‘No, Aditi. It isn’t your fault’ I’m wiping her tears. She stopped speaking instantly and was statured gazing at me. My touch had some effect on her. Then she hugged me tightly. Didn’t say anything. Hug became much tighter. Space between us reduced by an inch more. I slowly swayed my hands on her hair ‘Everything is okay, don’t cry.’
She looks desperate to say more, ‘You’re different from him.’ but a voice calls from the room
‘Aditi!’ probably Meghana looking her Aditi. She may have heard Aditi crying. We were back to our places in split second. Aditi wiping her tears, uncomfortably adjusting herself. Meghana out of her room came rushing to Aditi, observing her tears.
‘Did he say something to you? Did he hurt you?’ She checking with Aditi.
I’m never tired of Meghana and her questions. She chose the right profession.
‘No, nothing. I was just disturbed by reading the diary. Something from my past that forced my tears to come out’ Aditi replied.
‘We will get rid of this, everything regarding this soon.’ Meghana placing her hands below Aditi’s cheeks, holding her face as if she was a kid.
‘I promise.’ her finger pointing at Aditi’s heart ‘The pain in here will end soon.’
Aditi and Meghana got up from their places, ‘I have called up, Ashok already. He will come to pick us.’
‘Who is Ashok?’ I checked.
‘You will get to know him. Get ready. Before he is here.’ Meghana ignored my question.
‘Sure. I will. Please uncuff me. I’m holding my pee from a long time’ Again a laughter broke in silence.
‘Sorry.’ She uncuffed me and I rushed to the washroom.
Aditi Sharma
Chapter VIII
Meghana Saxena’s Residence.
14th August, 2011.
Few minutes, I spent with Rahim, has completely changed my view about him. Rahim, is also a victim from his point of view. Still, the only question racing my thoughts is whether is he really from another universe or just fooling us all with a smart lie. Humans are the only beings on earth, who can talk, share, love and also lie with other beings for his own benefit. Whether, he is lying or not, our current focus should be rescuing the people from a horrific incident. Hair on my skin erects every time I recollect the blast. Everything is in front of my eyes, destroyed in seconds; almost within a snap.
The only positive that happened after the incident, is Meghana - who became a great friend. Though, I met her in unforeseen circumstances, the affection and love, I received from her, felt like long lost connection between best friends. As we are toddling around the house, getting ready, she clearly understood the clumsiness between myself and Rahim, chafing my shoulders when my eyes were pooled into tears, calming my resentment as he is the worst nightmare that haunts me, every night not letting me sleep. My body quivers, when I see his face which reminiscences my brutal past. Every minute, challenging to admit the truth that he is different from the person I knew from my experience.
‘Ashok is here.’ Meghana screamed.
Ashok is a true gentleman. I’m not clear, what relationship do Meghana and Ashok hold. They never really opened up. But they seem comfortable in each other’s presence. They would make a nice pair together. I’ve always wanted a man in my life, who would love me to the core and be for me right beside me whenever required. But fate had different plans for me. Meghana sat in the front seat along with Ashok. Their talks have become more frequent now. I’m still unable to accept the fact that the person sitting next to me is not the same person I used to know? There isn’t even a small change in his physicality. But I have to agree that, it feels better when I’m with this version of Rahim. Love from my past life, suddenly resurrected after years. Those were best moments of my life. I was so happy with Rahim. After his father’s tragical demise, he totally lost it. He was a different person, not the one I fell in love with. But when I look back at this Rahim now. I glare at his eyes which had the spark of truth and immense love for his wife Aditi.
Which is me again, kind of magical and bullshit at the same time. I seem to float around these two consequences of reality.
I’m ready not to embrace the thought of another universe. But somewhere within myself I want this theory to be true. Hoping, his presence is to help us and not to trick us. Morning when I hugged him, my life had rose again. I pray to god to show me the right path. Help me to find the truth. Meghana assured me that he has nothing against us. She has immediate contact of Siraj, if anything goes wrong.
It was a long ride till here. Thunderclouds filled the blue sky, ready to shower on Mumbai. Four of us travelled through difficult roads and finally reached our destination. Meghana had briefed me about Professor Raghunathan before we left the house. His works on certain thesis relates to the most inexplicable places in the cosmos. He is great at giving simple examples for complex theories. I hope that happens in reality. Because I have zero knowledge when it comes to science and technology. Some people call him mad as he wasted time on unnecessary theories while some praise his breakthrough articles in the field of Space and Time. Very less people in science, focus on such subjects. He also studied at the most famous Princeton University in London, worked under geniuses. Inspired from the work of Einstein’s theory of relativity, he came back to India to his comfort zone and started working individually on some “Thought experiments” to prove the theory of Parallelism and existence of Parallel universes around us. Recently, Meghana took an interview and published his article in Times of Mumbai. It gained appreciation from many people.
