When boundaries
crossed.....
She was inside
boundaries of an army man, her father. She was happy with him. But later she named
that as a trauma bonding when she accepted Rhino’s proposal. Rhino and she were
classmates from childhood. Later Rhino’s parents moved out of town due to the war
situations in the border. Now, Rhino came back to his old town and they met. Rhino
is a traveller by the time he left army. He will say to her always that “ I
joined army to travel the world”. But in army his duty was in border. More than
a year he was in the border. Once he got shot in leg and admitted to hospital.
From their he resigned from army and went to Uzbekistan. In Uzbekistan he
worked in bike workshop and later he started roaming the country. He reached
finally in the old town were he started his life. It was a Sunday, she went to
church with her father. It is a part of her disciplined life to attend early
morning session of holy mass with her father. After holy mass she came out from
the church. She saw Rhino first time after so many years. They both recognized each
other. But her father was with her. So they stopped their wishes in a smile.
Rhino was behind her for so many days. Once her father was not with her. He
went and talked with her. It was an ice breaking session. After that they were
frequently meeting and talking. Winter started in the border. Winter is very
hard for the citizens and army men. Her father is an experienced army men. So,
in winter he won’t come home daily. It was a heavy snow fall day. Rhino came near
her house. He saw the rose flower in her garden. He plucked and kept that in
his coat pocket. She came out and seen Rhino. She was shocked. Nobody will come
near her home because of her father. Now he came. Rhino given the rose flower
to her and proposed her. She was in a dilemma. Fear, if father saw him and the sudden
shock he given. She didn’t talked anything for a while. When she got in senses,
she told him to go. Rhino was confused. Because she didn’t told anything. Then
he went from there. The whole night Rhino didn’t slept. “Is that impulse was so
quick?”. Next morning he went to her
house. She was not there. He didn’t felt to go back to his home. He went to his
favourite childhood place, which he didn’t visited after return to border. On
the way someone came and holded his hands. “Take me somewhere”. It was a sudden
shock to Rhino. The voice of her took all his pain. He is feeling hot in that
heavy snow fall. They went to Rhino’s home and took his bike. First time she
crossed the border and they together went to a place. She doesn’t seems fit to
that place. It’s like a bird going out from nest for the first time. Outside
border, the world is different. But for sure, this wont be the last time she crossed
border. After that many times she crossed border. Last day of winter Rhino and
she went to Rhino’s favourite place in the border. She realized, what she missed
in her life these many years. Border is hardship to her. She wanted to cross
border and live somewhere far. She know if winter is over, she can’t cross
border anymore. Today is the last day in winter. Rhino given a break to the
silence and asked her “What you are thinking?”. She told “I can’t cross border
anymore”. Rhino didn’t asked why. Because he already know about her life. He
told “Winter is over now. I planning to travel east, far from border. Some
water lands probably. I want you to come with me, we will own a small land
there. Will roam each season out of country”. She paused for some time and
told, “No, I can’t . Border is my home, my father lives here. He lived his life
for me”. Rhino grinned and replied “Your father lived for border, may be you were
part of that border. If you are staying here, he will make you to marry someone
from his circle. Again your life will be in border. Now, if you are coming means,
father may not forgive for some period. But we can make him to forgive with
our first child. He can take care of our children in his retirement life. We
all can live here and there by crossing the border. I am not forcing you. By today night we will leave border, if you are coming means”. She didn’t replied
anything to that. Silence for some time. Rhino got frustrated and took her from
the place and dropped her to home. While going he told “I will wait for you in
church until full moon comes. If you are coming, we will go together. Else, I
will go”. She looked in to his eyes, but didn’t told anything. She was watching
him until he went out of site. In her life span, she felt like living in this
winter only. Travelling across the borders, seen the life. Now, she is a matured
bird. She know how to fly. Either she need to live with mother bird. Else, need
to cross the border. This is human life, not animal one. She is sitting in
chair and thinking. Day light gone slowly, It became little darker. She lighted
a candle. Last day of winter, so outside there is heavy snowfall. Rhino is
waiting in church. His bike is packed with all his luggages. He saw the full
moon in sky. He looked the church once again, the place he seen her first
time. He started the bike and looked back again. He saw someone is running towards
him. Yes, it’s her. She came without any luggages. So he felt again disappointment.
He asked her, “So, You came for a sent off?”. She didn’t replied anything. She
came and sitted behind him on bike. He smiled and started his bike. They
crossed border and travelled to east. On the way, there were shoot out ongoing
in the outskirts. He stopped his bike. Bullets were striking his bike. They
both dropped bike and reached under a safe cover place. She felt very fear and
sitting close to him. They can hear footsteps around their safe place. Again
shoot out started. Rhino took her to some old building. The whole night they
spend there. Sunlight came. She is sleeping. So Rhino went out to look after
situation. While she walk up, no one is there around. She became panic and went
out slowly to look after. The place is full of blood sheds. Roof of building is
drizzling with blood. She got fear and went back to safe place. She waited for
Rhino. A day passed, he didn’t returned. Mean while army people came and took control on place. They searched all buildings for the citizens and took them to
safe place. Army found her also and took her to the safe place. They given food
and shelter to everyone. They were collecting details from everyone to help them.
They asked her. She didn’t told about her father and home. She told, “ I was
travelling to east with my husband Rhino”. Then they asked about her husband. She
told he went somewhere and didn’t came back till now. Army people told her, “Don’t
worry, we will try to find him. May be hidden somewhere”. It’s been more than a
week, She was waiting for him in the safe camp. Winter is over, most of them went
to their home towns. Army also leaving the place, as panic situation is over. They
asked her, “Where you need to go?. Everyone is leaving the place”. She told “I’m
not going anywhere. If he comes, I need to be here”. They told, “You can’t stay
here and find him. Better you move to border, from their you can try”. She was
not ready to move. But army people didn’t allowed her to stay. Finally She went with
them. Their vehicle is moving to border. On the way she saw the bike, which
Rhino and she came. Vehicle is reaching near border. The army vehicle got attacked
by some mob. They thrown bombs in to vehicle. The situation became worst and
the fight lasted more than 2 days between army and the mob. Finally army took
the situation on control. The place was full of dead bodies. Entire army from
border was there. Her father was also there. They were packing the dead bodies and
naming the box with the details they have collected in the army camp. Her
father checking all details in every box and writing where the box need to
courier. He saw the box with a name “Petricia”. He written the box need to
courier to Border. There was no much details regarding that body . But
unconsciously he written it should courier to Border. Then he got in senses and
opened the box with a shock. Sudden tears started from his eyes. Yes, it is her
dead body. Petricia from border. A girl crossed boundaries to live peacefully.
