Celestial Love

Part 3

Kalpi enters the wood following the music. The sky is star studded and looked extremely beautiful! The full moon was at its peak in the sky highlighting the trees outline in the dark. To a normal person it would give an eerie feeling but to a 5 year old Kalpi who was yet to experience bad things, the night was not fearsome but the cool breeze that made her hair fall on her face made her giggle. She wanted to see Raghav once again. Without a thought she kept walking till she reached the tree her favourite tree that had an amazing fragrance. Raghav she called out. And there appeared Raghav in a white robe wrapped around him. He had an instrument in his hand and it seemed like a small mandolin.His charcoal black intense eyes looked at Kalpi in surprise and asked her what are you doing here little one?Kalpi blushed, I heard your music and I thought you were calling me.Raghav was taken aback a bit. You mean to say you could hear my music when you were sleeping?How was it possible? No human could hear his music as it was meant only for divine ears. No human should hear his music as he could be punished for this. Then how could this little girl listen to it?Who is she? I protected her because Kamla had asked me to when I went to collect her soul. I never realised why human beings were so attached to each other? And now this girl keeps following me.Is she the one? No she can't be. I need to ask someone. He turned to leave after telling Kalpi not to roam outside after dark as there were poisonous snakes there.Oh its ok said Kalpi in 'as a matter of fact' tone. I actually came here to tell you that I am sorry I wont be able to marry you! Raghav almost choked with laughter. What? Why? He said pouting his face.But I thought you loved me! Kalpi bushed again innocently and asked him to bend down gesturing with her tiny fingers. Raghav went and kneeled next to her. She kissed him on his cheeks one by one. This was for saving my life and one for giving me power to talk. I love you really but baba says that you will become old by the time I grow up. Raghav first was surprised at Kalpi's actions and then after listening to her smiles and says what if I dont grow old and look always like I do now. Kalpi felt shy and then told him promise I will then marry you. But will you wait for me? Raghav had never been asked such a question before!His entire life was a wait but he never realised what exactly he had waited for. He was certainly not happy with his life. Instead he thought that maybe human lives are more interesting and that is the reason they never want to die. Whenever he went to collect a soul the human to whom the soul belonged to would beg to him to live for 5 minutes more.There must be something about these humans he thought!Samrat (imagine Sammy) says humans are cunning and selfish but I have always come across souls who wanted to help others even when dying. Like Kamla, she wanted her child safe and agreed to make the transit to the other world only after Raghav ensured that he would personally take care of Kalpi! Provided a condition...that Kalpi herself asks him to stay away. In that case he can not protect her.He felt a tug on his arms and he smiled at her. He held her face and kissed her cheeks too! I will wait for you forever and ever but you must never forget me! I wont ,chuckled little Kalpi with her twinkling doe like eyes. But it is our secret okay? Dont tell my baba haan. Alright said Raghav and sang a lullaby to her and she slept in his arms feeling safe and secure. He stayed with her the entire night and waited for someone to notice Kalpi. Someday she will grow to become a beautiful lady he thought. He looked at a dog nearby and nodded his head. The dog ran to the backyard and started barking making loud noise. Vitthal and others woke up to see why was the dog barking all of a sudden when Vitthal realised Kalpi was not in her bed. Sweat beads formed on his forehead and his heart banged against his chest. He jumped out of the bed and ran back to the backyard and rushed to the yakshapala tree only to find Kalpi sleeping peacefully. Horror and amazement in his eyes he picks her up delicately and brings her home. He checks her and finds that she has a very high fever!The doctor was summoned again and he checked her thoroughly. Will she be fine doctor? The doctor gave her an injection to bring down the high fever and gave some medications too. He said that Kalpi was very weak and had to be given glucose drips.Seems her energy has been drained off. He checked any signs of any insect or snake bite again and found a strange bluish purple mark near her neck behind her ears. Now what could this be he thought? Everyone had now assembled in front of their house the villagers talking about the strange things happening in this house. They were very worried for Kalpi as they all loved her. She was a cute and loveable child. Very friendly and very sweet! Some pitied that she has to suffer all this, some argued all this was happening because Vitthal wants to sell this heritage house. Vitthal has angered the ancestors.While some continued their talks about the celestial being interested in Kalpi!He is not going to leave her soon. He has found his new victim. While some spoke about the probabilities that Kalpi would go insane like many did after spending a night in the woods or maybe she will go into a deep sleep for a long time.Vitthal had decided that he would leave from here and go back to mumbai as soon as possible. He wanted to take Kalpi away from here as soon as possible. Kalpi had still not gained conciousness.