FF: Sarak Ke Us Par - Chapter 5 - - Page 5 [21/04] - Page 3

Chapter 3

Vrinda trudged through the gates, muttering under her breath as she pushed a muddy lock behind her ear. She grimaced. The smell was awful; no wonder Pooja had hurried away after Vrinda had begun to attract some of the more earnest flies. As a result she had been forced to walk the remaining fifteen minutes alone, ignoring the curious glances and planning the slow and painful death of the…the bhandhar who had ruined one of her most favourite suits.

She groaned. Maa would not be pleased.

So it was with trepidation that Vrinda peeked in to house, eyes darting left and right to make sure that it was empty. She hurried in, making a beeline for the stairs but any hope of sneaking in to her room was dashed when she heard the clatter of dishes and a loud guffaw.

"Hai rabba! Thu mithi meh naha kar kyu ayi hai?"

Vrinda reluctantly turned to face her Chachi who was gaping at her with shock whilst Teji, her cousin, was leaning against the wall, shaking with laughter.

"Meri galthi nahi thi Chachi. Woh ek bathameez larke neh mujhe mitthi meh giraya."

Vrinda muttered a reply; sullenly brushing dried flakes of mud of her arm.

"Kya?! Thu naam batha Vrinda. Bas naam batha aur dekh thera bhai kaise bandooq lekar…"

Radhika Chachi swatted her son.

"Chup kar! Kabhi aaj thak thera nishana laga hai? Aur thu Vrinda, achi thara se jhaanthi hu meh thujhe. Zaroor thumne kuch kaha hoga."

Radhika Chachi glared at her unsympathetically, shaking an angry finger in her direction as Vrinda shifted from one muddy foot to another and Teji scowled, rubbing his shoulder.

"Ab chal, jaldi jakar nahan-le warna agar Parminder didi neh dekhlia tho kher nahin. Aur ha, Girdhari Kaka ko khana bhi dehna hai na? Chal, jaldi ja."

Vrinda sighed at the injustice of it all and made her way up the staircase, her fingers gripping her stained stole as her thoughts grew darker and she idly wondered if Teji would miss his gun for half a day, and how long it would take to storm through the village and find the motorbike-wala.

Engrossed in her thoughts, Vrinda almost walked right past the large window overlooking the village. But a soft murmur caught her attention and her head snapped up to notice her Bua perched on the sill, gently caressing the latch on the window as a soft half smile played on her lips.

"Bua?"

Vrinda edged forwards, careful not to frighten her aunt but knowing full well that if left unattended then her Bua could go missing very easily.

"Woh aye gha. Who apni Simran keliye zaroor aye gha!"

Vrinda watched her nervously as Simran Bua spun round and caught her arms in an almost painful grip. There was a gleam in her eyes – like happiness but only frantic. She shook Vrinda gently, laughter burbling in her throat as she turned back to gaze out of the window.

"Woh aa raha hai. Dekho, maine kaha tha na. Woh aye gha."

Vrinda watched her aunt's swaying form and hastily turned away, brushing away salty tears before she called out to Teji. He bounded up the stairs, a grin on his face as he took in Vrinda's appearance once again.

But the smile slipped as he took in the sight of Simran, still eagerly plastered against the wall with that blindingly happy smile on her face. He tensed, his jaw clenching and becoming rigid. But it was with gentle fingers that he plied Simran away from the window and glanced at Vrinda.

A moment of understanding passed between the two cousins before he turned away, almost engulfing Simran's small form in his own as he murmured to her softly and led her back to her room.

Vrinda let out a saddened sigh before turning to the window. She placed her hand where her Bua's had been only seconds before and looked out, across the village and in to Prathapghar.

*****

Vikram-Aditya looked out from his window, back ramrod straight and hands clasped behind his back as his eyes skirted the width of his village. Hardworking farmers and loving wives and playful children and bright-eyed boys who would one day be the future of his village. He took it all in, a satisfied smile on his face and he revelled in the knowledge of the happiness and prosperity he had created.

And only then did he allow his eyes to skirt the border – nettled wires and stiff wood that had separated his land from its brother and marred the beauty of something only a farmer could appreciate.

"Tho theek hai na Bapusa?"

Vikram-Aditya turned slightly, taking in his son-in-law, Veer, before he gave a small nod. Veer moved forward, presenting papers that Vikram-Aditya signed after only a glance before returning his gaze to the window.

Veer, realising his dismissal, left discreetly before making his way to his bedroom. His wife wasn't there. Good.

He pulled out his mobile and dialled a number that had become familiar over the years. A few short rings later a gravely voice answered and Veer bit out,

"Uska kuch patha chala?"

"Nahi hazoor. Jab koi khabar aye ghi tho aapko batha du gha."

Veer tensed, his fury barely restrained as he snapped his phone shut and edged towards the window overlooking the back of the house. Unconsciously he mirrored Bapusa's stance.

"Kaha ho thum Yug?"

*****

Yug shouldered his bag, setting his beloved motorbike in a safe place before he trudged up a dusty path that led to a small house. He pushed open the gate and was met with the sight of a an old man, dressed in black and supporting a bedraggled grey beard.

"Yughandhar!"

He greeted Yug with a smile before enveloping him in a warm hug.