Lakeerein - Ties That Bind Us

08| Chapter 5: Takkar Aur Inaam

With his bag packed neatly with all due credits to Malini and goodbyes, Aditya set out to Pagdandiya, unaware of what was waiting for him there. After bidding a goodbye, Malini was back home.

"What happened?" her mother asked in a clipped tone.

"What happened?" Malini repeated confused.

"Did that guy say something to you?"

"Of course not Mom"

"Then why are you back home so soon?"

"Huh what? Why can't I be back home soon?"

"This is the first time in 7 years that you have gone to meet Aditya and come back so soon. So it's obvious I'll question you isn't it?"

"Mom!"

"What?"

"Nothing"

"Hmm"

"He's gone on an assignment"

"Where?"

"A small town at the outskirts of the city"

"I can't tell you Mom that he's gone to Pagdandiya. I know how you'll react to it!"

"Small town at the outskirts? This is something like Pag...."

"No! It's not that place Mom!"

Before Anu could tell anything, her phone rang and she got busy in attending the call, giving Malini time to run away.

Some time later

Stepping onto the land of Pagdandiya brought in the rise of many feelings in his heart. Something felt different! Brushing off these feelings for now, Aditya looked around to spot the guy who would help him meet Satyakam.

"Here Sahab" a young man dressed in orange kurta hurried towards him.
Aditya acknowledged his words and then the two set out to the interior of the village.

"Satyakam Dadda might be here today. Till then, pretend to be a tourist here or anything. As long as they don't mistake you for an associate with the police, you're safe. Because if they do, you'd be shot dead without any verdict or discussion" Janendra said as they approached the interior of the village.

Aditya nodded and looked around.

"You roam about for sometime Saab. When I get the news, I'll update you. You can just watch around till then"

"Okay"

Janendra left and Aditya started looking around and clicking pictures.

The scenic beauty of the village despite and mostly because of its simplicity captivated him. The smell of the wet mud just like the petrichor of the first rains filled the atmosphere. The lush fields, cool and fresh breeze, the simplicity of life - everything mesmerized him. For a moment the thought of writing an article on this flashed in his head but he brushed it off immediately.
No words could capture the beauty of this place in it for none can contain the simplicity, it being too inexplicable to contain in complex words.

He went on to capture many photos which were candid moments of people and nature alike, the avid photographer in him at work efficiently. Just as he was checking the photos in his camera and walking ahead, he dashed into someone, the impact of it tremendous as he was knocked off his feet, landing on the hay stacked beside. It took him few moments to register that he had bumped with someone who was running as if his life depended on it! He managed to stabilise himself and stand up. That's when he spotted a young girl dressed in white and blue churidar run, her two braids swaying in the air. He kept watching her retreating form till she completely disappeared from his sight. He hadn't noticed that she hadn't even stopped to say a sorry nor was he angry or annoyed even one bit. This was unnatural for him considering he would lash out at all such people, reprimanding them for their irresponsibility. Yet again, weird feelings arose in his heart making him stand rooted at his spot, making an effort to comprehend them but failing to do so, he just brushed them off.

With a person like her Nakli Nani, it was obvious she would reach late, especially on such an important day at school! Cursing her Nakli Nani, Imlie ran as fast as she could for she knew the announcement of who had bagged the scholarship would be made in the morning itself. Winning this scholarship was extremely important for her for it would give her an opportunity to move to the city for higher studies free of cost. This provision had been done by the government for those rural talents and gems who would otherwise be lost in the ocean of population with less facilities.
Being in a hurry with just the scholarship announcement in her mind, she did not notice a young man walking towards her. By the time she actually realised, she had dashed into him rendering him off balance, though she managed to stabilise herself.

For a moment she wanted to help him get back on his feet and apologize but considering she was running extremely late, Imlie just hurried away, thus failing to register the slight fluttering of her heart!

Panting she reached her classroom just in time to hear her teacher announce

"And the student who has made us proud by bagging the scholarship is...."

Imlie immediately prayed to her Sita Maiyya that it would be her name that would be announced for it was aar ya paar situation for her.

"Imlie" the teacher completed and her eyes snapped open. A wide smile formed on her face even as loud claps of all her classmates echoed in the classroom. With tears in her eyes, she walked towards her teacher to receive the certificate.

"I'm proud of you my child! I knew it that you'd be the one bagging this scholarship. I knew it that you'd make a small school like ours proud!" the teacher said patting her head with pride and affection.

"This is all because of you Ma'am! Thank you so much!"

"No child, I have played a very minimal part in this. This success is due to your efforts and your passion along with your talent and dedication. This victory is completely yours!"

"Thank you ma'am" Imlie said.

Taking the certificate from her teacher's hand, Imlie couldn't put her feelings to words. It felt really wonderful. She felt on top of the world!

The first step towards her goal had been taken! Soon she would achieve her goal as well! If only she knew, there would be a cut right after this step for the time to reach the next step would be extremely long due to her fate which had been prewritten with difficulties and challenges!

Love,
Pratyusha