Cross Roads of Life

The Cross Roads

                               APARNA

The sight before my eyes scared me, Ruchika was about to put her hand on the burnt Kadai as she was lost in Tushar's eyes and I shrieked to grab their concentration.

I understood how guilty both of them felt, hence I put a random fight over the Kadai. Tushar somehow got too involved and the return of monsoons brought rain, Ruchika ran towards the balcony and Tulika followed her.

I took panicked Tushar to the balcony and looking at him adoring his girlfriend and daughter, I understood why he adored Tulika for loving rain.

How did my daughter pick up the habit of an absolute stranger? Maybe because she is not a stranger, she shared the strongest bond with Tulika's father after all.

Tushar looked absolutely smitten, he looked at her with passion and her eyes mirrored deep longing. The longing for love, warmth, and everything.

Both of them were lost in the depth of one another's eyes and had no care about the world, seeing the way to escape I took Tulika away with me. I locked the door taking Tulika downstairs.

"Mumma, where are you taking me? I love playing with Ruchika Aunty, she is soo fun" Tulika pouted.

"I know you love her, but there's someone who loves her more and now they need one another more than ever"

She looked at me unable to understand the depth of my words.

There are bonds formed by force, there will be bonds formed due to emotional manipulation, there exists bonds of need, bonds of want, and in all these bonds there will be barely few bonds that are formed due to the strongest passion in their souls and before the bonds of heart any bond falls short.

Our bond of marriage looked soo little before their bond of love, they deserve their moments, their space, for all the love and passion they have.

When I have always wanted someone to understand me, why can't I try doing that? Why do I have to look at them with a judgmental eye? They never deceived me, they were always fair to me. I have never suffered because of either of them, my suffering was only due to the world that never welcomed me as I am. I don't want them to miss anything more due to me.

"Mumma... Mumma" hearing Tulika trying to catch my attention, I looked at her.

"This is for you" she gave a strand of grass to me.

"What is this Tulika?"

"This is the greenest grass on the whole lawn Mumma and I plucked it for you"

"But why maaa?"

"Because I love you..." she giggled closing her eyes.

"Ahaan... I love you, from where did you learn that?" I arched a brow.

"Papa... he said to Ruchika Aunty and gave her gifts too. I don't have money na, so I got you this" she giggled explaining.

I melted at her innocence.

"Tulika, you liked Ruchika Aunty na, if she asks you to come with her will you go?"

"Yess, we will go" she replied enthusiastically.

"Not we Tulika, only you and Papa, I won't be there, will you go with her?" I asked praying to every God.

"Noo Mumma, I will not go anywhere without you"

"But she will get you soo many toys, take rides with you, play with you, and even feed you ice-cream, won't you go away even then?"

"No Mumma, I won't leave you. If you come I will go, or no"

I hugged her immediately, a sense of belonging affirmed through my veins, I played with Tulika until dawn hit us.

Stepping back inside the house, I saw Tushar tying black thread to Ruchika's leg to protect her from every evil eye.

Ruchika refused to hear to Tushar and said that she would be travelling back anonymous and it won't be safe for him if someone sees him with her at the airport.

The air around felt different, both of them turned all red with crying.

"I am capable of buying anything in this world, even if I get you all the jewels, my value would be near your feet Aparna. You did something no human in their senses would ever do. Marrying a person like you is his luck and not being able to love you is his bad luck, I really feel envious for not being like you" she kissed my forehead.

"Keep visiting, this house felt like a home with you. I hope I will always have the friend I got" I held back my tears.

She kissed Tulika again and again, Tulika requested her not to go and started crying. Tushar was no different, the only thing is he not stating it aloud.

"Don't say it... " he whispered panting as she was about to say Goodbye.

"It's time" she looked at his hand holding her back.

"Can't you stay?" his voice sounded extremely helpless.

With tears she nodded her head against, in a quick move she pecked his forehead and before he could react, she ran grabbing her bags.

"Hold him Aparna... Forgive me if possible" were the last words I heard.

He fell down near the main door weeping, and I stood there tears rolling down my eyes with heart shattered into pieces.

Only one question revolved in my mind. Why do our destinies have to collide in The Cross Roads of Life??

There doesn't exist a conclusion to the confused hearts, the cross roads keeps on extending and people start getting used to existing forgetting what it is to live.

As a human, I love reading unspoken words of heart and this attempt is to present one such. Drop down whatever you have felt.

               May Love, Hope, Warmth and Joy fill all the love ❤️❤️💖