The Heart Lies...

Chapter 1

The city lights wooshed past her window. Koyal had the glasses rolled down. Crisp Delhi chills bit at her, stung her eyes as the car raced forth. It felt good to feel something, however unpleasant it was. "Madam, why do you want to catch a cold?? Please close the windows,"said the elderly sardar driver. "I don't need your concern.",Koyal barked at the cab driver. He didn't bother opening his mouth after that. The cab was now drawing near Delhi airport. "Madam, do you want me to take you to the domestic terminal or the international one?" Koyal appeared unsure. "Err..." Koyal darling, you don't even have a visa with you. Chupchap drop the idea of an international flight. And why are we even here in the first place. Stupid as ever. And why am I talking to myself in the second person?! "Uh..umm..the domestic one." The driver was eyeing her suspiciously now. "Yaa, stop right here." Koyal payed him the cash and began to get down. "Takecare.." The driver's words and tone caught her offguard. "Uh..yaa, sure." It felt as if his eyes could see right through her. Could understand what is happening, a question whose answer was evading even her. She quickly began walking towards the ticket window, before he could decipher her anymore. Through her hindsight it felt as if everyone was staring at her. As if a neon sign was announcing that she is a runaway. She nervously covered her head with the shawl she was carrying. Throwing furtive glances around, finally she reached the ticket window. "Yes ma'am. How may I help you? Where do you wish to travel to?" "Which is the most immediate flight available, out of Delhi?" "Ma'am, but whats your destination?" "Just give me the damn information. Any destination will do." She was alarmed for a moment but immediately slipped back into her smiling mask. Her job was only to sell the tickets afterall; why bother about these crazy passengers. "There is one to Mumbai, one to Cochin,...". "Just tell me which is the cheapeat flight." She didn't want to use her card anytime soon. She wanted to manage with the wad of cash she had stuffed into her bag as a last minute thought. She didn't want them finding her based on her card transactions i.e. if they were trying to find her in the first place;she had written in the letter, not to. "The one to Guwahati is the cheapest and the flight will be boarding in an hour." "Ok then, book me on to that flight. "