• Second Chances •

30. Happiness

"Is everything okay?" Priya asked Brinda in a hushed voice. 

Brinda raised a brow. "With whom?" 

Priya pointed a finger at Aditya and Ram standing at a distance. They both seemed to be flustered about something; especially Ram. He was arguing with Aditya, moving his hands wildly. And it was unnerving Priya. 

"With these two..." said Priya.

"Oh them!" Brinda blinked. "I honestly have no idea. I tried asking Aditya but he brushed me off. It definitely has something to do with Shubham I guess. That's why Aditya is avoiding telling me. He knows how angry Shubham makes me. And that is also why Ram is so flustered." 

"Oh!" Priya nodded slowly. She didn't want to come across as curious or nosy so let the matter be. She had no business being this interested in Ram's intimate family matters.  

"It's okay, Priya..." Brinda gave patted her back in assurance. "Don't worry. It's work-related. It keeps on happening. The more you think of it, the more it will bother you. Really. I have been seeing it all these years. They always solve it. They always do. These kids are awesome. Trust me." 

Priya smiled back. "I hear you."

"Good girl. Okay now listen, I am going to take Adi away for a while. We are going to chill in our room. Why don't you two also chill somewhere?" Brinda proposed. 

Priya let out a small sigh. "Sure. No worries." 

Giving her a nod, Brinda walked up to the boys, talked with them and took Aditya away. As they disappeared into the hotel lobby, Ram came towards Priya and said, "Do you want to rest? It was a long drive. We can get room service."  

It had been a long drive. They had left from Mount Cook and reached Queenstown. Priya was tired but something about Ram's eyes made her say otherwise. 

"How about a walk instead?" Priya raised a brow. 

Ram contemplated for a moment before giving Priya a small nod. "After you." 

Nodding, Priya and Ram set off with no place in mind. They walked out of the hotel and just started to walk aimlessly towards the lake.

"I guess, you are never too far from the Wakatipu lake in this town. Every road leads to these pristine waters..." mused Ram. 

"It's beautiful..." whispered Priya as the sand crunched beneath her soles. 

"It is..." Ram replied quietly. His eyes remained on the soft waves hitting the sandy bank. "You know, they say that a monster Matau is sleeping at the bottom of the lake. These waves...they are formed because of his heartbeat." 

Priya's face turned grim. And then after a few moments, she smiled slightly. "It's just like our lives, isn't it? Pretty good to look at. But there is always a monster lurking around. And its presence is always felt in some ways or the other." 

Ram's chest heaved and he had to stop walking. Priya stopped and cast a questioning glance at him. "What?" 

Ram stared at her. She was an ordinary woman. Simple clothes, no makeup, simpler lifestyle. He blinked and stared at her again. She wasn't an ordinary woman at all. Ram saw the light that she withheld in her heart, in her beautiful mind. He saw a woman who had fought the world for her family and more importantly, for herself. He saw a woman of grace, of dignity, of unbelievable patience, of courage and quiet beauty. Ram had to thank Shivina for letting him have Priya in his life. He felt like he was the lucky one to have Priya in his corner. 

"Priya...what do you think of usually?" he asked, out of a sudden. Ram couldn't help but be intrigued. 

Priya shrugged and smiled. She turned around and started to walk. Keeping her eyes on the ground, she replied, "Well. About the family. About the loans. Akshay's has a loan for his bike, Sara Di for her bakery and Sandy for her college. I dream of magically paying them off. Other than that, about fictional characters. I read a lot of things because of work so I unknowingly think of that. I think of food. I think of good home decor."