Part 50
Yug is in his car and has been driving around all night.
It has been a few hours. He doesn't know where he is and where he is going, all he knows is that he cant stop. If he stops then he would have to acknowledge that what happened before was all real. He had actually sent Vrinda away from himself for ever and ever. And he would have to return home to Bharti.
As he continued to drive suddenly a figure came in front of his car. Yug slammed the breaks. The tires screeched but thankfully he managed to bring the car to a halt. Yug rushed out of the car to see if the pedestrian was ok.
It was an old man. Probably about 80+. He had a walking stick and he wore glasses, but even so the poor guys eyesight was extremely bad.
"are you ok, did I hurt you...did you get hit " asked Yug with panic as he helped the old man across the road.
"no..no..son. I am ok. It is my fault. Please forgive me. I'm really sorry. I'm really really sorry."
Yug felt embarrassed for the old guy apologising to him. He felt responsible, he should have been looking where he was going. It wasn't the old mans fault.
"no no sir, its not your fault, actually my mind was somewhere else and I should have paid more attention to the road. I should be the one apologising. Please forgive me sir. Here let me help you home."
"no son. Its ok. don't worry about it. Besides my house is only down the road."
"are you sure you are ok though ?"
Yes yes." and the old man laughed "don't worry, I may not look it. But there is strength yet in this old brittle withered body" and he stroked his hand over Yug's head.
This reminded Yug of his dadu, when he use to comfort him and stroke him. Yug smiled back to share the affection.
"well I'm glad your ok sir. The last thing I need rite now is to be responsible for bringing pain to yet another person."
" you know son my eyesight is bad, but I can still see when a person is kind hearted or not. And a kind young man like yourself, im sure you couldn't hurt anyone even if you wanted to."
"well I have sir. I have hurt a lot of people, and I have been given a lot of hurt by them too. Pain and torment and hurt seem to be the only things my luck has given me. Oh how I wish I could change my luck."
"well all I can advise you son, is that what ever life and luck and fate throw at you. Accept it with open arms and a smile on your face."
"that's easier said than done. Especially if you aren't unfortunate enough to have bad luck !"
" No body has bad luck son. That is just a myth. Every bad thing happens because there is something good and better in store for you. Tell me, If nothing bad every happened, how could we appreciate the good things ? We need the bad as much as the good in our lives. And as for luck, well son, let me tell you a secret." and he moved his head closer to Yug's. "luck has a way of changing itself"
Yug looked back astonished.
"don't you think a person can make their own luck ?"
"well...yes. I believe a person CAN TRY to make their own luck or change it ! But I am a very old man, and believe me I have seen a lot. I have seen many people try and try and try and fail miserably. And then one day suddenly their luck will change. ALL BY ITSELF when the time is right, you will see, it changes all by itself. !"
Yug laughed.
" well I'm sorry, but I just don't buy that. So what your saying. That if some one wants change in their life, or if they want to move up in the world, they should just stop trying. Because trying is worthless"
The old man put his hand on Yug's shoulder.
" no son. That is not the impression I intended to give. off course you should try in life. You cant just sit there and expect everything you want to come to you. You have to try for it. BUT. What im saying is. That NOT EVERYONE who tries gets what they want. And if they don't get it, its because it just isn't the right time for them. Your time will be when it is written in your luck. At the end of the day, try your best. But son, you always need luck on your side, don't forget that !
Take tonight as an example. If my luck was bad your car would have hit me and I would have died. But luck gave my side, and here I am standing and talking with you."
Yug shook his head and agreed.
"but don't you think that is very unfair. That even though we try, extremely hard, we sometimes still cant reap the rewards of our efforts. All because of our luck ! "
Who said we don't reap the rewards of hard work and efforts."
"oh really ?"
"Yes. When we work hard for something, and we are honest and noble and we put all our effort into it, there is always a reward. That doesn't mean you have to get the reward straight away. but I promise you my son, somewhere down the line, you get what is owed to you. YOU WILL." and the old man had a strange glee in his eyes as he looked at Yug.
Yug didn't know why, But he felt strangely comfortable with this old man. As if he had known him for years.
"Until then, you put a smile on, and be thankful for what you do have."
"ok, I will try to" replied Yug.
"that's a good boy. Now I'm sorry for wasting ur time. Im sure you must be going home and I should be going too, otherwise I will get in trouble for taking too long. Wives eh, gotta keep them happy"
With this Yug remembered Bharti.
" Right, well, it was nice meeting you son. Take care of yourself. You go now. Go home and get some rest. And remember, don't be upset about your luck. Be happy with what you have got. EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON !"
With this, the two bid each other good bye. And Yug returned to his car.
As yug started the car, he realised he hadn't even asked the stranger his name name, or told him his own. He felt so safe with this old man. Like he was his own. And talking to him, and listening to him had made him feel so much lighter. Yug looked out of the window, maybe he could go and ask his name before he left. But as he looked out, there was no sign of anyone. Yug turned and looked in every direction. But not a soul in sight.
That's strange, thought Yug to himself. He was there a moment ago. well he did say his house was just down the road. So he is probably already home. Yug shook the thought aside and drove off.
As he was driving, the old mans words repeatedly echoed in his mind. He slowed down and came to a traffic light T-junction. Only two options now. The left would take him back home, and turning right would take him further away. The lights turned green. after careful deliberation Yug put the left indicator on. It was about time he went back to his wife. He would put a smile on his face, and accept his fate with open arms.
Part 51
Yug arrived home. Bharti was already in bed. He got changed and went to bed too. Thinking she was asleep he closed his eyes and got ready to doze, when she suddenly spoke
" where were you Yug ? I was worried. I told you to ring me if you needed anything. I come home and you've gone "
There was a weird kind of emptiness in her tone. Everything she was saying made sense, but the way in which she said it sounded strange. If Bharti was awake, Yug expected her to come and hug him and then scold him for being out this late first day back home from the hospital, and that too without telling her where he was. But nothing. She just lay there. With a straight face. Maybe its because she was too tired to shout and lecture him thought yug. Good for him, he wasn't really in the mood to handle a lecture right now.
" I needed fresh air. And then I took the car. And'umm'well, I just lost track of time. I've been driving around for ages you know (at least this part was true he thought) and I just couldn't stop driving. I just needed to get back into the feel of things.
"you needed to get back into the feel of things" repeated Bharti, again in that same tone.
"umm yeah, you know, driving. After the accident I thought I would never get into a car again. But its strange what will power can make you do (again some truth)"
"hmm yes, of course"
Yug took Bharti's hand.
Surprised by this action Bharti almost yanked her hand away. Could this be? Could Yug actually have grabbed her hand ? Could he actually be holding it in his own ?
"umm look Bharti. There's something I want to say. I know I have been kind of a jerk these past few months. And seriously believe me when I say I am working on it, well I defiantly will be working on it from now on. And I assure you THINGS WILL BE DIFFERENT. Tonight has made me realise. I've got to stop treating you like this. Forgive me Bharti. Please forgive me."
Bharti finally turned her head and looked straight at him. She was so angry before. But seeing the genuine pain on his face, and the honesty in his eyes, just made all that disappear. She couldn't be angry at him. Not anymore. He was her yug. She forgave him instantly.
"there's nothing to forgive Yug" she said.
"thank you Bharti." he put his other hand over hers, then closed his eyes and went to sleep.
Bharti lay there just watching him. Her hand sandwiched in between his. She had forgiven him so easily. But when Yug would come to know about her phone call, would he also be so forgiving ?
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