chapter 4

“We are a couple in the eyes of everyone else but the truth is that we had parted ways long ago. That was when I started living for myself. Then the idea of starting a textile firm happened and transformed me from a meek housewife to a mighty entrepreneur.”Eliza’s confident smile was back on her face.“Believe me Chithu, some things change our life for good.”“I can’t spend all my life carrying the burden of a phantom relationship.” Chetana sighed. “I am not as strong as you are. I want my husband and daughter to love me the way they have always.”“I think you need a break from your usual boring life.” Eliza shrugged.“What do you want me to do?”“Your husband and daughter will be away for a while,” Excitement was at its peak in Eliza’a voice, “Why don’t you utilize the time to visit some nice picnic spot?”“But I have never gone alone anywhere till date.”“Then you must go now,” Eliza clapped her hands happily, “leave all your burdens behind, inhale some fresh air, relax and take time to think and decide the course of your life.”“But Eliza,” Chetana struggled with her accelerating heartbeat. “How can I go all alone? I have never stepped out of the house all alone except for buying groceries and veggies.”“Wrong question!” Eliza playfully rebuked her, “Not how, you should ask where.”“What?” Chetana was still dazed by Eliza’s idea of going alone on a vacation, “what exactly do you mean?”“Think about an ideal picnic spot to go.”“But Eliza,” Chetana found it hard to accept Eliza’s awkward suggestion, “how can I …”“Yes!” Eliza jumped on the sofa, “My friend owns a resort in Goa and I think that’s our place.”“No, I can’t,” a petrified Chetana protested, “What I am supposed to do there all by myself? It will be so boring.”“I will call my friend and ask her to arrange for your stay.” Eliza turned a deaf ear to Chetana’s plea. “And then I will book the flight tickets for you.”“Why don’t you come along, Eliza?” Chetana implored.“I would love to but you know Sharon had an accident last week.” Eliza frowned in regret. “His leg is still in a cast. I have to be by his side, otherwise, I would have joined you. You don’t know how badly I am craving for a vacation.”“Fine,” Chetana gulped nervously, “then we will go when Sharon gets better.”“No!” Eliza instructed strictly, “You need to go right now and it can’t wait for anything or anyone.”“I have to ask for Anant’s permission.”“No, you don’t!” Eliza glared at her ferociously. “Has he ever asked for your permission before going anywhere? Then why do you need his?”“It won’t be right to go without informing anybody.” Chetana almost shivered out of fear.“Well that’s the fun factor in this whole thing, dear,” Eliza winked mischievously, “just elope out of the life that’s choking you and roam like a free spirit at a place where nobody knows you.”“But your friend who owns the resort, will know me, won’t she?”“Oh, hell!” Eliza slapped her forehead. “I was just being melodramatic, that’s all!”“Believe me Eliza, I am fine here.” Chetana jumped to Eliza’s side on the sofa as she saw her punching numbers on her mobile phone. “I don’t want to go anywhere.”“Shh…!” Eliza gestured as the call connected.Chetana obediently zipped up her mouth and grimaced every now and then as Eliza talked to her friend and arranged for Chetana’s week-long stay at the resort.“It’s all done,” Eliza said as she hung up, “Oh! I am so happy for you.”“I can’t believe it!” Chetana cupped her face in utter disbelief, “I am going all by myself to Goa and that too for a week.”“Come on,” Eliza rubbed her hands out of excitement. “Pack your bags. What are you waiting for? You have to leave tomorrow morning.”“Huh?” Chetana, who was still in a dilemma, got up slowly from the sofa.“But before that, we have one more thing to do?”“Now what are you up to?” Chetana looked dubiously at Eliza.“It’s time for you to visit a salon,” Eliza said looking piteously at Chetana’s plain appearance. “Then we will shop for the things you will need for the trip.”“Do you really think I should go?”“Chetana!”That was a final warning from Eliza and Chetana had to obey Eliza’s command. *      *     Chetana opened the doors of her cupboard slowly and hesitantly looked at her clothes that were kept neatly folded in. She couldn’t overcome the dilemma that had possessed her mind since the morning. Eliza was one among those people she couldn’t turn down.        Chetana sighed and reluctantly stuffed her clothes in her bag. She couldn’t deny that deep down something was tickling her. And she knew what it was. It was the excitement of doing something she hadn’t done till now.“But then, what good those 7 days are going to do to me?” she murmured, “It’s not a solution to the situation I am trapped in. I am doing this only for the sake of a dear friend. How silly it sounds that a vacation will help me forget everything! Am I going to suffer from amnesia or something there on the beach?”Chetana shook her head and pulled the zipper on her bag. She got up to take the lock of her bag from her dresser. As she was about to turn back, her gaze fell on her reflection in the mirror.       She couldn’t believe that it was her. She looked at least 10 years younger and prettier too. Her pale face had a fresh glow and the wrinkles were nowhere to be seen. Her hair was soft as silk and cascaded smoothly over her back as she untied them.“The visit to the saloon was worth it,” Chetana whispered with a coy smile.    Her face turned grim as the dilemma took over her again. She locked her bags and was about to close her cupboard when she saw an old album lying in a corner in there. A nostalgic pang filled her heart and made her gasp as she picked it up. It was an old, family album.        Its edges were worn out and its flowery cover had acquired a yellowish hue.  As soon as she opened it, the first picture she saw brought tears to her eyes. It was a family photograph taken when she was 5.      She was sitting in her mother’s lap and her ever-smiling younger brother was bundled up in her father’s arms. It had been years since she had lost her parents but she couldn’t get over the loss ever.“I wish you were here, Ma.” Chetana ran a hand on her mother’s photograph, “Life is scaring me and I need your lap to hide.”    Chetana hummed her favourite lullaby that her mother used to sing while putting them to bed. The well-familiar lines of the age-old lullaby seemed to soothe her ache. She wiped her tears and turned to the next page.        The next few pictures were taken during their growing-up years when her family used to live in the metropolitan city of Delhi. Chetana almost forgot about her present agonies as those pictures took her down memory lane. She kept turning the pages till she caught sight of a picture that took her breath away.*   *    *Dear Readers,Why did that particular picture take her breath away? To know please Stay tuned.  Please leave a review, star rating or stickers for this part of the story.Thank you.Â