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This is a 5 page abstract narrative of three lives each a representative of the strange entities called luck, fate and destiny. They come together to produce the climax that eventually changes these three lives, nullifying the entities momentarily.
Sickly sweet aroma fills the air while the entire house is immersed in marriage preparations. In spite of all the excited talk, the atmosphere still witnesses murmuring silence. Away in a room, decked with rich clothes and posh jewelry sits Anusha, 22, phone in one hand and a list in the other.
'What do you mean you can't come? You must! I won't take any excuses! See you there!' She keeps the phone and strikes off another name in the list. She dials a new number and chews on a laddoo while she waits.
'Rachana? Anu here!' she starts off excitedly. Rachana's laughter cracks all the way from the other side of the world.
'Hey you! Heard you're getting married?!'
'Of course!' Anusha starts of her practiced string of sentences about her fiance, how rich he is and how he proposed her. Dreams of settling abroad and emptying his credit card go on for a few minutes.
'Anyways? Why is everyone so shocked?!' she asks, little triggered by the questions she was getting. Rachna took a pause before she spoke, and when she did her tone had changed.
'I know you for a very long time Anu, you've always taken things lightly and lived life like a carnival but this is your marriage? Aren't you too young? Don't you have any dreams to chase or destinies to fulfill?'
'This has been my dream pretty much? What is life for anyways?'
'Love, I'm not trying to stop your marriage. But I really think life goes beyond an arranged marriage and a happy home. Don''t you worry, I'll definitely be there!'
Saying so her best friend muted the line and left her speechless.
Anusha left the list on the dresser for later and looked at herself in the mirror. Wasn't she looking nice? Everyone in her home said she was the perfect bride. 'What was Rachana blabbering about destiny and dreams?' she thought to herself. 'Just because I don't have a goal doesn't mean I'm not happy. To be a bride is what I've dreamed about ever since I started playing with dolls. And here I am.' feeling motivated, she took a step out and was lost in her dream world.
In the late evening, when everyone was tired from all the running around and shopping, the bride strolled into the garden and plopped onto the soft grass next to her grandma.
'How beautiful you look Anu, thank God I got to see this sight before I go to him' She went into thought about how the marriage is actually happening because her grandma was dying and not because she wanted to get married early. But she quickly brushed it aside, as it was what everyone wanted. 'Including me' she added. Something made her take a walk around her huge house to meet the servants and drivers. to invite them personally for dinner. After all, they were her world during the holidays when she was restricted to the walls of their mansion.
'Ravi? Where are you going off to? Mother's made dinner for everyone today, you also! Go and sit in the garden!'
'Ma'am I have to take this car to the service centre, I'll come later' It pricked her heart somewhere and before she changed her mind she blurted.
'I'll take the car instead. You go to the garden. Why did I get my license for anyways?' she grabbed the keys from his hand and shoved him in to the lantern decorated garden. He shook his head and smiled.
'Go and come back in time ma'am. Call us if you need help'
She waved him off and got into the car. She pulled out the list and continued her virtual invitations. She had to repeat the story over and over again and the more she said that this was what she wanted, she felt like she was convincing herself more than anyone else.
'You're what?!' a husky laugh came from Girish as he asked. 'Knowing you, the little sweetheart that you are, you don't even know the meaning of marriage other than the dresses, the food and pictures. Eh?'
Again stunned to silence she cut the call and took a long drive to ease her troubled mind. Not even a single friend thought she was getting married so young. When she reached the service station, it was obviously closed. Although she wanted to curse herself and get back on the road, she dialled her dad's number and waited.
How many times had she done this.?At every confused cross road, and at every problem her only solution was calling her father to fish her out. She never solved it on her own; wait, she didn't even face problems. Wasn't allowed to face. She cut the call and sat inside the car with the engine on. Internal imbalance disrupted anger within her, deeply hidden among the years of living the rich life.
'Why am I getting married? Is that my purpose in this life? To get married?' her eyes stung as she realized she was going to cry for real and not on some stage.
'Rachana was right, I don't know what my destiny is? What am doing with my life!'
The tipping point had arrived, and just like every emotionally contained person she burst and hit the accelerator.
Continue to page 4!
This is a 5 page abstract narrative of three lives each a representative of the strange entities called luck, fate and destiny. They come together to produce the climax that eventually changes these three lives, nullifying the entities momentarily.
Page 03- DESTINY
Sickly sweet aroma fills the air while the entire house is immersed in marriage preparations. In spite of all the excited talk, the atmosphere still witnesses murmuring silence. Away in a room, decked with rich clothes and posh jewelry sits Anusha, 22, phone in one hand and a list in the other.
'What do you mean you can't come? You must! I won't take any excuses! See you there!' She keeps the phone and strikes off another name in the list. She dials a new number and chews on a laddoo while she waits.
'Rachana? Anu here!' she starts off excitedly. Rachana's laughter cracks all the way from the other side of the world.
'Hey you! Heard you're getting married?!'
'Of course!' Anusha starts of her practiced string of sentences about her fiance, how rich he is and how he proposed her. Dreams of settling abroad and emptying his credit card go on for a few minutes.
'Anyways? Why is everyone so shocked?!' she asks, little triggered by the questions she was getting. Rachna took a pause before she spoke, and when she did her tone had changed.
'I know you for a very long time Anu, you've always taken things lightly and lived life like a carnival but this is your marriage? Aren't you too young? Don't you have any dreams to chase or destinies to fulfill?'
'This has been my dream pretty much? What is life for anyways?'
'Love, I'm not trying to stop your marriage. But I really think life goes beyond an arranged marriage and a happy home. Don''t you worry, I'll definitely be there!'
Saying so her best friend muted the line and left her speechless.
Anusha left the list on the dresser for later and looked at herself in the mirror. Wasn't she looking nice? Everyone in her home said she was the perfect bride. 'What was Rachana blabbering about destiny and dreams?' she thought to herself. 'Just because I don't have a goal doesn't mean I'm not happy. To be a bride is what I've dreamed about ever since I started playing with dolls. And here I am.' feeling motivated, she took a step out and was lost in her dream world.
In the late evening, when everyone was tired from all the running around and shopping, the bride strolled into the garden and plopped onto the soft grass next to her grandma.
'How beautiful you look Anu, thank God I got to see this sight before I go to him' She went into thought about how the marriage is actually happening because her grandma was dying and not because she wanted to get married early. But she quickly brushed it aside, as it was what everyone wanted. 'Including me' she added. Something made her take a walk around her huge house to meet the servants and drivers. to invite them personally for dinner. After all, they were her world during the holidays when she was restricted to the walls of their mansion.
'Ravi? Where are you going off to? Mother's made dinner for everyone today, you also! Go and sit in the garden!'
'Ma'am I have to take this car to the service centre, I'll come later' It pricked her heart somewhere and before she changed her mind she blurted.
'I'll take the car instead. You go to the garden. Why did I get my license for anyways?' she grabbed the keys from his hand and shoved him in to the lantern decorated garden. He shook his head and smiled.
'Go and come back in time ma'am. Call us if you need help'
She waved him off and got into the car. She pulled out the list and continued her virtual invitations. She had to repeat the story over and over again and the more she said that this was what she wanted, she felt like she was convincing herself more than anyone else.
'You're what?!' a husky laugh came from Girish as he asked. 'Knowing you, the little sweetheart that you are, you don't even know the meaning of marriage other than the dresses, the food and pictures. Eh?'
Again stunned to silence she cut the call and took a long drive to ease her troubled mind. Not even a single friend thought she was getting married so young. When she reached the service station, it was obviously closed. Although she wanted to curse herself and get back on the road, she dialled her dad's number and waited.
How many times had she done this.?At every confused cross road, and at every problem her only solution was calling her father to fish her out. She never solved it on her own; wait, she didn't even face problems. Wasn't allowed to face. She cut the call and sat inside the car with the engine on. Internal imbalance disrupted anger within her, deeply hidden among the years of living the rich life.
'Why am I getting married? Is that my purpose in this life? To get married?' her eyes stung as she realized she was going to cry for real and not on some stage.
'Rachana was right, I don't know what my destiny is? What am doing with my life!'
The tipping point had arrived, and just like every emotionally contained person she burst and hit the accelerator.
Continue to page 4!
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