The Lost Thread

The Worlds Meet

Back in Time

Maya had spent a very restless night. The morning looked just as gloomy as her mood. She turned to her side and was amazed to see Sneha looking at her in astonishment. 

Maya sprang up in alarm. 

'What happpened?' asked Maya in a small voice. 

'How long have to known Dhruv to get married to him in such a rushed manner?'

'WHAT'

Maya sprang up from the bed and rushed to wrap a shawl around her. Sneha looked more astonished, if that's possible, and asked, 'What do you mean WHAT? He has made all the arrangements for a wedding downstairs and has invited the whole freaking village. I had been given the task of getting you ready.'

Maya sat down on her bed with a thump. She had just asked him to not tell Sneha. And here the whole village is going to be the witness of ....wait a second. Whose wedding?

'Whose wedding is it?'

Sneha creeped closer and took a long look into her eyes. 

'Yours and Dhruv, or am I missing something here?'

Maya's eyes had the same unfocused look that someone has when they don't if they are awake or still dreaming. She looked at Sneha with complete helplessness.

'Don't you want to get married to him? Is he forcing you? Tell me and I will see that he is taught a lesson' Sneha promised Maya in a stern, school-mam tone. 

Maya was suddenly filled with visions of people attacking Dhruv with sticks and her blood ran cold. If he had got everyone involved, there was a real danger to Dhruv if she did not get along with it. And marriage was what she had wanted anyways, right?

Maya hastily got to her feet and turned to Sneha with a clearly pleading look. 

'No, don't say anything. I love him, and would not mind getting married to him.'

'But why not wait? What about your parents? What is the rush?' Sneha just could not make sense of this girl who was so sensible and calm only a few days back. 

'I don't have any answers to your questions. Can you give me a moment?'

Sneha nodded and left the room. Maya hastily looked for her mobile. There were two unread messages. 

The first one read, 'Will you marry me', while the second one, which came around 1 hr after the first read, 'I will take that as an yes'.

Maya could barely believe her eyes. Is this how people propose these days. Through an sms, along a completely unreliable network. 

'I bet he did it deliberately. Damm him to hell and back.'

Maya is going to teach him a lesson. She will marry him and spend the rest of her life teaching him how to treat a woman. 

It was a beautiful wedding. Simple settings, unknown rituals, caring and curious company, and a bemused audience. The bride looked like a red rose, while the groom had all the satisfaction of a proud Shepard leading his flock home. But there was no doubt about the love they had for each other. The way they stole glances at each other, it was hard to say if they were even aware of their surroundings. They seemed to be in  a world of their own, a world of their creation, and world very few will be able to invade.  

Present Day

Maya always regretted not having pictures of their wedding. She knew both of them looked very happy. She wanted Kedar to know how his dad looked when he was happy. But everything, and almost everyone who had attended the wedding were not here anymore. When people cannot be protected, what value does cameras and pictures have. Only memories remain. And the silent witnesses, like the mountains and rivers. Surely they too remember how happy Maya and Dhruv were that day. 

Today is Maya's holiday, so she is heading to the market to get some personal items. Although Lache provides for their basic needs, she still needs to make these monthly trips to the big market down in the valley. She knew Kedar loved the change of scenery. This time Richa has decided to accompany them. She was getting bored. 

The walk down was pleasant. Maya's latest worries stemmed from her finances. She salary would barely cover the loan and her expenses. Kedar was growing very fast and forever in the need of new clothes. Her clothes were barely there...somehow maintaining a semblance of respectability. What she receives from Richa keeps her afloat, but for how long? What if she leaves early?

All these thoughts had been keeping her worried for the last few days. The only option seems to be to try for new job else where. But that would mean leaving Lache, her Dhruv and memories behind. She has lost so much, she cannot let go of the last thing she still has of Dhruv. 

Their first stop was the grocery store. But this store also sells clothes, shoes, books, cups and dishes, almost everything that you can think of. Maya knew the owner very well. Pandeji has been in the valleys for more than a decade.  Like everybody else, he had picked up the pieces and painstakingly built up the shop once more. He greeted everyone with his trademarked smile and walked out of the shop to talk to Maya. 

'Beta, I just had a man who had come from the 5 star hotel. Apparently, they need someone who can type good English, as well as knows computer. They need them urgently, as their boss is a big businessman from Mumbai, and needs a lot of work to be done. They are offering 2000 rupees a day. Shall I suggest your name? The summer holidays are coming up, you can make some good money in one month.'

Maya's heart jumped to her heart. 2000 rupees per day was a lot. She can easily leave Kedar with someone and make some money that she desperately needs. Maya nodded her head eagerly and Pandeji smiled his approval. He went into the shop to dig out the number the man had left with him the day before. He was very happy to think that finally he could do something to help the girl. If anyone deserved some help, that was her.