Sounds of laughter and giggles filled the house that remained barren almost every day, except the three peoples that lived there.
Their house was still the same as they had left, thought Anamika as she stepped into it, she had spent her whole childhood in.
Her elder sister had taken good care of both, the house and their grandparents.
These two years of living away from here had made her even more aware just how much she missed these four walls and this roof, that always flowed a sense of comfort and safety in her.
The feeling of coming home.
The peace and tranquillity of coming back to the people, whom she called her family.
Due to her father's transfer in Varanasi, she along with her parents and younger brother Aarav had to shift there.
The whole family was expected to move there but due to Shivangi di's studies, her grandparents had to stay back.
Anamika chuckled as she thought just how much her grandmother had had to tolerate her elder sister. Like a cranky teenager her sister too had different phases. Sometimes she became all too devoted to her studies while other times she acted like studying and graduating is not the only key to success.
Sometimes she thinks about working in big companies and the very next moment would think about being a job giver.
So, complicated her life was.
But these two years had been a cruel reminder to her just how much she missed her home, her people, her friends, this town.
She had literally missed this serene environment. Such beauty of nature.
Though they had visited at every occasion and festival. But this year she couldn't come because she had a huge classical dance competition to prepare for and then came her matriculation demanding all her attention solely on them.
And because her mother couldn't leave her alone either she along with her brother stayed with her, while her father visited their family in here.
Aarav protested as grandfather pulled on to his cheeks. While grandma, her mother and she chatted for a long time.
Soon after that Aarav zoomed out of the door to meet his gang. Her father and grandpa started talking.
Radha watched with a smile of content. She too like everyone else had missed this home dearly.
Her father-in-law said something at which her mother-in-law snorted and everyone laughed.
"I've always known that one day you all will come back home." Pradeep said as his eyes started to tear up.
"You make it sound like we had left this home for good grandpa." Anamika said as she chuckled at her grandpa's antics.
Leave the dramatics to her ever so emotional grandpa.
They all were sitting in the living room. Her grandpa and father on the couch while she sat by her grandma right, on the armrest of the sofa. Her mother was in the kitchen preparing lemonade as summer was at it's prime.
Anamika's elder sister Shivangi had apparently gone to college as she didn't know that they were coming two days prior to their schedule. She would be in for a pleasant surprise once she comes home.
Fortunately, they will have enough time to prepare for an early birthday surprise. Smiling Anamika tuned back herself in the living room, chuckling and laughing with her family.
Taking Anamika's left hand in her gnarled ones Bhagyashree kissed them with teary eyes. They were the tears of happiness.
And put a hand on Anamika's head as in blessing, smiling at her younger granddaughter.
Her grandchildren and her daughter-in-law will live with them from now on. But her son will have to go back in a few days as a year or two were still due in his transfer.
Nonetheless she was ecstatic that her family was complete and together again, but her son would have to make frequent trips from Varanasi to Dehradun starting from now on. Being on a higher position in Income tax dept. was no joke.
"What would you like to eat my child? Today your dadi will feed you all from her kitchen." Bhagyashree asked Anamika.
"A burger and french fries would be nice for now." Aarav said excitingly, he had heard her grandma asking what she should make today and instantly felt it his responsibility to relieve his grandma from this pinch. "And pizza with a soft drink would be great for dinner dadi."
As he finished everyone broke into a fit of laughter. Anamika was well aware with Aarav's love towards unhealthy food.
Aarav looked at everyone and his innocent mind wondered if he had said something wrong.
"Oh my sweet Aarav....come here....you see your dadi isn't an expert in making anything besides north-indian cuisine." She explained to Aarav as she pulled him to sit in her lap.
"But I can surely make your favourite chole puri. What say." Bhagyashree offered a negotiation between her comfort and her adorable grandson's wishes.
"That's awesome dadi, you're the best dadi in the wholeworld." Suddenly lifting himself up Aarav again crashed to the outside as an idea swirled in his mind.
"I'm going to tell Krishna that. Bye". With that Aarav zoomed out again.
"You all should rest for some time. It must have been a tiring journey." Bhagyashree said. And everyone followed her orders.
Walking out of the room she came outside to the garden and headed towards the temple. Remembering not to forget to thanks the deity for this wonderful gift.
Her family was back together once again.
Who could be the happiest person beside her right now. No one.
****************************************************************
Eklavya scowled at the intruder.
"Whoah! Relax bro, don't bare your teeth at me." Rudra said and plopping down on the bed and started chewing on the apple in his hand.
"By the way aunt called for you saying something about fixing her mixer-grinder or something."
Putting the pen down on the table beside the copy Eklavya searched for some errors but found none. Pleased with himself he rises from his chair and walked outside the room.
"Hey! Wait for me." Rudra said as he quickly moves out of the bed and followed his brother downstairs.
Narrowing his eyes at that Eklavya paused for split second but didn't stop until he was in the kitchen, where his aunt was making some delicious dish.
He didn't know its name, since his aunt had a habit of trying new dishes every other day.
Some scarcely turned out to be good. While other failed miserably.
It thankfully was one of the 'scarcely turned out to be good' category.
Eklavya grimaced as the taste of the last dish she made came back into his mouth with full force. Misinterpreting his expression as of discomfort, Kasturi ushered a glass of water in Eklavya's hands.
Without glancing at it Eklavya gulped it down his throat. Where the taste of that cooking disaster still remained.
"Eklavya please take a look at my grinder, it suddenly stopped working." Kasturi implored with a hopeful look on her face.
"Sure, I'll get it repaired by evening." He said with his concentration on the electrical appliance. At hearing his words Kasturi's lips bloomed into a beautiful smile.
"Thanks!! Eklavya you're the best."
Smirking, Eklavya faced her and said, "You said the same thing to Rudra when he repaired your phone aunty."
"Oh! Just forget it. All my children are the best." Kasturi said and they both smiled. "They are my pride."
"I know aunty." Bending down he kissed Kasturi's cheeks. "And you're the best aunt in the whole world." He said as he hugged Kasturi from behind with his chin on her shoulder.
Kasturi patted his cheek affectionately. "I'll make your favourite dish today. Now go."
Sitting on the sofa of the living room Eklavya focused all his attention to the appliance. A wire has loosened nothing much that needed more attention than necessary. Reaching for a tool in his tool box than did he realised that the whole wire of the grinder had small cuts on it, meaning he would have to replace it entirely.
His eyes raked the whole room seeing no one else, his aunt and grandma were in the kitchen, chatting merrily about their neighbours.
Gossiping.
Advay and Rudra were nowhere in sight. As the former had gone to his cricket academy and will not be back before dinner. While the latter must have gone to one of his useless friend's house.
In short, he would have to run an errand to the electrical shop himself.
Sighing, he stood up and walked to the door, reaching his back pocket he pulled out his wallet, raking it to know how much money it holds.
Enough. It just had enough.
Meaning he would soon have to pay a visit to the bank.
****************************************************************
Anamika walked towards the house with an intention to surprise its residents. After her grandma dictated them to rest, she mutely followed her orders and had gone upstairs.
But as soon as her grandma had gone out, she practically sneaked out of her room. With deliberated steps she stopped in front of her parents' room and slowly opening the door, hoping that it wouldn't creak., looked around it till her eyes landed on her father's sleeping form while her mother was awake, unpacking their stuff.
"Maa" Anamika called out to his mother in a hushed tone. Radha hearing someone calling out to her turned back.
"Maa I'm going to Advay's house, will be back soon." Anamika explained quickly but in a hushed voice.
Radha nodded her head smiled at her daughter. Anamika was the sweetest girl in the whole world. She always asked for her permission, knowing fully well that she and the others would never stop her from doing something she wanted to do.
But her sweet daughter had made it a habit of her to ask for their permission. Radha couldn't deny that when her daughter asks for permission and opinions from her, she feels like she has a say in her life. Not as a mother, but as a friend.
At present time when youngsters seclude themselves with a bold stay away on the door of their life, making their parents anxious with worry about their well-being.
It did give her a sense of relief that all her children confided her about what's happening in their lives.
And she hoped that it will remain that way in the future too.
****************************************************************
Anamika walked straight to the door, without bothering to knock it. Knowing that like always the doors to the house were never bolted. So, she just didn't bother with it.
She leaned and raised her hands to push the door open. And at the same time someone opened the door from the other side. Due to the timing, Anamika lost her balance and fell on the person in front of her.
"What the fuck!!"
They fell inside with a loud thud. Eklavya groaned as his back hit the floor painfully. While Anamika fell flat on him, with both her arms on the either side of him and head on his chest.
Anamika whimpered slightly as her wrist had knocked in to the handle of the door badly, leaving an ugly red angry mark.
Slowly raising her head from the chest, she can say definitely belonged to a male, Anamika looked up to Eklavya, who was already staring at her bewilderingly.
Both their faces so close to each other.
For moments they only looked into each other's eyes, none of them taking their eyes off of each other.
Various emotions swirled into their eyes caution, confusion, shock and many more they both couldn't decipher. Bewilderment being the triumphant one.
Having heard the thud from the kitchen both Kasturi and Kusumlata rushed to the front door. But stopped mid track after seeing the astonishing scene in front of them, both too astound to say anything.
There a girl laid on top of Eklavya, her hair had covered a side of her face so Kasturi and Kusumlata couldn't figure out who the girl was. But their faces were closer and if they didn't know any better than they would've assumed that the teenagers were kissing.
When the moment of stupefaction passed, they both looked at each other. Kusumlata motioned Kasturi, clearly indicating her to handle this amusing and both equally terrifying situation.
If anybody walked in here at this time, the girl would become the new prey of the gossipmongers. They both deemed it to be an accident but others might not.
They might spread it into the whole neighbourhood. They can't let that possibly happen. So, Kasturi hurriedly walked towards them both.
On hearing the chiming of anklets did the both come out of their stupor.
Eklavya who hadn't realised that between all this his hand had absentmindedly reached for the girl's lower back, slid it back smoothly, making Anamika rigid just for a moment.
And in a moment of flash they both were on their foot lithely, face to face. Anamika's fair complexion burned with mortification and humiliation while Eklavya's face tinted a little red. Of embarrassment.
"Ahh..ummm.." Anamika trailed off as she didn't know what to say.
"Who are you?" Eklavya asked bitingly with angry eyes staring at her making her squirm under his penetrating gaze.
"Anamika!!!"
Eklavya turned back on hearing his aunt's astounding voice, Anamika peeked from behind him looking at Kasturi with embarrassment and quickly lowered her head.
What had she done? How was she going to rectify this big big error? What is she going to say? Most importantly, who is he? Where is Advay? Had aunty started keeping tenants?
"What happened?" Even though Kasturi had seen enough, she still wanted to know from the youngsters. So that they can explain themselves off this accident.
But to her bewildering surprise both spoke at the same time.
"I fell on him."
"She fell on me."
Kasturi looked in amusement as Anamika quickly looked down with red cheeks at the perfectly synchronised timing while her nephew huffed and looked away in annoyance.
Before anyone could mutter a word Eklavya stride out of the house without glancing at them.
Anamika felt horrible, she might have ruined any chances of repentance. Shoulders hunched at this realisation the mortification didn't help the least to gain face in front of Kasturi. She was ashamed beyond imagination. Reading her thoughts on her face Kasturi felt sympathy for the poor girl.
"Why are you standing there? Come inside beta." Kasturi said benevolently.
Kasturi's compassion filled words momentarily eased the turmoil inside her heart. Breathing out all the negativity jammed inside her. Anamika smiled and hugged her beloved petite aunt. Who also hugged her with same emotions.
Breaking the hug Kasturi asked her fervently, "When did you come back?"
Laughing at her enthusiasm Anamika answered, "This afternoon aunty."
They walked into the living room and sat down on the sofa. Kusumlata who had witnessed the whole scenario walked up to them and also made comfortable herself on the nearby recliner.
Anamika joined both her hands and greeted her, in return Kusumlata blessed her with a heart-warming smile. Kusumlata couldn't deny the fact that she was happy to see the girl again. The girl was a chirping bird, never bothering to stop to even breath.
"I- I'm sorry aunty for...for what happened...there....I'm truly sorry." Eyes downcast Anamika apologised to both ladies of the household. Horrible as she felt for falling on a total stranger the truth that both of them had witnessed that embarrassing scene was totally not helpful.
"You've nothing to be ashamed of. It was just an accident." Kasturi said with a compassionate face.
"But aunty-
"Like Kasturi said 'It-Was-Just-An-Accident." Kusumlata said pointedly, making clear that it wasn't the fault of either of them. "Let this incident be forgotten, it will not be helpful in the least."
"Now forget all that are you here just for some days or are back here for good." Anamika internally thanked Kasturi for the change in topic.
"We, me and Aarav will pursue our studies from here now on, maa will stay with us too but papa will stay in Varanasi for some more time." Anamika explained making both the ladies smile benevolently at her.
"Umm..aunty where's Advay?"
"He has joined a cricket academy last year. Will be back before dinner." Kasturi said, proud that her son was doing things his way, intricating a life that he wants, that her son has chosen.
"Wow that's amazing. Advay has always wanted to join a cricket academy, now that he has, I'm sure he will make all of us proud." Anamika said merrily, thrilled for her childhood partner in crimes.
"I'm sure he will." Kusumlata proclaimed with her eyes shining with optimism for her grandson.
They chatted for some more time. Reliving various memories, laughing and giggling when Anamika imitated Advay perfectly. All the while Anamika made sure to cover up the wound on her wrist, not allowing even a glimpse of it.
"By the way aunty, who was that boy? I didn't know you had opened up for tenants!!" Anamika asked edgily.
"Oh!! You mean Eklavya, he's not a tenant Anamika, he's Meera didi's son. He lives here."
________________________________________________________________________________
Shivangi looked at the house and made her way towards it. She was an hour late because some old friends had turned up, saying something about hanging out and all. And she couldn't turn them down as she too hadn't seen them for a while.
But now it was 6:00 p.m. in the evening and she cringed as she recalled the last time her grandma had reprimanded her because she hadn't informed her about the sudden changes in her plans.
Her grandma had scolded her pretty badly and after sometime when she had calm down herself, did she let her step foot into the house.
Shivangi could unmistakeably hear the concern and worry in her grandma's voice, but how could she forget that moment.
It was one of the most embarrassing moment of Shivangi's life. Her grandma had reprimanded her in front of the house and with the high octave of her voice it was no wonder that all the neighbours had heard the old woman, much to Shivangi's mortification.
Some of them even came out of their respective houses to enjoy the drama, where an old terrifying woman was scolding an equally terrified girl, pausing for a fraction of time she had wondered had the people nothing better to do than to watch with great amusement as if they had opened up a circus. But most of their neighbours stayed in their house much to her gratification.
So, pausing in front of the door she collected all her self-confidence that was tattered into small bits when she recollected that last terrifying encounter with her grandma. Preparing herself for the oncoming slaughter that was due to fall on her any moment.
If there was something Shivangi Rathore dreaded the most that was to face her grandma's wrath. There was no counting on her grandpa as he too was afraid of her grandma, like everyone.
With a last prayer to god Shivangi rang the door-bell, she waited for some time but when no one answered she rang it again but it also went unattended. Different awful scenarios made their way in her head, curtsy of all the crime shows she had watched devotedly.
Now that she looked attentively wasn't the house looking a bit more barren and silent then usual. Her grandpa who would always sit in the garden at this time of the evening was nowhere in sight. Her grandma who should be in the kitchen making the evening's meal was not there. There were coming no sounds of life from the house. She checked the handle only to find the door unlocked.
Where are they both? Are their thieves inside? Should I call for help? No, what if the thieves threatened and harmed her grandparents.
But she should check it first herself before calling the police, if there was something, she had learned from those crime shows that was to ascertain the situation themselves first and try to tackle it. Involving police doesn't always help. Maybe she can offer a negotiation for her poor old fragile grandparents.
And maybe they will be kind enough to leave without any blood.
Why was she thinking the worst? No, Shivangi think positive, think positive.
So, with a determination that stood on shaky and quivering legs Shivangi pushed the door open.
****************************************************************
Anamika put her hand on her little brother's mouth. As it was hard for him to keep himself shushed for even sometime. He was such a chatterbox. Oh! The irony.
'Where was she? Should be here by now.' Thought Anamika as she freezes her brother's protest by signalling him to stop. And surprisingly he complied her instructions.
Apparently, they all had hidden themselves in the living room, some behind the sofa, behind the couch and god knows where and had unlit the room. Now all there was left to do was for her sister to return from college.
"Shhshh.." Anamika motioned everyone.
The door to the house creaked open. Anamika looked from behind the sofa and heard the sound of metal bangles. Definitely Shivangi di's, she nodded.
"Grandma!?"
"Grandpa?"
On Anamika's signal Upendra switched on the lights.
"Happy Birthday!!!!!"
Everyone came out of their hiding spot and smiled at her. Overcoming the moment of shock Shivangi's frown turned into a full-blown smile of pure joy.
"This is one hell of a surprise." Shivangi said as she grinned ear to ear.
"Don't curse young lady." Bhagyashree reprimanded her.
"Yeah yeah Grandma." Lowering her head, she muttered so that only Anamika was able to hear her "but we learn by what we see." And they both chuckled.
Shivangi hugged her papa and maa. Too much happy to say anything.
"I'm so happy. But you were coming two days later. If you were coming why didn't you tell me?" Without even pausing to breathe Shivangi bombarded her parents with zillion questions.
"It wouldn't have been a surprise then." Aarav retorted.
"I missed you all so much. But I didn't miss you at all little chipmunk." Shivangi said slyly.
"Hmph..neither did I." Aarav huffed too proud to confess that he'd missed her.
"Now now you two don't fight. Shivangi go freshen up." Radha said smilingly.
"You know grandma will make tonight's meal." Anamika said enthusiastically.
"Been eating that crap for two years now." Shivangi replied sardonically earning an angry rebuke from her grandma.
****************************************************************
Advay huffed a sigh of relief as he mounted off his bicycle and neared his house's doors. Today the coach had made them run five extra errands of the cricket ground. Apparently a rather idiotic boy had deemed it right to engage in a heated chit-chat with the coach. Rebuking about the lesser quality of training.
Their coach out of furiousness had ordered the other boys to run total five extra errands. Though he liked his coach he couldn't deny that he too was incensed with today's behaviour of his coach.
Well, let it be in past.
His stomach rumbled as he made his way in the house.
Rudra sat sluggishly on the sofa, beside him Vikrant Singh sat watching a news channel and listened attentively to what the reporter was saying.
Kasturi noticed Advay first seeing the exhaustion on her son's face she walked back in the kitchen and filled up a glass of water. Going back to the living room she handed the glass to Advay, who by now made himself comfortable on the other sofa next to Rudra.
He drained it in no time.
"How was your day Advay?" Vikrant probed as he diverted his attention from the T.V.
"One word. Terrible."
"Why?" Rudra asked with mirth in his eyes. "Couldn't handle the pressure." He said mockingly. "Told ya, it takes lots of patience and stamina to handle a coach's mood swings."
"He made us run FIVE errands of the ground while he sat under the shade of the tree." Advay grumbled passionately.
"No doubt you stink. I could smell the terrible stench from up my room" Eklavya pointed out as he came downstairs with a mixer-grinder in his hands.
"It's all repaired aunty." He said as he handed it down to Kasturi.
"Thanks!! Eklavya." Kasturi beamed. Smirking he asked, "Now where's my favourite dish aunty."
"Will be prepared in no time, you go and sit my dear boy. You've helped me enough today and will get your reward soon." She smiled sweetly at him. "And Advay, Eklavya is right, go and take a bath you do stink." And just like that she retreated back to her kitchen.
Her sweet haven.
"Yes, go and take a bath please. I don't want to die because of lack of oxygen." Rudra said nonchalantly as he pinched his nose shut.
Advay rose from the sofa half-heartedly. He didn't want to take a bath but now he'll have to follow her mother's command. If only Eklavya could keep his mouth shut.
"Just take a quick bath I have wonderful news to share." He heard his mother shout from the kitchen.
When Advay came downstairs with his still wet mane, he found everyone already seated on the dining table. As his grandma was the head of their family, she sat at the head of the table with his father on her right followed by her mother. While the three of them sat beside each other.
"Now you don't need to hold on your breath Rudra see our Advay now stinks less." Eklavya mocked Advay, making a scowl appear on his cute face. While Rudra tried to cover a chuckle but failed miserably.
But before Advay could give life to his words Kasturi intervened "Don't fight boys. Advay sit, I have a thousand-dollars news for you." And she started serving all of them.
"You don't mean to say that Ira di has postponed her unbidden arrival." Advay interrupted her with an enthusiastic smile on his face.
"Advay talk about your sister with respect. This house is as much her as it is of all the three of you. She can always come her as she pleases." Kusumlata said sternly. Granted that she loved all her grandsons unconditionally. But how can she forget that the one who made her a grandma for the first time was her precious darling, Ira.
Her sweet little angel. Though she doubted that her grandsons agreed with that thought of hers. 'Hmph.. bratty boys.'
"Sorry grandma." Advay apologised meekly.
"Now forget all this everyone. What was the wonderful news you were going to share with us Kasturi?" Vikrant deliberately changed the flow of the conversation, which he knew would end up in a total mess, if not prevented before.
Kasturi smiled pleasantly her eyes twinkled "You know the Rathore family is back for good."
Eklavya's whole body stiffed for a fraction before he turned to his normal self. He easily ignored the sly glances directed towards him by both the ladies present on the table.
"That's good." Vikrant said. "That's great."
"WHAT ANNU HAS COME BACK!!!!!!!!" Advay shouted in pure bewilderment.
"Hey don't shout man, first my nose and then my ears. You sure you aren't on the mission 'Destroy-Rudra's-Senses' today." Rudra said heatedly.
"I'm not that idle to plot nonsense against you." Advay said as he narrowed his eyes.
"No, we totally trust you to plan this nonsense." Eklavya butted in sardonically earning a chuckle from everyone on the dining table.
"I'm going to her house right now." Advay said enthusiastically totally ignoring Eklavya's sly remark.
It was no joke, after all his best friend of childhood was back. His partner in all the crimes he had committed. His Annu was back. But Kusumlata's voice curbed his sudden embark to his best friend's house.
"Hold on Advay, it's already 8:45 in the evening. They all must be quite tired from the long journey." Kusumlata said "Let them all rest for now. You can go and meet her tomorrow."
At that Advay's face fell.
"But grandma-
"Let it be Advay, like your grandma said they must be tired, let them rest." Kasturi's soothing voice put an end to any protest left in Advay. And he fell back on his seat defeatedly.
"Aunty where's my reward for today's hard work." Eklavya asked.
"Repairing a mixer-grinder doesn't need much of a hard work." Rudra retorted.
"Shut up."
"Oh!!! I totally forget it's in the kitchen." Kasturi replied as she hurriedly went off to the kitchen while knocking out few things here and there in the process making the room erupt in laughter.
'His dear aunt was such a klutz.' Eklavya mused.
****************************************************************
All the three of them lied on the bed, Shivangi, Aarav and Anamika. After they had dinner and lots of chit-chat later, they found themselves in Shivangi's bed. Who for the first time accepted them in her room without throwing any tantrums about her invasion of privacy.
"Really Annu I'm so happy that all of you are here." Shivangi said as she gazed pointlessly at the white-washed ceiling.
"Am too. Now we will always be together." Anamika responded as she absent-mindedly stroked Aarav's soft brown curls, who was fast asleep by now. And then stroked her stuffed belly.
"God I'm so stuffed. I'm telling you there's magic in grandma's cooking. You just can't stop eating." She exclaimed.
"Tell me about it." Shivangi mused.
"Well did you like the early birthday present." Anamika implored softly.
"You bet, I loved it. That was totally the best surprise I'd ever had." Shivangi replied.
"Now come on thank me quickly." Anamika said.
"Forget it." Shivangi chuckled softly as her younger sister puffed her cheeks in mock anger.
"I missed this city. I missed these family moments. I missed grandma's cooking and I missed grandpa's over-emotional antics." Anamika said, chuckling at the last one.
"But now you won't. We will do all the fun things together. Like sisters do. Braiding each other's hair, trying each other's clothes, borrowing make-up and many many more things." Shivangi proclaimed happily.
"You forgot to mention that I'll be your lab rat for every new product." Anamika added helpfully.
"Yes - hey!!! don't put your words in my mouth." Shivangi protested, making Anamika laugh.
"Shhh..you'll wake Aarav. And we all know how cranky he is when shaken up from his slumber." Shivangi justified.
"O-Okay...but you seriously were planning to make me your lab rat. Weren't you?" Anamika accused her in a hushed tone. She was clearly enjoying this.
"No no why would I!!! You are my dear little sister not some mannequin." Shivangi elucidate herself.
"Now you sleep, we will talk tomorrow. You must be tired from the long journey." With that Shivangi covered her face with a cotton sheet even before Anamika could protest that she wasn't tired at all.
All in all, what Anamika needed was to talk to someone to keep her traitorous mind from cruelly replaying all the embarrassing scenes from the afternoon.
Never had she ever felt so much humiliated. Even though both Kasturi aunty and Kusumlata grandma had told her to forget it, she couldn't for the sake of her life. No matter how much she tries her mind always find moments to drift back to that boy, Eklavya.
What he must be thinking of her? She didn't even get to apologize to him because of his sudden leave. He must be thinking that she was an ill-mannered girl.
She should apologize to him. Scratch that, she must apologize to him.
When she recalled the fall, she grasped that it was quite a hard one 'his back must be hurting pretty badly' she thought.
The first thing she would do upon meeting him again, would be to apologize.
But as much as she convinced herself to face him. She mentally dreaded the thought of it. She didn't know why but she felt that she wasn't ready to face him yet.
Her face glittered in moon light as the whole room lit up. Today was a full moon day. Her window was open as moon's grace sneaked in the room.
The window gave her the full view of the moon.
With all the things happening today sleep was hard to come, she mused softly.
"Eklavya" she tried the name on her tongue as she looked at the moon.
Not knowing that her whole life was soon going to be all about this name.
****************************************************************
Eklavya lied on his bed, it was near the window and gave him the perfect view of the moon. The moonlight scattering in the room.
His mind made a list of all the things he had to do tomorrow. Going to the bank was on the top of to-do-list. He also needed to check on some accounts with the bank manager.
He needed to run some errands to the book store as the next semester was starting by this Monday and today was Thursday.
And have to take his bicycle to get repaired. Today when he was going to the electrical shop than he had noticed that his bicycle wasn't moving as smoothly as it should have.
He would have to take it to the nearby mechanic shop.
Or he could rather repair it by himself.
Yes, that was a perfect idea to kill some time.
That way he will be able to pass some free time. God how much he hated this word they called 'holidays.' He was bored to death in this short period of time.
His mind suddenly flew past to this afternoon's incident. But he quickly shut his annoying devil of a mind.
He had landed on his back but it didn't hurt at all. Lots and lots of training was behind his quick healing ability.
His hand raised on its own accord till his palm was in his view, near his abdomen. Eklavya stared at it for a few moments than he looked at the moon.
"Anamika."
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Srishti
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