I didn't stretch this story because I love writing one shots these days. But it turned out long enough, so read only when you have got time in hand. Also I suggest, do listen to this song. this is almost the theme song of this story.
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Vembaned Lake. Alleppey.
After eighteen long years.
Eighteen? Or nineteen?
Not sure.
Because I, Rohitha Varier, had left this place with my Amma under circumstances... not very pleasant.
However, the backwaters of Kerala, had never actually gotten over my head, heart, or soul..
Standing amidst the palm trees, I breathed in deep.
A dark man in local attire walked towards me with a huge smile.
" Madam, the boat is ready.
It's the fourth one in the row. You have to cross three boats. Our men will help you. Tell us when you wish to board. "
I nodded. And walked a bit aside, clicking pictures of the palm trees that surrounded me.
Not a travel frenzy individual, I was out on a tour itself, after like, three long years. Last time, I had travelled, was to Dehradun. That too, for a business meet. But I had stayed longer.
My boss almost forced me to take a break this time, not because I was underperforming, but because he thought I had worked just way too much, and it was unhealthy.
I did not hate my job.
I loved being a corporate, I loved spending life in closed cabins, indulging in client meets and business deals, growth scales and profits. In fact, work was my only passion..
I did not understand the concept of being in love with humans
How at all, someone could need someone else to live a balanced life, literally went over my head.
Mostly because, I had seen my parents fall out of love. And love itself stopped making sense to me that very day.
I was a precisely unromantic person. I did not like the idea of emotionally tying myself to someone else.
I hated being responsible for their mental, and physical needs.
I had no respect for the one who had developed this bloody concept, of two people living together throughout life, for the sake of some emotional burden called 'love'.
I had vowed never to fall in a well called so, from which I could not revive.
Zipping my bag, I gestured the localite to finally take me to the assigned boat.
It was a two nights'- three days' package, down the Vembaned Lake.
The boats would halt at several tiny villages on the banks, in the nights...
With theit help, I crossed the first boat. There were planks that connected two boats, they swayed and I screamed. I didn't know how to swim and the immense fear of falling into the water in between brought out such embarrassing expressions. The men laughed but guided me well. The second boat had already been boarded by an Australian couple, who even helped me cross their boat.
Finally after a lot of blood and sweat, I jumped into my boat.
And stretched my arms.
The men carried my bag insides, two women who were probably their wives and would accompany us in the journey, welcomed me with huge smiles.
' Us ' , because I wasn't alone on the boat. I knew that as well. It had two rooms, and the other was informed to be booked by someone else. And I had caught glimpse of that 'someone' ever since I landed into the boat.
