Meant To Be

Chapter 19. Back to Khimsar

     Sam walked towards the ticket counter of the bus station. (she had walked all the way from the advocate's office building to the bus station) She noticed that the ticket counter was filled with passengers, eager to purchase their tickets. Sam had seen such crowds in the bus stations and also in train stations. But never had she felt so insecure in the midst of a crowd. Because then she had always travelled with her parents. But today she was all alone.
      She waited for the crowd to disperse, as she stood at a distance staring at them blankly. After almost fifteen minutes, she noticed that only a few people were left to purchase the tickets. Sam straightened herself, took a deep breath and walked to stand in the queue. She went and stood behind a guy, who would soon purchase the tickets after the guy standing in front of him.
     It was taking more time than required for the the guy, who was standing in the front, to purchase the tickets. Sam's shifted her weight on her right leg and took a deep breath. The guy, standing in front of her, turned and examined her from top to bottom. Sam felt nauseatic. She put a strand of hair behind her ears and started looking towards her left. Her heart started thumping inside her chest. She could feel her brows sweating. And at that moment, she wished that she'd been with her parents. If not happy at least safe and sound.
       The man kept staring at her for a few seconds and turned back to face the ticket counter. Sam took a sigh of relief, joined her hands and thanked God silently. 

Sam sat on the window seat of the double seater bus, which was going to depart for Khimsar, her head resting on the metal rod of the window. She could feel the passengers who had boarded the bus with her, stealing glances at her after every few minutes. (thankfully the man who had stood in front of her in the ticket counter had not boarded the bus) She knew the reason - she had covered her entire face with her dupatta (a type of scarf worn by people in India), fearing that the villagers of Khimsar might recognise her. People rarely covered their face and that is why Sam was being stared at. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat but continued to look out of the window, pretending to admire the tall grasses, which were swaying to the orders of the warm breeze, in the aureate sun.
     Sam spent the entire journey by just being lost in her own thoughts. How she had the courage to travel all alone from one village to another? She wouldn't have had the daring to do such a thing, three years ago. But now, three years later, she was actually doing it. All for love.
     She had never interacted about anything else other than studies with her classmates who were boys, let alone fall in love.
     It had all happened so quickly. Her parents taking her away from her friends and Boby. She getting married to Ranvir after almost one and a half year of house arrest and separating from Ranvir after six months of their marriage.
   
The bus finally reached the bus station of Khimsar. Sam pulled out her wheel suitcase from the overhead bin and waited for the passengers to get down. 
     As soon as Sam stepped down from the bus, she could feel the fresh air of her hometown. The light breeze made her hair dance lightly in the air. She could see, people walking around, boarding a bus or some disembarking a bus, street traders trying to sell their goods to the ignorant people walking around. Finally, she was back in her hometown. Back to her friends. Back to Boby.
     Sam knew that the place where Nish lived was only fifteen minutes away from the bus station. She decided again to walk till her house.
     Almost after fifteen-twenty minutes, Sam turned right and finally reached the lane, where Nish lived. Where Sam had spent most of her childhood, running around playing games like chor police, kho - kho and even cycling. She wished, she could go back to those good old days, where there was no tension, no stress, no worries of the world.
     She moved her eyes from left to right, taking in everything. The roads were the same, the houses were the same. Nothing had changed in the last two years. Sam smiled.
    She walked a few steps ahead and finally found Nish's house. She walked and opened the dusty gates of her house. And suddenly she stopped.
    She remembered her father saying, "The entire neighborhood is talking about you." Nish's parents might've heard about it too. But she knew, that her best friend, would have had surely defended her.
     Sam took a deep breath, butterflies fluttering in her stomach. The thought of seeing Nish, after so long, made her smile so much, that her cheekbones started hurting. She took a step ahead and knocked on the door.
    Sam stood there waiting for someone to open the door. The feeling of excitement growing inside her. She heard a familiar voice and the next moment, she heard the 'click' of the door being unlocked. Sam held her breath.
     A girl of average height, with curly hair and oversized round glasses stood in front of Sam, a confused look on her face. Sam knew that it was indeed Nish. She had changed so much.
     "Ji?" Nish asked, politely.
      Sam smiled. She knew that this was the way in which Nish would ask if some stranger would knock on her door. Without giving a thought, Sam uncovered her face, by removing the dupatta.
      Nish's eyes went wide with shock. For a few seconds, she stood there frozen like a statue, her eyes wide and her mouth half open.
      "Sam!!" Nish lunged forward and pull Sam into a tight hug. Her feet dangling off the ground. Sam would always push Nish back, whenever she tried to pull her into a tight hug. But today she didn't push her back. Because the hug was not meant to choke her. But was filled with love. Sadness replaced by happiness of being reunited with her best friend after two years of separation. Sam felt a few drops of tears fall on her nape.
        "Where were you? I missed you so much." Nish said through muffled voices, sniffing.
        "I missed you too." Sam whispered.
      After what felt like an eternity, Nish pulled away from Sam and ran inside her house. Sam's stomach churned. She didn't have the courage to face Nish's parents. To answer the questions about the rumours which were spread about her. She prayed that Nish's parents wouldn't come out to meet her.
      After almost a minute, she saw Nish walking towards her, alone. She put on her footwear, stepped out and closed the door. Sam instantly understood. Her parents hadn't forgotten about it.
      They kept on walking towards the ground, where once, Sam remembered, the annual fun fair of the village used to be conducted. Sam hadn't turned her head to see her house.  It wasn't her house anymore. Her father had sold it.
      They sat on a bench, under the cool shade of a tree, near the ground. (Sam again covered her face) Sam narrated her story to Nish. She was grateful that Nish listened to her patiently, asking questions in between and showing emotions of great shock for the answer received to her. She felt a lump in her throat and could feel voice growing hoarse and starting to quaver. By narrating her story, she was going through those pains, all over again. She could still feel the burning sensation of the slap, had goosebumps when she was saying about the time when Ranvir got to know about the truth. But atleast, someone was there to listen to her. All her emotions, her feelings, were flowing out of her like lava.
       When Sam had finally completed saying, she was slightly shocked to see tears in Nish's eyes. Nish had felt for her. And at that moment, she understood the true meaning of a best friend. Who can feel your sadness. Your pain. Who will shed tears with you when you're in your tough times and will celebrate with you in your happy times.
     Nish again pulled her into a hug. She rubbed her back soothingly. Sam felt better. She felt lightened after so many days.
     "I know you've suffered a lot. And yes, it is correct that people were gossiping about you." She cringed. "That is why I didn't welcome you in my house. "
     The words hit her like sharp knives. She knew this, but still it was painful for her to hear it. Sam squeezed her shoulder and gave her a reassuring smile.
    She asked about Ro and Dhruv.
    "Ro has gone to Mumbai for further studies and Dhruv is here in Khimsar but he's gone to meet his grandfather with his parents." 

And finally, the question, which she had been dying to ask. About Boby.
     "How's Boby?"
      Sam had expected that maybe Nish would take her to his house, or maybe say something about him. But she just shrugged. Sam frowned her brows.
     "He came back two weeks later, after you and your family left Khimsar. He had asked  about you. We told him that we didn't know where you were. And after that we rarely saw him.
     "Two months later, we got to know from some villagers that Boby and Shammi di had shifted to..to..Khuri to take care and to be with their aunt, as her health had started deteriorating. And after that..." she shrugged again. "We have had no contact."
     Aunt's health is deteriorating?
     She remembered the aunt's warm smile, her hospitality, her kindness which she had shown to a mere stranger.  She should meet her. And without giving a thought, she blurted out -
      "I'm going to Khuri."
      Nish suddenly stood up, a shocked look on her face.
      "Goodness, are you crazy? she said,  showing the cuckoo sign. "You've just arrived and now you want to go to Khuri?"
    Sam nodded. "Look, aunt is not well and I want to visit her. And.. I can even meet Boby."
    Nish sighed. She sat down and put a hand on Sam's shoulder.
     "Fine. Go. But not today. You stay with us here. I'll convince my parents somehow."
     Sam shook her head. "I.. don't want to trouble you. And... I do not want to be a burden on you all. Please..." she added hastily as Nish opened her mouth to retaliate.
     "Fine then. I think you're right." Nish said, after a short pause, obviously not liking the idea.
     "And promise me...you will come back after you have met him and his aunt." she said.
     Sam nodded again.
     "Wait a minute." Nish said and ran back to her house.
      After almost five minutes, she came back running. "Here..." she said panting for breath and extending her hand.
    Sam looked down and saw three notes of hundred rupees.
    "You might need it. I can only give you this much."
    Sam's eyes welled with tears. She pulled Nish into a tight hug. After a second, she felt Nish's grip tighten around her.
   Sam took the notes and counted how much money she had with her now. One thousand two hundred rupees. (Hundred rupees were spent on the bus ticket)
     "I think it's fine." Nish said, counting the notes.
     "Thank you, Nish." Sam said, placing a hand on hers.
      "Now, don't mention it! Get ready to meet Boby." she smirked, wriggling her eye brows playfully.
     Sam blushed, picturing Boby, when she would stand at his doorstep, giving him a huge surprise.
      "I'm leaving you to the bus station." Nish said.
       "What will you say to your parents?"
      "I'll manage." And at that moment, Sam remembered, Ranvir saying the same thing when she'd asked about what he'd say to others about their divorce.
    We'll manage.
     She sighed.
    "And...well I'm an adult now." Nish said, sitting up straight.
    Sam raised her brows and nodded. 
    

What will happen next? Will Sam be able to reach Khuri? Will she be able to meet Boby's aunt? And how will Boby react, when he will meet her after two years?