-"Didi, why are you leaving?", Dushala whined.
-"You say it yourself, that we are your family. You do not have any family left in Banga. Then why are you going there, Didi? You should stay with us, we need you here." Bhanumati said holding Tiasha's arm, Dushala nodded in agreement.
Tiasha put the last piece of clothing in a makeshift bag and sighed, "I am not going to Banga to see someone, Bhanu. It's just...I can't explain to you what exactly it is. I was born there, it's my motherland. I miss the smell of that soil..."
-"Don't go, Didi, please. This is my eighth month, please stay with me..." Dushala pleaded, tears forming in her eyes.
Tiasha cupped Dushala's face and said, "I promise, I will return soon. I promise I will be beside you, to welcome your child into this world." She kissed Dushala's forehead. Dushala wrapped her arms around Tiasha's mid.
Duryodhan, Karna, and Ashwatthama came into the chamber all three of them looking very anxious.
-"Sakhi what is all this? Is it true what I heard?..." Duryodhan asked perturbed, "...You are going to Banga Pradesh, of all places, that too alone? What if your wicked relatives come for you again?"
-"That is what I was trying to tell Didi." Bhanumati went to stand beside Duryodhan.
Tiasha sighed, "Nothing like that will happen. I left Banga a long time ago, and besides they wouldn't recognise me..."
-"What do you mean they wouldn't recognise you?"
-"You will see tomorrow."
-"But why do you want to go there in the first place?" Duryodhan huffed.
Tiasha sighed, "You wouldn't understand."
-"Yes Of course I wouldn't understand! After all, I am the foolish emotionless piece of rock, how would I understand what's going on in people's hearts?" Duryodhan's voice raised.
-"Duryodhan!!" Tiasha exclaimed. "Where is this even coming from? I told everyone that I hadn't been in Banga since I left..." she almost shouted. "...I...I just..." Tiasha couldn't finish. She sighed and looked away.
Duryodhan paused. His Sakhi has never called him by his name like that, she never looked away in the middle of a conversation. She looked somewhat disturbed. As if a storm was raging inside her and she was trying to escape from that, finding shelter in the soil of her motherland. True, Duryodhan wouldn't understand the feeling of being away from his land, his people. He sighed.
-"Don't go alone, Sakhi. It's not safe, I am just worried for you..." Duryodhan said putting a hand on Tiasha's shoulder.
Karna stepped forward and stood in front of Tiasha. He said softly, "At least let me come with you..."
-"You have been out of Anga for quite some time now. You should return. People need you there." Tiasha said looking deep into his eyes.
-"Tiasha..."
-"I want to go alone, all by myself. I am capable of defending myself, I think, at least you know that..." She looked at the three men one by one.
Her eyes turned towards Karna again, "Just this one last time, before our marriage, let me truly be free..." she pleaded with her eyes. Karna felt a little sting in his heart. Does she think that he is going to strip her away from her freedom when they get married? Karna opened his mouth to say something but decided not to finish. He understood that it was not possible to make her agree with him. He sighed and then nodded making an unexplainable melancholy smile appear on Tiasha's lips.
YOU ARE READING
Beyond Times
Ficção Histórica-"And where do I reside?" -"You reside in my heart, Priye!" Two broken souls, who endured pain and loneliness all their life. Destiny united them and they became one. they healed each other. But in the restless time of chaos and distraction what aw...
