Beyond Love: The beginning

6. The Drive into Wilderness

"I have been waiting for your call."

Shaurya leaned against the side of his car outside the Agarwal house, with the mobile phone pressed to his ears. He scanned his surroundings to assure there were no eavesdropper nearby.

He replied earnestly, making sure to keep his tone low, "There are people around me all the time Maasi."

A feeble voice spoke from the other end, hinting desperation and turmoil, "tell me what did you find? Is she the one?"

"Yes, its her." Shaurya confirmed, and heard a gasp from the other end, "I have burnt the photograph," he added hastily.

A stretch of silence followed.

"No matter what, you don't get out of the house by yourself," Shaurya cautioned sternly, "Stay safe."

He waited for the woman to agree. When she hesitantly muttered an "ok", he breathed a sigh of relief.
"I will try to visit you as soon as I can," he assured and disconnected the call.

********

Khushi and Sneha arrived with packed bags, to a gloomy and dispirited living hall of the Agarwal house. Meera and Veer had departed for Veer's mansion, and so had rest of their guests.

Her mother was slumped against the armchair, clutching the family photo and sobbing convulsively. She looked drained out, owing to the emotional baggage of having to separate from her daughter, whom she needlessly pampered with every tick of the clock. Her father meanwhile, was seated cross-legged on the couch and was staring at a distance, absent minded.

Khushi poured a glass of water and handed it to her mother. She shook her head, and continued to hold the photo close to her heart. Khushi suddenly recalled her own distressed self when her parent's photo had been destroyed cruelly.

"Maa," she kneeled before her mother. She paused for an unsure moment, but then went ahead to wipe her mother's tears away, with the back of her hand, "I will take care of Meera, I promise, you don't need to worry."

Her mother expectedly didn't appreciate the gesture, and shook Khushi's hands away to her despair. "You better," she replied coldly.

Khushi stood up defeated. She could never comprehend why her mother loathed her to this extent. But irrespective of it all, her parents raised her up to who she was today. Hence she didn't want to disrespect them or their feelings. "Take care Maa," she whispered.

"We have to hurry Khushi," Sneha reminded.

Khushi waved goodbye to Gollu, and was about to leave, when to her surprise, she noticed her father heading in her direction.

"Dhwani is waiting outside; she is going with you as well," he announced.

"That is great news," Sneha rejoiced, and joined her hands together, placing it under her chin in anticipation, "It will be so much fun," she added with a warm smile.

Her father nodded. 

Khushi cast him a look of confusion, which caused him to explain, "Dhwani needs a break from this house. The painful memories haunting her here aren't allowing her to move on in life."

Khushi could see the hint of sadness in his eyes, which he attempted to hide like an expert through his demeanor.

"I believe instead of staying locked up in her room, meeting and conversing with new people, will drive her life in a new direction."

Khushi agreed with her father, but she also understood how difficult & impulsive Dhwani could be at times. She occasionally had panic attacks and would threaten her family to leave her be, if they wanted her alive and sound. Making matters worse, she had outright rejected visiting a psychiatrist.