Chapter 294

Diya, Pryag, Chari and his wife were seated on the dining table relaxing after dinner as Pryag wanted to discuss something. She wondered what it would be as she had pretended that she had heard him and was totally in par with him in the restaurant. He wanted her to be there when he explained it to his parents and he was pretty sure that they were going to object. She thought about many things, like getting a register marring instead of a traditional marriage, him going back to his old job which required a lot of travel and she was not sure what else it could be. She knew that for the second option he needed doctor's clearance which she knew for a fact he was not going to get, at least for an year or so. For the first one, well! His mom would object a little but she would be happy that he is getting married and would be happy with a pooja at home and a reception. So she was not quiet sure what was it that he had been talking about that his parents would not approve. It also puzzled her more that he had also asked her if she was absolutely sure about it. She hated the suspense, it was a torture, not knowing what she had agreed to and pretending that she knew what he was talking about. Chari seemed relaxed and Pryag waited for his mother to finish cutting the apples. It felt like he was sure that she would cut her hand instead of the apples if he says something. Diya looked calm on the outside and was going crazy on the inside. It felt like it was talking for ever to cut the apples but she can't really show her restlessness. She sat there sipping a glass of water to calm herself down. When Chari's wife was done with her apples and offered it to everyone in a plate, Pryag started talking. He started with a general casual talk and it took a while for him to get to the point. Diya tried to concentrate on the apples that were offered to her. They were red delicious, perfectly ripe. The seeds were removed and were sliced into nice equal wedges and were arranged in a plate like a nice flower. The skin was not too thick but just right.

Pryag slowly started talking about him and Diya and she gave her undivided attention. "Me and Diya have been engaged for a while now. And as you know we are not the traditional couple and nor the circumstances surrounding us are traditional. Mom, I know you don't approve of a lot of things I do. But that doesn't mean I don't respect you or anything, it’s just that I look at things differently. Especially after all the recent events, i would like to live my life to the fullest. I have discussed about this with Diya already and she seems to be supportive of my wishes and I am very glad to have someone so understanding and loving in my life and to share my life with. We are yet to set a date for our wedding" he paused. Diya thought to herself, "Oh my God, what did I agree to. Did I agree to elope with him or something? I want a grand wedding. I am not ready to marry him right now. I just need some time. Maybe early next year we can set a date. Oh! God. What did I agree to?" her face was slowly starting to change into a question mark. Pryag ran his fingers through Diya's that was rested on the table and smiled at her. Then he continued, "I love Diya very much and I know what I am going to say is very untraditional and unconventional from your perspective but it makes a lot of sense to me. I have decided to move in with Diya and she doesn't have any objections." Diya almost chocked on the piece of apple that was in her mouth. Chari's face was expressionless and sat there motionless. His wife on the other hand was in total shock. For the very first time Diya noticed how big her eyes really were; they were red and here lips were quivering unable to speak. She looked at Diya with disappointment and shock; Diya couldn't look her straight in the eye so she turned her face away feeling equally uncomfortable and struggling to hide her shock. She couldn't tell anyone that this was also a shock to her. She had not expected this either. She was worried more about the consequence - either a wedding date will be decided if his parents do not agree, which was more likely and on the other hand, both of them living under the same roof, something she had never thought about until now.

Chapter 293

She was admitted and there were more tests and he stood there besides her every step of the way. She seemed happy in spite of her pain. He was surrounded by a dark hospital room, tubes be everywhere, he felt really trapped and simply wanted to get out. Everything was white, the walls, tiled floor, it was clean but it still felt dirty, it was adjectives really a dream it felt close to him and he wanted to say, "I am sorry if this isn't what you wanted". Horrible. However, he felt as if he was below ground, cold and sterile, within a room. Everything was made of stainless steel. It was awfully modern, bright, and big and the flat screen TV mounted on the wall was pretty cool in deceiving one as if they were home and not in an hospital. She was not there as she was out for some tests and he roamed around the room looking at everything in it. As he felt a little gloomy he walked out of the room and decided to step out to get some fresh air. He looked around and there was nothing interesting out there, a boy riding a bicycle with a back pack which seemed bigger that he was, cars passing by relatively slow as he didn't know the posted speed limit or maybe it was because he was looking a the road next to a hospital. Cars were parked in the hospital parking lot and east side of the parking lot was full and the new cars that entered the building drove towards the north parking lot. He leaned against the half wall with iron railings and gazed into the sky. It was clear, crystal clear. It looked liked it knew exactly what to do, its agenda for the day with not conditions, no expectations and no confusions. He wondered if everyone felt that clear of their life, what was in store for them, especially in a hospital with anticipation and fear. He ran his hand into his pant pocket and leaned back on the half wall facing inside looking into the corridor. His hands brushed against something that was in his pocket. He picked it up and it was a currency, an Australian currency.

Diya had given it to him when she had stayed over and during breakfast they had talked about many things including currencies and different countries. She had mentioned about her brother and his visit to Australia. She had liked it very much and had kept it. It was $1 coin that was introduced in 1984 to replace the $1 note. It featured a kangaroo on one side and Queen Elizabeth II on the reverse, a little thicker, heavier, and of gold color, and with its edge partly knurled. He was not quiet sure how it got into his jeans but could only guess that she must have forgotten it at his place but still couldn't explain how it got there. He ran his fingers through it and starred at it for a while then dropped it back into his back pocket and remembered his last encounter with her at the airport. He liked her very much and at the same time he didn't want to interfere in her life and disrupt her peace. With Carissa back in his life and Diya being engaged to Pryag he knew it was not a smart idea to be around her especially since there was chemistry between them. He enjoyed her company very much but now was not the time and place and there was one thing he was very clear about. He was not going to be the guy coming between her and Pryag and destroy their harmony, that was not right and with Carissa and all the things that had come to light, Diya seemed too far and his thoughts turned slowly towards Carissa. He thought how much she must love him, to hide all these things from him and make herself out be the bad person and live through all these on her own, just because she wanted him to have a life that he wanted and not to give up his dreams for her. He felt an urge to go see her, so he walked backed to the room hoping she would be back.

Chapter 292

The silence that followed that was like a waterfall, a punch, a silent explosion and all three combined into one. When he let out his emotions they were like a hurricane confined within him for years together searching for a let out had finally somehow escaped. After a long silence he couldn't sit there anymore. He got up and walked out of the room not paying any attention to her and closed the door behind him. He walked directly to the bar which was quiet silent with some pleasant music playing on the back ground. If he had paid any attention he would have known that it was one of those Brian Adams earlier albums and might have even enjoyed it. Today was not the day and definitely his emotions were not too friendly as they had not calmed down yet. He ordered an Old Fashioned Tequila and looked around the room trying to calm him down. In the mean time the bar-attender skillfully placed a sugar cube in an Old Fashion glass and saturate with bitters. Then muddled until the sugar dissolved. He then added ice, tequila, and a jigger or two of water. He then stirred well and garnished with lemon twist. An interesting variation that he did was he added an ounce of lime juice and enough additional sugar to sweeten it. He handed it over to Akshar and wiped his hands on the towel next to him. Akshar took a sip and in no time he ordered another. By the time the first one was down he felt a little better. He exhaled, deeply. He breathed inside-out, hoping to feel better. Didn’t do much but seemed better than before. He sat there for a few minutes without realizing small within himself, a knotted, angry muscle in a shell that can’t get out of there was something.

He didn't know how long he had been there and it was quiet late that night when he got back to his room. He turned the TV on and kicked his shoes off and sat on the edge of the bed then grabbed a pillow and relaxed with his legs still hanging out of the bed. He surfed through the channels and nothing was interesting and picked one that was a little better and it was an interview that was going on with some lady who was being interviewed. He didn't know exactly why or what it was about but continued to listen to it. She was saying, "A puzzle takes time and patience to take its form. But after afternoons spent in company of the puzzle, it becomes coherent. A picture forms both in the puzzle and in my heart......" The interviewer asked, "Is it how you look at your life too?" She answered, "Love is a puzzle, confusing and irritating at times. A wave of anticipation crashes as I open the cardboard box. Exited, I pour the little pieces on the table. I spread them out using my fingers. I turn them so that they lie on their backs with their faces gazing at me. And yet, as they sit there, lying bare, they reveal nothing. It is all up to me to figure out. That is the same thing one feels when they fall in love. It is very different the way one experiences and it can be as complicated as a ten thousand piece puzzle or as simple as a five piece one. That is what I discuss in my book when i compare love and puzzle."

"A puzzle" Akshar said. "Love is a puzzle. That is true." Partially listening to what she was saying in the background his thoughts drifted. He thought to himself, "Patience, Friendship, Trust, and Laughs those are the things that I think about and yes maybe as she says I can say that they are the key to solving it maybe like the corner pieces. Then I try to connect them to each other and to the rest of the pieces. But there are too many little details. A piece may fool me into thinking it is the one I look for. But a tiny color difference or a slightly changed edge interrupts the smooth surface. The process is delicate, and if a piece is lost, and then the puzzle is crippled and incomplete. So definitely a puzzle takes time and patience. Once it becomes coherent a picture forms. Unlike love I can frame and hang my puzzle in my living room, on top of the fireplace. That way, every winter night, when the cold wind roars outside, I can sit in front of the fireplace, looking at the puzzle." "And remembering your warmth" she said. He looked up and had not heard Carissa come in when he had been talking out loud and finish his sentence. He seemed much calmer and got up and watched her as she said, "Nothing is the same as it was, and everything is", the dialog he had said when he had proposed to her. He got up and walked towards her and kissed her.