Blinded by love

Chapter 21-Love immeasurable

After a few more hours of a silent drive,we finally reached our destination.The driver stopped in front of an old,independent house.We got down and walked towards the house.Though the house looked demode,the garden gave it a impeccable look.It was filled with different varieties of flowers,most of which are very rare.They brightened the late evening and gave the  dreary building a glowing look.The evening breeze hit our faces as we walked through the endless garden.I brushed my hand against the plants,letting its flimsiness graze my palms.

There was a small front portion which had a couple of wooden chairs and a teepoy.The door was wide open and there seemed to be no one in the hall.I waited for Meghna to ring the bell but she simply peeped in and walked inside even after knowing that no one was there in the hall.

"What are you doing?You didn't even ring the bell!",I exclaimed in alarm.

She turned to me and shrugged her shoulders as if it were no big deal.She seems to have sketched some plan,cause she looked so calm and composed.I could say from the look on her face that she knows what she is doing so I kept quiet and danced to her song.Not that I have any other plans,I'm anyways dependent on her,not physically but emotionally.Though I deny it,deep down my heart,I know that that's the bitter truth.

Engaged in my own thoughts,I walked behind Meghna and she led me upstairs.I pulled myself back to the current situation and that was when I noticed how huge the house looked.We went to a balcony which was as big as a room.There was huge swing on which an old lady was swinging gently.She seemed to be busy doing something that she hardly noticed our arrival.Meghna silently went and closed her eyes.

"Oye,beta!You've come huh!",she said after slightly touching her arms for an identity.It didn't take her too long though.

"Nani!!!",she  said,releasing her hand and hugging her in delight.

"How are you,nani?"

"Very well!How are you?Heard you had an accident!"

"I've recovered from it.All cause of....Aarthi.",she said,indicating me to come closer.

I stood next to Meghna and touched the old lady's feet.That's the sort of namaskar they tell to older people in Mumbai and I've come to learn that in the few months  I've spent here.

"Oh yes.Aarthi....Its so good to finally meet you!",the old lady said,blessing me.

I tried to control the surprising look that my face immediately exposed after hearing her words.I mean,what does she mean by 'to FINALLY meet you'?She's heard of me before?

She laughed and patted my cheeks.

"Meghna has told me so much about you.Thanks for taking care of her while she was sick."

"Its my pleasure.I surely owe her so much and this is the least I can do.But I wish I had gotten a chance to repay her in better circumstances,of course."

Meghna excused herself to the bathroom.

"Ever since Shruthi died,Meghna has been so disturbed.I'm sure that she never recovered completely from it until you came."

"Me?But what did I do?I mean,I consciously didn't do anything to make her feel better cause I never knew of Shruthi till few days back."

"No,beta.You look so much like her.And the way you talk,your behavior makes Meghna miss her lesser.She literally thinks of you as her own sister.I can now see that she surely wasn't exaggerating things.You are a darling!"

Though I didn't quite understand how she judged me to be a sweet girl in the few minutes we have met,I was indeed proud and happy about myself that I could actually make a person think of me that way and that made me blush.

I tried to hide my face but I bet she caught me blushing.

Hugging me,she said,"You are one of the most wonderful girl I have ever met.Though this is the first time I'm seeing you,I know your whole life from the top to  the bottom.Bless you,child."

"Thank you....",I said,trying to find a suitable way to call her.

"You can call me nani."

"That's perfeect.Thanks nani,but....how do you possibly know my whole life from the top to bottom?"

"I told her about you.",Meghna said,walking through the door.

I looked at her,my face devoid of any expression.I could feel my stomach making an upside down turn inside me as shame filled my heart.Who was I?After all,a run away and pregnant at the age of eighteen without the least bit of security for myself.I'm not even a graduate.I now wish I had made my life more worthy.I wish I were not so immature to confuse between crush and love and finally end up being pregnant with a child while I myself am one.Well,I still can't bring myself to accept whole-heartedly that it was nothing but a mere infatuation between me and Virat cause I really can't deny the passion and love I had for him no matter how much I hate him now.

"I'm sorry,Aarthi.I didn't mean to break the secret.I thought she should know cause anyhow she is gonna know about it one day."

I nodded,holding back the tears.

"Its not that,Meghna.I feel worthless.I am nothing but a climber,waiting for a support to hang on.I really can't see the ME in me.I used to be a really different girl back then.So independent, brave and  feisty but here is the new Aarthi,crying for petty things and hanging on to people and spoiling everyone's life."

"Beta,you are not spoiling  anyone's life but yours.So what if you are pregnant and unmarried.What if you don't have a degree certificate?You have character,you have intelligence and skill.That's all you need.And we don't think of you as a burden.Not at all.You are just the same as Meghna to me.We are all a family now.And so is the little creature inside you.",she said,rubbing my tummy.

The words were so full of emotion that it instantly brought a smile to my face.But it was only a smile to satisfy them.To make sure they didn't worry about me.I'm sure nani means what she said but I really don't want to trouble them.

"Thank you,nani.Its so nice to hear it all.I left my so called family there only to find a real one here.I'm really glad I found you all,really.I do feel a lot better now,but not totally alright.I wish I can but I really can't find myself in me no matter how hard I try.My dreams are down the trash,my one and only boyfriend whom I thought would spend his whole life with me is getting married to another girl in another few months leaving me alone with my child.Its all too much for me to handle.Perhaps,it will take some time for the wounds to heal.I just hope it doesn't take too long."

"I understand.I really do.Take your time.But just remember that we are always there for you,whenever you need us."

I nodded with a smile and sat staring at the ground.

"Come on,Aarthi.I'll take you to your room.",Meghan said,excitement evident i her voice.

As she dragged me behind her to almost the other side of the big house,I paid more attention to the rooms and the interiors than I did last time.Big house would be an understatement,I finally decided.It was a bungalow.It had several rooms that I finally lost count of it.She led me upstairs and opened the door of a room.

"Tada!This is your room.Opposite is mine.",she said,pointing to another room.

It was a pretty huge room for a single person.There was a bed for one in the corner of the room on which my suitcase was carefully placed.On the other corner was a desk with a lamp and a cupboard.A huge window lay open right in front of me.I walked to it and got a clear view of a river.The sight was spectacular.I could see huge rocks standing before the river like a wall.

"Wow,its beautiful,Meghna."

She smiled in pride and said,"I knew you would like it which is why I told them to clear this room for you."

"I haven't seen anyone but your granny and a few maids over here.Why does she need such a huge house?"

"This is our ancestral property and my granny has some of her close friends here in Tarkarli.Besides,she loves this village from all her heart.Its such a beautiful place,you'll see."