REPENTANCE - Episode 2

Episode II

Keshav and Madhu got back home after sending off their daughter and son in law. The house really seemed empty. Madhu realised that it had been this way from the time Haritha’s marriage proposal had come in. She intensely felt the guilt but time and again she kept telling herself ‘’ let’s move on, time will heal the pain’’.

Next day Madhu went to temple and was getting back home when she got a call in her cell phone. She had been waiting to hear that Haritha and Aurav had reached safely. As she expected, it was a call from Aurav, ‘’Aunty we just reached home’’ he said. ‘’I was just waiting for your call Aurav’’ responded Madhu. All through the journey Haritha dint seem to have spoken to Aurav and he felt really upset about it. However he always assumed that it could be because she was being taken away so far from home. He couldn’t think of any other reason though. ‘’Alright Aunty, Haritha is taking a shower, I ll ask her to call you once she is done’’. Saying this he hung the phone and went down to get refreshed.

Minutes later he entered the bedroom and was surprised to see Haritha still bathing. ‘’Dear, is everything alrite?’’ he asked his wife, standing close to the door. ‘I m coming’’ She replied. He lolled in the couch waiting for his girl. He dint want her to be cheerless. With his eyelids shut, he was dreaming about wrapping her in his arms and cuddling her, giving her a secure and warm feeling. Disturbed by the sound of the door, he opened his eyes and saw her heading towards the mirror.

He got up slowly and reached his wife. ‘I m happy, you decided to share your life with me. I feel such love for you and I m contented with my life now. More than anything, I have an amazing level of respect for you’. Saying this he slowly inclined towards her to embrace her.’ Haritha at once snatched herself away from him and with enormous flow of nerves nous she asked ‘Did u call up mom, she must be waiting for our call’. Aurav replied’ oh yea, I did tell her that you will call her back’. She immediately took the phone and left the room.

‘Would you stop crying Haritha’ the voice on the other end sounded anxious. It was Madhu who could hear only a cry over the phone. After a few seconds, Haritha cleared up her voice and said ‘‘my mind is flooding with mixed emotions mumma, I m totally confused and lost’’. ‘’I just can’t live life this way. I m unable to cope up. I just can’t believe I m married’’ she added ‘’Haritha, these things are not something unusual in life, and this does not sound in fact wise to get struck and crib. Please be amicable with Aurav and I m sure he will take good care of you just like how papa and I did’’ Madhu shared few more talks before the call ended.

Haritha cleared her tears and was re-winding whatever she spoke with her mom, she was seated in the balcony; meanwhile Aurav had prepared coffee, ‘’I m good at making coffee and here is yours’’, handing over the mug to her he smiled and said ‘I hope you get impressed’’. There was a long pause, after which he continued, ‘’well...that was no joke; I can understand that it takes time to settle in a new place with a new person Haritha, but you can always find a good companion in me. Through any tribulations that we might have in life, I look forward to facing them hand in hand with you’’..... He got closer and said, ‘‘you are my better half. I hope and wait for the laughter and happy times that we will share together ‘’. Saying this he left the place and got busy unpacking the baggage.

Days of stillness, weeks of tranquillity and months of silence. Days kept quietly creeping out of their lives. Aurav soon realised that there was something seriously going wrong. Every time he attempted to ask her, she wasn’t giving him a firm reply. Occasional talks with parents and dinner out would change her frame of mind. Few friends would drop in and Haritha would mingle well with them and take all efforts in preparing dinner for them. But this was not good enough. In spite of asking her numerous times, he was confused and ultimately decided to speak to Haritha’s mother.

05 June 2003: At 8AM as soon as Aurav reached his work place, he called up Madhu. ‘’Aunty, this is Aurav, how are you all doing?’’he asked. ‘’Ya Aurav, we are fine. Calling up early.. is everything fine there?’’ Madhu enquired back. ‘’Well aunty..., I have been truly wanting to convey something important to you’’. ‘’I think’’ he continued, ‘’Haritha under no circumstance intends to live a happy life with me’’.

At this juncture Madhu was taken aback, ‘’She was perplexed and worried not knowing what Haritha did.

At every point in her conversation with her daughter, somewhere stuck a bit of advice and counselling, but she realised that it did not in fact help. ‘’What’s wrong Aurav? Any misunderstanding between you guys?’’ asked Madhu. ’’I cannot scan her mind and see what is troubling her aunty, but in spite of the enormous attempts that I have made, she is ignorant with me’’, I feel sorry telling you this, but I m not left with a choice’’. Can you please try speaking to her?’’ he asked Madhu. ‘’You don’t worry Aurav, I will take it with her and put things right’’. With this reassurance from Madhu, the conversation ended.

==================================================================================

EPISODE III - Will be posted on 03 June 2011

Click here for EPISODE I