Paayal - His Scarred Butterfly ✅

9 - SAVING HER

கண்மணியே கண்மணியே
அழுவதேன் கண்மணியே?
வழித்துணை நான் இருக்க!
(Oh dear! Oh my dear!
Why are you crying, dear?
I am here as your companion!)

The soft glow of the new morning spreaded among the city. Krishna got ready earlier and emerged from his room, an eagerness and an anticipation swirling inside him. He was telling his mother that he has had a special class for the last five days. He told the same lie again and pedalled his bicycle in the familiar path to Paayal's dwelling.

As he neared her home, his eyes landed on a person who was exiting in a motorbike from her home. He pedalled his cycle fast and approached that person to confirm that it was Paayal's home.

"Anna, Is this Paayal's home?" He inquired, pointing to the home, an anticipation and uncertainty mixed in his voice.

Pranav observed Krishna's uniform which confirmed that he was Paayal's schoolmate. He answered, "Yes, I am her brother. You?!! Are you her classmate or junior?!!"

"I am her classmate Krishna. Her friend! Why didn't she come to school for the last five days? Is she unwell?" Krishna asked.

Pranav's words caught in his throat for a moment before he responded, "Yeah, She was unwell. She was suffering from a viral fever. Now, she is alright. Today she will come to school. She is getting ready."

Krishna's face beamed with happiness, a serenity spreading within him, on hearing about Paayal's arrival to school. He felt as if his empty shell got back its lost soul.

He started excitedly, "Shall I....." He paused, transforming his face to an innocent mode as much as he could. He was a good actor and he does mimicry too sometimes. Knowing well about the society's confines, he made an innocent, cute puppy face and asked politely, "If you don't mind, Shall I go inside the home to meet her, Dada? We will go to school together."

Anyone would melt in front of his innocent face. Pranav was not an exception. His innocent face didn't seem to have any wrong intentions. So, Pranav agreed, "Hmm okay."

"Thank you, Dada," Krishna grinned, erupting in happiness.

Pranav nodded with a smile, igniting his motorbike again and headed towards his college. Krishna wheeled his cycle back towards her home. Upon entering the gate, he could see a variety of plants, adorning her home, spreading a sweet scent of flowers. Amidst the diverse plants, a tree caught his attention. A tree with red flowers! It stood like a diamond in the gold ring, adding beauty to her home.

"Her home is also beautiful just like her," Krishna thought with a blush, parking his bicycle in the parking space where Pranav usually parks his motorbike.

Approaching the door, he was about to knock the door. But an idea popped in his mind, causing his hand to stop before knocking. He thought to surprise Paayal. The door was slightly opened. It was a deliberate choice of Paayal so that Pranav will not struggle to enter the home and to find her dead body. She deliberately kept all the doors open.

Krishna peeped inside the hall. There was no one in the hall. Silence only greeted him. He pushed the partly opened door and stepped into the hall. The hall was neatly maintained and everything was in its place.

"Paayal... " He called out. But there was no response.

"She may be getting ready. Let her come. She will be surprised to see me here." Krishna thought, settling himself on the sofa.

As he casually observed the surroundings, his eyes landed on a photograph of a woman of nearly 25 years, adorned with garland. She looked just like Paayal. No... Paayal just looked like her. Beautiful and calm! It should be her mother, he thought, a sorrow surfacing in his heart for the untimely demise of her mother.