Beyond "The End"- Chapter 1

She woke up with a stiff neck from the night long interrupted sleep in the bus. She massaged her neck slightly and tried to understand how far she had reached. She could make out that they were about to enter the town. She checked her mobile and saw four missed calls from her father. She knew he was concerned about her safety but she did not want to call him right away. She sipped a little water and tried to doze off again.

Two hours later, she was at the bus stop with a small piece of paper in her hand. The auto rickshaw drivers were hovering around her. Everyone seemed interested to know where she wants to go. After 20 minutes of discussion, in which she had minimal inputs to give, she decided to give up. She started following the driver who had somehow managed to win this episode of discussion and was walking really fast with her luggage.

She was beginning to like this town. Early morning roads were being cleaned by ladies wearing blue uniform. Few auto rickshaws were rushing towards schools. Trees marked the edges of the road and huge trees were dividers of the road. She liked the green serenity of the city. There were small fields with a carpet of dew laden green grass. In the horizon she could see the silhouette of a plateau.  She saw small food vendors preparing to start their day. She crossed an open market filled with fresh vegetables and enthusiastic crowd. The town was waking up to welcome her.

She rang the bell and waited patiently for the door to open. Her toes were curled in nervousness, but her face showed nothing. The door was opened and a home made fresh south Indian breakfast’s aroma greeted her first. The lady was standing there to greet her with a smile that reminded her of her childhood and misty eyes which brought her to present in the same second. She bent down to touch “Ammu’s feet and was in ammu’s warm hug that told her everything will be fine. As Ammu closed the door behind her and lead her to the guest room she knew finally the doors were opening in her life.

Few hours later….

“…hmmm no no she is fine with this arrangement. She did not say anything”

She waited for her father to go on and tell her that she could not live like this forever. She heard patiently when he told her that she still has time and she can go back to him. “After all he is her father”. If nothing else past one and half year had taught her patience. It had taught her to listen. Listen without disagreement; listen without judging it and listening without answering.

“…hmmm” she said numerous times and finally came a pause at the other end; she realized she was supposed to answer something. “Okay. I think you are right but now that I am here let me just see if it works out after all”. She knew her father would not give up so easily. But he did hang up eventually, for this time.