Homecoming

A single ding echoed around the four walls of  Shantivan, indicating the time. It didn’t really matter to any of the occupants of the house, all of them were fast asleep. All, except one. Leaning back on an arm chair in one corner of the poolside, sat a woman trying to mould herself into the imprint the last and only other occupant of that chair, her husband, had left behind. The last two weeks had been no less than a nightmare for her.

“Goodbye”

Ever since her husband had said those words, as he forcefully removed her hold on him and moved away from her, her body and soul had been swamped with an unease she had never felt before. Confirmation that he had not made it to London, followed by a phone call, when he uttered the three words she had longed to hear from him since god knows when, had set alarm bells ringing in her head. Private investigators, the police, and every legal system in the country and beyond were out to find Arnav Singh Raizada. She had given her statements to all the authorities with a calm that belied her inner turmoil. Once again, she had internalized her fears and pain to put up a brave front for the rest of the family.

Sleep eluded her with a vengeance. And when she did close her eyes, horrible and gruesome images flooded her mind. Nightmarish. She had given up running from everything that reminded her of him. Instead she found solace in all that represented him and his persona.

Khushi sat there surrounded by his plants, staring up at the clouded night sky. A soft breeze blew across the area, barely disturbing anything at all. She blinked once. It must have been a trick of the light, she thought, when she noticed three stars stand out and shine brightly. She blinked again, trying to focus on them again when a stronger breeze made its way through the pool side. It caused her duppatta that lay dormant by her side to fly up and cover her face, before unsettling the colourful chimes she had restored to their place by the door, in a moment of blatant desperation, hoping against hope that she might be alerted of his arrival by it just once more.

Her mind took a moment to register the significance of the sweet sound those chimes elicited but her body was faster. She was on her feet and out of her room in a flash, making her way down to the front door. She was on the first landing when she heard the main door shut softly, a vague figure stood still for a moment before taking hesitant steps into the house. She did not register the loud sounds of falling vases and displaced furniture in her mad dash to reach him. She was sure it could be no one else.

She finally found herself standing in front of the figure. The soft moonlight radiating into the room from the windows on the far side threw his face into sharp contrast. His profile that had been ramrod stiff, relaxed slightly as she reached out to him, wanting to make sure he was real. Her hands traced the contours of his cheek bones taking in the tired lines and the rough stubble. With one hand clutched tightly at the nape of his neck, she finally glanced up at his eyes. His beautiful, emotive, molten honey eyes that held hers in a captivating lock, speaking volumes, communicating without words.

“Khushi”

She held onto his shoulders for support when she felt her knees go weak, in relief, in happiness of finally being reunited with her love. His utterance of her name in that agonized voice broke open the dam that had contained her feelings for so long. All the fears and emotions that she had restrained came crashing back, breaking her resolve, as she broke down, finally pouring her heart out to the only person who had claim to it.

He held her tight by her waist and dragged her forward until she was melded into him, like two pieces of a puzzle that had finally fallen into place. Her hands clutched wildly at his shirt wanting never to let go, as he buried his face in her hair. He was finally home.

“Jisko jee jaan se chahte hai,

Jab usse nazron ke saamne paate hai,

Tab aankhein bolti hai, zubaan nahi.

 

Yeh hum jaante hai, yeh aap jaante hai,

Aise mein savaal wohi karte hai,

Jinhe pyaar kya hai, iski hawaa tak nahi”*

* Lines taken from the 4Lions Productions’ Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon?

~ by Psychedelic on December 18, 2012.