5 days later,
Aarohi’s house – Evening
Mr. Aneja and Mrs. Aneja entered the house with their tall and handsome son Samrat Aneja. Hansa welcomed them and Aarohi greeted them. Hansa served them coffee and snacks.
Mrs. Aneja – “Hansa ji, we were always related to each other as a tenant – renter. You have been staying in our house for 2 years. But we have decided to improve our relations in a personal manner.”
Hansa – “Mrs. Aneja, I cannot understand what you meant.”
Aarohi could understand what they were speaking about. She has seen Samrat, the college stud who is famously known for ragging innocent people and known for stalking several girls. Since Aarohi is staying as a renter in Samrat’s house, she ignored Samrat’s atrocities and his flirty dialogues. But she never knew Samrat would be so serious that he would even marry her despite her blindness.
Her thoughts are broken when Mr. Aneja speaks.
Mr. Aneja – “My son Samrat has been loving your granddaughter Aarohi sincerely. We too know Aarohi is a decent and well-mannered girl. So we have come here to seek alliance.”
Samrat blushes while Aarohi felt irritated hearing Mr. Aneja’s dialogues. Which father would marry his son while he wasn’t complete studying? Still, he has one more year to complete his further studies. From what she knew, he has many arrears to clear.
Hansa – “Mam, what is the hurry of getting married? Still the children haven’t completed the graduation. We can wait for some more years. Also, I don’t know whether Aarohi is interested in this alliance.”
Mrs. Aneja coughs intentionally and Mr. Aneja looks at her. Aarohi feels weird.
Mrs. Aneja – “Actually, our son is too irresponsible. Many boys become responsible only after getting married. So we thought to make the process.”
Aarohi is filled with anger and thinks, “What if he didn’t reform after marriage”
Hansa – “But, Aarohi wish to study further. She wishes to become an IAS officer by clearing UPSC examinations.”
Mrs. Aneja laughs.
Mrs. Aneja – “Oh come on, Hansa ji. What is the need to study further? Who will afford her all this? And those exams are too difficult and complex. She is blind too. How will she overcome it? If she marry my son, she can live like a queen and even we make Aarohi regain her vision by treatment. If she knows cooking and know to do all household chores, it is more than enough”
Hansa – “Yeah Mrs. Aneja, I can understand. But Aarohi should give the consent. I cannot decide anything without her consent.”
Mrs. Aneja – “Hansa ji. What are you speaking? Who will marry your blind granddaughter? But, being very kind, we are giving so many offers but you’re giving importance to her consent.”
Aarohi – “I am not interested in this proposal nor your son’s assets.”
Mr. and Mrs. Aneja looked at each other. Samrat is shocked. Hansa looks at Aarohi.
Mrs. Aneja – “But Aarohi… We didn’t ask you to tell your decision today. You can take time too.”
Aarohi – “You are the one who told there is no need of my consent. Now, you’re speaking the opposite. I have expressed my opinion directly and it is final. There is no need to rethink.”
Mr. Aneja – “Is this what you say to someone? We are so generous that we even take care of your treatment but…”
Aarohi – “If someone deserves this type of response, they deserve it.”
Mrs. Aneja – “Don’t forget that you are staying in our house.”
Aarohi – “You must not forget that we are paying the rent regularly.”
Samrat – “Aarohi, we can oust you anytime. Mind it. Also, after becoming blind, you are neither going to the college nor work, how could you earn money? If you accept the proposal, you can live in a bigger house than this and your Dadi could be shifted to an old-age home.”
Aarohi – “Your parents told me that you love me sincerely. Love is something even if you didn’t get her, you want her to be happy. Just because I rejected you, you are now blackmailing me. If you meet someone more beautiful, your lust would be shifted to that girl. Then, you’re sending my Dadi to old-age homes, my foot. Looks like, if you get hold of property, you’ll get your parents to the same place.”
Samrat felt ashamed and embarrassed. He moved towards Aarohi to slap her while Aarohi hold his hand and slapped him hard.
Aarohi – “Samrat, I am blind, but I am not weak. I know your movements and actions and can envision your expressions.”
Samrat – “How dare you!”
Samrat held his hand to choke her neck. Hansa tried to release Aarohi from his clutch. Aarohi tries to get out of his hold, but his hands were too strong to get released. Aarohi feels suffocated. Mr. and Mrs. Aneja released and make him cool.
Mrs. Aneja pointed her towards Aarohi and Hansa.
Mrs. Aneja – “You did a big mistake, Aarohi. Both of you would suffer for this action.”
Aarohi – “The wind is drizzling outside. Only if you are leaving now, you won’t get caught in the rain.”
Samrat – “You egoistic pig!”
Samrat again comes to her to raise his hands, but now Aarohi caught his hand and flexed it by leaning it behind his back.
Aarohi – “You took control over me once, but it won’t be the case always. Don’t forget that only my eyes are blind not my senses and instincts.”
Samrat screams badly. Mr. and Mrs. Aneja forcibly released her hands from him.
Mrs. Aneja – “You will suffer tomorrow.”
The Aneja family moved out of the house. Hansa caressed Aarohi’s face and hug her.
Hansa – “Are you okay, Aarohi?”
Aarohi – “Yes, Dadi. Don’t worry.”
Hansa – “But why did you create such a ruckus? They are our tenant and if they oust from this house, where will we go? And you don’t think anything.”
Aarohi – “Then, what are you asking me to do? To marry that guy and cry for life long…”
Hansa – “No one could win with your mouth. I am going to speak to them.”
Aarohi – “What will you say? Sorry Aneja ji… My Aarohi wouldn’t do like that. If she do like that, I myself would slap her… Please forgive me…. Will those crooks forgive you?”
Hansa – “Shut up, Aarohi. It is an issue among elders. You know nothing.”
Saying this, she took her phone and go inside. While Aarohi crumbles her fist on the table.
Door bell rings. Hansa comes and open the door and Deep is standing there. Deep comes inside and looks at the mood-off Aarohi.
Hansa – “Come on Deep, let us have dinner.”
Deep nods. Aarohi took her white cane and walked towards the dining room and sat on the table. Deep also sits on the table. Hansa served the dinner to Aarohi and Deep. Deep starts eating while Aarohi is uninterested to eat.
Deep – “No one could cook so perfect like you, Dadi. The butter on the chapathi you made melts when I place in my tongue. Delicious! But, why did your granddaughter look moody?”
Aarohi – “Amazing question, Deep sir… I mean Deep. Let me see, what did she say. By the way, she made rice and dal not chapathi.”
Aarohi – “Actually, I tested you….”
Aarohi pouts seeing his lame level of testing her.
Hansa told him about Samrat family proposal to Aarohi.
Deep – “What is there to scold Aarohi? She has done the right thing. There is a common saying that men would reform or change after getting married. It is true only to a certain extent. Only if they feel the need to become responsible, they would become. Otherwise, no. Samrat didn’t complete his studies, he is a drunkard and a smoker and his father’s business could feed him food for three generations. Seeing his impulsive nature, he could even become a violent husband. There is no mistake in Aarohi’s attitude towards them.”
Aarohi – “Exactly, Deep. He stalks many girls and I am just one among them. His mother is a monster who doesn’t value bride’s consent and ask me to give up my dreams.”
Hansa – “Oh, okay, now both are sided together. What if she throws us out of this house tomorrow?”
Aarohi becomes silent.
Deep – “Dadi, you both can come to my house.”
Hansa – “There is no need of that. Already we are trouble to many people, now we don’t want to add you to that list.”
Deep – “Dadi, it is not because you’re ousted from the house. Think about it. It is necessary for someone else’ presence in the house. Remember, you’re having back pain and shoulder pain and you must take medicines. But you’re not taking it since Aarohi was hospitalized.”
Aarohi – “Dadi, you told me that you’re taking all the medicines.”
Hansa – “Yeah… Deep… You might have misunderstood.”
Deep – “The medicines are sleep-inducing ones and one can never wake up for around 6 hours. But Dadi has been helping her granddaughter by giving her water if she needs or if she wake up in middle for using the bathroom, she is there to accompany. You told me about this yesterday, Aarohi. Additionally, Dadi is diabetic.”
Hansa – “So what, Deep. See I am so healthy and active without taking medicines.”
Deep – “You are suppressing your joint pain now, Dadi. There is no use of hiding it. If you didn’t take medicines, you would also become bedridden.”
Hansa bows her head down. Aarohi could feel the embarrassment in the environment.
Aarohi’s phone beeps. Aarohi handover the phone to Hansa and there is a voice note from Mr. Aneja. Hansa plays the voice note, “Hansa ji… Tomorrow you should be moving out of my house taking all your things as new renter has approached us with a good amount of fees which I cannot reject. From this month, you could also never pay the rent so better check out. If you haven’t left by tomorrow morning, by evening, my men would throw you out forcibly.”
Deep – “So yeah, even if you try to apologize, you cannot maintain a good relation with them and definitely they would insult you and throw you out.”
Aarohi – “But Deep, how could we stay at your house? We cannot pay you anything even if think. I don’t know how to go college or whether I will go.”
Deep – “Aarohi, there is no need to pay any money to me. It is like I am paying my gratitude. Please don’t ignore it.”
Aarohi and Hansa looked at Deep emotionally.
Aarohi – “But Deep…”
Deep – “Let us eat now Aarohi. We’ll decide some other things tomorrow.”
Aarohi, Hansa and Deep continues eating the dinner.
After half-an-hour,
Deep took Aarohi to the verandah. Raining has started. Both are wearing sweaters to overcome the chill.
Aarohi – “Deep, I wished that I have eyes now. Now the whole scenery looks eye-catching.”
Deep – “So what. I’ll tell you and you can imagine.”
Aarohi – “Done…”
Deep – “The clouds are black and the moon is smiling at the atmosphere… Street lights are still shining to give brightness. The shade trees in your houses are moving its branches out of slight wind and rain. The rain drops fall on the ground with whirlpool circles. While two friends are watching all this with a cup of tea.”
Aarohi sips the tea, “Yeah Deep. It is indeed amazing to imagine. Imagination looks more beautiful than reality.”
Deep smiles.
Deep – “Aarohi, can I ask you something?”
Aarohi nods.
Deep – “How do you feel after losing your eyesight?”
Aarohi – “Deep, its a numb feeling. It is like you lost yourself in a dark world where there is no light. There might be something, but becomes blurred due to darkness. More than others, it is searching ourself in the darkness. If I open my eyes, it looks like the background was blurred and little dark though I could sense the penetration of sunlight.”
Deep was listening to Aarohi’s words and he felt bad as he is one of the important reasons why Aarohi has become blind.
Aarohi – “It takes some more time to understand that it is the reality. No one will marry me, I cannot see new things, I will forget all others face. I will need a stick. I cannot play, I feel like leaving alone in a closed box. I was crying and cursing the thief who is the reason for everything. Then afterwards, Dadi and I were given counselling and we could feel a little better.”
Deep – “Things would become better soon, Aarohi.”
Aarohi – “Thank you so much, Deep. You’re really amazing. Only because of you, I could at least know to walk by myself in this house with my white cane.”
[FB: Deep took a day off from his work and taught Aarohi how to use and move with the help of a white cane.]
Aarohi – “You even taught me self defense and how to analyze your enemy with their slight body movements and their body odour.”
Flashback
Deep – “Aarohi, self defense is what you need the most. Just because you become blind, it doesn’t mean you cannot defend yourself. There are martial art students and teachers who are blind, but still they possess a tough competition towards the normal people.”
Deep taught Aarohi few yoga asanas to increase her sharpness in listening and analyzing the movements of hands and legs.
Deep – “Being blind, assumptions and guesses are what help you the most. If someone keep your hand on the neck, you must know where radius bone and the scapula bone is located. If the acquist try to harm you with his hands, you need to punch at those joints to get the release of the hold. If he attack you from the back, the hand movements are different. Understanding that, you should kick his balls or the stomach with your arm or leg.”
Deep hold Aarohi in his grip and asked to make her assumption and attack him. Sometimes she did well, she failed sometimes.
Deep – “Aarohi, Not always your assumptions need to be right. Sometimes it could be wrong too. As much as you get trained well in the yoga methods and defense exercises, your focus and sharpness increase.
Deep smiles.
Deep – “I have got trained in martial arts for some days and I could remember a few things and so I taught you so that it could be more useful.”
Aarohi smiles at Deep.
Suddenly thunders are heard and Aarohi falls on Deep’s chest and he holds Aarohi.
[Song plays]
Aarohi felt the warmth of his chest and feels his hands are on her head assuring her not to worry.
Another thunder is heard while Aarohi hugs Deep tightly. Deep also covers Aarohi with his wide arms.
She felt protective in his arms. Aarohi’s keeps her ear slowly towards his chest and tries to hear his heartbeat. She has heard about tall boy – short girl couple has been the cutest couple ever because the girl can hear his soulmate’s heartbeat when he hug her which indicates that his heart is beating for her. She doesn’t agree with that as she feels others heartbeat cannot be heard…. But still decide to try it.
Lubb…Dupp…Lubb…Dupp….
Aarohi could hear Deep’s heartbeat. She smiles. Whatever she heard was true. She blushed.
Deep smiled unknowingly and caressed her hair slowly assuring not to worry. Slowly Deep released the hug.
Deep – “Are you okay now?”
Suddenly Aarohi realized what she was doing.
Aarohi – “Yeah, Deep. Actually, I am sorry.”
Deep – “No issues. Everyone has their own fear. It’s completely okay.”
Aarohi thinks, “Is his heartbeat beating faster for me when I hugged him? That means he is in love with me… No no… He too must have got frightened because of thunders.”
Deep – “Aarohi…”
Aarohi comes out of her thinking, “Deep…”
Deep – “Let us go inside dream girl… Sometimes it takes time to recognize whether you are dreaming or in the world.”
Aarohi thinks, “Dream Girl… Is it that he does love me? Or mocking me…”
Deep – “By the way, it is time now. I am leaving for the Studio. Have a good night.”
Aarohi – “It would be. Because I am waiting for your show this night.”
Deep – “Seriously! Are you not going to sleep? Are you being cheesy with me?”
Deep – “Maybe yes, Deep. We are going to pack our things now. I have heard you sing in Radio for a lot of times. Your anchoring was amazing for most of the shows and so your messages. I never thought I would meet you and chill with you as your friend.”
Aarohi laughed, which makes Deep blush. She looked exceptionally beautiful when she smiles.
Deep comes near her and adjusted her hair strands which are scattered towards her face. Aarohi felt goosebumps. Deep slowly released his hands from her.
Deep says, “Then okay, bye buddy.”
Deep bids Hansa and comes out of the house. The rain has stopped. Deep looks at Aarohi who is at the door, seeing him whether he left or not by the movement of the car. Deep smiles at Aarohi.
He takes his car and moves from the house.
To be continued…