13-06-2022, 07:09 PM
Shraddha's marriage had taken place a fortnight ago. Madhu, her husband had left within a couple of days after the marriage due to some job exigencies. Although Shraddha did have a valid passport, it took a while for obtaining the VISA and for completing certain quintessential formalities. Finally, with the obstacles cleared, she was just a couple of days away from boarding her flight to Dubai.
Sanjay, her younger brother was largely responsible for getting the things done for her in such a quick time. Shraddha was aware of the stress he had undergone during the last few days as he kept visiting several offices and meeting several officials. Sanjay perhaps epitomized the typical middle class son who often became the scapegoat by sacrificing a few things for the sake of the family. Although, he had a decent job to be content with, his morale was at its lowest ebb after a terrible heartbreak. His fiancé dumped him for reasons better known to her and since then Sanjay lived just like a piece of wood. Perhaps, he looked more sober as he realized that Shraddha, who stood with him all through his turbulence won't be available after a couple of days.
She had to undertake quite a long journey from a village in southern India. Unfortunately, she couldn't find a confirmed berth in the train to the city, which was a night's journey away. She was to board the plane from there to Dubai, where her husband would be picking her up at the Airport. Sanjay was to accompany her in the bus journey to the city, as their father was immobile for all practical purposes.
Finally, the day arrived. Even Shraddha couldn't conceal her emotions as she realized that she has to leave the house where she grew up, playing with her brother and sister. Her eyes began glistening thinking about her affectionate mother and her physically incapacitated father. She stood at the window peeping outside watching the streets of her village and the faces she had known ever since she was a child.
Her father began sobbing uncontrollably as Sanjay brought the taxi to take her to the bus stand. She hugged her mother and sisters letting her tears fall on their shoulders. She struggled hard consoling his father whom she never remembered to have wept all through his life. He had just the consolation that he might be staying with his sister for until she boards the aircraft bound for Dubai.
Shraddha kept looking back waving her hands to her family members and a couple of friends who had assembled at her house to see her off. As the taxi took the turn into the main road, she turned around with moist eyes and her nose looked reddish. Sanjay didn't speak to her until they reached the bus stand where they had to board a private luxury bus. He was aware that his sister had the mental strength to get herself recouped before the journey even began.
He wasn't wrong by any means. By the time the bus reached the outskirts of the town, she began chitchatting with Sanjay in her usual enterprising way. Sanjay couldn't resist his smile.
Shraddha always preferred wearing churidars to saris as she felt lot of discomfort, especially during the summer. However, she was wearing a plain sari and with a matching blouse. She had agreed to get her nose pierced just before marriage so that she could wear the nosebud, considered as a sign of a married woman. Like most women, she was fascinated about jewels, especially bracelets and earlobes. Her mother had spent over an hour spinning her long hair to perfection. In all probabilities the tip of her hair might be brushing well below her waist. The fragrance of fresh jasmine streaks that decorated her hair was adding a new flavor to her looks. Sanjay kept watching her as she was eagerly peeping out of the window like a little kid. He remembered that she was always particular about the window seat, whether it was a car, bus or even a train.
"I hope you get a window seat in the flight as well," Sanjay said mockingly.
She looked at him and smiled.
Not so surprisingly, there were just a dozen passengers in the entire bus, as Sanjay had expected. He hoped that with such weak passenger strength, the operators might not be interested in playing the DVD but it was not to be. He was annoyed as a film began running on the huge TV screen making the rest of the passengers glued to it. He wanted Shraddha to sleep reasonably well during the journey so that she can remain brisk the next day. He smiled again as she let out a gentle yawn before resting her head on the cushion and closing her eyes. He wished he could sleep but his mind was fluttering remembering his lost love and several turbulences that had shook him in the recent times.
The bus was now speeding through the broad four-way national highway and such the driver seemed to accelerate the speed incredibly. Shraddha was fast asleep now and every now and then her head tilted and rested on Sanjay's shoulders. His nostrils filled with the fragrance of jasmine and the gentle aroma of her shampoo, every time she leaned on him.
Sanjay, her younger brother was largely responsible for getting the things done for her in such a quick time. Shraddha was aware of the stress he had undergone during the last few days as he kept visiting several offices and meeting several officials. Sanjay perhaps epitomized the typical middle class son who often became the scapegoat by sacrificing a few things for the sake of the family. Although, he had a decent job to be content with, his morale was at its lowest ebb after a terrible heartbreak. His fiancé dumped him for reasons better known to her and since then Sanjay lived just like a piece of wood. Perhaps, he looked more sober as he realized that Shraddha, who stood with him all through his turbulence won't be available after a couple of days.
She had to undertake quite a long journey from a village in southern India. Unfortunately, she couldn't find a confirmed berth in the train to the city, which was a night's journey away. She was to board the plane from there to Dubai, where her husband would be picking her up at the Airport. Sanjay was to accompany her in the bus journey to the city, as their father was immobile for all practical purposes.
Finally, the day arrived. Even Shraddha couldn't conceal her emotions as she realized that she has to leave the house where she grew up, playing with her brother and sister. Her eyes began glistening thinking about her affectionate mother and her physically incapacitated father. She stood at the window peeping outside watching the streets of her village and the faces she had known ever since she was a child.
Her father began sobbing uncontrollably as Sanjay brought the taxi to take her to the bus stand. She hugged her mother and sisters letting her tears fall on their shoulders. She struggled hard consoling his father whom she never remembered to have wept all through his life. He had just the consolation that he might be staying with his sister for until she boards the aircraft bound for Dubai.
Shraddha kept looking back waving her hands to her family members and a couple of friends who had assembled at her house to see her off. As the taxi took the turn into the main road, she turned around with moist eyes and her nose looked reddish. Sanjay didn't speak to her until they reached the bus stand where they had to board a private luxury bus. He was aware that his sister had the mental strength to get herself recouped before the journey even began.
He wasn't wrong by any means. By the time the bus reached the outskirts of the town, she began chitchatting with Sanjay in her usual enterprising way. Sanjay couldn't resist his smile.
Shraddha always preferred wearing churidars to saris as she felt lot of discomfort, especially during the summer. However, she was wearing a plain sari and with a matching blouse. She had agreed to get her nose pierced just before marriage so that she could wear the nosebud, considered as a sign of a married woman. Like most women, she was fascinated about jewels, especially bracelets and earlobes. Her mother had spent over an hour spinning her long hair to perfection. In all probabilities the tip of her hair might be brushing well below her waist. The fragrance of fresh jasmine streaks that decorated her hair was adding a new flavor to her looks. Sanjay kept watching her as she was eagerly peeping out of the window like a little kid. He remembered that she was always particular about the window seat, whether it was a car, bus or even a train.
"I hope you get a window seat in the flight as well," Sanjay said mockingly.
She looked at him and smiled.
Not so surprisingly, there were just a dozen passengers in the entire bus, as Sanjay had expected. He hoped that with such weak passenger strength, the operators might not be interested in playing the DVD but it was not to be. He was annoyed as a film began running on the huge TV screen making the rest of the passengers glued to it. He wanted Shraddha to sleep reasonably well during the journey so that she can remain brisk the next day. He smiled again as she let out a gentle yawn before resting her head on the cushion and closing her eyes. He wished he could sleep but his mind was fluttering remembering his lost love and several turbulences that had shook him in the recent times.
The bus was now speeding through the broad four-way national highway and such the driver seemed to accelerate the speed incredibly. Shraddha was fast asleep now and every now and then her head tilted and rested on Sanjay's shoulders. His nostrils filled with the fragrance of jasmine and the gentle aroma of her shampoo, every time she leaned on him.
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