(Original & copyrighted ) The Horizon
Chapter 1- page1 Chapters 15(a) &15(b)-page45
A loud clap of thunder broke the steady rhythm of falling rain. The wind picked up in a mighty gust taking the raging storm to a new level. The electricity had gone off a little while ago and the house was still in darkness as the lonely girl in a fluffy white dressing gown fumbled around for matches and a candle.
She had been alone at home when the storm began around half past six in the evening. Her family, namely her Father , her married older sister and brother-in-law had all gone to meet the family of a prospective groom for her . As was the custom in arranged marriages, she was not to meet the groom at this initial stage. Instead her photograph, horoscope and CV were taken along.
Just as the skies were giving way to another round of thunder and lightning, she found the matches ,lit the candle and placed it in the candle holder. Just then , there was a soft knock on the door and fear snaked across the girl's face. The soft knock had the effect which all the thunder and lightning did not. Who could it be? Her Father had called sometime back and let her know that he had to stay at her sister's in-laws' place for the night as the storm was preventing him from coming home. He had been very concerned for her and asked her to lock up, keep her mobile phone nearby and to not venture out under any circumstances. She had assured him that she would be fine , she was twenty three years old and not three.
Then who could this be? She looked at the clock . It was nearly midnight.Her mind immediately darted to various possibilities. Could it be that Father had come home after all? No that was not possible. He had already said he wouldn't come. Besides, he had a key. Could it be Minty Aunty or Sareen Uncle from downstairs? No, they had gone to visit Minty aunty's best friend whose cosmetic surgery had gone horribly wrong .They were possibly stuck in the storm too. Then who could this be?
There was another knock accompanied by a clear male voice.
" Hello, Anybody in?"
The candle light must be clearly visible from the front window. Whoever it is knows someone is here , thought the girl. Slowly, she made her way to the door, slid the safety chain into it's slot and deliberated whether to open the door or not. What if it was a thug, a crook , some criminal? On the other hand, what if it was some decent person stuck in the storm or injured, perhaps? One hand on the door, another hand carrying the candle holder, she was still thinking, when the voice said: " Mr Shastri? "
Ever so slowly, she opened the door a crack at first and then slowly a little bit more -enough to see the person outside. In the shivering light of the candle and against a fluctuating background of lightning and darkness, she saw a tall man, a rain drenched face ,a dominant nose and a pair of very dark eyes. For a moment the man just looked at her and then said: "Anushka Shastri? I am Rajat Sareen, can I come in?"
Even as he spoke , there was another spell of thunder, the wind took a fanciful turn and blew out the candle.
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