Varanasi, her hometown, the smell of incense, continuous ringing of bells in the temples, streets occupied by the vendors, people and animals, the noise, the rush, the market, people arguing loudly with each other…now that's what feels like home. Yes, this is the place where I belong! Where I grew up! Chaos has always been an important part of my life.
The morning calmness of ghats turning into hectic evenings and then again in to serene riverside peaceful air vibes of Ganga Aarti…This is Kaashi…the place which is known to be at peace and attain MOKSHA.
Kiana stood with her back straight, suitcase still zipped beside her.
Rishabh's father called me. He told me that you have cancelled the engagement. May I know why you did that? - asked her father.
Maa, was weeping at the couch as she already had made preparations for the marriage, after all, there were only 2 weeks left for the marriage.
Kya karoon main is ladki ka,,ye kuch sunti nahin, kuch batati nahi, bas apne mann ka har jagah kaam karti rehti hai! Ab kisko kisko kya kya jawab deti phiroon main.
Bol na ladki, kya hua? Kyun ye bevkoofi kar rahi? Rishabh jaisa samajhdar ladka aise hi thode na mil jata hai. 36 ki ho gai hai tu, kaun thamega ab tumhara haath?
Kiana stood like a frozen statue, not moving an inch. Like she wanted them to vent it all out on her. After all, it was her choice. She liked Rishabh, her batch mate in Law College, when she was just 21 and told her parents that she will marry only him and now she is the one who is asking to break it off.
Finally she said, I cannot live with him as I think we are not compatible to each other.
Not compatible to each other? You are realizing this only after spending your 15 years in this relationship? I do not expect this level of immaturity from you beta!
Baba, please do not force me into this relationship. It was me who liked him, and it is me, who do not want to be with him. I want to focus on my career.This is once in a lifetime opportunity for me. Let me go.
Tell me, are you calling off the marriage for just this silly reason? You both know each other since from a long time; you both are even colleagues now. It's not like that Rishabh don't know that how demanding this job is.
In fact, you both can work on this project together! Just ask Mr. Narayanan for it. I am sure he will help you out.
Baba, why don't you understand, it's not the reason why I do not want to marry him. I just don't want to get married at all. It's not meant for me.I want to live independent. I already have a family. My world is you people. I don't want more than that.
You are definitely hiding something from us.
Listening this, her eyes welled up instantly, she wanted to tell him everything, after all her father is her best friend. She never hided anything from him. In fact, he was the first person whom she told about Rishabh. But Alas! She cannot tell him about his betrayal, how he conned her. She just cannot let him bear the pain of this distrustful and dissatisfaction phase of her life.
No Baba, I am not. I just don't want to get married now. May be in future I might, but now is not the right time for me to take this burdensome responsibility.
Ye ladki pagal ho gai hai. Aap samjhaiye ise kuch.
Baba nodded towards Maa to not to put any pressure on Kiana.
Let her do what she wants to do. We will talk about this later.
Meri to is ghar me koi suntan hi nahin.
Maa left the room, nudging everything that came into her way.
That's when Arindam entered the room.
He was holding two mismatched mugs and wearing that crooked smile only a mischievous brother can carry—a mix of sarcasm and shelter.
What happened to her? Looking at his mother going out of the room crying disgustingly.
He walked over to Kiana and handed her one of the mug-
"Tea? I hope you still like this at least. It doesn't have the ability to ditch you when you need it to cure your headaches!"
Kiana's lips twitched. A tear slipped silently through her eyes. He knows!
Arindam looked at his father, then back at her, and gave a deliberately dramatic sigh.
"Well if you are going to Seoul without telling us earlier, I hope you have booked four tickets. Remember, you promised to take us at an international tour? I heard spring season is very beautiful in Korea"
Well, Dada, firstly, I am going to Seoul on a work project and secondly, there are two parts of Korean peninsula, one is north and one is south. So tell me, where do you want to go? She winked wryly at him.
HAIN! Aisa bhi hai kya! His brother gave such an idiotic expression that the father-daughter duo couldn't stop laughing at him.
In the evening, she goes to her brother's room.
You really have eyes everywhere na Dada! How did you know?
You remember Rahim Uncle?
Who? Your friend Salim's father? Yes!
Your company was hiring for the fourth grade staff through an agency which belongs to one of my friend. He asked me for guiding tips about the needs and process of recruitments to your company, since you are working there. I told him that I have no idea as it is really a big conglomerate.
Hmmm! They all think that I got into their because of some source. Right?
He looked at her frowning—said—so what to do you think? Isn't it obvious that how my sister can be inducted their, when her brother is a world famous stupid?
Laughter broke out instantly at that stupid expressions of her brother, who was trying desperately to bring a genuine smile on her sister's face.
Well, jokes apart, I asked my friend to put Rahim uncle on the list of applications for recruitment as their economic condition is not good for now.
Luckily, he got into. He told me about the scandal that happened in your office.
Listen gillu, it is not your fault that somebody cheated on you. You don't have to take it out on you. Life is full of surprises. Staying true to yourself is a skill. You stood on your ground firmly. A person should stay true to their emotions, feelings first. The body is a temple where god lives as our soul. You don't have to malign it because of somebody else's bad deed.
You have a long way to go. Don't let these small incidents hamper you in any kind. You should grow. As a great poet once said- "Our bodies are our gardens, to which our wills are gardeners"
Are you quoting Shakespeare's Othello?
Was it that important to mention the source? He looks frustratingly at her!
She laughs again. No Dada, I was just wondering, why you don't let people see this side of you? The wittingly intelligent persona of yours!
That's not important what others think about me. My family knows me and that's more than enough for me. And this is what I am trying to make you understand too.
"We all are here for you", he said softly, pulling up a chair beside her.
Seoul is a long way to go. Let your own soul heal over at that beautiful place while you do something meaningful for your family, your family here at Varanasi and your family there at Radiance. Even if you are at some foreign land, do not forget that you have a home here. Just, don't forget that how much we love you and you have our trust.
Kiana let out a slight smile on her face of a relief. Sigh!
The next day, her mother hold her hands with teary eyes!
What happened Maa? Why are you crying?
Why didn't you told us sooner?
What? (She knew in her heart that Arindam has already told them about everything)
Kiana's voice turned into whisper and she turned away her face so that the reeling tears do not get exposed!
"Because I didn't want to be a daughter who returned with shame."
Arindam immediately cut in, half teasing, half protective.
Are you going to give her all the tasty pickles? Nooooooooooo! I wont' let you do that Maa!
"Excuse me miss, you are going on an international trip. You already have so much in the box to explore. I won't let you taste these delicacies which my mother prepared just for me. Hai na Amma!"
Everybody laughed!
Baba, don't you want to say anything to her?
Baba turned towards Kiana, hold her hands, and patted on her head lovingly.
"Gillu, you didn't lose. You walked away from a toxic surrounding which was lurking to engulf you into a deep sea of emotional trauma and disdain. It's indeed a smart move to opt for this act of bravery. You didn't give in to the adverse situation."
We all have faith in you.
You'll do good in your next project! Come back, stronger …..and happier!
And with that, the family sat together to enjoy the supper around the cool waves of Ganga!