Leap of Faith

Goofy Tales

"Trisha, I must say I am surprised at my Son's behaviour," Aayan's mother said, drawing her hands closer. The night wind was giving us chills. She was leading me on a beautiful walkway meeting a maze-like garden. The landscaped garden glimmered with soothing and warm lights, giving a vast view of flora.

"I don't understand," I said, looking at her side profile

"He is acting strange," she glanced at me. "He is different with you."

"I am not sure I get what are you suggesting, Mrs. Kar," I said, rubbing my hands together. The chilled wind prickled my skin ruthlessly.

"He has changed a lot lately. It is hard to believe," she implored reflecting in her thoughts. "And I don't like this change. Not because I don't want my son to be happy or in love. It just I don't think he will get out of this, unscathed."

I shot her a glare. Of course, that was an insult to me, of our love. How dare she say that!

"What's that supposed to mean?" I pulled short, looking into her dark emerald eyes for an answer.

"You of all people know this girl. This love, this alliance would never last forever. You can't possibly be dreaming about marrying him," she said with such a clarity that I almost believed it.

"Mrs. Kar. What future holds for us, we don't know. But yes, we are definitely serious about our future together," I replied with same arrogance and coldness.

"Isn't it too early to say?" she continued walking, forming some calculations in her mind.

"We have been through a lot, and we definitely understand each other more. Above all, we love each other unconditionally," I answered stressing on each word.

"You are yet to judge him. Believe me. I know what I am talking about. I am his mother," she implied, turning towards the small lake.

"I know him enough. Besides, there is plenty of time for us." I cleared my throat. She was trying to scare me away.

"He has a dark side. You might take him as your knight in shining armor, but he is all different," she hinted at his previous womanizing ways.

"Mrs. Kar, there is no going back now for me, and him too." I put forth aggressively.

"My dear, people change. Situations change. You shouldn't be so sure about it," she smiled and beckoned me to sit on a cozy sitting area with a tent overlooking the lake. One butler was standing upright staring at nothing.

We both sat, smelling the cold breeze coming from the surface of the calm lake. The visage of the lake was veneer-clear and tranquil, flanked by an avenue of mango trees. The idyllic scene astounded me. We sat quietly for a few minutes inhaling the nature's therapy.

"Trisha, let me tell you a story," she broke the silence and turned towards me. "There was a young girl living near the southern part of Mumbai. It was the 70s. She was the daughter of a servant of The Pandits. They were the decedents of the great Maharaja of Kashmir. They were amongst the elite rich of the island city. The young heir of the family was a beautiful and intelligent boy. You know, sometimes it is all about genes. The young girl befriended the boy when she came with her father to his work. What you all young people call these days... oh yes. 'The connection'. They had that. The love between them bloomed, as they grew older. However, she was a peasant and he was the Kingman. When his father gave him two choices, the first being the inheritance and other being the girl, he chose the inheritance. The girl never got over the heartache, stayed single all her life. She died a few years back, alone in her ramshackle house. This is the actual life. But you both seem to be blissfully ignorant," she concluded with a calm and eerie accusation.