscuits. Keeping the container back, he came back towards the window once again and spread the biscuit crumbs on the sill. After a few moments, the sill turned into a war zone for the birds as each competed with the other to get its share of crumbs. A few hopeful ones looked at Sanskaar's face with interest but maintained a safe distance from him. Sanskaar was amused but he enjoyed these few minutes a lot. He felt that they were priceless.
Satisfied that there would be no extended feast for them, the birds flew away. Sanskaar moved closer to the window sill and looked down at the garden below. It seemed that a riot of colours had spread all across the garden, though a slight mist still hung around in the air, thus marring the actual display of colours. He saw their gardener, Ravi Kaka gently tending to the shrubs and watering them, and he seemed to be speaking to someone. As Ravi Kaka moved, the object of his speech also moved and Sanskaar saw that it was the same girl who had collided with him last night on the passageway. Swara or whatever... She was in deep conversation with Ravi Kaka and was listening to him attentively in turn, interjecting their conversation now and then with a slight smile. As the duo made their way towards the eastern part of the garden, Sanskaar noticed for the first time that the girl seemed to mingle with the ocean waves, since she was wearing a dress of sea-blue colour, the dupatta loosely draped over her head. After a while, Sanskaar heard the sound of bells and conches in the background and noticed that both Ravi Kaka and Swara turn towards the horizon, fold their hands and pray. He remembered that there was a small temple near the sea-shore where the locals offered prayers every morning. Sanskaar remembered having visited the temple a number of times with his Mother when he was younger and that the back-gate of their house, facing the sea, provided an easy access to the temple.
Sanskaar suddenly felt all alone and confined and wished that he could walk up to the shore and visit the temple, go down and breathe in the fresh scent of furrowed earth in their garden and do much more. Yes, he had an exciting life in US, but he had always missed doing the simple things that he did at home. Suddenly he felt extremely homesick, in spite of being at home, and his mood fell from its previous cheerful projection. He felt hateful for everyone enjoying a normal life. If only the accident hadn't happened, Sanskaar sighed. Life would have been perfect and there would be Kavitha, of course. His chin set in a firm line as he remembered his ex-fiance and he realized that the key to getting back to life was to forget Kavitha and move ahead. But he knew it was not going to be easy, after all he had known Kavitha for several years now.
----------
In the kitchen, Sujatha Aunty was preparing breakfast for his son, Swara noted. She entered the kitchen quietly and went and stood beside her.
'Arrey Swara, you are up?' Sujatha Aunty said as she filled the breakfast tray with toast, a half-boiled egg, a cup of tea and a few biscuits. 'Please help me dear. Can you take this breakfast tray to Sanskaar? I would have had Sister Regina take it upstairs but she is speaking on the phone. She has received an urgent call from her home.'
Swara recoiled at the idea; she had sensed the bitterness in Sanskaar's voice and eyes last night. They had been introduced to each other under trying conditions and she did not know how to face him now. She did however realize that she was in this house today to try and help Sujatha Aunty and Sanskaar, she had to try. She cleared her voice and said...
Swara: 'Aunty, Sanskaar doesn't know me well as yet. He might not be happy to see me with the breakfast tray and may expect to meet his immediate family now. I will go with you though.'
Sujatha noted the hesitancy and uncertainty in Swara's voice and knew that whatever she was saying is true. She picked up the tray and asked Swara to accompany her to Sanskaar's room.
----------
Sanskaar was inclined on a couch, reading a financial newspaper, when his Mother entered the room with his breakfast. He started seeing his Mom with the tray 'Mom, what happened? Why are you carrying the tray? Where are the others?'
Smiling at him, Sujatha kept the tray down and patted his head affectionately 'Sanskaar, no need to get worked up dear. It's just your breakfast. And everyone's at home only. Sister Regina has received an important call and she is speaking with her nephew now. By the way, where did Swara go?'
Both of them turned towards the door where a clueless Swara was standing. Sujatha walked towards her and holding her by hand pulled her inside...
Sujatha: 'Beta, why are you standing there like an outsider? Surely you have met Sanskaar last night.'
Sanskaar muttered under his breath 'Mom, she is an outsider'. Picking up the tea cup, he leisurely surveyed the latest object of his Mother's affection. He remembered her frightened eyes last night, but realized that they were a deep shade of brown, something like warm chocolate. The dupatta was still loosely wrapped around her head and he could see silky black, waist-length hair cascading down her back. She was not overtly beautiful, Sanskaar thought, but she looked innocent and pristine. Definitely not his type of girl, Sanskaar was amused. At this moment, Swara looked like a scared bunny and was trying to make small talk with his Mother.
His Mother left the two of them after a few minutes and both of them remained in uncomfortable silence for a while Sanskaar still sitting on the couch and Swara standing near the side table. Sanskaar concentrated on his breakfast; he really didn't have anything to speak about. After a while, there was the sound of a voice clearing and a soft voice asked him tentatively...
Swara: 'Can I go get a fresh cup of tea for you?'
Swara's nerves were really strung high. All these years she had met so many people but hardly anyone with such a personality, too powerful and annoying... She had stood beside the side table for some time hopeful of finding some topic to start the conversation with, but the dark, brooding molten chocolate eyes and the rugged features stopped her from doing so. In the daylight, he seemed more handsome and more aloof and Swara was at a loss to initiate a conversation. But she was not going to let Sujatha Aunty down; after all she had given her so much love. So Swara had mustered her courage and enquired about a fresh cup of tea.
Only to be met with a pair of piercing eyes which took in her for a moment...The owner of the pair of eyes shook his head in negation and then asked casually, as he concentrated on the toast 'Where were you returning from last night?'
Before Swara knew the word 'College' slipped out of her mouth.
Sanskaar continued disinterestedly 'I thought so. So what are you studying?'
Swara's lips set in a stubborn line as she answered 'I teach English in a College.'
'Really?' Sanskaar's eyebrows shot up in questions 'I thought otherwise. You look like a nice kid.'
'I am not a kid' Swara replied back. She blushed as she caught the frank appraisal in his eyes, but then steeled herself.
'I guess so' Sanskaar answered bluntly.
'I hope you get better soon' Swara said, and she turned around to leave.
'Where are you going?' Sanskaar asked, felling slightly bad for having ticked off the girl.
Swara half-turned towards him and said 'To College. To teach...' She then left the room, shutting the door behind her.
Sanskaar looked at the door after she had left and felt that he had seen fire. That innocence and this much fire, what a deadly combination, he thought.
His mind went back to Kavitha who was a fire-scorcher herself. He shook his head hard as if trying to throw the images and memories of Kavitha out of his head.
----------
It was late in the evening when Swara entered the MM through the kitchen door. She wasn't feeling well at all and so she tried to avoid any company. As she walked carelessly across the semi-lit passageway, she missed a few steps and held on to the railing to steady herself.
'Are you drunk?' a quiet voice questioned her from behind.
Swara turned around with difficulty, her head swimming, to meet Sanskaar on his wheel chair as usual. She said slowly 'I am not. I am not feeling well that's all.'
'What happened?' Sanskaar asked, a bit of concern creeping into his voice. 'Never mind, you go to your room. I will send Payal.'
Muttering thanks, Swara started struggling towards the attic. She entered the room and flung her bag aside. Without even changing, she plopped down on the mattress unceremoniously. A while later, Payal entered the room to find her in a semi-conscious state... She helped Swara change who was now burning with fever and offered to bring some food and inform Badi Maa. Swara stopped her from doing so, saying that Aunty was already hassled with her son and that she didn't need extra headache at this stage. Payal returned with a bowl of soup after some time. Though she didn't feel like eating, Swara knew she should eat; otherwise she would fall ill severely. Gulping the soup down and taking a Crocin, she went off to sleep, as Payal tucked the comforter around her. She then went and pulled the curtains together and left the room, after promising to check on Swara after an hour or so. Swara lay shivering on her bed, missing her parents. If only they were here, they would have taken care of me, she thought. But now she couldn't afford being ill, there was nobody to look after her.
Soon she slipped into a state of delirium and the world faded around her.
----------
Thank you,
Shreetha..
