Dark clouds were hovering over the stage. The stage was big and the scene was even bigger, but where was the scene set?? Was it troposphere?? Was it mesosphere?? Never mind them!! Ananya was standing on a floating pink colored cloud. Karthick laid his ground on the red colored cloud opposite her. Both were put in separate cages and they were clutching the iron rods with their heads resting on the same. The place was damn silent, except for the movement of clouds which was creating a hustling sound. It was extremely chill and she very well knew Karthick was allergic to cold weather,but before she could react on it, the Jury banged the wooden desk with a thick wooden log. It was like hearing a thunder in close quarters. Ananya and Karthick were stumbled with the high decibel energy that dissipated from the surrounding area but what made them stumble even more was the judgment. Thus spoke the Jury ..."According to the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955, this court grants divorce to Ananya and Karthick on mutual concern and Ananya no longer needs to entertain Karthick with a bed coffee "!!
Ananya woke up from her bed as the alarm sound peeped into her ears. One would definitely call it as bad luck if sleep is not supported on a chill Sunday morning. Ananya brushed her eyes, relaxed her arms and in an ultra slow motion and very reluctantly, she put away the bed sheets. She crawled to the kids’ bedroom and opened the door while ensuring that she didn’t make any noise. Prakriti and Shyam were sound asleep. Shyam was 7 years old and Prakriti was two years younger to him. She left them undisturbed and started walking towards the balcony. Infocity is at its best in November month. A soothing atmosphere blessed with periodic breezes, Ananya was feeling refreshed in the balcony. It was at that time, she got reminded of her dream. It was like a vision through ghee paper. She knew there was something wrong about the dream and put her fullest ability to recollect it. After a series of attempts, when she got it, there was no smile, rather despair.
She sat on the chair that was orphaned in the corner of the balcony, leaned on the wall and placed her head on the protective railings. She was sad and a feeling of solitude grew over her and started to haunt her good memories. She needed some change and walked inside the hall to switch on the television.
"Pehla Nasha" was running high in Star Plus. What more can sensitize Ananya than this song?? She was doting over the beautiful moments when this song made an everlasting impact on her. She remembered Karthick. The clock started rotating in the reverse direction and the calendars turned its pages and stopped on May 4, 2002. It was the final year for both Ananya and Karthick and it was the last day of their college life. They were into Computer Sciences Engineering. The beautiful incident happened at the fun frolic farewell party. 4 '0' clock evening, the Sun was about to retire for that day. The colorful lights took over the responsibility to illuminate the college corridors. Attractive placards were placed all over the campus. There was a huge gathering on the ground. The stage was decorated with high beam lights and music system was rocking the grounds. A number of couples were sitting together, hand in hand and eyes in eyes. A few were also seen kissing each other. The place was bubbling with energy. The other singletons clustered and formed many a small circles. There was a smile in everyone's face, bullying, chit-chatting and patting each other’s shoulders.It was yang and more yang. A light music concert was scheduled for the day and it was also rumored that Sonu Nigam was going to perform. Ananya and Karthick were one among the many clusters. They were five in number. Syed, Pintu and Sona were the remaining three.
Ananya and Karthick were attracted towards each other but they never expressed their interests. They liked each others company.It was like the soothing aroma that emanates from the surface of earth before the rain. Neither of them nor the rest of the three spoke about this explicitly. When it was close to six, the dark sky covered the ground and enhanced the high beam lights. The guests for the night were right on time. More fuel was injected to already flaming atmosphere. The party was slowly catching up. Sona, Syed and Pintu fixed their eyes on the elevated and decorated stage. All eyes glued on Sonu Nigam. Karthick was standing next to Ananya and both were facing the stage. He inched towards her and there was no empty space between them. She was wearing a blue churidhar.Was she usually this beautiful or it so appeared to him only on that day?? This was the question that was lingering on his mind. He saw her and she turned, raised her head a bit and saw his face. They were literally eating into each other’s eyes. Like adding roses to the decorated garland, the music system played a mild music. They never minded the crowd and it felt for them as if they were in a secluded green garden. His left hand was caressing her right hand and he rightfully placed his fingers between hers and clutched her hand softly. He was feeling as though induced by a super power and he'd became a mutant. He gripped her hand, went down on his knees and stretched his hands towards her and whispered to her, "I love you with my heart and soul!!" "Pehla Nasha" was running high and Sonu Nigam was at his best. Ananya was awestruck. Tears of joy rolled from her eyes and she too went on her knees, leveled her height with Karthick and hugged him!! They never minded the surrounding !!.He threw his arms around her, clutched her sleek hip and brought her closer to him. She closed her eyes and parted her lips.Karthick drew himself much more closer to Ananya's lips. He made her lips complete.
She cut herself out from those distant memories and raced back to that awful Sunday Morning.
What was troubling Ananya now? What was the dream all about? Was she really developing hatred towards Karthick? A chapter of questions were troubling Ananya and her thought process stopped when she saw Prakriti and Shyam strolling towards her. She was sitting on the wooden chair and she grabbed both of them and kissed Prakriti. She glanced at the clock and it was already quarter to eight. She rushed to the kitchen and started with the chores.
It was half past two. Lunch was over and Ananya put the kids to sleep. She could neither watch TV, read nor sleep. All she was did was to stare at the monotonous rotating fan.
Ananya heard someone knocking the door. She peeped into the mirror and looked at herself,to see if she was ok. She kempt up her hair and walked towards the door to see her good old friend Sona standing on the threshold. Sona was full of energy and was dressed in a loose red skirt and white tank top. Sona hugged Ananya and both sat on the sofa. In less than 3 minutes Sona learnt that Ananya was not all ok. Ananya asked some namesake questions about Sona's life and about her husband. Sona wouldn't give up and jumped into a series to questions.
"What’s wrong with you Ananya? You are not participating in our gang's group mail conversations also. Is it anyway related to Karthick?" Sona questioned.
"Yes" was the one word reply and Ananya was looking at the carpet.
"Where is he now??"
"Australia, went for a business meeting.He will be back only after 4 days"
"Did you fight with him?”
"No!!"
"Did he fight with you"?
"No!!"
"Is he not taking care of the children"?
"He loves them a lot"!!
"Then what’s the point?? Not taking care of you??”
"No!! He cares for me!!"
"Not taking you to places??”
"We do go out!!”
"Is he seeing someone else??"
"None"
Sona was laughing aloud and started to speak...."Is he having blood cancer or some sort of deadly disease???!!"(Sona was being very cinematic as she could think of no other option !!)
Ananya ignored this question and so Sona took it to mean as a no.
"Aarushi's murder case was less complicated than yours !! You are a mad lady Ananya!! What’s wrong with you when everything is okay with Karthick? I know he is a gem of a guy and you're lucky to have him as life partner. I thought you were made for each other. You are a pessimist. You are a cynic!!" finished Sona and took deep breaths!!
Ananya didn’t respond and kept staring at the red carpet.
Sona lost her temper and started vigorously shaking Ananya's shoulders, but in vain.
There was silence all over the house and the sound of the television occasionally broke the silence.
Sona knew, Ananya was broken.All she was trying was to do was to elicit some reasons for Ananya's strange behavior.
After a couple of minutes, Ananya finally gathered some energy to speak.
She stopped whining and started speaking.
"Even an active volcano under the sea, seems to be calm at the surface of the water but that does not mean everything is okay.If you don't even realize the problem, then the situation is even more worse and it becomes an incurable disease which might ultimately plague the relationship. Our relationship is like a volcano, you see the surface ,but I feel the heat down under. Karthick is a gem of guy, but he is not the same person I loved. He is good to me but that is not all that I am sufficed with. I want him to spend time with me and I want him to speak with me by looking into my eyes, I want him to shake shoulders with me, I want him to text me back with more love than I do. I want him to make me feel special each and every day. I might be silly but I don't care about that. What I want is nascent love and extreme pampering "
"Ananya, don't call this a reason for strange behavior. A person cannot be same at all the time. You have to enjoy the light but that does not mean you mourn over the dark. He might be busy or occupied with other important matters but that does not mean he is ignoring you or not giving you importance."
"I want the same Karthick back who was head over heels in love with me. Don't try to convince me." retorted Ananya.
Sona was left with no words. She still did not understand what it was all about and it was the like the hardest sudoku ouzzle she had ever encountered. The biggest mistake that Sona did was meeting Ananya.!!!!
Sona spent rest of the day with Prakriti and Shyam. She thought it was a bad idea to leave Ananya in such a pathetic condition. She texted her husband that she would stay back at Ananya's place.
Sona fed the kids and told a couple of Harry Potter stories and made them sleep.
Ananya thanked Sona for dropping by and for her companionship without which she would have felt very bad.
It was ten o' clock and Ananya slept on the couch. Sona left her undisturbed and slept along with the kids.
When the clock stuck 12 o' clock, Ananya was alarmed when she heard multiple sounds.She heard the calling bell ringing and also heard "Pehla Nasha". She searched for the source, but in vain. She sensed something sweet was going to happen and ran to the door. It was a sweet surprise for her. It was Karthick !! "Pehla Nasha " was running high and Karthick was at the doorstep. Karthick went on his knees and wished "Happy Birthday my love". She threw herself at him and hugged him tight. He kissed her on her head.
"I thought you forgot me" whispered Ananya while burying her face inside Karthick's overcoat.
Karthick ruffled her hair and said "you can take the life outta love but you can hardly the love outta life.
It would neither fade nor diminish, you will always be my princess!!"
There were many more surprises in for Ananya. Syed and Pinto also joined the party. Sona kicked Ananya and wished her happy birthday. The gloomy atmosphere faded in a flash of a second and it was a hell of a party for Ananya.
Half an hour later, they stepped inside the house. They made enough noise to wake up the kids too. Prakriti and Shyam wokeup to see their dad and jumped onto his shoulders .
Ananya asked Karthick , " how did you pull off such a party ?"
"It was all part of the plan. I rang up Syed and Pinto".
"And Sona??" puzzled Ananya.
Karthick smiled and she understood !!
"I love you like never before" whispered Ananya.
Curtain falls.!!
