The Exchange

Methidana

Abhimaniyu had laid awake the entire night, staring out the window. Would his Akshu be awake too? Would she be longing for him as much as he was longing for her? The image of her her hair, her broken face would not leave his mind. Where had his Akshu gone...the one who was always happy, always smiling...what had this world, this past year done to her? No matter how angry he wanted to stay with her, no matter how much he wanted to blame her for what she had done, that one image of her face melted him entirely. 

*** 

The next morning, Maya left for her performance before Kunal and Akshara. She was going to meet a friend there beforehand, and she wanted some extra time for her hair and makeup. On her way out the door, Akshara handed her a small bottle of methidana water that she had made for her...she often did so when Maya had a rough night the night before or when she was not feeling well. But, Maya looked at Akshara and rolled her eyes. "Maya le jao..." Akshara said softly. Maya snatched it out of her hands with no intention of drinking it, walking away as fast as she could. 

And for the first time in as long as she could remember, that very water brought water into Akshara's eyes. All of the memories of her own methidana...of HIM flashed through her mind, her heart. All of those memories that she had tried her best to kill came rushing back. Her calling him Methidana on that sunny day in Udaipur...all of the times she had brought him that same water...all of the times she had fed it to him with her own hands...how he would always so sweetly drink it no matter how bitter it may have tasted...how he would always look at her with all of the love in his eyes...She closed her eyes as tightly as she possibly could, trying once again to end those memories, to forget about them. But then, the thought of his face....his lifeless face she had seen the night before began to haunt her...what had he done to himself...what had SHE done to him? This was all because of her...no matter how hard she tried, she would never be able to keep him happy... 

*** 

Abhimaniyu had arrived to Maya's next concert venue the moment the sun had risen. It was a smaller venue than usual...in a small building that used to be a resturant. He had broken in through the back door and sat down in the backstage area, waiting for his Akshu. His heart knew that she would come. His heart knew that his Akshu and Maya were connected...his heart knew that whatever his Akshu was hiding was connected to that vile woman. And his heart prayed that today would be the day he would get his answers. 

After a few hours, he heard footsteps walking towards him...and the closer they got, the more certain he became that this was not his Akshu. His soul would recognize her from meters away...this was someone else. And, when the person finally arrived, he saw Maya staring right at him. But today, she did not show her usual attitude. She looked at him scared, as if he was on the verge of finally figuring out whatever she was hiding...whatever she was doing to his Akshu. "Tum?? Tum mujhe follow kar rahe ho kya???" She asked, her voice quaking. 

"Mein tumhe kitni baar bolun ki mujhe tum se koi matlab nahi hai Maya..." He said, entirely emotionless....but, before he could continue, he saw what was in her hands...and he would recognize that water anywhere...as it screamed her name...it screamed in celebration of their love. 

He snatched the bottle out of Maya's hands. "Yeh tum he kisne diya Maya?" 

"JAO YAHA SE MEIN NE BOLA..." 

"Arey Maya, don't scream. Tumhari avaz kharab ho jayi gi...yah phir kisi aur ki avaz hai?" Abhi asked sarcastically, his heart beating faster and faster. What was thus far a cluster of confusions, of questions was now turning into reality. This was his Akshu's methidana...this was his Akshu's essence...the woman standing in front of him was trying to steal his Akshu's soul, his Akshu's...identity? He did not know how or why...he did not know the details...but now, he was more committed, more devoted than ever. 

Before he could continue questioning her, before he could continue getting to the bottom of the mystery he was now so close to, security showed up and started dragging him out of the venue. But, this time, he did not resist. He did not even say another word to Maya. He simply let himself get carried outside. And once he had left the building, he stared down at the bottle in his hands...tears flowing down his cheeks...he opened the lid, and swallowed down all of the water as fast as he could...it burned his throat, the bitterness taking over his body...but in that bitterness, he found peace, he found love...in that bitterness, he found his Akshu. He rested his hand on his heart and said, "Akshu...ab tumhe jo bhi karna hai tum karlo...ab mein tumara yeh natak..tumhari yeh majboori khatam karke rahun ga..." And with that, he started walking away, ready for his fate to bring him back to his life, his everything.