“I bobbed a Curtsy to Almighty, That Day!” – I

“I’m leaving...” Her letter stated, I read it several times before in a hope to find a reason of it. Deep inside, I had a regret of being one of the possible reasons of it.

With this all, I was left to regret since past two years. It had been terrible days without her, without my charmer. Kavita, my best friend. She taught me to be what you want, not what pleases others.

Friends, they always have unconditional love. We have joy, moments we like to share with them. It was all with her in school, in tuition.

“Your laughter echoes in my mind,

  Your words please my heart,

  Your winks glitter my space,

  You were the friend I only got.”

“Hurry, we are late.” Matashri said. It was a day before Rama Navmi. The celebration of the birth of 7th avatar of almighty was beginning. And I was like a hibernating reptile; dull, still and cold.

“Ma, you know me very well. I don’t go to such places.” I responded in brief. I had a handful days of vacation left to stick around my idiot box. All I do whole day is to watch CID, Game of Thrones and few South Indian films. Nothing seemed so important than to ponder about her.

“Vivek” Matashri shouted out loud in anger. She was wearing red sari, suited best. She was looking beautiful. She was my angel; my living Goddess. Meanwhile, I had turned atheist towards the almighty, he knew the reason. I somehow managed to load up my 50 kegs of organic stuff with soul to the temple.

I was standing at his doorstep. I had been there for years in hope of little desires to cherish me with. But with things he snacked unreasonably I was bound to let him know my sourness towards my fate and him. Matashri stepped in but my heart rebelled.

Every lady there was at her best, holding worship salver having budding flowers, sand hill of wet rice, colors and many more. I had been in love with it. They unite us.

“We perform rituals just to make you kids know the greatness of almighty.” Dada Ji used to say. I had been his follower, for his heartwarming stories and his mentoring words. He is an ideal person I ever had.

We went back home in silence. Shit! I had missed my favorite show; Game of Thrones.

I had pretty much time to kill so I went ahead to facebook, the showstopper.

27 notifications mostly tagged pictures and few likes, 4 friend requests, 3 pokes and 2 messages. I went to messages first.

Bommana: Why are you so desperate to have your BFF by your side?

She had probably surfed down my numerous statuses about my friends, my heart outs. I surfed down her profile. She had handful of friends, all of them with weird names. It was like dead account or a fake one. Studies at ‘University of Glasgow, UK’, it showed. What makes her message me from oceans away? She was trying hard to be a mystery girl.

Me: Because they had made a way to my heart for forever.

Bommana: Sounds creepy.

Me: Whatever.

I had a mood swing and I quickly deactivated my account. I didn’t want this conversation to last long.

“Your mother said you haven’t gone inside the temple today.” Dada Ji questioned sitting beside me.

“Does it matter?” I asked, making myself comfortable inside the blanket. It’s freaky cold outside.

“To me, Yes. I want you to take my place sooner, before I die.” He started blackmailing me. That has been his ultimate weapon like a nuclear bomb. It smashes my determinations into pieces. The reason; I love him.

“What you want Dada Ji?” I chuckled and he smiled. I have turned smarter. I am not that small little fellow whom he would fool and make him eat two chapattis saying he just had a half one. I turned 18, this January. Adult.

“To perform every ritual what I had been doing for years. It is supposed to be your heredity now. It will keep you lively and grounded.”

“Alright!” I yelled, with the least interest.

Next morning, he wakes me up and bath with ice-water. This is torture, inhumanity. He took me the room which I hadn’t been to since ages. It was isolated.

“What in there?” I asked pointing at the box. It was dusted, old and locked.

“See it yourself.” He said giving me the key tied to his sacred thread. It might be something close to him.

I hurried cleaned the dust and unlocked it. I was stunned. It had a sword, few old clothes and a photo of old man. The photo belonged to Dada Ji’s father. It was epic to me. The sword seemed quite fascinating but it was losing its shining lying in there. Box had old stuffs reflecting our history.

“I am taking it all to my room.” I said grinning. They deserved a better place. I had been a vivid listener to the real stories Dada Ji used to tell and were very fascinating.

Later morning, we were ready for Puja to begin. Matashri was happy seeing me doing something out of nothing. Though, she never shows it but I can sense it. We are bloody family after all.

“Before we go ahead, I want you to undress your feeling towards almighty like your soaks.” He was talking about the bitterness planted inside my heart. For you Dada Ji, I can.

“I want you to be patience, silent and devoted.” He continued. He was dressed in fade yellow collarless shirt and sarong.

“All you need is to bow to almighty with devotion and things will turn better.” He kept on adding instructions.

“Huh, I can bet against it.” I chuckled. He ignored.

However, it was turned out to be good day, a celebration day. Dada unfolded few mantras to me. I had to spell them along with him.

2 Days later, I had my JEE-MAINS results and I didn’t make through them. I was in shock. I had managed to study well and be a regular in classes. But I lost it for sake of 3 marks. I couldn't qualify for JEE-ADVANCED. It burst out my anger, my displeasure to GOD. He was deaf, as usual, ever.

I was for sure, not had been in list of people be considered, to be graced with something good. He was making a fun out of my life. Few of my friends did well in exam. Meanwhile, I was left with taunts. Life seemed to be more like dead. That’s how he pays off to my prayers.

I was back in Kota, the education hub. I was already enrolled to ALLEN Career Institute, the best here, that’s what they proclaimed.

“Vivek, I have a parcel for you.” House owner shouted. Parcel? This was something odd. I don’t get these stuffs, never.

It was from my home. I couldn’t find anything but a newspaper dated a month ago. To confirm, I called Matashri. She said none them had send it. I turned down every page carefully. I found another envelope. It had a smiley on the cover. It is being mysterious and hell weird.

“Hey Vivu, How’s you? I have surprise. I am coming to Kota.

Reactivate your ID and send me your number, right away.

Bommana”

TO BE CONTINUED...

Vivek K. Tiwari

Y15 Undergraduate, The LNMIIT