Dastaan Jo Likhun

Ch 3.1. All Aboard - PART I

___________ Context __________

I have used images to aid in storytelling, so please read through the texts to get the subtext. This chapter is pivotal in moving the story along, so I hope you enjoy it.

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Surreal.

Extremely surreal!

It was the only apt adjective befitting the situation.

They had a lot on their minds, especially Akshara, whose entire existence shifted within hours. Their feet dragged across the deck as Naira led her to the boat.

The depth of the moment, heavy on her heart. 'This is it! There is no going back.'

Once a person departs the limbo, their karma and their penance is valued. Each karma brings in good or bad values for their souls. Basically, judging their morality in every given situation. For souls that pass on without fulfilling their destiny, they have a choice to either pass on and never return to the mortal realm, or they can choose to be born again.

The souls they connected with in their lives always being with them in some form or the other. Becoming friends, neighbors, mentors or even pets... If they are extremely close to each other, they may take rebirth in the same family. It all depends on their willingness to reincarnate.

"Pfff!"

'Kahin woh sach me mendhak banke chala gaya to ?' This thought made Naira chuckle to herself. 'Fir to sach ki tar tar kaun hi jhelega uski...'

The dull ache resurfaced at the mere echo of his thoughts. She knew she had to let go.

'I won't go back!' She reigned in her train of thoughts from spiraling out of control.

Although her life was full of love, it brought on a great deal of suffering and pain to her and those around her. She wouldn't be able to deal with the grandeur of suffering again.

Looking back at Akshu, she pondered. 'I wonder what she'll choose.' Life hadn't been too kind to her.

Akshu on the other hand kept looking ahead. One half of herself grappled with the disorienting reality, unable to grasp the details, while the other fought against the intrusion of memories, desperately steering her mind away from her haunting tragedy. 'Stop!'

Instead she chose to focus on the woman guiding her forward. Her first meet with her mother. This moment, one she had envisioned countless times, had always been accompanied by hopeful thoughts of sharing their feelings together.

How she cried when she came to know about Sirat maa's secret, came to know about her.

How she came to know about her passion for dancing and chose to follow her own for singing, just like her. A lone tear flowed out her eyes at this.

How much their empty home was filled with their touch. Hers and her maa's.

How her maa [Sirat], kept remembering her mumma [Naira] with love and respect.

How much they missed her, when she wasn't even there.

In moments of solace, she sought for a connection to her, a place of comfort, just as she had penned down - wrapped in a pink blanket, feet snug in fuzzy slippers, surrounded by teddy bears, cocooned in her mother's embrace. Her innocent thoughts just circled to those precious visions.