· • ● Rakshan ● • ·

2 Months Later

Poornitha had left to Mumbai few weeks ago, and as per the information given to me by Krish, she had cracked in her interview with the NDTV Group and had been appointed as the Executive Editor and soon would be assigned with the work of news anchoring, and much more in the upcoming days, keeping her performance in mind.

So far I worked on my thought and feelings and hence realized that Krish was right and I just have a crush on Poornitha. It's nothing more than that. So back to the normal friendship mode.

To talk about my recent updates, I performed well in the VOI Competition, got selected among the top 10, and now heading over to Gujarat for my next level. One more good-news is that, I was awarded with the Best Performer of the Week Award, in the last level of the competition.

This competition group, is actually a new group, organizing it, and thus they keep conducting shows with the contestants in different places, sometimes live too so that they can promote their group and we contestants can overcome our public fear.

So, Gujarat! I don't think it's going to be a place worth the time, because the train has just crossed the Mumbai-Gujarat border and I have started feeling uncomfortable with many local passengers, the annoying people selling food at the stations, the shouting and yelling of people, kids running here and there with their dirty and half torn dresses, I do feel bad for them. People seem to talk a lot here. I am sure if not for the sake of the contest, I would have never stepped into this land of .. something!(whatever you want to call it as)

After what felt like hours I reached Ahmadabad Station. Getting down the train, I settled in one corner of the station, and dialed to one of my friend, co-contestant, Pranjal who was supposed to pick me from the station. Ahmadabad was his native. He was supposed to be here to pick me up to the Hotel but was not there when I reached the Station.

After about 25 minutes he came and we went to the hotel and I almost drowned myself in the bed. Those 25 minutes of waiting, were seriously the most irritating waiting experience I had ever had. One after the other vendors came up to me to sell something, people took me to be a guide and inquired about the places in Ahmadabad and what, the worst was a little kid running away taking my guitar. Ohh man!! It was really a tiring journey for me, 2 and a half days in train, damn! Last minute flight tickets were not available, and thus I had no other go than getting a train, that too a sleeper coach in the eve of summer. I unpacked my suit-case and went to the washroom to give myself a wash. After that I slept for about 4 hours. I would never forget this train journey in my life. Never!

A phone call woke me and it was Poornitha's call.

"Hie.. Poovu.." I said trying to give myself a comfortable posture, as I sat.

"Rakshan.. I am in a complete confusion.. I seriously have no idea of what I am supposed to do right now! I am wo..-" She sounded worried.

"Explain it to me. First tell me what has happened..?"

"Rakshan ask what not has happened!! I had heard of all such things only in movies and stories, but in reality this is the first time !"

"Why.. what has happened.? Some one gave you a cinematic proposal or what??"

"No! A senior couple next to my door, Uncle passed away 2 days back and Auntie passed away this morning."

"Ohh My Gosh..!!!" my hands were literally on my head banging them. I felt bad, really bad for that stupid joke of mine in the wrong timing. Well, more than that I feel bad for the heart breaking news I just now heard.

"What happened to them? All of a sudden.. like how did this happen..?" I managed to speak in-spite of my throat chocking because of the shocking news.

"Cardiac arrest !" she said, in a low tone."Both of them had a Cardiac arrest, the husband first, and then the wife. Maybe she could not take the loss of her husband, and that's how she had such a sudden attack."

"Ohh ok " my brain was working to choose what words to speak at this moment. "This is really a sad news, I am sorry for it."

"Even I. They were my neighbors Rakshan, I know them for about 2 years! They were so sweet and caring. I would miss them badly. In absence of Akka, they were the ones who took care of me."

"Poovu.. I understand your feeling.."

"I don't know how their son would react to this. Actually why I called you was, if you could come here and be a support to him.. I mean.. you understand me I guess.. if you can't it's fine!"

Hesitation was evident in her voice. I did not take a second more to think about what she had asked for and agreed with her and said,

"Hey why are you being this formal.. I will come there.. just give me 2 days, I am in Gujarat for the competition thing, as soon as it gets over, I will be there. Is that ok..?"

"Yeah that's fine, Thank-you.. till then Debashish would be here from Singapore too. And sorry man, I did... I.. I did not know you were in Gujarat, the competition and all.. sorry to disturb you! I thought you were in Coimbatore."

"That's fine, a friend is always supposed to help another, that's what I believe in. So Debashish is their son, and right now he is in Singapore??" I asked.

"Yeah Rakshan.! He is working there. I don't know which company, what work and all."

"Is he aware of his parent's sudden death..?"

"Well, not yet.. I think I will have to inform it to him, because as far as I know this family isn't in contact with any relatives, and they don't have any close friends over here too. Which means I will have to handle this situation all by myself."

"Do you have his no??"

"I'm not sure if I have it, will have to check in my phone. Ivaanshika Auntie once told that he used to call them every day at 6 in the evening, so maybe I can wait till he calls today, and inform him at that time."

"That's good.! Don't worry and just handle it well."

"I am scared Rakshan.. I have never done this kind of things before.. "

"Do everyone attend classes in such situations..? Poornitha, you are brave enough and you can handle this situation. I believe in you.! Calmly give this news to Deb, and see to it that he doesn't turn more senti, because that may worsen the situation!"

"I know! But how will I avoid that?"

"Don't worry everything will go on well, be confident. I will be there in 2 days, and besides that I will keep calling you too, so don't worry, I am always around to help you out."

"Thank-you so much Rakshan! I will never forget this favor of yours. Thanks!!!"

"It's ok."

"I will call you in sometime I must meet the Doctor to finish some formalities!"

"Be safe, take-care..! In case of any help do call me."

"Yeah sure.. Thank-you.. and All the best for the competition!"

"More than me, you need the best wishes.. All the best to you!"

"Thank-you!" she said for I guess the 5th time in this conversation and hung-up the call. I really wonder how she is going to handle this situation all alone. Swadhintha was in Coimbatore and had no plans to come to Mumbai. She had quit her job in Mumbai when she was leaving, for Krish's sake. If both the sisters were together then my tension would have reduced a bit. I hope Poornitha handles the situation properly and takes care of herself too.

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· • ● Poornitha ● • · - MUMBAI

Looking at their lifeless bodies, there is just one thought coming up in my mind, Love Is Indestructible! I never expected such a tragic thing would come over my lovely neighbors. Uncle and Auntie were so close to me, they treated me as their own daughter. They were the loveliest couple I had ever come across. Their love for each other was definitely eternal, and that's the reason, both of them are together, right now, in heaven.

With no other ways to be found, I took up the responsibility of burying them. Finishing the formalities in the hospital I took a cab and arrived at a Graveyard. It's an hour from my residency, on the way to the Railway Station. Uncle and Auntie were brought in an ambulance. They were made to lay in their coffins, and the priest prayed standing near them. It took about 10 Minutes for the prayers to be done, and then with the help of few men, we buried them in adjacent graves. End of life could come up at any point of time. And when it comes our way, no matter what we do, we cannot stop it.

When death affects a man so badly, how would it be if someone had to leave away their family all alone desolated and walk off?? It would have been difficult for my parents to leave me at the temple and go away. But why did they do that? Couldn't they have tried to keep me with them even if death had to come upon all of us... I don't even know how many of us were in my family, if it was Mom, Dad, Brothers, Sisters.. How many?? Loosing your family and trying to live all alone is a battle you fight daily and you have to win it in-order to live.

One whole day has passed since Auntie's death, but I find no way to over come, what ever you want to call this situation as. I am literally stuck up in a maze, and I can't find my way out of it. I've already taken 2 days of leave, but took a leave today also from work and stayed home thinking, I would be better and out of this. But all I did from morning in sitting on my couch with my legs folded, and letting out tears. It's been almost 10 hours since I got off the couch, and I wonder how my body hasn't felt any numbness so far.

Akka was busy with some International Conferences at the hospital, when I had called her yesterday, she usually calls back when she gets free but so far she hasn't called which means, she is still busy and not free from the hospital work load. I haven't informed her about Urjith Uncle and Ivaanshika Auntie's sudden demise. It would affect her mentally and would disturb her work too.

Rakshan is the only one who knows about it, and talking to him was really helpful. I felt better after talking to him yesterday. I know his competition is very important, but if it had been possible, I wish he could come down here to Mumbai and stay with me. I would feel much better. Keeping it all to myself and tackling this situation on my own, is not making me feel good. Sitting all alone makes me feel worse. And over and over again, I am thinking of the same thing and I get deep into thoughts.

I slept off thinking about Uncle and Auntie and never realized when I had drifted into a deep sleep.

~~**~~

The continuous ringing of the door bell woke me all at once. I am sure there is someone at the door who has made it a point to make me go nuts today. I got up frustrated with a red face and headed towards the door, I would have almost screamed at the person, but my mouth was automatically shut when I saw the person at my door...

"What happened?? Why is my flat locked, and where are my parents? Tell me .."

I saw Debashish standing at my door. That's when all the happenings of the week flashed in my mind. Debashish's appearance this morning was totally unexpected. I thought it would take at least 2 days for him to come from Singapore to Mumbai, taking into consideration the ticketing processes. Well, apart from all that I must prepare myself to answer him. I pushed back all my emotions and spoke,

"Deba... actually.."

"Yeah tell what..??" he said.

"Well.. I have your flat key, why don't we get in and then I explain you all that happened.?"

"Alright!" he said doubtfully, bring up mixed emotions on his face.

Though I myself was unaware of the whole thing, I ended up telling, I would explain him all that had happened. How would I..?? I thought and walked in fetched his flat key and we entered his house after opening the door.

He took his luggage in and sat on the couch. I sat on one end of it. He looked at me demanding for an explanation of what had happened. I turned away and looked at my feet.

"Debashish.. .. I am sorry.. .. .. your. . . your parents are no more.!" I said, facing him but my eyes closed.

Every bit of him would have broken and shattered into pieces on hearing this news. Biologically I did not have any connection with this family but, still their death hit me badly. When this is my situation, then for sure Debashish would be undergoing through a very bad heartbreak. I looked at him, he sat motionless. I placed my hand on his wrist, he immediately pushed it off.

"Deba, listen to me.. let me explain.." I said maintaining a stable tone, in spite of tears running down my eyes.

"What are you going to explain Poornitha?? What's left to be explained? You hid this truth from me, and just told me that my parents were sick and in the hospital.. " The other day when Debashish had called up I did not have the guts to tell him that his parents were no more and just told him that they were admitted in the hospital. I thought he would get more worried on hearing their death and end up in some disaster. To avoid that I decided to let out the news to him when he comes home.

"Better talk to Dr. Shashank, he will tell you what exactly happened." I said. Deba knew him, and it's he who had once operated Auntie for some particular problem, which I don't know.

"I will definitely do that because I don't trust you. I know my patents are still alive." he said. I couldn't stop my tears, and they kept running down my face.

He pulled my hand and pushed me out telling, "I don't want a woman like you who brings bad news in my house."

"Deba please try to understand, I am not.."

"Enough! Just leave." he banged the door close leaving me out.

I decided to leave him alone for sometime, and to talk to Dr. Shashank so that he gets to know what all had happened. When he knows it, he will all calm down and I can talk to him then. Thus thinking I went to my flat. I closed the door and walked into my room. I went into the bathroom and washed myself. Bathing gave me a better feeling. Just when I came out of the bathroom and sat on my bed, my phone rang. It was Bala my office colleague.

"Poornitha.. Are you coming to office today or you want a leave again..?"

"Bala.. I need a leave today also.!"

"Fine! Are you alright..? Or still in that lost mood..?"

"Not fine! Talk to you later Bala. Sorry!"

I just put the phone on the bed and laid down. I did not end the call believing Bala must have done it.

Bala was my office colleague as I had already said, he was of a great help to me when I had freshly joined the NDTV Group. We are good friends since then.

Right now nothing else other than Deba is going on in my mind. He must have shattered into pieces on realizing that his parents are no more. His world has come to an end, he has lost the most precious souls in his life. I can understand how he must be feeling right now.

~~**~~

In the evening, I went rang the door bell at his house, with Aloo Parathas and Curd. I thought after he ate something I can talk to him and he could feel light.

The door was closed and even after ringing the door bell twice, he did not open it. I came back and kept the plate on the kitchen platform and stood thinking how could I help him feel better.

I heard the door-bell sound and rushed to the door thinking it would be.. .. .. ..

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