We're back with the next chapter, guys! Srutha and I wrote this together as well.
If you haven't read Chapter 4, it's posted on pg. 7.
Chapter 5
2 years later
Padmaja and Prakriti lay side by side on the beach, enjoying the warmth of the sand beneath them and the protective rays of the sun which splashed them with its brilliance.
They held hands, reveling in their closeness and feeling that everything was just perfect.
The two years since Padmaja had moved to Chennai had passed by like a breeze. The happiness which had so eluded her since birth was finally there. Her father's cruelty no longer affected her.
Their small cottage changed little in the way of physical appearance, but the maid who worked at the Big House cleaned it twice every week.
Harish Vedula could not afford a maid. He worked as a security guard for a small law firm in the city, and while it paid enough for them to eat and keep a roof over their heads, it did not allow for much luxuries. Sujatha paid the maid to clean the cottage for Padmaja's sake.
Harish fed Padmaja just enough for her to survive, and the rest he used on cards and drink, as usual.
Every day he complained about how much his daughter cost him. She was a burden he could not wait to be rid of, but ever mindful of the stipulations in his mother's will, he could do nothing about it.
Had it not been for Prakriti's parents, Padmaja did not know how she could have borne such treatment much longer.
Sujatha and Srivatsan took her into their home as if she were a second daughter. Prakriti would have it no other way.
"She is my sister," she had stated firmly.
Sujatha liked the pale child, who was quiet and shy, yet bold when necessary. Srivatsan could see that she was quite bright, and he wanted her to have the opportunity to succeed and escape a life of drudgery with her father.
Sujatha clothed her in beautiful little dresses. Prakriti insisted that whenever her mother bought her something, she should buy a matching outfit for Padmaja too. Prakriti favored Earthly tones, with greens, blues and golds, while Padmaja favored pastel colors like pink, red and white. All their clothing had matching designs. Only the colors differed, and they made an adorable pair walking down the street hand in hand.
Srivatsan, noticing a thirst for knowledge in the child, taught her how to read and write. He paid for her to go to school along with Prakriti.
At first, Harish was against it.
"What need does a girl have for an education?" he had sneered, "It will not benefit me in any way. She's much better off learning how to care for the household!"
But Srivatsan had put his foot down, and he could be quite intimidating when he chose to be. As a businessman, he knew how to talk cunningly.
He had convinced Harish that legally, he could not prohibit Padmaja from getting an education. He had fabricated the truth a bit, for no such law existed, but the ignorant Harish did not know that. Not wanting to get in trouble with the police, he had given in grudgingly and let Padmaja attend school. After all, the burden of fees would not fall on his shoulder.
Ever since then, Padmaja's thirst for knowledge, instead of being quenched was incited with every book she read and every class she attended.
She kept her school books in Prakriti's bedroom, for her father did not respect them. When he had seen his daughter reading a book by candlelight one night, in his drunken stupor he had ripped the book apart and flung it against a wall.
Feeling pain coursing through her veins at the great insult to Goddess Saraswati, Padmaja had never again opened a book in her house. She studied with Prakriti, and together the two girls earned a reputation in their school for being very bright and dedicated.
And now, in the present day, Padmaja was attending a small weekend vacation with Prakriti's family. They had rented a house near the ocean, and Prakriti and Padmaja had never felt closer to nature than they did then.
"Look at the ocean's waves," Prakriti whispered, letting the salty breeze riffle through her messy hair, which had come loose from its braid.
Padmaja stroked Prakriti's hair warmly and laid her head against her shoulder.
"It is as if the ocean is dancing," she said, "It is happy about something."
Indeed, the ocean was very happy. Lord Varuna was exultant at the beautiful sight of the universal mothers, Shridevi and Bhudevi, frolicking together as children.
"Appa is very happy," Prakriti said, "He was offered a job in a different company, and this position is much better than his former one."
"I am so happy," Padmaja smiled serenely, "Appa deserves it."
She too called Prakriti's parents "Appa and Amma", for they felt more like her parents than her own father, whom she addressed formally in her mother tongue, "Nannagaru".
"It is all because of you, Padma," Prakriti told her soul sister with tears in her eyes, "Ever since you came, our financial troubles ended. It's your magic."
"I have done nothing, Riti," Padmaja blushed with embarrassment. "You and your family have done far more for me. Ever since I met you, I have known nothing but happiness. You have taken care of all my needs. You have given me an education."
"It is nothing less than what you deserve," Prakriti smiled, grasping her heart, "Whatever belongs to me, belongs to you."
"Likewise," Padmaja agreed. "Your pain is my pain, your joy is my joy."
"Girls! Come into the shade!" Sujatha yelled, "That sun will make your skin dark, especially you Prakriti. You cannot afford to become any darker!"
Prakriti felt tears prick her eyes. Though her mother meant well, her words still pierced her heart.
Padmaja grasped her hand tightly and gave her a reassuring smile.
No one understood more than she.
A year later...
Prakriti's sharp eyes and brilliant mind took in every word she was reading, storing it in her memory for future use. Her thirst for knowledge and learning never seemed to die. In fact, it increased more by the second. She loved learning. Yet, knowledge and learning all seemed like it was a part of her, like she already knew all that she was reading. Her gut told her that she did, she just didn't know it yet.
Glad that her bedroom window gave her a clear view of Padmaja's house, she looked out to see if everything was okay. Her eyes took in the shadow forms of a shaking Padmaja and an angry Harish. Without pausing to think, Prakriti ran down the stairs and rushed to the back door of the house, taking the back route to the back door of Padmaja's cottage.
Seshu was flabbergasted by the hurry of his sister. Realizing something might be wrong, and knowing that informing his parents might cause delay, Seshu followed Prakriti's path, his protector instincts activated.
Prakriti, meanwhile, had opened the back door to the cottage, which was always open, bursting into the living room, where Padmaja and Harish were having a confrontation. Prakriti saw Harish raising a hand at a pale Padmaja, and her instant reflexes acted. She rushed to stand in front of Padmaja, like a fierce tigress protecting her cub from harm. Her eyes stared defiantly at Harish, her bravery and fearlessness shining. Her glowing eyes had a very light tinge of red, scaring Harish a little bit.
"Move away, you brat!" screamed Harish.
"Put your hand down then," said Prakriti, defiantly.
"Why should I listen to you?" asked Harish.
"You were about to hit Padmaja," said Prakriti, calm, her voice deadly even.
"What happens between my daughter and I is none of your business," said Harish angrily.
"She is my sister, thus making it my business," said Prakriti.
"I never accepted you as her sister," said Harish.
"Bonds are forged by the heart, not by society," said Prakriti. "Additionally, my parents view Padmaja as their daughter. So it doesn't matter."
"I don't care. Leave. My daughter and I need to talk," said Harish.
"What you say to her can be said to me as well," said Prakriti.
"You insolent little.."
"Finish that sentence, Mr. Harish."
A 11 year old furious Seshu stood there, eyes like a snake, anger evident on his features. Harish shuddered. First the father, now the children. What was it with this family?
"Mr. Harish? Please answer my question," said Seshu. "What were you going to call my sister?"
"None of your business, boy!" said Harish.
"Why isn't it?" asked Seshu, raising an eyebrow. "First you neglect one sister of mine, now you were about to hit my other sister. You are disgusting."
"And I will hit you. Children who don't listen to elders deserve to be hit," said Harish.
"No they don't," said Prakriti, her voice deadly. Padmaja gripped her sister's hand, sending calm waves. Prakriti's tense shoulders relaxed slightly, but the tone of her voice was unchanging.
"Children who don't listen to elders must be taught why they should, lovingly but firmly," said Prakriti. "A child is a blessing. If the child makes a mistake, chide them lovingly, not harshly and abuse them with words."
"How dare you tell me that, you dirty child," said Harish, spitefully.
Prakriti flinched, but managed to keep her cool, especially seeing Seshu angry.
"Father! Stop it."
Padmaja had had enough. No one insulted her sister.
"Excuse me?" said Harish, glaring at his daughter.
"Prakriti is not dirty. She is beautiful," said Padmaja stubbornly. Prakriti's hand on her shoulder stopped the next words coming from her. Prakriti shook her head.
"Look at that. Two little girls are supporting each other," said Harish, mocking.
"And a boy."
Seshu went and stood behind Prakriti and Padmaja protectively.
"Mr. Harish, you disgust us. Not seeing the love that lies with Padmaja, you have abused her. Be warned, if this ever repeats, the consequences you will face will be great," said Seshu, glaring at Harish.
Harish left the room, angry that he had been defeated by three children, not realizing that he had been influenced.
Seshu looked at his two sisters, only to see Padmaja wrapped in Prakriti's protective arms. He smiled lovingly, and placed his hands on Prakriti and Padmaja's heads. The three of them made a beautiful scene to look at.
4 years later
Prakriti and Padmaja were in the library of their school, when they overheard voices coming from the next section.
"I heard her birthday is coming up. I say we all chip in to buy her a tube of fair and lovely!" one of the girls tittered.
"More like 10 tubes! She'd go through one a day just for it to have any result," another girl giggled.
"My mother says she'll find it hard to get married," another girl said, "It's good she's rich, because her parents will have to give a lot of dowry for the boy to look past her skin!"
"Her name is perfect," the first girl said cruelly, "Prakriti...she is the color of mud, just like nature!"
Padmaja turned to look at her sister, for in her mind that's who Prakriti was, and saw her standing in shock, trying to suppress the tears that threatened to fall down her cheeks.
Her mouth set in a grim line, she rounded the shelf of books and pushed herself into the group of girls, who stared at her in shock.
"You should be ashamed of yourselves!" Padmaja spoke in a quiet, but chilling tone. Her eyes flared and she appeared like the full moon, her pale skin glistening with anger.
"What is it to you what we speak?" one of the girls asked her. "Who is Prakriti to you anyway?"
"She is my sister," Padmaja spoke up staunchly, "She is my heart and soul, and I will not hear one more word against her! Prakriti is the most beautiful girl I have seen in my entire life, and if you cannot see her beauty, your eyes must be defected."
"She is dark," another girl sneered, "Dark skin can never be beautiful."
"You are so ignorant, I pity you," Padmaja shot back angrily, "Shri Krishna was dark, and so was Shri Rama. They are considered beautiful beyond description."
"They are men, and no one cares about men's skin color," one of the girls rolled her eyes. "A woman who is dark is unfortunate. She'll never find a good groom."
"My Riti will find a groom that is beyond this world," Padmaja told them all with pride, "She is special, and no one who is less special than her is worthy of her hand. Don't ever say such cruel things about my sister again. I will not tolerate it."
Giving them one last glare, she returned to Prakriti, who gave her a tight hug and buried her head in her shoulders.
"I love you," she said.
"I love you too," Padmaja hugged her back with a smile.
4 years later...
The two sixteen year old girls laughed as they sat under a tree in their backyard. Yes. In Padmaja's point of view, Prakriti's home was hers. She anyway lived there almost always.
The sun was getting hotter and hotter in Chennai, but neither girl was affected by it. Both girls loved Nature, though Prakriti was more in tune with nature. Padmaja was also in tune with nature, just a couple of shades lesser than Prakriti. Prakriti was true to her name, after all.
"Just one more year, Riti," said Padmaja, grinning at Prakriti.
"Yep. And then college, here we come!" said Prakriti, grinning. "I can't wait to study science."
"And I can't wait to do an MBA," said Padmaja.
"We can't wait to explore life, can we?" asked Prakriti.
"No we can't," said Padmaja. "After all, there is nothing better than living in the present."
"No there isn't," said Prakriti.
Both grinned, and simultaneously went back to their joint bucket list.
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Edited by ..RamKiJanaki.. - 9 years ago
