Arohan - The Ascent

When Fate Calls

"VIKRAM"!

Urvashi was startled back to consciousness by the shrillness of her scream. 

When she sat up from her sofa, she was drenched in sweat and found her hand outstretched. She looked around, disoriented, unable to understand where she was. She was supposed to be at a hospital in New Delhi, trying to check on Virakm. What were these places!

She stood up, still in a potent daze and utterly confused. She pulled out her handphone from her handbag and went to the speed dial. She placed a call to Pandit Ji.

Pandit Ji picked up the call in the second ring. "I was just going to call you regarding the Sixth class curriculum .."

She did not let Pandit Ji finish. "How is Vikram? Have you heard from him recently? Is he ok? I think I sent him to his death Pandit Ji. First Tom and now Vikram. I don't know what to do..what if, what if.." She lost all coherence at this point, muttering  away something that was beyond comprehension

Pandit Ji on the other was thoroughly befuddled . "Who is Vikram?" he asked, unable to place the name.

"Listen to me, you have to find out how he is and you have to do this without his knowing about it. I want to know that he is not doing anything stupid to himself and I don't want him to know I am enquiring about him. Do you understand? Please tell me you understand me," she was almost on the verge of a breakdown.

That's when it rang a bell. Vikram...Vicky. "Of course I understand. Just calm down. I am coming over and we will talk calmly. Just calm down ok!" Pandit Ji explained, even as he wrapped his customary shawl around his chest.

In a couple of minutes, he reached her house. Urvashi was now sitting on the sofa, still dazed but seemingly in control of her emotions, as Pandit Ji entered the house. he went into the kitchen and fetched her a glass of cool, pot water. 

Urvashi gulped down the elixir of life as if she had just returned from sub-Saharan Africa.

Pandit Ji sat down next to her, wordlessly, giving her a minute to collect her thoughts. When he felt she was better placed to talk, he asked her, "What's happened beta? Why this sudden outpouring of concern for someone you hate so much? Everything ok?" he asked looking towards her with a calming look in his eyes.

"You know how I lost my husband in a terrorist attack, some years ago," started Urvashi, her eyes reliving the pain of losing a loved one, all over again. " Well, what I didn't tell you, was that he could have lived if he had not jumped over from the bar to push me out of the shooter's range. He took the bullet that was meant for me, Pandit Ji. I live with the guilt of being the cause of his death. That's why I ran away," she looked towards him, her eyes pleading for his understanding.

Pandit Ji nodded an understanding nod.

"I hate Vicky, there is no two ways about it. I hate him for what he did to me. But I don't want to be responsible for one more death. I just can't take that guilt. It will be the death of me. So, I need to know he is ok," she ended, looking desperate.

"But why now? Did something happen?" asked pandit Ji, still baffled.

Urvashi looked lost for a few seconds and then looked away. "Can you please just find out that he is ok?" she pleaded, not knowing what else to say.

Pandit Ji drew in a deep breath. If that's what it took to calm her down, he would not ask her any more questions, he thought. "Alright, I will find out," he assured and left quietly.

Urvashi collapsed back onto the couch just as Pandit Ji left.

What a dream it had been, so realistic as if she was living through it all.