Chapter- 31

Hrida felt the room temperature decrease rapidly and within a few seconds, the room became as chilly as a winter night, she rubbed her arms repeatedly while moving forward although her legs felt heavy and cold.

But she could sense Tapish's pain as he was being crushed under the unintentional pressure on Tapish's body by his arms. Hrida kept moving but her steps felt slow as she moved near the temperature decreased by 1 degree Celsius, she heard his pleading 'meows', Tapish even decorated Divit's arms with scratches but his arms grip didn't loosen even a bit, he just kept offering him the food items and didn't even notice her looming closer to him. 

Hrida announced her presence by snapping fingers in front of him, Divit gasped, she could sense his desperation and helplessness clearly evident in his form, taking advantage of the moment, Tapish almost escaped from his grip but then Divit stamped his feet on his tail, Tapish growls in pain, he tries to escape but he couldn't.

Tapish groans in pain, the wounds on the tail have been healed but the pain still lingers on his tail, now his pain increased beyond his tolerance limit. Hrida couldn't tolerate it anymore, she warned him with a threatening tone, " Remove your feet right now, you are hurting him. Tapish has his own will and lets him decide with whom he wants to live. You can't like some ringmaster."

Tapish's pain heightened, and Hrida's chest tightened, she tried to move forward, then Divit's anxiousness reached its peak, his torso expanded, his arms were turning ink-black, the deep ink-black hue slowly spread over his body and Tapish's painful meows increased, everything was whirling her mind, she knew only one fact at that time; If Divit is fully stained in the ink-black shade then the possibility of him turning back to normal will be even less than 1%. 

Hrida tried to divert his mind, She called for his attention by loudly calling out his name, and she succeeded in distracting him. His pupils were shaking, his eyes were fading into a void of black, he snickers while staring at Hrida's face, then suddenly talks in a slurpy tone," Hrida…Hrida…Hrida. You look so weak right now yet your aura is radiating so bright, I want that light."

Hrida steps back a little hearing his comment because she recognized this tone very well, her eyes shifted towards Tapish, who was being tormented for no reason. Hrida stepped forward again, took a long deep breath, and jumped into the decision that her heart told her to. 

Hrida pranced upon Divit, completely surprising him with her unexpected action, causing him to step back a little because of her powerful hug, meanwhile, Tapish is released from his grip. She hugged him tight, Divit stood stiff for a moment, then he realized and tried to push her away but she kept her hold tight yet soft. Hrida could feel the ink-black shadows trying to poke under her skin despite that she didn't withdraw from him.

Divit hisses in a creepy tone," Let go of me. I don't…I won't let you take my cat away from me. You can't stop me. I will not let you steal my cat. I WILL NOT GIVE HIM BACK. LET GO OF ME ! "

Hrida refuses with an adamant tone," I won't let go of you. I won't..I won't…and I won't. You are not alone. Your parents and friends abandoned you that doesn't mean you are not worthy of people's love. I know what it feels like when parents just throw you away when you are of no use.

I know. I also feel pain, betrayal, and heartache but I know that I am not alone. I have Tapish, Shashi, Soma, Shashi's mom, Lakshman Bhaiya ( Brother), Soma's mom, and most importantly God and now, I also have you….only if you want to be friends with me.

But only if you want to be our friend, mine and Tapish's, you have your own will. Whether you want to be friends or not, it's okay, but remember that you are not alone, you can count us two in, whom you can rely on. " Her sentences silenced his movement, his resistance evaporated, and he hugged her back strongly and suddenly burst into tears, she let him weep, consoling him with soft pats on his back.

Hrida feels emotional hearing his desperate cry, a cry of wanting to belong, a cry of being cared for by someone, a cry of having someone in his life upon whom he can share his stories, and feelings and rely upon, a cry of finally releasing the abandonment pain. Tapish rubs his head against her leg to comfort her pain.

His cries slowly diminished completely, but still, she didn't let go of him, Hrida spoke in a soft gentle tone while giving soft pats on his back, " Divit, listen carefully to what I am going to say right now. Just listen, okay?

I know how it feels when you don't know where you belong when you don't know what is truth and what is lie. I also feel I don't belong anywhere although I have lovely people in my circle but still, I don't have a place to call home.

I constantly run to find my truth in the hope that someday I would find it and I found it in this place but sadly my truth is not sweet or bitter rather it is the poisoned truth of my life that killed my joy, happiness, hopes, and everything except for hope still burning in my heart.

You know, when we know our truth, whether it be bitter, sweet, or poison at least we can now think about what to do next with our life. Truth and healing are never easy to deal with but if you endure it, then you are given the chance to live your new truth. Your parents, and friends did horrible things to you but why are you being horrible to yourself by keeping that pain within?

I will not let you go, you can crumble on me, and share your pain, but I am there. Pleaseee.."

Divit shares with brokenness," I don't know your name but I know that you are Tapish's sister, so Tapish's sister, I don't want to be in pain but pain somehow is glued to my heart, I am not able to release it. I had a happy family, I used to do everything in a perfect way, which they admired about me.

But one small mistake led me apart from them, just because I told them that I didn't want to follow what they wanted me to become, they thought I revolted against their family, so, they discarded me from their family and trickily brought me here to suffer…alone.

I was devastated for days and months and I couldn't accept that they left me. I became angry, upset, possessive, and scared, no kid here thinks that I am worthy of being someone's friend. So, I always have been searching for a person/ animal/ something where I can belong.

Today, when I saw Tapish, I felt that maybe he would be my friend, after all, cats are lovely calm beings. And, I love animals, dogs, cats, etc. But I went too far from stealing a brother from a sister, I am sorry. I really am sorry. I just don't know..what/ where do I belong? "

Hrida smiles and makes him understand," Divit. Do you have short-term memory loss? A minute ago I said that I and Tapish are always there for you, so about your question, it's obvious that you belong to yourself.

Divit, we don't need to belong or ground us to something/someone because love, people, and dreams are not meant to be stuck in the ground, it is meant to fly, not literally though…Pfft...

The people you care about or love, the dreams or hopes that you love are not meant to be confined but wander free but not alone rather alongside your dreams, your friends, your hopes, your emotions, etc.

So, Divit, I want to ask you again with pure heart, would you be my friend? And about Tapish being your friend, don't you think you need to say something to him first? Hmm? " Saying this, she withdrew from his arms but didn't let go and held his hands instead to encourage him,

Divit kneels on the ground holds his ear with both hands, and apologizes in a genuine tone to Tapish," I am sorry, Tapish bro. I went way too far with my actions. I even cause you so much pain. I don't know if you will forgive me or not, however, I apologize to you, Tapish from the depth of my heart."

Tapish remains ignorant, and Hrida waits for his reaction, eventually, Tapish slowly crawls near him and jumps over his lap, places his paws over his arms, and lets out an apologetic meow for his scratches. Divit laughs, Hrida is in awe at Tapish's action, she hugs them both, and the trio shares a worth-melting moment.

After that, she, Tapish, and Divit spend a good time entertaining Aaban, but the departure time arrives ultimately, Hrida assures Divit that she is not leaving him behind but instead, she is going back to her place, where she is currently staying at the moment, she promises him that they will soon meet again. Divit easily understood her situation and let her go.

Hrida and Tapish are walking away from the Orphanage because she knows that she can't stay here because she needs to find her home now, she wants to have a place of her own. She was lost in her thoughts, so he couldn't see Tapish's sudden halt as he felt a sharp pain in his tail.

Hrida didn't notice his halt, she strumbled and was going to face the ground but a young lady stabled her balance with her hands before she could hit the ground. 

Hrida thanked her, and then that lady ( Caretaker of the Orphanage house) came to greet that lady who saved Hrida from falling," Navya beta (Child), It is great to see you gain. Your visits are what we all patiently wait for. The Kids here were asking me constantly about what surprise she was going to give since you hinted to them that you have a surprise for them by next week.

But, seriously, Navya, you are the source of happiness for these kids, they really admire you. Ohh.. Hrida, do you know who this Didi is?

She is Navya, she is a psychologist, who can read people, isn't that cool power? Navya here has been helping our kids, helping them build their character, shaping their experience, and making them see their own reflections. Some of the children are improving a lot, still, few of them are resistant to this but Navya didn't give up, she always takes out one day every week for these kids." 

Hrida is really inspired by Navya Didi's profession, and her love for kids, she wants to know more about this Didi, but she remembers that Tapish and she were going back to the Temple.  She greets her goodbye but Navya's request stills her stance.

She pauses for a minute long and then speaks in a curious tone," You really want to know me? Didi, can I ask you how you became a psychologist and what is it about, I mean I have a rough idea about the profession of Psychology. It really piques my interest." 

Navya instantly accepts her request, she leads her to the swing, where they sit and swing back and forth smoothly and Tapish is relaxing on the bench near the swing. Navya observed Hrida's happy expression when she was excitedly swinging back and forth, she felt a smile creep on her lips.

Navya saw it all, her eyes revealed everything to her, pain, betrayal, hurt, loneliness, loss, brokenness, anger, and insecurity hidden behind the wall of normalcy in her eyes, and her body language.

Navya knew that Hrida needed her and she felt something like she had seen her somewhere before. She silently grasps Hrida's profile of character, and her story by having an interactive conversation with her.

Hrida asks with child-like wonder eyes, " Didi, the caretaker lady said that you can read people. Is that really possible? I mean, how can someone read without knowing them? Isn't it some kind of superpower? But superpower comes with great responsibility to handle. You are so cool, bold, and elegant. "

Navya chuckles, " It is kind of a superpower and yes, we can read people's emotions, feelings, or thought processes because we have studied a lot of books, observed people's body language, posture, hand gestures, brain process, different human personalities, their different coping mechanisms and many more.

We can read someone by having a keen observation of them. And I must admit, you are a wise teen, I admire that. Now, my turn, So, tell me, what are you doing here ?"