5 Chapter 5: A New Beginning

Akshara's Home:

The house was the same the last time Abhi had seen it, except for the photo frames on the living room; they added more. Akshara gave him a towel to rub his hair and walked to the kitchen to make him some tea. Akshara's grandparents were also sitting in the living room. Abhi sat on a chair and was seeing the photo frames. Her grandmother was busy folding the clothes and her grandfather was staring at him like he had never seen a man's face. Abhi did not know what his expressions were meant for and smiled at him; even though he feared a bit.

Meanwhile Akshara came into the living room carrying two cups of tea, one for him and another for her grandfather. She kept a bowl of milk for TITLE; he drank even though he did not like it. Akshara sat near Abhi, gave him tea and asked, " Were you waiting for me in the rain?" Abhi was silent, he could not speak to her .

" — You could have called us," asked the grandma.

" He cannot speak … Grandma." Akshara said, looking into his eyes. Abhi smiled a little, he was surprised to know that Akshara still believed he cannot speak with anyone except with her; she was not wrong either.

" — They are my grandparents. They are staying with me for a very long time. My parents are visiting pilgrims. They will be back after months or more." said Akshara.

— Abhi sipped his tea and was looking here and there. He was feeling a little nervous, but was happy too. After spending some time with them Abhi walked out of the house. He sat in the truck and looked up at the window before leaving; Akshara smiled through the curtain and waved her hands at him. Abhi's heart was filled with happiness; he drove away happily.

Midnight: Vinnur

That was a windy midnight, Abhi was searching for a coin telephone box to make a call to his Master. He looked for it all over the street lanes and found a telephone box some distance from the bus stop, where people rarely use it. He walked to it and dialled the number from the paper and waited for his master to pick up the call.

" — Hello — ," spoke the Master from the other end.

" Master, I am Abhi." said Abhi.

" — How are you Abhi, did you meet Akshaya?" asked the Master.

"— Yeah … I met her, but could not speak, I felt anxious and my heart was beating very fast when I tried to speak to her. I didn't know what to do." said Abhi.

" — It's been 12 years since you have spoken to her. It's natural for a Man to feel anxious in the beginning to speak with the person they love.

"— What would you expect, after all you are Abhi." laughed Master.

" Yeah … but I didn't know I liked this Anxiety" said Abhi, smiling.

Master laughed again and said, "— Turned Poetic, very nice. Remember Abhi, you are now 24, don't waste your time, express your feelings. Be a real man, take time, find ways to express yourself." said Master.

After having a long funny conversation with the Master, Abhi drove back to the farmhouse.

Morning:

Abhi woke up with a fresh morning. He dashed across the street to see Akshara; his idea was to drop her at the school. He parked his truck just a little distance from the bus stop where he saw Akshara was sitting in the bus stop waiting for the bus. She was spending her time staring at people passing by; it was her daily thing. Abhi wanted her to see him and pressed the truck horn. Akshara heard the truck horn; she turned to see where it was coming from, and her eyes slightly moved to the left. She saw a truck, it was Abhi's — he was waiting for her. Akshara did not expect Abhi to show up there — she smiled and walked to him.

Abhi slightly bent to the left and opened the truck door. He looked into her eyes deeply and signed with his eyes to sit. Akshara smiled, and sat in the front seat.

" — You are still here — ?" asked Akshara

" — I thought you left," she said again.

Abhi smiled and nodded, no.

" — You are staying here," asked Akshara.

Abhi nodded, yes.

"Where is TITLE", she asked.

Abhi looked back smiling. TITLE was sitting in the backside. He was enjoying his favorite game, chasing the flies.

— Abhi drove the truck straight to the school.

While Abhi was busy driving the truck — Akshara was talking to him continuously; like a gabby. Abhi was not speaking; he was just listening to her — he enjoyed her conversation no matter if it was useful or unrelated.

— After travelling for almost 10 kms they arrived at the school where Akshara worked as a teacher.

She got off the truck, said, " Bye" to them and walked inside the school. Abhi waited there until she walked inside and returned back to his home.

— Abhi has no work to do. He spent his day helping the farm keeper and cleaning the house —.

That evening, Akshara was at the school's bus stop; waiting for the bus. She noticed a maxi truck was coming on the road; it was Abhi's — she was surprised and happy to see it. She knew it was Abhi coming to pick her up.

Abhi parked his truck at the other side of the road and waited for Akshara to come up. Akshara slowly crossed the road, and walked to the truck.

"— You've come for me — ," she asked.

Abhi looked at her and smiled. He again signed with his eyes, telling her to sit.

Akshara sat in the truck; she was really happy.

They headed back to Vinnur. Abhi stopped his truck a little far from her house.

" Are you coming Tomorrow," she asked, staring into his eyes.

Abhi took a notebook from his desk. He wrote, " If you wish" on it, and showed it to her. Akshara looked at it.

" hmm … do you need any occasion to speak with me?" she asked.

— Abhi smiled —.

" don't smile ... answer me ... can't you speak with me too?" she asked a little worriedly.

" I thought this was a dream. You came to me running … You gave me tea … you sat in my truck — was that real?" asked Abhi.

" hmm … no". Forget that … it was your imagination …" she said naughtily getting off the truck.

" See you tomorrow at the bus stop …" said Abhi.

Akshara smiled, said bye to them and walked away to her house. TITLE jumped from the backside and sat down in the front seat.

It became a daily routine for Abhi to drop and pick Akshara at her school. The love for her grew stronger day to day. He decided to tell her about his feelings. Many times he tried, but he could not. He feared if she rejected him. He knew he cannot live without her. He waited to see her for almost 12 years. He wanted to spend his entire life with her — it was his only hope.

Akshara also gradually got used to him. She even visited his house once and cooked for him. She always had a nice day spending time with him and TITLE. Their closeness sometimes explained their friendship — It did not change even after years.

Night:

Abhi was not feeling sleepy. He sat on the front door and was looking at the sky. TITLE was sleeping on his lap. He ruffled his hair and said,

" I have to express my feelings to Akshara TITLE. But how? I am afraid if she rejects me. We have to find ways, before it's late. "

Morning:

It was a very sunny day. Somewhere at the School premises. Abhi and TITLE could be seen standing on the hill and his truck was parked somewhere at the roadside.

" Akshara, yes, I can speak. I know this is the best moment in your life. You are surprised to see me talking. Believe me, this is not a dream. If you love me, Take these flowers and accept my love." said Abhi standing on one knee.

— A moment of silence passed; TITLE spread his teeth and chased Abhi who was wasting his time talking to a tree.

— Abhi was having the best day. He learned a variety of ways to express his feelings for Akshara. The day passed so fast, and it turned into an evening; Abhi plucked some blanket flowers on the hill and waited for Akshara at the school entrance. He took an oath, and decided to propose to her. Yet, as she walked towards him, his heart began to feel anxious, sweaty, and nervous, and almost stopped dead when she sat in the truck.

Akshara saw the flowers in his hands. She grabbed them, and said with a smile, "— These are for me, Thank you".

"— Abhi, are you okay — " she asked again worriedly.

Abhi put his head out of the window, took a breath and murmured, "— yes". TITLE barked suddenly. Abhi already lost his confidence, he did not bother why he barked and drove the truck silently.

Sunday Morning:

As every Sunday, Akshara and her grandparents visited the church. She didn't go anywhere and went home straight after the prayer. Her home was the only place to spend every Sunday. On the other side, Abhi was still sleeping, rolled inside his blanket without waking up. Farm keeper was nowhere to be seen, he visited his village every sunday. After sometime TITLE came to him. He held the blanket with his teeth and tried to pull it, and Abhi, too, tried hard to hold it with his hands. Almost five minutes after their fight, Abhi opened his blanket, looked at the TITLE and said, "What is the use of waking up? Why meet Akshara when I can't express to her. I'm the cheater. Eh, not being able to express your feelings to the person you love is like cheating. So I'm not going anywhere, just sleeping, Good night, "Abhi said, rolling his blanket again.

TITLE barked, "Bow, O' Bow." Abhi opened his blanket again and said, "You mean, you want me to go straight to her house and deal."

"— Bow," TITLE barked again.

Without wasting a second, Abhi freshened up, started his truck and drove to Akshara's house. He parked his truck at his regular place.

"— You stay here …" said Abhi looking at TITLE.

"I 'm going to knock on the door, and when she opens I will propose to her like we have planned" said Abhi again.

He took a deep breath, stepped into the front yard, and tried to knock on the door.

"— Are you looking for me? "Akshara said suddenly from behind.

Out of surprise, Abhi turned his head back. He saw Akshara. She folded her hands and was staring at him. Abhi grinned, gave her the flowers he brought to her and stopped silent. TITLE jumped off the truck and said in his mind, "You will never change" and walked into the house in front of them.

"— Grandpa and Grandma will be back soon," said Akshara walking to the kitchen. TITLE was playing in the yard — Abhi was sitting in the living room, and Akshara was in the kitchen. Abhi turned at the kitchen to see Akshara, but she was not visible. He moved his chair a little at a place, where he could see Akshara in the kitchen.

At the same time, Akshara slowly peeped her head from the kitchen and saw Abhi who was sitting in the living room. She knew that Abhi was staring at her.

" Can you help me out in the kitchen?" She asked, smiling.

Without thinking a second, Abhi rushed from his place and came into the kitchen. It was the first time for Abhi to spend his time alone with Akshara.

Akshara was cutting vegetables and Abhi was busy staring at her eyes constantly. His heart was beating fastly; he could not believe he would be spending a day with her in the kitchen. Akshara suddenly moved her eyes at Abhi — she slowly walked to him. Abhi did not know what she's going to do with him, and his heart started beating very fast. She came very close to his body, looked into his eyes and made eye contact. Abhi could sense her breath; probably the best feeling he could ever have experienced in his life. She slowly moved her head from his neck and went down to his heart — turned her face slightly right — kept her ear on his chest — closed her eyes and said, " — Your heart is beating very fast Abhi —".

Suddenly from nowhere Akshara's Grandparents appeared in the living room. They were stunned to see the scene and tried to anticipate what was going on there. Akshara looked at her Grandpa; her face turned red. she smiled at them and moved back to cut the vegetables.

Abhi slowly walked from the kitchen, gestured namasthe to them and sat on the chair like nothing had happened. Akshara's Grandfather stared at him the same way when he saw him for the first time. With lots of difficulties it turned into an evening — that was a very difficult evening for Abhi. He wanted to smile, but had to pretend normal. He walked out of the house finally to leave. Akshara walked to the upstairs and TITLE was already sitting in the truck.

Meanwhile, Akshara's grandmother came to Abhi.

"— You love my granddaughter, Am I right?" she whispered in his ears. Abhi smiled with a mix of love and surprise. He sat in his truck and waited for Akshara to wave bye at him. Like everytime Akshara waved bye from the window's curtain.

With a heart full of joy and memories Abhi drove to his home.

Like every Sunday, Abhi was very excited to meet Akshara at her house. He locked the door and walked out. But, To his surprise he noticed someone was already waiting for him at the farm gate; it was Akshara's Grandfather. Abhi was very shocked as well as pleased to see him at his place. With a big smile on his face, he walked to him and gestured, Namasthe.

"— Can we have a little Walk Abhi?" he asked.

With a surprise Abhi nodded his head, Yes.

" I don't know if it is right to say, but I request you not meet Akshara anymore." he said.

Abhi stopped a little. He was not expecting this to hear. His face turned sad, took a breath and looked at him. He wanted to speak but he couldn't.

" I know you are sad. But, I cannot imagine my granddaughter's future with you.

"I cannot accept someone who cannot speak. I hope I was not wrong" he said, looking at him.

Abhi wiped his tears behind his eyes and nodded his head silently.

" I already have someone in my mind, he is a distant relative to me, if everything will be okay, he will be marrying Akshara".

"By the way, Akshara is just your friend. She never said that she loves you. But, I know you love her. The more you love the more you hurt." said Grandpa walking away from there.

Abhi wanted to speak with him but he couldn't — his fear did not let him do it. He stopped dead — his heart was broken. He forced a smile on his face, but he couldn't. All of a sudden, tears rolled from his eyes. He felt like his dreams were shattered. All his happiness was snatched away.

Abhi's eyes turned red, his throat filled with pain. He walked to the farm gate and sat outside. TITLE sensed Abhi was not feeling happy. He walked to him, wagged his tail and tried to console, but Abhi was not responding, he was silent, but the tears were still rolling from his eyes.

It turned evening; The white sky slowly covered with red clouds and the sounds of swoop of cranes was clearly audible. The cool evening wind was ruffling his hair, but this time it signified an unhappy atmosphere. Abhi slowly looked at the sky and said, " — He was right TITLE? Those who cannot speak with others are unworthy to expect love. After all, I am Abhi. He would have thought at least if I could have spoken with him" said Abhi, with tears from his eyes.

On the other hand, Akshara did not know why Abhi had not come to her house. She sat in the front yard and was looking at the swoop of cranes flying in the sky. She was not feeling happy, her eyes clearly explained she was missing Abhi very badly. She looked at the gate and hoped Abhi would be shown, but he did not.

With an unhappy atmosphere the red clouds turned into night. Abhi was still sitting at the main gate and Akshara was sitting on the terrace. Suddenly, her grandma shouted, " — Akshara, come down, it's already late.

Here Abhi walked into the farmhouse and sat under an orchard tree. TITLE was lying on his lap — he was also sad to see his master crying.

Midnight:

The entire village was covered with fog and no sign of villagers were shown. Akshara was not feeling sleepy. She slowly opened her blanket — got down from her bed — sneaked from the stairs — opened the front door and walked out of the house carefully without making any noise.

Without wasting a second she ran straight to the farm road where Abhi was staying. The farm was almost 1km far from her house, but she did not fear and her heart was dying to meet Abhi. With much difficulty Akshara reached the farm. She looked for Abhi at the farmhouse— but he was not shown. She turned her face at every corner. Luckily she saw Abhi — he was sitting under the orchard tree. She slowly walked towards him and cleared her throat calmly.

" Abhi" she said in a low and gentle voice. Abhi heard the voice — He looked back surprisingly.

For a second he could not believe, it was Akshara waiting for him. Immediately, His face turned from sad to happy. He wiped his tears.

Akshara looked at him. There was a strange thing in his hands — it looked like a letter. She grabbed it with her hands. Even though it was dark, the moonlight and stars were enough to read the letter.

She opened the letter to read — it was written, "I will be mising you Akshara".

" — spelling mistake, Abhi, " she said smiling.

The letter read … " I know you don't love me, but I will always love you".

Akshara felt the letter was more funny than emotional. She kept her left fingers at her lips and smiled. The smile clearly showed the affection she has towards him.

" Did I say, I don't love you?" she asked, smiling.

she said again worriedly, " I don't know what has happened to you Abhi. But promise me, you won't leave me."

With a big smile on his face Abhi bowed on her. It was already late at night, but they both walked on the roads. Akshara began her pointless stories and Abhi was happily listening to her. His heart was overjoyed to see his most loved person that night. They covered the entire village and finally reached Akshara's home.

Abhi was standing on the road staring at her. Akshara opened the yard gate and walked in. Suddenly, She looked back. She walked slowly over to him — came very close to his body — looked into his eyes; almost for two minutes. Abhi did not know what she was going to do. He could sense her breath. Akshara closed her eyes and slowly kissed Abhi on his lips. Abhi never expected Akshara would kiss him. He closed his eyes and experienced the first kiss of his life.

Unexpectedly a sad day finally turned to be a beautiful one — thanks to the Swoop of Cranes, Grandfather, Moonlight and whoever was responsible.

Akshara opened her eyes, looked at him and said, " Never ask yourself again, if I love you". She again kissed him on his cheeks and walked to her house happily.

Abhi did not know what had happened. He started walking to his farm very happily — he was in his own imagination and was enjoying his first kiss experience. Suddenly from nowhere he saw TITLE walking next to him. Abhi looked at TITLE out of surprise and asked, " You were with us too … ?

TITLE spread his teeth and chased Abhi who ignored him.