cross road

Chapter-14

For the past few days, Ravi has been accompanying Pallavi in the mornings and evenings. During the day, he attends school in town, but on weekends, he dedicates his time to helping her understand what the patients are saying.

The villagers speak a different language, which makes communication challenging since they don't understand English. Pallavi is finding it difficult, but with the support of the nurses and Ravi, she is gradually learning the language.

One day, as she was walking home, Pallavi noticed posters plastered on the walls announcing that the prominent industrialist Ashok would be visiting a town 300 kilometers away to make a significant donation. To her surprise, she saw that Raghav and Mitul's father were also involved in the event.

Her heart raced at the thought of her uncle attending the gathering. This could be the perfect opportunity to visit him. But then she paused, realizing that if her uncle truly wanted to see her, he would have reached out. It seemed clear that they hadn't found a resolution yet. From what she knew, her uncle wasn't interested in politics; his involvement in this event suggested that he might be looking for a way to connect with her indirectly.

The event was just two days away, and Pallavi felt a rush of urgency. She quickly made her way back to the hospital, her heart pounding with a mix of excitement and nerves. Once there, she requested leave for the day of the event, her mind racing with thoughts of finally seeing her uncle after three long months apart.

As she left the hospital, tears of joy welled in her eyes. Wiping them away with the back of her hand, she felt a surge of anticipation. The thought of reuniting with him after such a long time filled her with hope.

Raghav pulled up to the bustling event venue. He had picked up his father and Mitul's dad, as his brother was preoccupied with other commitments in near by area. After dropping them off, he felt a wave of relief wash over him. Political events were not his cup of tea; he preferred to stay out of the events and avoid the endless speeches . Instead, he thought about exploring the city until the event wrapped up.

As he walked back to his car, his mind wandered to the little cafes he had passed earlier, where he could grab a coffee and relax. Suddenly, he bumped into someone, and they both stumbled. Raghav instinctively knelt down to help the woman who had fallen, he asked with with concern, "are you ok,I'm so sorry!" he exclaimed as he reached out to assist her.

But when he looked up, he was taken aback. It was Pallavi. She stood before him in a simple, worn cotton saree that draped elegantly over her form, paired with an old blouse. She had covered her head with the saree, appearance that gave her the essence of a village woman. Despite the simplicity of her outfit, there was something undeniably beautiful about her-perhaps it was the way she carried herself or the warmth in her eyes.

Before he could muster the words to express his surprise, Pallavi quickly pulled the saree over her face and hurried toward the venue. Raghav felt a mix of emotions-astonishment, curiosity, and a sudden urge to understand what had brought her here.

It struck him that she hadn't recognized him at all.

Driven by a newfound interest, he decided to follow her back into the venue. He wanted to know more about her, to uncover the layers of this unexpected encounter. What was she doing here? Why had she dressed this way? As he trailed behind her, his mind raced with many questions.

Pallavi settled into the last row of the venue, her heart racing as she watched her uncle take the stage. He stood confidently, addressing the crowd, but she noticed that his gaze seemed to wander, searching for something-or someone-among the sea of faces. When their eyes finally met, a moment of surprise flickered across his features. He momentarily stammered over his words, but quickly regained his composure and continued his speech, though Pallavi could sense the slight tremor in his voice.

As other speakers took their turns, she caught her uncle sneaking glances in her direction. Each time their eyes met, her heart swelled with a mix of joy and longing. During one particularly poignant moment, she noticed him wipe away a tear, and it struck her deeply. It was a reminder of the bond they shared, one that time and distance had not diminished.

When the event came to a close, Pallavi felt a rush of emotions. As his bodyguards escorted him to the car, she stood up, wiping her own tears with the back of her hand. The joy of seeing him was tinged with an ache of unspoken words and unfulfilled connections.

As she made her way outside, toward the random road, feeling somewhat lost and overwhelmed, she instinctively turned into a narrow, abandoned alleyway, seeking a moment of solitude to gather her thoughts.

Raghav, watching from a distance from the back, couldn't quite comprehend Pallavi's sudden shift. Throughout the event, she had sat quietly, seemingly absorbed in her thoughts. Now, as she wandered away, he felt a tug of concern and instinctively decided to follow her.

As he trailed behind, Pallavi stumbled and was about to fall. Without thinking, Raghav lunged forward, catching her just in time. He gently turned her to face him, and his heart sank at the sight of her tear-streaked face. She looked so vulnerable, and something inside him tightened at the sight.

Concern washed over him as he stepped closer, instinctively wiping a tear from her cheek with his thumb. His fingers lingered for a moment as he held her face in his hand. He had so many questions swirling in his mind-what was she doing here, dressed the way she was, and why was she so distressed? But in that moment, he pushed all those thoughts aside," Are you okay?" he asked softly, his voice filled with genuine care.

Before he could say anything more, she threw her arms around him, burying her face against his chest. Raghav hesitated for a moment, taken aback by the sudden intimacy, but then he wrapped one arm around her waist and the other around the back of her head, holding her close. She was so small, hardly reaching his chest, but he welcomed her, allowing her to cry freely against him.

As she let her emotions spill out, Raghav felt a mix of protectiveness and helplessness. He wanted to soothe her, to take away her pain, but for now, all he could do was be there for her.