Part 5 – Woven Fates

It was around 10 pm when they reached Sirigao. The villa was a old traditioned house. The night was cold and displayed signs of possible rains. Samiksha’s mother was same like her. Confident, graceful and beautiful. She introduced Karan to her mom. Undoubtedly Karan won her mother’s heart in the first meeting. The very fact that he brought Samiksha responsibly home was enough for this impression.
“Here is your daughter aunty.”
“I can see how safely you brought her Karan. Please come in.”

“I would definitely come in during my next time’s visit aunty. But I need to rush now.”
“Just for two minutes.”
“Mommy, you don’t know Karan. He does not change his decision easily. Right?” Samiksha passed a sarcastic look to Karan.
“Hmm. I think you two get along very well“, Samiksha’s mother sensed the vibrations between the two at once.
Karan laughed out loud before admitting a yes.
“I will see you two later then. Take care. Good night.”
The ladies bid him farewell and went inside their home.

Karan drove to his house in Mayem.

As he reached, his father was eagerly waiting to meet his son. The proofs of the ring inheritance was a means for the father son duo meet. Both Samiksha and Karan narrated how they spotted the news of the ring and were eager to get the proofs for aquiring the rights of same.
After a much relaxed dinner, both Karan and Samiksha went to their beds. But neither of them was able to sleep.

The memory of their short yet nice journey touched both of them with the passing cool breeze. Somehow each of them felt relaxed, happy in the company of the other. Karan had realised this much earlier. But this journey ignited sparks in Samiksha’s mind too. Over and over she recollected his feel near her. How comfortably she fell asleep after a long tiring day on his shoulder. The security she experienced when he was near brought a smile on her lips. Subsequently she agreed, she was falling for him.

Next morning,

Karan was at the breakfast table with his father.
“I had never thought that I will receive a news about the Lover’s Stone in this manner. What might have caused her to go in that ship? Is she fine? Where is she today, at this moment?”
Karan’s father voiced his doubts to his son.
“Dad, did mom know about her?”
A smile appeared on his lips before speaking,
“No. I met her in my twenties. We shared a pure, deep bond. What we felt for each other was very rare. I am saying this because people take years to feel this for someone. But we felt it instantly.”
“Then why didn’t you marry her?”
“It was not in cards for for us is all I can say. But if someone comes and tells me, that she still exists. She is very much here. . I will get a second life.”
“Second life?”, Karan questioned in anticipation.

“It didn’t kill me,

but something inside me died that day son. I wish I can explain this to her, that she was not betrayed.” A silent tear rolled down his eyes as he spoke these words.
Karan placed his hand on his father’s.
“I wish that someone would be me.” Karan hugged his dad.

Back at Sirigao, similar emotions emerged. Samiksha was seated besides her mother on a sofa.
“Mom, you look so young here. This ring looks more beautiful in your finger. Why don’t you have a photo with dad with it?”
An awkward silence spread in the room.
“Your dad didn’t give me that ring.” The answer brought a confused look on Samiksha’s face.

“I was in love

before my marriage to your dad Sam.” Slowly, a smile appeared on Samiksha’s lips, surprising her mom.
“Tell me more about it mom. It must have been so romantic.”
Suniti smiled and continued.
“We were very young. Both of us were excited for a beautiful future with each other. We used to spend hours at the Mayem Lake, our meeting spot.”
Samiksha stopped her mom with her hand and got up.
“Wait wait. This is more exciting than I imagined. Let me grab some cookies and pop corn.”
Suniti gave her a stern look.

“Sorry mommy. Continue.”
“He belonged to an elite upper class family, and I was the daughter of an ordinary work man. His family was not ready to accept me. So we decided to elope and marry.”
“And then?” Samiksha’s excitement was visible on the face. But her longing was halted by the doorbell.
“Um, this doorbell had to ring just now. Wait I will be back.”

Samiksha opened the door to find a man with a rose.
“Yes?”
“Mam, this is for you.”
He handed over the rose and left.
“But who send this . . ?”
At once Samiksha noticed a small note attached with the rose.

‘ When you rested on my shoulder,
I was happy that it was me,
who you chose to place your trust on.

May you smile like this rose always.‘

Samiksha’s heart skipped a beat on reading the romantic note. The sender’s name was much obvious even though it wasn’t mentioned on the note.

Love was in the air.

https://pieces-of-life.com/2021/04/22/they-were-passionately-in-love/