Marriage In Echo

9

Chapter 9

One night, Karan sat holding his wife's journal, its pages filled with the innocent musings of a thirteen-year-old girl. The entry dated April 5th, 2012, reflected Tiya's tender emotions as she embarked on a new chapter in her life.

"Dear Chronicles of Life,
5 April 2012,

Today was like stepping into a whole new world as I wore my shiny new uniform to my new school. No more patched and tattered shoes or faded clothes for me. Our kind trustee made sure all of us kids from the orphanage got new uniforms, books, and stationery. I even got a Barbie pencil box and a water bottle, just like Nancy. But unlike the other kids, I didn't have parents to walk me to school. Neela maa ( Orphanage’s caretaker) says they found me wrapped in a purple cloth at the Haridwar railway station. I often wonder about them. Maybe they're in Uttarakhand? One day, I'll go back to Haridwar and find them. I'll ask them angrily why they left me behind. And if they sincerely apologise to me for leaving me behind then I will forgive them and agree to live with them. I won't hold any grudges.

One day I will return back to my birthplace. Maybe, I will find my family again.
I surely will…

Yours sincerely,
Tiya"

As Karan read the heartfelt words penned by his wife at thirteen, he couldn't help but be moved by the innocence and longing in her voice, a reminder of the little girl she once was, yearning for the love and family she never had.

"Dear Chronicles of Life,

19th October, 2012

Today is a special day - it's my birthday! I turned fourteen today, and it feels different somehow. For the first time, I tasted a blueberry pastry, and it was delicious. Ruhul from section B surprised me with a toffee and called me cute. Anju ma'am, my maths teacher, gifted me the first part of Harry Potter. I've already started reading and I'm hooked! I admire her so much; I want to be a teacher just like her one day.

My new school principal, Mrs. Rekha Shekhawat, made my day even brighter by gifting me two adorable sweaters. One is pink, but the other, in yellow, stole my heart. It has a sweet teddy bear design on it. This winter, I won't have to wear my old, torn blue sweater anymore. Today, I'm filled with happiness.

Though I miss my old friends from the orphanage in Delhi, Bangalore isn't so bad after all.

Yours truly,
Tiya”

Karan couldn't hold back his tears as he delved into his wife's journal. Each entry unveiled a fragment of Tiya's challenging past, and he couldn't help but feel responsible for adding to her struggles.

Tiya's journey began at the Railway station in Haridwar, where she was discovered and taken to an orphanage. For seven years, she called that place home before being transferred to an orphanage in Delhi, where she spent another seven years. Eventually, fate led her to Bangalore, where she embarked on a new chapter of her life.

In her new school, Tiya stood out as the only orphan, yet her academic excellence caught the attention of a generous businessman who sponsored her education. Little did anyone know that Rekha, appointed as the principal shortly after Tiya's arrival, would one day become her mother-in-law. The twists and turns of fate were indeed unpredictable.

“Dear Chronicles of Life,

Date: 17 August 2013

Today was an ordinary day, just like any other, until it wasn't. As I stood at the entrance of the school, waiting for Priya, I saw Principal ma'am's car pull up. It was peculiar because her husband usually dropped her off, but today it was someone else. He looked remarkably like her, but younger, and my heart skipped a beat when I laid eyes on him. He was dressed in a simple white t-shirt and blue jeans, yet he exuded an unmatched charm. I couldn't tear my eyes away from him.

My heart raced as he waved goodbye to Principal ma'am. His voice, oh, his voice! It was like music to my ears, warm and comforting. Principal ma'am referred to him as Karan, and I couldn't help but wonder about him. I found myself lost in thoughts of him throughout the day. Is it normal to feel this way, dear diary? Am I losing my mind?

Yours truly’
Tiya”

Karan's heart raced as he read Tiya's words. The realisation hit him like a ton of bricks - Tiya had been harbouring feelings for him for more than a decade. It was a revelation that left him stunned. He couldn't believe that on one ordinary day ten years ago, while he was simply going about his routine, someone was quietly falling in love with him.

Tears welled up in his eyes as he grappled with the weight of this newfound knowledge. The thought of Tiya's unwavering love for him filled him with a profound sense of longing and regret. How could he have been so blind to her feelings all these years?

In that moment, Karan's sole desire was to find Tiya, to hold her close, and to never let her slip away again. But the question remained - where would he find her now, after she had disappeared without a trace?

“Dear Chronicles of Life,
Date: 11 December 2015,

Today was our annual function at school, and I saw Karan again. It felt like millions of butterflies took flight in my stomach as soon as I laid eyes on him. He was there with Principal Ma'am, looking more handsome than ever. Dressed in a crisp dress shirt and navy blue pants, he exuded a charm that captivated me completely.

I couldn't tear my eyes away from him throughout the event. And then, something incredible happened - he saw me too, and he smiled. His smile was like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day, filling me with an inexplicable joy. In that moment, everything else faded away, and it was just him and me. I think I am in love, pretty diary.

Today truly felt like the best day of my life.

Yours truly'
Tiya”

Karan was shell-shocked as he read through the entries in Tiya's journal. Each entry revealed a glimpse into her heart, her feelings, and her experiences over the years. The realisation hit him hard - Tiya had harboured deep feelings for him for a long time, feelings he had been completely unaware of.

As he processed the words on the pages before him, a flood of emotions overwhelmed him - guilt, regret, and an overwhelming sense of loss. He couldn't believe he had been oblivious to Tiya's affection for so many years. How could he have missed the signs? How could he have failed to see the love she had been quietly harbouring all along?

The weight of his actions and their impact on Tiya's life weighed heavily on him. He felt a deep ache in his chest as he grappled with the enormity of his mistakes. If only he had realised sooner, if only he had been more attentive, perhaps things would have been different.

But now, as he sat with her journal in his hands, he knew that he had to find her. He had to make things right, to apologise for his ignorance, and to tell her how much she meant to him. Karan resolved to search for Tiya with every ounce of his being, determined to make amends for the pain he had caused her.

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