Arohan - The Ascent

The Doorway to Change

It was 5:30 in the evening by the time Vikram closed the shop. He had seen the several missed calls made by Renuka just as he saw Sonu off. he called her back immediately, knowing how worried she would be and prepared to get an earful from her. And get he did, a solid scolding for being so lax about his duties.

he had afforded himself a small smile at the way she showed motherly concern for her,

By the time Vikram closed the shop that day, it was around 5:50 pm. He got on his cycle and made his way to the dust-settled street where he lived with Balram and Renuka.

When he walked into the house, he first went into the small washing area in the front yard and washed his hands and feet. Balram lived in his ancestral house, which was made in the typical Indian style of a decent-sized front yard, a square house, with the kitchen right at the end, and a big courtyard.

As he stepped into the main house, he found it unusually quiet. At this time of the day, there would normally be some kind of squabble happening between Balram and Renuka about some mundane issue or the other, but that was not to be found today.

He went into the kitchen, to check on Renuka, inform her about the dealings in the shop that day, and also enquire what they would be having for dinner. He had to admit that Renuka Mause was a great cook. Whatever she touched turned delicious and finger-licking good. Balram often called her his Annapurna. And whenever he said this, she would huff and walk away from them, trying to hide her blushes.

It amazed Vikram how she could blush in front of her own husband and another who was the age of her son, after all those years of being married. The thought of marriage brought back the one face that had remained etched in his heart, at all times. He would never forget for as long as he lived, the disgust he saw in her eyes, that night. It haunted him every waking moment and then turned his nights into nightmares.

Drawing back to the present, Vikram looked around the house concerned. Where was everyone?

As he walked back into the living room, Balram appeared, emerging from his bedroom. Vikram looked at the old man, a sense of alarm in his eyes.

He dashed to Balram and gripped the aging man by his shoulders. Balram could immediately sense the concern in his eyes and when Vikram spoke, it was obvious he was affected by what he saw.

To Vikram balram seemed like he had shrunk all of sudden , somehow his real age actually coming to the fore and showing him to be a much older man than what he was used to seeing everyday. What might have happened, he thought to himself, looking at Balram with eyes full of concern.

"Is it true?" asked Balram, his voice sounding faint, almost a whisper. "Are you thinking of leaving us?" he asked, as tears threatened to spill from his old eyes.

Vikram looked on shocked, the words stuck in his throat. He did not know what to say or how to even begin explaining himself.

One Month Later

It had been just over a month since that strange evening, when Urvashi asked Pandit ji to find out Vikram's where abouts. So far he had no leeds on the whereabouts of Vicky. He did not try to contact Balram or even write to him, because Balram could not know, it was he who sent Vicky to him. His self resepcing friend, would treat as a sign of pity and that would ruin years of friendship. He also desisted from writing or contacting Vikram directly. No one , absolutely no one, could no, he knew where Vicky was. 

And so the only way left was for him to make a visit, albiet in a round about manner and visit Vicky himself.  And so as not to arouse suspicion, he decided he would wait  for a month to make the visit to Kath Kuiyan.

He knew urtvashi was growing anxious as each day passed and it was only understandable. She was already living with an enormous amount of guilt. Even the thought of cuaisng harm to Vicky must shake her to her very soul. She was a good woman, a very consientious one for sure and it only showed how much she valued life of a fellow human, even if he was someone who harmed her.

He had told her that he needed time and that when he had information, he would definitely share with her. he also had advised to not taljk about this issue with any one else other than himself. urvashi of course knew she could not discuss Vicky with any one else. It was only n the last 6 months that her life had settle into a steady rhythm with the school and teaching. She did not wish to add any more drama to her life now.

So she paid heed to his words and decided to wait for further information to manifest itself.

And so it was that Pandit ji, made a very round about journey, from Padrauna to Lucknow and from Lucknow to Gorakhpur and from Gorakhpur to Kath Kuiyan by train. It took him almost a day and a half to arrive at kath Kuiyan.

From the train station, he slowly made his way to Balram's house in a rikshaw. The rickshaw dropped him off outside the house of Balram, but as Pandit ji descended from the rickshaw, he thought the man had dropped him at the wrong house. he knew Balram's house and it did not look like this.

This seemed like a new house, fresh with a new coat of paint and band new wroght iron gate with the Ganesh idol welded into it.Pandit ji, Balram still lived in this village. 

Apprehensively he walked to the gate and opened it. He entered the front yard and looking around at the spic and span front yard, walked to the front door, which presently was closed. He found the  old fashioned door bold and pushed it up and down twice. As he waited outside for the door to open, Pandit ji stood with a slight frown creasing his forehead. A few seconds later, the door opened and Balram stood in front of him.

Pandit ji smiled, more relived than anything else.

"Are, Pandit ji!" exclaimed Balram in surprise. "What a surprise. Please come in," he welcomed warmly.

Pandit ji came in and set hi small suit case down next to a chair. He first washed his hands and legs and came back as Renuka too came and stood next to her husband a pleasant smile on her face. he did not remember when last he saw the Singh couple so content last. Well, it seemed Vikram had fulfilled at least the purpose for which he sent him to them.

After the customer plesantries, balram enquired curiously, "so, what bring you to kath Kuiyan?"

"Well I heard there is a young man living with you these days, someone the age of..." he left the sentence unfinished.

I just wanted to check on you and bhabhi and make sure you are not being conned bya some smart alec. So where is he? And who is this chap that you so trustingly kept in your house?" he demanded looking around.

Both Balram and Renuka look to each other both surprise and shock obious in their expressions.

"What! What happened?" asked Pandit ji, looking at both of them alternatively.

"Vikram doesn't live here anymore," said Balram looking at Pandit ji, with suspicious eyes. "He left almost 3 weeks ago," he said.

Pandit ji could,'t helf himself from spontaneously asking the next question. "And where did he go?"