4 │Turmoil within Me

https://youtu.be/pLxtNRA3grg

[Listen to the above music while reading. You will definitely get the vibes. And read slowly to let it sweep in]

I was completely engrossed in my thoughts, pondering over the incident that happened in the woods, when I was suddenly jolted out of my mental reverie by a voice so sweet and melodious that it caught me completely off guard. 

The voice was like a songbird's, gentle and soothing, yet with an underlying strength that made it impossible to ignore. It was as though the voice had the power to transport me to a world of pure bliss, free from all the worries and tensions of my mundane existence. The sound was like a warm embrace, enveloping me in its comforting aura and making me feel safe and protected.

"Shravani, are you okay?" Sitting next to me, my mother placed her palm on my forehead to check my temperature and spoke in a gentle voice that immediately put me at ease.

I opened my mouth to speak, but the words caught in my throat as I struggled to find the right ones. My mother looked at me with concern etched on her face, waiting for me to finish my sentence.

Finally, I managed to say,

"Mummy, I'm completely fine just..." I trailed off, my thoughts consumed by the events that had taken place in the woods. Despite my inner turmoil, I decided to keep it a secret and remained silent.

"Just what Reina?" My mother's eyes locked onto mine, her concern evident as she leaned in closer to me. Her voice was soft but insistent.

I felt a lump form in my throat as I struggled to find the right words, my mind racing with conflicting thoughts and emotions. Despite my hesitation, my mother's unwavering gaze encouraged me to speak up and share what was on my mind.

I flashed her a quick smile to hide my inner turmoil.

"Nothing, Mummy" I lied. "I was just wondering what you were making for dinner."

The truth was, I didn't want to share what had happened in the woods with anyone, not even my mother. It wasn't just my secret to keep, but someone else's too.

I could sense that my mother wasn't entirely convinced by my lie, but she chose to drop the matter for the time being. Her eyes held a hint of concern, and I knew that she was attuned to my mood, even if I wasn't ready to share my troubles with her. 

Despite my relief that the conversation was over, I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for deceiving my mother. I knew that I would have to find a way to make it up to her, somehow.

"Wo surprise hai beta!" My mother exclaimed with a wide grin on her face. I couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and joy seeing her so happy amid all this chaos. It was an unexpected but welcomed surprise. My mother's face lit up as she rummaged through the shopping bag, her eyes sparkling with excitement. (Translation: It's a surprise dear)

"Here, check out these kurtas and lehengas," she said, pulling out a handful of colorful garments.

"I picked them out for you, hoping that you'll like them!" Her tone was light and playful, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth at the sight of her happiness.

As she spread out the kurtas before me, I admired the intricate designs and bold patterns, feeling a sense of appreciation for my mother's keen eye for fashion.

My mother's eyes filled with tears as she heard those words and felt the emotions behind them. She pulled me into a tight embrace, showering me with kisses on my head.

"Have you finished making me cry?" My mother uttered, her tears drying up and a grin slowly spreading across her face, lighting up her eyes.

She was an angel with humor. I started to laugh with her at her comment.

Growing up, my parents never explicitly said those three little words that mean the world to a child - "I love you."

But their actions spoke louder than any words ever could. From the way they tucked me in at night to the countless sacrifices they made for our family, it was clear that their love for me knew no bounds. And even though they may not have said it out loud, I always knew deep down that I was loved.

Their love was undeniable, yet they never mustered the courage to utter those three simple yet powerful words to one another.

It was as if they were afraid of revealing the depth of their feelings, afraid of what might happen if they let themselves be vulnerable. But their actions spoke louder than words ever could, and it was clear to anyone who saw them together that they were meant to be. They didn't need to say "I love you" to know it was true.

Despite the constant disagreements and conflicts between them, they made an effort to work through their issues and I was relieved to see that they didn't give up on each other.

I could sense that my father was troubled by something, but I didn't want to upset him by prying for details.

At first, I wasn't sure if I could truly pick up on emotions with precision. However, after receiving the letter, my doubts were put to rest. The confirmation within its words solidified my belief in my ability to sense and understand the feelings of others.

My mind kept wandering back to the incident in the woods, but just as I was about to get lost in my thoughts, a familiar voice called out my name, snapping me back to reality.

"Hey Reina, guess what? Your aunt just called me with some amazing news. Qala's engagement is officially happening! Can you believe it? I am beyond thrilled!" My mom was always the life of the party and loved going to events. She was such a social butterfly.

"You have to come with me to the boutique. We will be shopping for the ceremony." My mother chirped in while calling the boutique to let them know we would come.

I had a cousin named Qala, she just turned 26. Can you believe it? Time flies. Anyway, I'm so happy for her because she finally found her one true love.

It's such a blessing to see her so happy and in love. I remember when we were younger, she used to always dream about finding her soulmate and now, she's living that dream. Life is truly amazing, isn't it?

Her future husband, Arin, was a man of great strength, much like his name suggests. Despite facing numerous challenges and hardships in his life, he persevered with the resilience and fortitude of a mountain. As an orphan, he had learned to rely solely on his inner strength and determination.

She first crossed paths with him at the hospital during her routine check-up. He was a doctor there, tending to patients with care and expertise. From the moment their eyes met, it felt like fate had brought them together. 

Their initial conversations soon blossomed into romantic dates, and before they knew it, they had been together for nearly five years! 

Her parents didn't know she used to meet him or even know him! She used to live alone that's why her parents didn't know.

Our family wasn't the one for love marriages, but I think God made an exception for her. She introduced him to her family one day taking them by surprise. They weren't convinced but with time they understood that he was the one for her. But they had shown society that it was an arranged marriage, as love marriage wasn't in our culture.

As I listened to Qala talk about him, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. She would always encourage me to meet him, but I was hesitant at first. After all, I wasn't one to strike up conversations with strangers. But as I got to know him, I realized that he was a kind and gentle soul.

Despite his towering height and muscular build, he had a gentle demeanor that put people at ease. He even helped me overcome my fear of talking to strangers. He was like the brother I never had, always looking out for me.

But let's not digress. As happy as I was for them, I couldn't help but yearn for that same kind of love and endless care from my soulmate.

As I drifted off to sleep, I couldn't stop thinking about the day when I would finally find my soulmate and experience the same kind of love......

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧