SAMSIKA (#1)

CHAPTER 2

CHOWDHURY'S

𝙷𝚊𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚔𝚊

I met eyes with the man who looked at me. Before I could again call to him. He closed his eyes and swayed a bit to the left. Before I knew it. He fainted.

I let out a little scream before running from the balcony to downstairs going past Nishi and Nani. Who worriedly ask what happened, why did i scream. Before they even complete their words I ran outside looking to my left where the man had fell on the road. They were people who saw it. And they were slowly gathering around him. I ran towards him.

'F*ck F*ck I hope he is alright.'  I cussed from inside. I was on the extreme edge of anxiety. I bent down to touch his forehead and cheeks trying to wake him up. I turned around telling people to carry this man to my home.

"Bhaiya please carry him. Please bring him to my home." I pointed at my house. I saw my Nani and Nishi standing there shocked and confused at what happened. When the people carried him towards my home. My Nani and Nishi had lost all their colours.

The kind people laid the man on our sofa. I thanked them and they all left. Nishi looked shocked more than my Nani. Who had an expression I couldn't read.
"Nanu! Nanu!" I called my Nanu. Nanu was a doctor. Heard right. He was a doctor. He is old now so he is away from his profession. I called out to him.
Nanu came out with a plate full of fruits and cashews. Asking what happened. When he saw the unconscious man on the couch. His face also made the same expression as my Nani. I was confused and I wanted to ask happened. However, it wasn't the time for that now.

Nanu kept the plate in the dining table and rushed towards the couch. He held his wrist and looked at his watch. Counting the pulses. Looked at at his eyes.
"Hansi ja go lift his leg. 30 cm above the ground." He said while he opened few of the buttons on the tshirt. I did what he said and few minutes later. He woke up.

"Theek ho, baba?" Nanu asked him. He was still laying. Squinting his eyes to try to sit up. Nanu helped him to sit carefully. Asking Nani to go bring  water. I went close to him. Biting my lower lip nervously.

"I-i am sorry. This happened because of me. You fainted because of me. I-" I couldn't proceed and held my head low. Nani who came now with the water glass, gave it to the man. She heard my words and was confused.

"Kya? What did you say?" Nani asked.

"Nani woh I went to pray there in the balcony as always. And well- the Kalas fell on him. Then he fainted." I looked down.

Nani didn't say anything. There was an odd silence. I looked up and saw the man staring at me. I met eyes with him. He looked at me like he found life. Like someone who was wandering in the desert suddenly found a source of running water. I felt something. I know this man. Yet I don't. A part of me aches when I look at those eyes. A part of me begs him to don't go. I feel upset. I feel a pain that is creeping up to me. I fee—

I felt my Nani's hand on my shoulder. As if she was stopping me to feel further.
"Apologise." Nani said calmly. I gulped down.

"I am sorry."

"It's alright.."  His voice. I have heard it before. Somewhere. A lot. I have heard it before. This voice feels extremely close to me.

"Namaste." He says to both my Nani and Nanu. Touching their both feet. Thanking them. He leaves.

"WAIT!" I unknowingly called out. Not knowing why. I don't want him to go. I don't. I can't lose him again.

Something was wrong. Absolutely. He looked back at me and smiled. Before again leaving. I felt a sadness creep into me. I don't know why. Yet it just feels like I am losing a part.

"Nishi, take Hansika to her room." Nani said. She was looking at the entrance. I felt as if she had something to share with Nanu. But not infront of me and Nishi.
Nishi held my hand and pulled me upstairs. I kept looking at the entrance from where he left. I saw Nanu keep his hand on Nani's shoulder. I don't know.

But his presence has stirred something in both me, and my loved ones.

𝚂𝚊𝚖𝚛𝚞𝚍𝚑

The last thing I saw before I fainted was her.

And i didn't expect to see her the first thing when I woke up from the fainting episode was also her.
All these years of pain and scars of being away from her had started to cease.
The scars felt healed and the pain felt like it never existed. She was there. She was in front of me. She was worried about me. She had the same  eyes  that I missed the most in all those terrible years. Yet, it's unknown.
It's different .
It's not the eyes that once greeted me with warmth. It's the eyes of any normal human being, who is worried. Empathy.

But, still she was there worried about me and i wondered if she recognised me?.
I wonder if she realised that I am here.
Before she realises, her Nani and Nanu realised my presence. The look on their face is something only I know.

"I am sorry." I heard Hansika apologise. My emotions reached a sweet corner i kept hidden. Her voice. Her eyes. Her hair. Her everything was a part of a memory I held strongly and obsessively close to myself however seeing her once again, like this wasn't in the plan.

"It's alright." I said. Looking at the same eyes that once stared back at me with warmth.
"Namaste" I greeted Nani and Nanu. Who remained silent. As expected. I touched their feet and thanked them. And decided to leave as soon as possible. Just like they wished me for to leave.

"WAIT!" I heard Hansika say. I know this feeling. I know the very Deja Vu that is creeping in. My breathes got hitched in myself. I looked back and smiled. Holding back every emotion.

I walked out of the Chowdhury's house. I went to the house next to theirs. It was my house.
Yes, they were my neighbours.
I sighed. And went inside.
Stepping inside I was greeted by a hug.

"PAPA!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Song of the chapter
"Kya Karoon"

कभी-कभी लगता है कि तू एक अपना है
तेरे बिन अब मैं क्या करूँ? क्या करूँ मैं?