ODYSSEY-The Journey Ahead

Introduction-(1)

NEW DELHI

A 16 year old boy and his 20 year old sister are sprawled out on the couch awaiting to complete their annual "brother-sister obligations".

"Phoolon ka taaron ka sabka kehna hai, Ek hazaar kilo ki meri behna hai" Mitaansh hums while scrolling through his phone, his head resting in Maanvi's lap.

Maanvi- "Pata nahi tum piddi ko hum kachre ke dabbe se uthakar kyun laye? Chod dete vahin par, kitne pyaar se humlog rehte the, kya din the voh!"

Mitaansh- "Pehle toh correction, piddi mai nahi tum ho. Mujhse chaar saal badi hokar bhi chaar inch choti ho. And more importantly, Soch le moti, jitni bak-bak karegi aaj utne hi tere paisa kam honge, fir jab igyarah(11) rupay shagun dunga toh rote hue papa ke paas mat pahunch jana"
Maanvi- " Accha mazaak kar lete ho! Tum jaise chindi se mujhe igyarah kya paanch (5) rupay ki ummed nahi, voh toh har saal bhaiya izzat bacha lete hain hum saari behno ko tumhari taraf se gifts and shagun dekar varna beta tum gareeb se hum ekkani na lein."

Mitansh- "Haan toh, chota hu na mai. Dekh lena, jab bada hounga aur bada buisnessman banunga toh itni saari gaadiyan, paisa, bangla hoga, gift vift me toh aivayi mercedes dunga tumhe."

Maanvi- "Beta, pehle 10th class pass karke dikha do fir yeh khayal apne sapnon me bhi lekar aao toh koi sune. Nahi toh gaadi bangla ho na ho, chai ki tapri beshakh hogi tumhare paas, iski toh mai hi guarentee de de rahi."

Mitansh- "Bol lo bol lo, dekh lena. Mera bhi din aayega jab bhaiya khud mere kandhe par haath rakh ke bolenge 'Mitaansh, my boy, I am proud of you.' "

Maanvi- "Haan jab bhaiya tumhe apna peon banakar office me chai coffee laane bolenge, tab hi yeh baat sunne milega."

Mitaansh- "Bol toh aise rahi jaise apni badi afsar ban gayi! Bata doon ghar par sabko jo pichle semester, physics me jhande gaad kar aayi hai?"

Maanvi's eyes widen. She looked down at Mitansh's face and in an instant, she tugged at his hair, and slowly whispered,

"Tillu kutte, mai bata rahi, agar tune kisi ko bhi...aahhhh ahhh"

Mitaansh started shouting out loud

"baal chod gundi aahhhh, abhi dekh."

He too got hold of her hair and was about to pull at them but a hand pulled him back.

"ANSH!"

Medhansh eyed the brother-sister duo who kept glaring at each other.

"Kya kar rahe ho dono? Aise pesh aaya jaata hai ek dusre ke saath."

Mitansh- "Bhaiya aap iss shitface ko boliye apni hadd me rahe, kaise mere upar jaan leva hamla shuru kar di thi."

"MITANSH!"

Ashmita spoke as she entered the hall from the kitchen.

" Arey Medh, aap aa gaye ghar? Jao beta, jaldi se apne haath muh dho kar kapde badal lo, fir pooja ki taiyaari shuru karte hai"

She looked at the disheveled state of the younger children and harden her glare at them.

"Aur tum dono! Subah se phone me aankh gadaye baithe hue ho. Tameez saleeka hai ya nahi. Bhaiya thake ghar me ghuse tum dono ki ladai shuru ho gayi! Mere bacche ke paas yahi bacha hai ki tum dono nalayakon ki sula karvata rahe." She walked closer to them, with her belan held firmly in her hands.

The kids knew well of the whacks that awaited them, but it was Ashmita's fear, that they couldn't utter a word.

Medhansh knew of their fate all too well. He walked closer to her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

"Chachi! bacche hain dono, jane bhi dijiye, yeh sharartein nahi karenge toh kaun karega."

Ashmita- "Medh! Yeh acchi baat nahi hai. Bhai behen ko laad karna ek baat hoti par unki galatiyon par unhe fatkaarna bhi aapki zimmedari hai." she stated firmly.

Medhansh-"Bacche hain chachi", he tried placating her.

Ashmita-"Does't mean they will not learn to be respectful." She turned to the kids who were now standing infront of the couch, looking down.

"Haath par dhaaga baandhne se koi kisi ki raksha nahi karta. Jab izzat hoti hai aur pyaar hota hai, tab hi voh rishta mazboot khada reh paata hai. Bacche ho. Maanti hu. Ladai karna, behes karna theek hai, lekin itni gandi zubaan bolna will NEVER be acceptable. Bhaiya aaplog ko beinteha pyaar dete iska aap najayas fayda uthakar aise batameezi karenge dono toh usse zyada bhaiya ke liye sharmindagi ki koi baat nahi hogi. Make wise choices."

"Tyohaar ka din hai mai nahi chahti ki tumlog ka mood off ho. Go get dressed, ek ghante me jab papa aa jayenge toh pooja shuru kar denge." She said and walked back to the kitchen.

Both Mitansh and Maanvi felt guilty of their actions. Undoubtedly, they both had realised that their fight had gotten way beyond it should have. They peeked through their lashes at their brother. But happiness and laughter was all Medhansh knew. He never let the calm smile go off his face.

He walked closer to them, held their hands.

"I love you both more than you'd ever know. Haan, baat zyada aage badh gayi aaj, but meri Maanu aur Ansh ko mai acche se jaanta hu, voh apni galatiyon se seekhte hain. unhe sudhaarna jaante hain. Isliye dil chota nahi karo."

They both still felt very guilty of their actions. His love was so overwhelming that their eyes filled up.

"Sorry bhaiya." They spoke together, and the next moment, they were pulled into the warm embrace of Medhansh. He took turns placing a kiss in their hair, and then placing his head on them.

"I know. And I am not mad. Accha chalo, no tears. Tyohaar ke din aansu nahi. Jaldi rakhi baandho, toh fir maine gifts laaye hain. voh bhi toh dekhne hai."

That lifted their moods.

And the day passed filled with laughter and joy.

SOMEWHERE

As the train wheels from city to city, passing the many forests and mountains, my eyes keep lingering out of the window.

What is it that I am seeing?

Nothing. I stare into nothingness, for that is where my life has reached today.

"We are sorry for your loss, we couldn't save your parents."

One month, seventeen days, and some 12 hours ago, I lost my guiding stars, my pole stars. I lost the two people who showed me what life had meant.

I lost me.

Hello Dearest Reader!

I don't even know if anyone is really out there to read this story. But if you did find your way here, and read the chapter, I hope it was worth your time.