Stay With Me Forever

4. Chapter 1

ANOKHI

It's been just an hour since our journey began & my princess is already taking a nap in her child seat. I look out of window & try to focus on the scenery outside - greenery & farms all around & just tiny heads of humans working in fields could be made out as we move up on the bridge highway, far away I can make out some far fetched college campuses, farther away I can see tall buildings & farthest point is not clear as it's covered in morning mist & visibility has dipped a bit. The skyline is somewhat covered with clouds & there are no sunrays, making it one of the most chilliest days of the season.

It's been an another hour & I've started to feel a strange uneasiness as I slowly tread towards the city which gave me most beautiful memories, happy times, best experiences, lessons & the most important human & love of my life, even Arya too.
The same city which has been unfair & hard on me, which has given tough challenges & hard times to endure, which has taken away my blessings & cursed me of loneliness, it is the same place where I've been through hell & heaven at the same time.

I just pray, nothing happens this time, I don't run into anyone & everything goes fine & I return home without any hassle.

I still remember I had similar restlessness when I first came to this city five years back...

5 YEARS AGO

I've come to Astha Ma'am's house a day before leaving for Chandigarh from Kapurthala.

Astha Ma'am has always been a motherly figure & a mentor to me, though she's just my college teacher but she has supported me in every walk of life, she has encouraged me in my struggles & kept me going in my darkest of times, has always been a helping hand, a listening ear & a shoulder to cry upon. She's just not my teacher but an idol, I look upto her thoughts, her valour & vigour towards everything in life.

Today I have come to bid her my last adieu & thank her for being in my every phase of life, supporting & guiding me through all of it, I owe her whatever I'm today.

I knock on the door & Naniji, Astha Ma'am's mother greets me in, " Arey Anokhi, sit na, Astha must be coming. You came after so long my child, where have you been ?" she asks lovingly caressing my hair.

"Naniji, I just completed my post graduation & I was busy wondering what I should be doing now, so I was just stuck there" I smile.

"Oh I see, god bless you my child, you shall definitely find your way ! Wait let me call Astha for you." She walks towards Ma'am's room.

★★★★

"Arey Anokhi you're here after a long time !? Is everything alright ?" Ma'am interrogates.

"Ma'am I wanted to meet you one final time" I say.

" Final time ? Where are you going ? " She contorts her eyebrows.

" I'm leaving for Chandigarh tomorrow along with Mummyji & Babli Di " I answer stoically.

" Why has your father been transferred to Chandigarh ? " She seems puzzled.

" No ma'am, I'm leaving with my mother & sister because I've had enough of the torture & harassment our father does on daily basis towards us, just because we're women & as per him women are trashcans. " I reply