Gone By (40 page)

So, the plane was in a position to land. I could feel the elevation that it angled with the runway. Finally, the rear wheel touched the ground and the jerk shook my body. Finally, it covered few metres along the runway to apply its final brake. The halted plane was under the mist of dense fog. I knew winter would be wild here. It would crush and squeeze us. As I got down out of the plane, I failed to see the clear sky. Instead, a sky covered with dense fog was the nature of the weather. I felt the harsh cold immediately and covered myself with woollen Jacket. There was no sign of bright light from any direction. Neither the solar rays could shine the day. I marched ahead through the breeze of fog which were trashing harshly on me. The porch was few yards away. My Dad had been waiting for me. I collected my luggage from the rolling table, and headed to look out for my Dad. I waved my hand and shouted “Hey Dad”.

He sensed and turned to look around, he gave a smile at first and then waved his hand at me. I hurried my step to reach him. He gave me a hug and I touched his feet. He didn’t change, yet he looked fit and fine.

“I believe you must be catching cold, Son” said Dad.

“Yeah! I didn’t expect this much”.

He nodded and we followed towards the parking lot.

“Where’s Mom” I tried to know.

“She was quiet busy, so couldn’t come” Dad answered.

I opened the front door of the car. Before I could take my seat I glanced at my wrist watch. Its 3:00pm, yet the ambient was very faint. Faintly light prevailed but all under the white fog. I settled at front seat just next to Dad. He had to handle the steering wheel. Within few minutes we were out of the airport zone. I knew my Dad had improved in driving. I could see his hands and legs perfectly moving and controlling the car. The last time it wasn’t the same, within few months he had worked out on it. I closed the window, and the rush of chilled wind was diminished. I thought of texting to Anannya. I grabbed out my mobile phone out of my left pocket and began to write. While I was texting her, Dad broke words out of his mouth. He was very keen to know about the semester I had.

“I believe you had a perfect semester” Dad controlling the steering wheel.

“Yeah!..It was great time I had this season”.

“So, what’s your plan for the future”.

“I would look forward for pursuing Master” I said casually, pressing the send button of my mobile phone.

The text was sent to Anannya. I waited, she would reply me back. Gradually we were speeding up through the highway. I was stunned this time with the accurate control of the steering wheel. I knew Dad would surely improve on this part. The last time I had cautioned him to check on his driving ability.

“Dad you did work out on your driving”.

“Yes, Son I did. So, do you like my driving now”.

“Of Course..I do”.

I turned to stare out of the window. Just a glimpse I could catch those outside objects that were passing at high speed. Dad was happy seeing me after months, so was I. I couldn’t wait to meet
my Mom.

Dad was driving very smoothly, and I loved the journey. We had to halt at roadside inn for short refreshment. We filled our empty pouch and energized ourselves. Just an half hour we had spent, to get ourselves refreshed and headed to move on. The day had gone down, it’s almost the first shades of darkness that had arrived by now. I had occupied the same front seat next to Dad. As we were heading closer to home, the weather began to change. The touch of intense cold I could feel on my chest. I had covered myself with only a jacket but the cold seemed so strong that it
penetrated through my porous skin. We were very
silent on the road, I could just hear the noise of car’s engine. While Dad seemed very excellent in his driving. He was quiet comfortable with the chilling weather. He burnt the head light on, and I could see the road flashed out clearly before my eyes. I was missing Anannya. All the way I was thinking about her. I was silent for long moment. Neither my Dad and I were in conversation. Just the Car and we both were the only object through the road. As we approached closer to our state, the road got narrower and thinner. Dad had to take cautious control of his steering.

“What’s wrong. Aren’t you happy” Dad said suddenly.

Momentarily I was shook off. I was laden with thoughts at that moment. Roughly I could hear Dad said something to me.

“Yeah! I’m absolutely happy” I responded.

The darkness began to crawl in. We were in the middle of a silent road. I knew Mom must be eagerly waiting at home. I looked at my wrist watch, it was 7:00pm by now. I was very much like a silent soul, who never had any idea to talk on returning home. So was my Dad’s nature. He had been always very cool and calm person all through his life. I always appreciated my Dad. I always had on my mind, someday I’ll make him proud and he will be my proud Father. We were running through the densely forest area. On both sides of the road there were hills covered with densely populated forest and the single line road on which we were on. Besides the cold weather froze us inside, even though all the car’s window was closed. I could calculate the time on my head, we had to drive for one more hour from now. I roughly could forecast by 8:00pm I would be at home. And the very first thing I would do, was to touch my Mom’s feet. That was one culture which I was taught since I was five years old. It’s a one way to show respect and love to elders, on return we are blessed by them. I was still staring outside the window. I turned to look at my Dad.

“Dad, this winter I want to do something new” I said softly.

Again we initiated to talk.

“Something new like”.

“Something that’s really beneficial”.

“I would suggest you to study first” Dad controlling the steering wheel, giving a fraction of glance at me.

“Off course Dad, I’ll maintain my academic carrier, but other half of my life it needs something new to be done”.

“Well, I only want good of you Son. It’s your life, you frame it”.

I crouched out my body from leaning position and stretched my hand to push the button on the music player. Turned the volume slightly low, as we were in conversation. Dad had a great interest in music, he even recorded his own songs few years back.

“Definitely Dad, I’ll make you proud”.

“Make me proud, Son” he replied.

The music gave a soothing pleasure to sustain the conversation between us. Above all it took away the boredom that was lasting for more than hours.

“Dad, Why don’t you try singing again”. He laughed for seconds.

“Well, that was when I was at your age Son. But, Now I have to manage new era of life” he said looking at me.

“Oh! C’mon Dad. I know you were a good Singer, Singing has always been your passion” my tone urged strongly.

He gave a sharp soft look again.

“Well, you be first something and then I would look after that too” he passed a smiled.

“So, what’s the new thing you wanted to do” he raised his question.

“Oh! I thought of writing a Novel” changing the track of the music system.

“That’s a brilliant Idea”.

“I guess it will work”.

“It will Son”.

We were very close to reach. I wanted to let know Anannya that I have safely reached home. I typed few words on my mobile and send it to her. Finally, Dad blew the horn and we were welcomed back home warmly. The gate was open wide for us to get in. And like every time, I first met my Mom and touched her feet.

Twenty Three

.............................

I closed my dairy for a while to stop writing. I decided to make a call to Isha. Indeed, I was in a state of boredom travelling for hours in a single bus. This time I had taken the morning bus, so it’s obvious I would be reaching Goa by the night time or the next morning. I had no exact idea about that. I dialled her number and gave a call to her. The seat beside was still left empty. But, that was quiet good enough to occupy one complete seat alone. The call gave a ring on her mobile, I could hear it faintly in my ears. I waited for seconds to accept the call.

“Hey” said Isha softly.

The only first thing that I could ask her was about her condition.

“How have you been?”.

“Absolutely fine” she said faintly.

I knew she would be waiting for me. Indeed the only companion she got was me and her.

“You seemed to be strangled with something” I intended to know.

“Yeah! I was quiet busy with my thesis and most of all I had been missing you” her voice shook softly.

“Everything will be fine............” as my tone tried to console her.

“Did you made a contact to your Mom”.

“Yeah!...She said...she’s fine. She’s just waiting for my return”.

“That’s absolutely good”.

“I would come to pick you up at the station” she said.

“Yeah! sure”.

We hanged the phone out with little more conversation. I resumed back the phone to the place where it was. I slid my window wide and peeped outside. The highway ran smooth, and I could only watch the other vehicles being crossed by our bus. I was still having the diary on my lap. It laid closed, neither was I in mood to continue with my story. Inside everything stood silence, some went off to sleep, some still with their eyes open. And I was like what to choose. Neither my eyes would close nor I could see others sleeping. I would say, I was fortunate enough that no one had occupied the seat beside me. I leaned my back at the back support of my seat. And began to chase the narrow view out of the window. I was fiddling my hand with the pen I was holding. Decided to flip a page from the diary and thought of reading a page that I had written earlier. As I went through the first page of my own written words, some nostalgic memories flashed back into my mind. I began to think about Anannya. I had no idea now where she must have been. What would she be doing. Would she even remember me, I knew not about her mind. I couldn’t read more than a page out of my own diary, I instantly closed it and held it on my lap with my left hand on it. I could only endure the long hours journey until I would reach to Isha. Apparently, I was exhausted by now. I really had very tired some journey for the past few weeks until I met Isha in Mumbai. The Bus was still on its highway running smoothly, and I was completely immersed into silent world. I could only give short glance at my wrist watch waiting for the time to pass as quick as possible. I closed my eyes at last, my back being supported gently at the back support. I realized I should take little rest. I gave one last glimpse at my watch. It showed 3:00pm. With that time on my mind I went on for a nap, resting my head gently.

Life had always been a hard time for me. Everything that I wanted never had an easy access to me. In many cases, I failed while chasing my dreams but I never let myself to give up. Every hope and believe kept me alive with my dreams which I cornered somewhere on my mind to achieve someday. I knew now I had lost someone for the first time in life. A soul whom I would never be able to pay my humble gratitude even though I give my whole life. Someone whom I admired more than I could ever do, I really adore her for what she was. With the passage of time, I’ve finally learnt to stay with the scars. Her image never failed to reflect before my eyes. I treasured her in my heart, in every beat a name I’ll always a remember, Anannya. How love would change my life I never thought it earlier. Even though I lost her, I still feel her closeness around me. Things began to inculcate in different way into my world. I couldn’t respond my heart to any other except for her. I knew I wouldn’t be able to love one more girl, no matter even if she would be much better than her. I always thought of giving meaning to it, which is why I had been penning down in cordial touch of love for her. I knew my diary would be full writing about her, a final touch of my love would stay forever on this mother earth. Would she ever know the thing or would it go waste without letting her know, I had no visualization about that. It’s all I wanted to pay her my most respectful and humble gratitude before her hand. Certain things I began to pertain on my own knowing that my life has become an empty vessel now. I did used to feel the brim of happiness when she used to be mine. But, now I need a long rest of my soul to overcome the grief of such hindrance of my life.

I wasn’t much known to the outside world. I had always stayed away from the limelight, which people of today’s world doesn’t dreams. The glamour and fashion of my life had taken a sudden turn which was no more glamorous. I felt like I had been categorize in old fashion world. But, I never paid attention to that, as I had no one now beside me who would ask me to look good with my face. I was laid closed with my eyes in my seat. Waiting for more  than an hour to reach the destination. I could say that moment, I was very keen to see Isha. I wouldn’t wait no more than to land my feet before her. Gradually, the time had gone out. I could somehow take a note of the time. The Sun had sets its bright light, right below the horizon, and the shadow got lengthen. I could watch out the lengthen shadow of our bus casting out on the turf on the highway. It’s the beginning of silent night, taking a glance of my wrist watch again. So, by 6:30pm I was active again, out of that drowsy sleep. I haven’t said Isha yet about the incident I had while returning back. I thought I would make it a fairy tale before I could let her know. I know she wouldn’t believe me that I was kidnapped.