Part 2
Ayesha: Di…
Di…wake up Di… Di please. MA!! PAPA!!
Her voice galloped off the
walls and into her parent's perked up ears that were waiting for her call.
These past few months they all slept with one eye open, hoping that she
wouldn't have that nightmare again. But destiny was an enemy that claimed to be
her friend, finding pleasure in sending her into a torturous frenzy that
refused to end. Four pairs of naked feet slapped the cold tiles while the clock
ticked quarter to three. Shipra picked up her speed and anxiously whipped open
the door. Rushing into the room, she crept next to Priya who was now sitting
upright, resting the back of her aching head against the headboard.
Shipra:
Sudhir, look at our baby.
She said as she wiped sweat
beads from Priya's forehead and than tucked a wet strand of hair behind her ear
before she began caressing her lifeless cheeks that once shined with a healthy
red tone.
Shipra: When
I die I want to ask god why is it that the ones who give everyone happiness
live a sorrowful life? Why is that the ones who always shower love on everyone
never finds a person who genuinely loves them in return? What kind of justice
can possibly justify such discrepancies?
A lump formed in Shipra's
throat that her mouth was too dry to swallow. She bellowed "WHY!" one last time
before she broke down into tears, covering her face with her palms. Sudhir
walked over and gripped her shoulder reassuringly while staring at Priya who
had her eyes shut tightly in attempts to hide her anguish.
Sudhir:
Shipra, everything that happens in this world happens for a reason. Rainbows
are only visible after rainy days so in way this is the end of sorrow and the
welcoming of a new beginning.
He places his free hand on
Priya's head
Sudhir: I
believe in you Priya. I know it's hard beta, but you have to forget the past.
We want our Priya back. I know we are selfish asking you for this but Priya you
have spoiled us. Baachi, you are the
curve that forms each and every smile in this family. You are that cushiony support
for my neck that keeps my head held high and my nose proudly pointing up at the
sky. (Her head hung low while tears began leaking through the corners of her
closed eyelids. He cupped her face and wiped the tears off her cheeks with his
thumbs) Priya…Enough crying now. Look at me Priya… (he requested
sympathetically but she sensed a hint of fatigue in the tone of his voice. She
sniffled and opened her eyes slowly. The room filled with concerned family
members did not go unnoticed by her). That's like my good girl. (His lips
pathetically curved out a plastic smile trying to sell her a bootleg version of
joy.) Priya, can I ask you for something? (she nodded letting out a soft
sigh) Can you return my Priya to me? We
all miss her so much and we feel so helpless in bringing her back. Please? (he
glued his palms together, like a desperate beggar) I beg of you, please…
Priya: (she
interrupted his plea by grabbing his hands and leaping forward into his
embrace. Through thunderous sobs, she somehow managed to carve out a few
sentences that her family was craving to hear) Please Papa, don't do that. I'm
so sorry Papa. This is entirely my fault I should have never… (He broke the hug
and whispered, "shhh…" interrupting her mid-sentence)
Sudhir: You
never have to say sorry for whatever happened. I am not angry or ashamed.
People with a mouth will talk, there's nothing that we can do to stop them.
They are oblivious to the truth. And the truth is that whatever happened is
over and in a month it will be over for good. I'm not asking you to forget what
happened because there is a lesson in the mistakes of our past. But don't let
it stop you from living in the present. Forgive those who have hurt you because
that is the only way you can move forward. Forgive him beta.
Karthik:
(interrupted abruptly) FORGIVE HIM? That man is not worthy of forgiveness; he
did not commit a small mistake. Papa, he knowingly hurt di. He played her heart
like a game of cards, betting her feelings like it was his property.
Sudhir:
(gets up off the bed and stands face to face with Karthik) Yes Karthik, you are
right…He played a game in which he suffered the greatest loss. Even in seven
lifetimes he will never find a gem like our Priya.
Shipra:
(suddenly jumped up off the bed and stood beside Karthik, maintaining a
defensive stance in his favour) why are you taking his side? Don't you see what
he has done to our daughter? (she
pointed towards Priya, who sat on the bed with her legs stretched out and her head
hung low. Her eyelids scrunched up to hide her teary, red eyes) They were
married for 6 months and that's all it took for him to shatter her to pieces.
For the past three months my daughter has not slept peacefully. She has locked
herself in this room, while he is roaming around with utmost satisfaction. And
you are saying forgive him? Why are you taking his side?
Sudhir:
Shipra… It is not like that… Do you think I am blind to the pain that Priya is
going through? I am her father… and as her father I think it is in the best
interest for her to forgive him… Forgive but don't forget…
Shipra: Mein
Ma hoon unki… And as her mother I will never agree to even the slightest
thought of forgiving that monster who is a stain on my daughters destiny. And
no matter what relationship binds me to his family, I will never accept his own
as my own (glares at Natasha)
Priya:
(screams while covering her ears with the palms of her hands and squeezing her
eyes shut) ENOUGH MA!! THAT'S ENOUGH!!
Her voice propelled through
the commotion like a gun shot up in the air grabbing everyone's attention by
the reins. She commanded acknowledgement immediately, sensing things getting
disproportionately out of hand at her expense. As the sudden silence enveloped
the tension filled atmosphere in the room, Priya lazily opened her eyes, as her
palms slid symmetrically down the side of her pale, wet face, landing with a
soft clap on her thighs. A salty clear crystal trail dripped down her cheeks,
slipping into the corners of her mouth as soon as she opened it to speak.
Priya: (she
glared angrily at her family members, conveying her rage to each person
equally) I am tired of hearing this… every other night for the past three
months it's been the same story… (she dragged her feet off the bed and placed
it on the cold, tiled floor. Every nerve in her body collectively ignited to
pool in any hint of strength that remained in her lifeless body before she was
able to stand.) Papa… The hardest thing in life is trying to be perfect in an
imperfect situation. I thought I had mastered this craft, smiling through all
of life's problems… But… today I have lost at life Papa. And when you have lost
at life, than living is the greatest punishment. (she lets out a sob) Please, I
know you all care about me so much. And I wish I could be less of a burden for
you all. But can I have some time alone… Please I need some time to think about
how I can move forward…
Sudhir: Theek
hain Beta… (looks at Ayesha) Ayesha, can you spend the rest of the night on the
sofa in the living room? (Ayesha nods. Sudhir looks at everyone else). Shipra,
Karthik aur Natasha, let's go back to our rooms and give Priya some time alone…
Shipra: But
Priya needs us…
Sudhir: Shipra
(he pleaded sternly)… Chalo…
Everyone marched out of the
room glancing back at Priya once, who stood glued to the floor like a statue.
Sudhir was the last person to exit, ensuring that everyone was out of the room.
Before he shut the door behind him, his eyes met Priya's, which conveyed
umpteen appreciation to him for his understanding.
Priya heard the door click
shut, a sound that equipped her soul with a strangly comforting feeling of
lonliness that had become the theme of her existence. The black night sky
thunderously spat lighting into the cool air sending a dangerous invitation to
Priya who walked unconciously toward the slightly cracked open window.
Raindrops began falling to their death right before her eyes, splattering into
a million pieces as it hit the ground mimicking the state of her heart.
Normally she would stick her hand out of the window to give shelter to these
raindrops, catching as many as she could and letting it soak in her palms. But
lately her mind was too tortured to even tease the thought of salvation.
Instead she gripped the window ledge, leaned forward to let her vision follow
the route of the rain.
Priya: Times
have changed so much… Before when I used to look at these raindrops, I would
feel so happy and calm. But today when I see these same raindrops, I feel
jealous. How nice for them… They fight with the heavens above and get kicked
out through the clouds… But atleast the pain that they feel lasts only a couple
of minutes before they hit the ground and die.
She looked down and leaned
closer to the edge, the bottom was so enticing, almost as if it was calling her
name and offering her a deal that she would be foolish to reject . . .
I felt somebody tugging the sleeve of my pitch-black
suit, which matched the pitch-black path on which I aimlessly treaded. I looked down, only to see a mini version of
me staring up into my eyes questionably.. The confusion was paramount between
us but before I could decipher the reason behind her gaze she opened her mouth.
She must be an angel because I have never heard a sweeter voice in my life
before.
"Help my
Mumma…She needs your help…" The tone of her voice made a humble request sound
like a demand... Before I could respond she grabbed my sleeve, wrapping it into
her tiny palm and began walking, pulling me along.
"Listen little girl, where are you taking
me", she glaneed back angrily in response to my question. What a stupid
question, I thought, only after I asked it; she had just finished telling me
not even a minute ago. While being dragged along against my will I couldn't
help but wonder what connection I have with this little girl and her mother,
who is apparently in some kind of danger.. Before I could begin probing further
into this mysterious matter, my vision leaped up each and every single brick of
the once white, now beige with age, building. This child does not only remind
me of a female version of myself as a kid, stubborn as a stain on a white
carpet, but apparently she can read my mind also...
"That's my mumma., she explained, before I could
ask, pointing up at a balcony with her tiny index finger. I followed where she
was pointing, only to find out that the woman she was calling mumma was none
other than Priya, who from where I was standing, was way too close to the edge
of the black thin steel railing that acted as a barrier on the balcony..
Putting two and two together it was clear as day, this clone of myself is a
piece of me that I had tragically lost 3 months back... How cursed is my
destiny to be helplessly placed in the presence of two of my most prized
possessions, one who I have lost already and the other who I am about to
lose... I screamed her name as loud as I could, but my voice mingled with the
spiraling wind, losing its strength before it could reach her ears... She edged
closer... I looked down at the fading figure of my daughter sensing that the
end was near.. "why is she doing this?" I asked pointing to the
predicament in which Priya had boldly placed herself. She smirked and replied
shaking her head in disappointment, "because of you!"
Is it possible to have a dream within a dream? I would
attest to its possibility. My mind worked my brain cells on an accerlated mode,
flashing me back to the night when it happened on the basis of my revenge
against her.. Then 6 weeks passed I remembered she told me she was pregnant.
Than the compromise proposal to compensate for my mistake, all the while
pretending that I genuinely loved her making her eventually actually genuinely
love me, as the father of her child, the husband in her picture perfect family,
albeit a compromise.. Fast forward six months later, I understood the beauty of
this woman and I am not talking about her flawless appearance.. But rather the
real beauty I realized than which had her tattooed into my heart permanently
was her abundance of selfless behavior as well as her authentic, most angelic
laughter fueled by the pleasure she extracted from the most simplest of
situations. I found a new way of living, completly changed from head to toe..
But of course we all know that karma is a bitch who came in due time to snatch
my newfound happiness. And to think that I thought, even for a second, that I
could actually live happily ever after, building my palace on the tears and
deceit of the one who I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. But of course
came the dreadful night when she came to know of everything; everything except
for the fact that I loved her so much. God separated my unborn child from me
and destiny separated my Wife, along with the chance to profess my love to
her...
"It's not too late P-papa. People leave this
world but life goes on. Destiny plays his card but you are not empty
handed." He stared down at her innocent chubby face listening to her
intelligent words and thinking that she is just like her mom."I know
baby" he responded. "But your mom doesn't want to listen to
me." She crossed her arms adamantly
across her chest, scrunched her eyebrows together and pouted her lips firmly as
she spoke, "If you have the courage to hurt someone so gravely than you
should also have the courage to make amends by apologizing. But no, Mumma sahi
kaaithi thi, Mr. Kapoor's ego is bigger than his body"... She spread her arms
out horizontally in the air to demonstrate the size she was referring to...
He did not fume up like he usually did when his weight
was put into the spotlight of ridicule, it was almost as if his ego had
developed a soft corner for Priya.. "You are right Rockstar, I have to fix
this" He whispered a quick thank you to her before he put his left foot
forward to guide himself towards the entrance of the building and proceed to
doing what he once dreaded, running up the stairs to Priya's apartment. But he
had to do it. He had to stop her, hold her, kiss her and tell her that he loved
her. But before he took the second step, he heard a deafening sound of
something crashing which forced him to cover his ears with both his palms…
Protective instincts made him gravitate towards his daughter, but the closer he
got to her, the farther she drifted soon fading into thin air with a smile on
her face, like her mission was accomplished. Dust began swaying underneath his
feet, influenced by the increasing speed of the wind… His heart delved into an
agonizing panic attack when his eyes did not find whom they were searching for.
Looking up at the balcony once more, hoping that his eyes were playing a trick
on him, he looked to-and- fro but saw no sign of her. There was no use in
trying to move his feet, they refused to budge and remained planted in the
ground. Exhausted with his attempts, he
collected all his strength and screamed, "PRIYA!" But all he heard in return
was his echo mocking his despair…
Vikram:
(shaking Ram who slept awkwardly in his chair, with his head resting on top of
his arms, which were folded on top of his laptop) Ram wake up… Ram…
Ram jumped up off of his black
leather office chair, calling Priya's name out loud one last time…
Vikram: No!
Not Priya, it's Vikram…
Ram rubbed his eyes with his
closed fists and remained standing, now realizing that it was just a dream. But
somehow his heart was still anxious, as if Priya was in some sort of danger. He
snatched his phone from his desk and frantically dialed a number but before it
could connect, Vikram snatched it out of his hands and disconnected the call…
Vikram: Ram
are you crazy? It's 3:30am and you are calling Natasha?
Ram: (leans
forward hastily trying to grab his phone back, unsuccessfully) yaar give me my
phone back… I had a nightmare that Priya was in trouble and I had to help her
and now…
Vikram: (with
his hand up in the air, with Ram's phone in his grip, he pulled it back behind
his head eliminating it from Ram's grasp) Help??? YOU need help Ram… What is
going on with you these days??? It's been three months now Ram, just leave the
thought of Priya… All the signs are telling you the same than why are you
acting illiterate?
Ram: (angrily)
what the hell are you talking about?
Vikram: (hands
Ram his phone back slowly) I am giving this back to you… Don't call anyone Ram…
It's 3:30am… (Ram falsely nodded his head and snatched his phone from Vikram's
hand)
Vikram kneeled down to pick
something up off the floor in front of Ram's desk… Ram took this as a blessing
from god, a golden opportunity that he could not just let slip out of his
hands. So, as fast as his chubby thumbs could maneuver over the letters on the
touchscreen keypad he typed, "Is Priya
Okay"? and than he quickly hit the send button. Placing the phone back on
his desk, Ram's gaze fell upon the broken picture frame that Vikram had in his
hand.
Ram: Woh kya
hain?
Vikram: Proof…
That you need to forget Priya… She was never yours to begin with… Ram grabbed
the broken frame from Vikram's hand. His left index finger caressed the jagged
edge of the broken glass frame that made a small slice in his skin, a wound
that he was completely oblivious too. He took her picture gently out of the
broken frame, being careful not to make even the slightest bit of scratch as if
the presence of any scuffs on her picture would in actuality hurt her. The pain
of separation surged rapidly in his vein, following a similar route to his
sensitized, barely composed heart…He clenched his teeth and forcefully
swallowed, holding back tears that were waiting for their cue to burst through
the floodgates. Remembering that he had heard a crash sound in his dream he
immediately knew when exactly her picture fell off of his desk.
Ram: (thinking)
Priya I need you. Just like this frame, our hearts have shattered and we can't
put it together until we have all the pieces. Without you my heart can't be
whole again, because you contain every single piece of it that I need in order
to put it back together. (To Vikram) How the hell did this fall? (he asked
rhetorically, with no hope for an answer). It's okay... (he stated in attempts
to calm his anxiety). I will just buy another frame. Besides this one was
pretty old. This time I'll get a green frame, it's Priya favorite colour..
Vikram: Priya,
Priya, Priya that's the only name that comes out of your mouth. Come on Ram,
there are other people, who are "actually" in your life whom you are
neglecting...
Ram:
(agitated) what are you talking about? I haven't neglected anyone and I took
everyone's wish into consideration. Ma wanted me to go back to work and LOOK
(he paused) here I am (he spread arms out acknowledging his presence in the
office.
Vikram: ram
you are neglecting your family. You picked up your phone to dial Natasha to see
if PriYa was okay. But you missed the fact that you have 20 missed calls from
Sid, who you were supposed to pick up from the airport tonight but while you
were lost in thought of Priya your mom was going crazy trying to contact you.
They ended up sending a driver and she called me to find out where you were.
(Ram stamped his palm on his forehead, cursing himself for forgetting to pick
up his younger brother who was returning to Mumbai after 4 long years of
studying abroad.) You are being unfair to your family Ram…
Ram:
(interrupted angrily). The only person I was ever unfair too was Priya.. I bent
backwards for my family. After Papa passed away I took over this business and
that became my life. Vikram, I am 40 years old and when I look back at my life
I have no regrets.. You know these things don't phase me... It's my duty to
work for my family and I will still provide for them today. But I can't get
Priya out of my mind and I don't want to try. And for once I am thinking about
myself and putting Priya above my family, a status that she deserves. I want
Priya back!! Is that too much to ask for??
Vikram: yes
it is! (ram scrunched his eyebrows confused and appalled with the answer he received
from his best friend, who was supposed to be supporting him).
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