Shradda’s Moonlight

 

At 11:59 in the midnight Shradda reached central railway station of Dharwar. She came out of the station to get something to reach out her room. She was surrounded by dogs. They were looking her luggage’s and biting like a welcome. Dharwar is not a metro city like where she worked earlier. Now, in Dharwar a big corporate company started their pilot office as a part of expansion in Asia-pacific region. She waited for around half hour, then she got one auto. It was a she taxi. Shradda took the auto and reached room. She kept her luggage’s aside and opened the window. Full moon was visible in the grid line of window. Shradda took a light bath and gone for sleep. Next day morning Shradda went to office. It was a small cabin compare to her previous office. She introduced herself to the people and all given a warm welcome to her. She started her work in some couple of minutes.

 

                       A week passed and she didn’t make any friends here. Previous work made her a numb and her life is in a loop now. Weekends she will sleep as much as possible. This weekend is long one, as some extra Holidays were add-on to weekdays. Shradda didn’t felt to go home, again a big journey to and fro. She slept the whole morning and waked up in the midnight. She washed her face and opened window. Today, moon is a half one. She felt hungry and ordered something in Zomato. Zomato guy came and delivered her order. She smiled and said a Thanks to him. He also smiled and went. Shradda felt his face was not seems suitable for this job in this moonlight. Shradda was becoming lazy day by day. Most of the weekends she was ordering from Zomato only. Every time the same guy only delivering her order. Their bond became stronger day by day. Today was a cloudy day and there is no moon in sky. Shradda talked first time to the delivery guy. Azad, today his face seems to be suitable for his job.

                      A month passed and today is Shradda’s birthday and fallen in a weekend. No party, no friends. She just went to a temple in Dharwar and simply sitting in room. She went for sleep and waked up in the night. She opened window. Today is a full moon day. A bike came near her room. Bike looks familiar, but guy is not same. A well dress up guy came to her door step. Shradda checked through key hole. She saw that face in moonlight. Yes, it’s the same guy, Azad. She opened door and invited Azad inside. Azad came up with some food. Shradda didn’t ordered anything, that surprise was there in her face. Azad prepared food for her on birthday. They had the food and started chit-chat in terrace. Azad was IT postgraduate, which worked in a company and due to toxic work environment left the job. In Dharwar, he can’t live without doing anything. So, he is doing job and searching for other corporate job. Eventually their friendship became stronger.

 

It’s became two weeks Shradda went to her home. Azad is waiting in Dharwar railway station. Shradda’s train came and Azad took her luggage and he dropped her to room. Shradda told “We will meet tomorrow in office”. Yes, Azad joined in same company. Now, Shradda have one friend in office. Her life changed a lot. Bit relaxed in tea breaks, weekends. Next week is a long weekend. Azad and Shradda planned to go somewhere. They went to a beach which is some far. They reached by evening and it was sunset. They were walking through the sand by watching sunset and waves. Casually Shradda asked, “You didn’t give my birthday gift that day. Yes, food was there. But I really wanted a gift”. Azad smiled and nodded. They have roamed there until the moon comes. On the way to Dharwar he stopped bike to take some rest. It was a lake side. Opposite of the lake there was some function ongoing. Full of lights and moon was very beautiful in sky. Shradda was sitting in a bench and enjoying the view. Azad came near to her and kneeled before her. He took her leg to his knee and tied a black angle chain and smiled on her. Azad looked on her eyes and told “This I bought on your birthday. But I felt I was not eligible to give you this gift on that day. But today I’m living a confident life. That is because you. Will you continue as same in my life?”. Shradda was shocked and at same time surprised. She didn’t got any words that time. She told, “I want some time”.

 

Several office days passed. Every tea break, Azad was expecting some response from Shradda. Shradda waked up early in a weekend due to her Mother’s phone call. She asked her to come home as soon as possible. Azad dropped Shradda in railway station. Train came and she said a bye to him. Azad was watching the train until the last. But Shradda never appeared. Train disappeared in the darkness. There was no moon in sky. Shradda got one proposal from U.S. The guy settled in U.S and they liked her very much. Shradda’s mother were forcing her. Shradda was numb like before how her life was. She neither responded to Azad nor to her mother. Shradda’s room window was closed for several nights. Moon was hidden in the curtain. Azad was waiting for her. No messages, no calls. Azad got this news one day. Shradda got proposal from U.S, that’s it. A month passed, Shradda never returned. Rainy season started in Dharwar. Most of the nights were cloudy, moon was not visible.

 

 After 2 years in U.S, the winter is over and they have seen the moon in sky after a long time. A little girl walking through the streets. Her little fingers were hold by her mother. It was Shradda’s daughter. They both were walking and waiting under a tree. Shradda told her “We will wait here baby, until daddy comes”. Girl nodded as Yes. Behind the tree someone watching them. Shradda seen someone was watching them. But face is not clear. We can see his face clearly under moonlight. It’s Azad. He came suddenly in front of Shradda. She became scared and saw Azad’s face. Azad covered her mouth, he don’t want any sudden noises from her. Girl was laughing and she came and grabbed Azad, “Daddy, you were always doing this to mother”. Azad took her up and said “I don’t want your mother to say Yes to any U.S settled guys that’s why”. Shradda hitted him on his shoulder and hugged him. They were started walking to their home. Shradda was holding Azad’s hand and leaned her head on his shoulder while walking. That vision was never disappeared but we can see the full moon in sky.

 

 

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.