Distant boundaries

The workshop

Maya woke up the next day feeling energized and happy.

She was feeling very positive and confident about the entire workshop in front of her and she was surprised how a single person turned her attitude around so drastically in a few hours.

Maya put on her best pantsuit and looked at herself in the mirror. She realized she had never looked so happy in a very long time. She looked at her watch.

"I have gotten ready an hour early. Am I really so excited for something I was so nervous for, not more than a day ago?"

Maya picked up her purse and stepped out of the house.

This time, she knew the path clearly, thanks to the village map Kumud gave her when they reached her cottage. Maya couldn't help but notice the scars on her arms when Kumud handed her the map. She was too cautious and apprehensive to say anything about it back then but she was determined to talk to her about them today.

She reached the place of the workshop. It was a large courtyard with a small stage at the centre. Normally it was used for village weddings, processions, festival celebrations and panchayat meetings. A lot was going on. Volunteers were running here and there, assisting the villagers. A fair amount of women were gathered for the program and were sitting on the floor, their faces oozing with interest. Maya scanned their faces looking for Kumud and her heart sank. She wasn't there!

"No no wait this can't be possible! She herself told me she's enrolled in the workshop and will be a part of it."

Maya stopped a volunteer. "Are there a lot of workshops or is this the only one?"

"This is the only one."

"Oh okay." Maya suddenly started losing her confidence in Kumud's absence.

She started taking deep breaths. "Calm down Maya. Maybe she's late. Don't you remember you reached here an hour early?"

Maya found herself slowly regaining hope. She sat on her designated place on the stage and kept looking at the entrance, praying that Kumud would suddenly enter, smile at her, her eyes going wide with happiness, her long black hair tied up beautifully in a bun, dressed up in a gorgeous lehenga.

"Wait a minute. HOLD ON - "

Maya slowly regained her composure.

"Why the fuck am I thinking about her like that? What's wrong with me?! She's a student to me and nothing else. We have a strictly professional relationship."

Maya began concentrating on what she has to teach today. She opened her sheaf of pamphlets and started rummaging through it. But try as she might, she couldn't help but notice that just 15 minutes were left for the workshop to start and Kumud still hadn't showed up.

Maya glanced at her watch. Should she go check on her? See if she's okay?

As much as she tried to control, Maya found herself getting up and walking towards the exit.

A volunteer stopped her. "Where are you going? we are starting in 10 minutes."

Maya snapped at him. "Don't tell me what to do. I forgot one of my books in the house and I'm going to get it. I'll be back in time. Don't worry!"

He reluctantly let her go.

Maya started racing in the direction of kumud's house, her heart racing more and more with every step she took. She couldn't understand whether she was doing the right thing or not, whether she would get in trouble if she got late. But she was determined that she had to do it. If anything happened to Kumud, she would never be able to forgive herself, knowing she had the chance to save her but didn't.

Maya had never been so sure of anything else in her life.