Loss. Life. Love. 23 year old Aniruddh after the loss of his parents, takes up the responsibilities of his two younger siblings and navigates life. Challenges, hardships along, his heart yearns for the ones he has lost. Secrets of past remain deep e...
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" yaatrigan kripya dhyan dein, gaadi sankhya 43XXX9 Indore se chal kar Nayi dilli ko aane wali "Hogwarts express" platform sankhya 9¾ par pahunch gayi hai May I have your atten..."
My trail of thoughts break with the announcement. I looked around myself. People loading-unloading their luggage, children playing with themselves and then my eyes fell outside the window at the yellow board, marked in bold words"New Delhi Station".
In the past, the sight of this board and announcement, used to fill me with enthusiasm for my endeavours in the city, but today, it scared me. The enthusiasm, the hustle of the city, the crowd, I did not have courage to face any of them.
" Bhaisahab Station aa gaya hai, utarna nahi aaplogon ko?" The man to our adjacent seat brought me out of my thoughts as he wheeled his luggage out.
I looked to my side to see my two brothers, laying on the seat, one with his head in my lap and the other with his head resting on the window.
For them, you will hold yourself. For them.
" Aashu, Adi, wake up baccha. Station aa gaya."
Aditansh stirs and groggily opens his eyes. Without a word, he brings himself out of the small seat on which the brothers had cozied themselves for the night and starts unloading their luggage.
I run my fingers through Aashay's hair- " Aashu, utho beta, we need to get down here."
Aashay- " paanch minute me uth raha papa, promise.", he mumbled.
The brothers froze.
Numb. Papa. The word struck like a sword. I felt my mind spiralling back to the events of the last month.
"AASHAY"
Aditansh harshly shook him.
"Get up this moment. And pick your bags. Otherwise, We'd be happy to leave you behind. Get up!"
Aashay woke up startled as his bhai uttered those words. Aditansh was an introvert who barely spoke to anyone other than family, let alone raise his voice. So the harshness in his voice took Aashay by surprise and he quickly moved out of the seat.
Aditansh's loud voice spoke volumes of his inner turmoil. One would see the harshness behind it but I saw the pain. Regaining control over my thoughts, I started to carry out all the luggage.
The moment my feet touched down on the ground of Delhi, I felt scared. My legs felt as if they would loose their balance. I clutched my luggage with a strong grip, hoping it would somehow resonate power through me.
The sun shone brightly blinding my view. And the trembling of my body, gripped my heart.
Bina maa baap ke yeh anaath bacche kaise akele zindagi bita payenge. Isse accha ke tum inn dono baccho ko kisi anaath-ashram (orphanage) me chod aao. Tumhari padhai bhi poori ho jayegi aur baccho ko bhi ek acchi zindagi mil jayegi.
The neighbours had said.
My gaze traveled to my side, Aashay looking fearfully at the bustling crowd of the station, pushing and running, the fright in his eyes visible aloud. Behind us, Aditansh held a silent gaze. No emotions visible aloud, just a silent stoic.
As we walked our way out of the crowds with these thoughts. We stood out of the station, holding hands, basking ourselves in the Delhi sun, as if piercing through my body and spreading the warmth we had lost so early.
" Taxi, Taxi, Taxi, kidhar jana bhai aapko?"
Tens of taxi and auto drivers started surrounding us. This wasn't new to me.
The only thing new around was me.
"Vincent Heights, Vasant Vihar teen Jann hai kitna loge?"
And thus we boarded for our journey to our new life, to an adventure, we never thought life would throw upon us. But as unpredictable is life.
Towards our Odyssey- The journey ahead.
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