BOOK 2 "𝐻𝑢𝑚 𝑆𝑎𝑎𝑡ℎ 𝑆𝑎𝑎𝑡ℎ 𝐻𝑎𝑖․!" 𝐴 𝑚𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑛 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦

HER GIFT

Ram is leaning at the bed while sitting on the floor in his room. It's quite normal for him nowadays to sit on the floor or any other place for the maximum time. Somewhere his heart is not allowing him to rest for a moment too while thinking about Siya's condition.

"How must be Siya living there, is she getting food or water for herself, where she must have been kept, is she well or unwell"

- like these several things were continuously roaming in Ram's mind. And hence, he didn't allowed himself to have that rest too. He sleep or take rest the least, he don't take much care of himself, neither he has any sense to have his food. Ever since Siya has been distanced from him, he has lost all his senses. He has fallen weak, his shoulders has dropped, he seems to be unwell and tired, his eyes are red and sleepy for the maximum time, he has even grown his beard- he didn't cared much to have a shave too.! For the maximum time, either he is busy in his thoughts or else he have a talk regarding the plan to bring Siya back. And today, on Siya's birthday, he has totally caged himself into his room, into their room. Lost in the memories of his wife, busy cherishing their lovely times, remembering her million volt smile, while shedding the silent tears, Ram has spent his whole day like this. At morning Shruti has came to call him but he has straightaway denied to open the door. Kranti has also visited to call him for lunch, but Ram didn't mind to open the door for her too. Though when at afternoon, Dashrath has wished to talk with him regarding the "plan", Ram has opened the door to tell him about Pawan. After the discussion Dashrath had asked him to come downstairs but he has denied politely, wishing to stay in the room only. And after that, no one has came near him to call.

It was almost moving towards dark now, the outside natural light was the only light entering the room through the window. Ram has not cared to switch ON the lights too, why would he care as his life has itself turned dark now. Ram was still sitting at the same place, staring the portion of Siya's dupatta which is in his right hand, the same teared part of her dupatta which he has found at the main door on the day when Siya was taken away from him.

"Bhagwan bhi yahi chahte hai ki aap mujhse kabhi dur na jaye.."

Ram still remembers the words said by him that day to Siya, when- like a movie, her dupatta got stuck to his watch. He caresses the piece lightly with his fingers, still staring it blankly. He felt her fragrance while caressing that cloth, her fragrance he has memorised that completely. He always gets the feeling of Siya being around him when her fragrance activates his nerves and an automatic smile always crepts on his lips. He was missing that fragrance now.! The tears in his eyes has been frozen now, since morning they were flowing from his eyes. But now they have stopped themselves, may be they are tired too.!

"Me chali jati hu aap se dur, uske baad aap spend kar lena alone time.."

That were Siya's words to Ram, when he was angry with her for hiding Raghvan's "scene" from him. He remembered how his heart got ached after hearing those words from her. He remembered how much angry he was when Siya said those words. Though she was hurt at that time too and those words were only her reflexes, still Ram got disappointed to witness those negative things from her. He is always worried for her negative thoughts, the least he knew that the things are going to get true in this sense, as in "vaastu tathastu kehti hai", a hindi proverb.

He took a deep sigh while closing his eyes and rests his head at the back leaning on the bed. He was tired now, physically as well as mentally. He needs rest, he needs his "sukoon"- that's what he calls Siya as, his sukoon.! He lazily spread his right leg on the floor, giving rest to the paining nerves while he tightens the grip on the cloth in his fist, trying to feel her touch a bit. At the very moment, Ram hear a knock on the door. At first, he denied to pay any attention at the knock, but when he heard Lakshman's voice calling his name, he opens his eyes quickly.