Stronger Than Yesterday- A Collaboration updt- 14/02, Ch 7 - Page 6

Chapter 4

Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Padmaja glanced at the dusty house in front of her and clutched her duffel bag tighter in her hands.

It was a small house, with a little kitchen, a small sitting area and two bedrooms. The veranda was bigger and encircled the whole house.

Glancing at her father out of the corner of her eyes, she saw that he had a scowl on his face and spat on the ground in disgust.

Padmaja winced. She hated it when people spit on the ground. It was such disrespect to Mother Nature, and it pained her to the core of her heart.

"What are you wincing at, you stupid girl?" Harish snapped, "Go! Go inside and take the bags with you. Lord knows where I will find a maid to clean this filthy place. Leave it to my mother to leave me a house that's been abandoned for years."

Padmaja shook her head and walked into the house. She did not understand why her father was so bitter all the time. Instead of grumbling about the house being dirty, why didn't he realize that they were fortunate to have a small house all their own, without having to pay any rent? It would save her father a lot of money, and yet he insisted on seeing the negative in everything.

She liked the little house. It was small and dusty, but once it was cleaned up it would be very cozy. It came with furniture, and although everything was covered in white bed sheets to keep the dust away, she knew the house would be snug after it was set up. Knowing it was the place her grandmother had grown up in made it even more special.

Padmaja entered the smaller of the two bedrooms, which she knew would be hers, and put down her bag. She took a seat on the small cot pushed against one of the walls, and smiled widely.

She felt it in the air. She felt it all around her.

Something very good was going to happen. She could feel it in her bones, and she couldn't wait.

As if a magnetic force was pulling her, Padmaja walked over to the window in her room and peered out. It looked out into the back courtyard of the house. Towards one side was a cluster of trees and a dirt path that looked like it led into the woods, and towards the other was a concrete path that led down the street.

Their closest neighbor was separated by a high fence, and through it she could spy a large house that was kept in impeccable condition. The house had two floors and many windows. It was updated to give it a more modern look.

Padmaja smiled seeing the house. Something in her heart yearned to go there. Once her father drunk himself to sleep as usual, she would go exploring. Perhaps there was a little girl in that house who could be her friend.

Prakriti's face bloomed into a wide smile, as if something amazing was going to happen. Her entire body shook in happiness. She felt like all the problems will get solved slowly. Her soul felt complete, and she felt like her soul sister was somewhere around.

Her beauty shone in her happiness, the sun tilted some rays towards her, letting her bathe in the sun even from inside the house. She soaked in the happy warmth of the sun, and instinctively turned to the small house next to hers. It looked like someone was moving in. Was there going to be someone for her to play with? Another sister for her and Anna, who would protect this one as much as he did Prakriti. Her heart felt joyful. Good things were coming!

Padmaja's eyes sparkled with brilliance as she slipped through the shrubbery that covered a broken part of the gate that separated her little cottage from the Big House. That's what she had named it in her mind. The Big House.

Her heart beat rapidly as she approached the house.

Someone very special was here. It was as if a magical force was gravitating her towards a specific destination. Almost on their own accord, her feet took her around the side of the house to the back courtyard.

There, on a swing that was strapped to a tall, sturdy tree, was a little girl. The sun's rays shone on her brightly, giving her an ethereal glow. She wore a green dress made from the finest silk, and her braids were woven with jasmine strands. She was beautiful, she was fresh, and she was special.

Feeling a great sense of happiness descend on her, Padmaja took a step forward and unwittingly broke a fallen tree branch.

The girl on the swing turned around and caught her gaze.

Immediately her face broke into the biggest smile she had ever given anyone.

Prakriti grinned at the fair, beautiful little girl, who was cautiously walking towards her. She felt complete, seeing the moon-like face of the other girl. She could easily sense the curiousity, the shyness and the cautiousness radiating off her. Why would she be so shy? What was it about her short past that was making this girl be cautious? Her innate sense told her that with her though, she would be as open as she can get.

Prakriti got off the swing, and walked towards the girl, still smiling beautifully, radiating love and peace.

Padmaja felt like all the sadness in her life will go away. Padmaja felt like Their eyes met, and for a second, an ancient bond was activated.

"Hi. I am Prakriti!"

Smiling at Prakriti's outstretched hand, Padmaja took it, and said, "I am Padmaja"

Indira, who sat on the terrace overlooking the back courtyard of the Big House, sipping tea, was witness to the meeting of the two girls.

Who was this young girl that approached her granddaughter without any introduction?

She felt a jolt travel through her veins. There was something special about this girl. She sensed the same power within her that she'd sensed in her granddaughter.

The two girls joined hands and smiled at each other, and Indira felt tears prick her eyes.

Both girls were so similar and yet so different. One shone with the cool shade of the moon. The other radiated the warmth of the sun. One was pale, the other golden.

And yet, they both gazed at each other as if they were sisters who had known each other their whole love.

Indira had always thought her granddaughter looked incomplete somehow, but now she looked as if she'd found her other half.

'Prabhu, what is the meaning of this?' she thought in her mind, 'Who is this little girl, and why does she look so right next to Prakriti, as if she belongs there?'

Prakriti and Padmaja smiled at each other lovingly, like sisters would at one another.

"How old are you, Prakriti?", asked Padmaja.

"Five. You?", asked Prakriti.

"Five as well", said Padmaja, smiling widely.

"When is your birthday?", asked Prakriti, her inner instinct telling her that they were born on the same day. When the date got confirmed, Prakriti gave her a mischievous smile, and said, "We are sisters then"

"What do you mean?", said Padmaja.

"We are born on the same day at the same time", said Prakriti. "Our fates must be interwined"

"It's all Bhagwan Narayana's kripa", said Padmaja.

Prakriti smiled widely, feeling complete. Padmaja is the one who completes her.