chapter 28

Mr Triparty: when I realised the mistakes that I did....i immidiately began to search for Aditya. finally I came to know that he has been living in Rosehills from last 4 years. (Rose hills is a small hillstation situated near Chawanpur) Aashi: but dad, how will I know where exactly he stays in Rose hills? Mr Triparty: don't you worry about that beta...I have the exact address of him, just give me a minute (saying this, Mr Triparty called out Shamlals name. hearing his name, Shamlal immidiately came in the hall, he gazed at Aashi with a emotional smile....Aashi too smiled back at him emotionally) Aashi: how are you uncle? Shamlal: am fine Aashi ma'am...it's been so long since I saw you...Aashi: ya I know...Mr Triparty: Aashi beta...Shamlal will give you the address of Aditya...Shamlal: here it is Aashi ma'am...(Shamlal handovered a piece of paper to Aashi in which Adityas address was written) Mr Triparty: now don't waste any single moment beta...you have lived enough of your life without Aditya....finally the time has come for both of you to get reunited forever. Tears dropped from Aashis eyes...Aashi: yes dad...I'll go right now at the station and will take a train to Rose hills...Mr Triparty: oh, you no need to go to the station beta....your car is still out there in our garage ...i have taken good care of it. take the car....you will reach faster to your destination. Aashi: Thank You So Much dad...(saying this, Aashi rushes towards the door...but she suddenly stops and turns back towards her dad) Mr Triparty: what happened beta? why did you stop? go fast...don't waste any more time further...Aashi: before I leave, there is something I need to make clear dad. I know the kind of mistakes you have done...you might be not expecting me to forgive you. but I also know that somewhere you are still eager to know if I have forgiven you or not. so I wanna tell you dad...that yes, you have done a lot of terrible things in past...all those things created nothing but only hatred in my heart towards you. you did your best to make Aditya away from my life...but at the end, you yourself became the person due to whom I will get Aditya back in my life. so Yes....I forgive you...I forgive you for whatever bad things you have done with me....and don't you worry...i won't leave you in your last days...your my dad...I'll come back to you, along with Aditya...hearing Aashis heartwarming reply...Tears dropped from Mr Tripartys eyes. he couldn't thank her enough for forgiving him, specially after he has done so much bad to her. Mr Triparty: Thank You So Much beta...thank you so much...I can't thank you enough for forgiving me. Aashi: you no need to thank me dad...now the time has come to forget the past and start up fresh. (Aashi replied emotionally) Mr Triparty: yes your right beta, now come on...go and get your Aditya...go. Aashi nooded her head and turned back towards the door and rushed towards her car. she set in it and started driving it to Rose hills. on the entire journey...all the past memories were flashing in her mind. the excitement and happiness of meeting Aditya was clearly visible in the tears that dropped from her eyes in the entire journey...Tears of happiness. finally after driving for an hour, Aashi had reached in Rose hills. Rosehills was a hillstation filled with the beauty of nature..greenery all around, just like Chawanpur. Aashi stopped the car near a lonely house. it was a beautiful traditional stone house, a small lake glistened besides the house, reflecting the clear blue sky above. the backside of the house was surrounded by lush green mountains, their peak reaching up towards the heavens. the entire view of the place looked like a portrait of a scenery that had come to life. Aashi came out of the car and walked towards the house. she knocked on the door, and within seconds, the door got opened, and the moment it got opened, Aashi saw two unexpected people infront of her eyes. they were the same old couple which she had met on a railway station. Aashi: ah...Uncle?????...Aunty????? Aashi was all surprised seeing them, the couple were equally surprised seeing Aashi at their door step. The old man: heyyy Aashi beta....Aashi: Uncle, what are you and aunty doing here in this house? The old man: beta Aashi, it's actually me who need to ask you this question...what are you doing here ? Aashi: actually....actually uncle I have come to meet the owner of this house. hearing Aashis reply, the old couple exchanged glances of confusion and curosity. The old lady: beta we are the owner of this house...Aashi: ohh ....than...than I guess I have come to the wrong house. ok Uncle aunty...I'll see you both later...The old man: oh you might be in a search of some other house...but now as you have ended up coming in our house, I request you to please come in and spend some time with us. The old lady: yes beta...you should definately come in Aashi: Oh Uncle oh Aunty, I would have loved to come in and spend some time with you both...but currently am in a bit of hurry...am in a search of a person...I need to find him as soon as possible. Old man: oh ok ok, Alright beta...you go and find him first...ALL THE BEST! Aashi felt happiness within her heart after getting best wishes from the old man. Aashi: Thank You so much Uncle...I'll leave for now...bye...(Saying this, Aashi turned back and started walking towards her car) suddenly something came up in the lady's mind, she gazed towards her husband. The old lady: hey  dear listen! I think Aashi has come on the right address...hearing the lady's reply, her husband got confused. The old man: what do you mean by that my dear? The old lady: uff! I think you have still not been able to understand one thing my dear....her name is Aashi .....AASHI! hearing the lady's reply, something striked up in her husbands mind. it seems, he had understood what she was trying to make him understand. The old man: OHHHH YES YES YES! I understood...I understood...Oh God, why this thing didn't come up in my mind before...uff!  The moment Aashi was about to open the door of her car, The man called out her name loudly. The old man: AASHI BETAAAA!!!!!hearing her name, Aashi turned back towards the man. the man immidiately came to her. Aashi: what happened uncle? The old man: Aashi beta Aashi beta...can you ...can you tell me your full name please ? (The man asked with excitement) Aashi: why are you asking my full name all of a sudden uncle? (Aashi questioned with curosity) The old man: oh please don't ask all these questions beta.....just tell me your full name. Aashi was all confused, she was still not being able to understand the reason behind the man asking her full name. Aashi: well my full name is Aashi Triparty...Hearing Aashis full name, the man was all shocked and surprised beyond anything. The old man: OH MY GOD! I just can't beleive it. so...so you are that same Aashi about whom our son had told us. Aashi: your son told you about me??? but how come your son knows me? The old man: you...you are Aditya's Aashi right? Aashi was all shocked hearing Adityas name from the man's mouth. Aashi: Uncle...do you...do you know Aditya???  The old man: yes, me and my wife both knows him very well....Aashi: but how come you know my Aditya? am still confused uncle, and not able to understand anything. The old man: actually beta...Aditya is non other than, but our son. Hearing the man's shocking reply, Aashi was all astonished.....her eyes were wide open in shock. Aashi: Aditya is your son????? but how's that even possible uncle? Aditya is a orphan. The old man: I know right now a lot of questions must be arising in your mind...but don't you worry ...me and my wife will answer all your questions. so come...come inside...we shall tell you everything. All 3 of them set inside the house....The man started narrating everything to Aashi. The old man: We had only one son, his name was Taran. he was precious to us more than anything, he meant the world to us. we were poor, but we never let our poor status effect our sons upbringing. we always gave him what he desired for. we even spent all we had to give him education in best school and university possible. as he grew up, he got a good job in USA. he went there with a promise that he will return back for us. he use to call us atleast 20- 25 times in a month, but with time...the number of his calls kept on decreasing. he started ignoring us, than there came a time when his calls stopped completely. one fine day suddenly we got a call from him...we were in joy and happiness when we received a call from him. but the things he said to us on call, those things completely broke us emotionally. he told us that he has achieved a lot in his life over there, hence...he doesn't want to return back and wants to settled down in USA forever. The old lady: we asked our son about what he has thought of us. in reply, he told us that he can't let anyone there know about his poor status here in hometown. he told us if anyone over there comes to know about his poor parents than it will bring a big shame on his life, hence he is breaking all the contacts with us....can you imagine, our son for whom we gave everything we had was now feeling ashamed of us being his parents. time passed by....our son was our only world...after he left us, we almost stopped living. The old man: but after every Dark night, there comes a new dawn. and that new dawn came into our life as well on one rainy night. and the name of that dawn was ADITYA....Aashi was astonished hearing it...her eyes were filled with tears. The old man: It was a dark and stormy night, the rain was pouring down heavily outside. My wife and I were about to go to bed when she suddenly told me that she had seen someone outside our house through the window. I looked out and saw a figure sitting on the ground, drenched in rain. I quickly opened the door and the guy stood up, turning towards me. He was shivering from the cold and told us that he was homeless and had nowhere to go. He had taken shelter outside our house because of the heavy rain and had parked his bike there. he holded a very innocent look, and neither he looked like a thief. besides that, our house was not in a condition where a thief could think of robbing us. So I invited him inside the house and we started having a conversation. As we sat together, we shared stories from our lives. He had a kind and gentle demeanor that made us feel connected to him instantly. We learned about the things he had gone through...we also came to know how he decided to sacrifice his love for the sake of the persons happiness, whom he loved the most. He wanted to leave the house right after the rain stops, but we felt a sense of compassion for him and decided to let him stay with us until he found a permanent home. Months passed and our bond with him grew stronger. we didn't have our son and he didn't have his parents. we started treating him like our own son, and he started treating us like his own parents. He started painting and selling his artwork in the local market, the earnings which he made from it, he used it to repair our house and take care of us. what our real son couldn't, Aditya ended up doing it for us. he fulfilled all the responsibilities which a true son holds towards his parents, taking outermost care of them when they grow old. He treated us with love and respect, and we in turn cared for him equally. We became a true happy family. our lives were forever changed by this stranger who had come into our lives on a rainy night. he filled a void in our hearts, making us realise that family is not always blood, but the love and connection we share with eachother. and this is how Aditya became our son which we always wished for. later Aditya buyed a cottage on a top of a tea plantation farm mountain nearby, where he could practice his art. Aashi: and after that...what happened uncle? The old man: now it's been 4 years since Aditya has come into our life...though he use to keep smiling...but somewhere we knew that he is missing the girl whom he loved the most. me and my wife, we were planning to go for a trip from a very long time...but we were worried about Aditya...he use to remain sad, we didn't wanted to leave him all alone here and enjoy out there. after all, he was our son... who did so much for us. but later, he himself started insisting us that he is fine now and we should not postponed our trip any further due to him. Aashi: now I understand, why on the station you both called yourself lucky to have a son like him...The old lady: yes beta, we are really lucky to have found a son in the form of Aditya. Suddenly something came up in Aashis mind. Aashi: but wait a minute Uncle aunty.....I had met you on the Rose hills railway station while I was on my way to Chawanpur. you guys had told me that you were waiting for the train to arrive...so how come you guys are back here? didn't you catch the train? The old lady: actually beta after your train left for Chawanpur...we got a news that the train for which we were waiting to arrive had met with a minor accident, luckily no one lost their lives. we thought it would be better if we cancel our trip and plan it on some other day...but I guess it was all destined to happen...just imagine, if we had gone for the trip than we could have missed the chance of meeting you here today. The old man: and we are really sorry beta, that day when we met you at the station...not even in our dreams we had thought that you are the same Aashi that our son loved. it is today all of a sudden the thought of you being that same girl came in our mind when you came up here and told us that you are in search of a guy. and the moment you told me your full name...I clearly understood that your the same Aashi. Aashi was completely spellbound after hearing the entire thing. she was happy that her Aditya was alive and finally she will be able to reunite with him...but on the other hand, she also felt sadness by imagining the fact that she spend 4 long years without Aditya, thinking that he is dead. her eyes were in tears. Aashi: Uncle...Aunty...where...where can I find him now? The old man: he might be at the cottage practicing his paintings....go and get him beta...he needs you as much as you need him. (the man replied emotionally) After hearing the mans reply, Aashi immidiately got up from the chair. she wiped her tears away with her hand and took a deep breath. Aashi: alright uncle...I'll go there and meet him right now...(Aashi replied holding excitement and happiness) After walking out from the house, Aashi went driving her car towards the mountain of tea plantation. as she reached over there, she stopped the car at the side of the road and came out of it. since the cottage stood at the top of the mountain, it was clearly visible down from the road. there came a bright smile on Aashis face the moment she saw the cottage. Minutes later, Aashi finally reached at the top of the mountain, near the cottage. as she arrived over there, she was struck by the peace and calmness that surrounded the cottage. Aashi noticed that the door of the cottage was open. as there was no one around, Aashi thought of entering inside. she slowly took her steps forward with a bit of hesitation. but the moment she entered in, she was all struck by Seeing something inside the cottage. one entire big inner wall of the cottage was completely painted with beautiful portrait of a couple, and to her surprise, the couple's in the portrait was non other than but Aditya and herself. the portrait depicted all the different phases of their lives, and how their life would have been if it was meant to be spent together. the portrait depicted them getting married with eachother, than travelling the world...later having children's...than being together in good times as well as bad times, and finally in the end, growing old together. Aashi was stunned seeing this heart touching art that depicted their beautiful future. she was overwhelmed with emotions as she realised the depth of Adityas love for her.  it was a masterpiece painting depicting their entire life journey. As she was busy in seeing the art, suddenly she heard a voice from her back"i made this portrait imagining what our life would be like, if it was meant to be spent together" that voice gave her goosebumps on her entire body...a voice that all of a sudden made her heartbeat faster. a voice that she had not heard from the last 4 years. she immidiately turned back....and as expected, it was Aditya standing infront of the door holding a very emotional smile on his face, and tears in his eyes. The moment Aashi saw Aditya, her eyes widened with tears. She had become speechless and looked at him from head to toe, trying to process the reality of the moment.Aditya: Aashi !!!!!Aditya called out her name, breaking the silence that hung between them. And that was all it took for her to break down completely. She cried like she had been holding back tears for years, which she had. All the pain, all the longing, all the love she had kept inside her heart came pouring out in the form of tears. she cried like a baby. Aditya couldn't bear to see Aashi like that. he immidiately went to her, hugged her tightly, and she hugged him back with all the strength she had. Aditya was no more able to control his tears as well. they cried together, letting out all the emotions they had been holding back for so long. Aditya: please stop crying my love...please stop crying ...how many times do I have to tell you that I can't bare tears in your eyes. Aashi: today let me cry Aditya, don't stop me. these tears are not of sadness, but they are the tears of happiness. happiness, of finally finding you back in my life, so let me cry today with all my heart. I...I really missed your presence so badly in my life. Aditya: I...I too missed you a lot my love....I too missed you a lot. hearing Adityas reply, Aashi slowly pulled away from the hug, her eyes had turned red and puffy from crying. she looked up at him, her heart racing with emotions of overwhelming love. Aashi: liar, if you really missed me than why did you never showed up yourself to me? Aditya: I was compelled to hide my self from you Aashi. your dad had warned me that he will shut down your institute if I try to get back in contact with you. Aashi: so what Aditya? you atleast needed to meet me and should have told me about my dad's intentions...I would have handled the situation very well. Aashi: I was scared Aashi...I was scared. that institute meant everything to you...I knew this very well that if the institute gets shut down, than you might end up breaking down completely...n I didn't want this to happen. that's the reason I even broke my contact with Mrs Dutta...I didn't wanted any trace of mine existence to reach upon you. Aashi: and what about you ha? were you not aware of the fact that you are equally important to me as much the institute is? without my permission how did you even ended up taking the decision of going away from my life ha? Aditya...you are my life...do you understand this? you are my life. only am aware of the fact that from last 4 years how I managed to live without your presence in my life. I....I was living just for the sake of living Aditya...how to live a life, I had forgotten that completely. Aditya: I know Aashi, for me as well...life without you was very much difficult to live, but somewhere I did have faith in our love and the one above(God)...that one day we will get reunited. Aashi: so tell me now Aditya, what did you do all these years ? Aditya: nothing much, but whatever I did...I did it with sinciertity and hard work. Aashi: no matter what you have done...but there is one thing that you did, which really makes me feel proud upon you. you really gave those old couple a reason to live their life again by filling the emptiness of a son in their life. Aditya: bringing smile on other people's faces is something that I have learnt from you Aashi. it's you who thought me that our life is not just our life, but we can use our life to spread smile and happiness in other people's life. and that is what exactly I did...I spreaded happiness in those old couple's life. Aashi looked at Aditya with pride and love. Aashi: am so proud of you my love...really I am. Aditya smiled hearing Aashis reply Aditya: Thanks love Aashi: and what about your art? Uncle aunty told me that you have been selling your art in the local market of the town? Aditya: yes I do...Aashi: but why? listen Aditya, your art is not born to get sold out in some local market...it deserves national recognisation. instead of selling it in the local market, you could have tried to display it in some renowned art galleries....that would have helped you to grow further. Aditya: I would have tried doing that Aashi, but displaying my art in renoved art galleries would have exposed my name into the public. and if that had happened than there were chances that you might would have come to know about my existence. and I never wanted that to happen, if you would come to know about my existence than your dad might have shut down your institute. that's the reason I even didn't contact Mrs Dutta back, ever again. Aashi: you created so many boundaries for yourself just for the sake of me? no my love, you should have not done that...am...am so sorry that you had to take this step just for the sake of my happiness (Aashi felt guilty...as for the sake of her happiness, Aditya even ended up keeping his art limited to a certain amount of people...he didn't let it spread) seeing Aashi feeling guilty of herself, Aditya immidiately cupped her face with his hands. Aditya: hey hey hey....why are you saying sorry my love? you no need to be sorry. this life which am living right now is given to me by you, you own it completely. my entire life is only meant for you. Aashi: now stop it...stop thinking only about me. from now onwards, things should not be regarded to "ME" or "YOU". from now on, things should be regarded to "US" and "ABOUT US". from now onwards, whatever we do in life, it should be neither for YOU and neither for ME...it should be for BOTH OF US. (saying this, Aashi gazed for a second towards the portrait of theirs painted on the wall, and than turned her gaze back again towards Aditya) you painted this portrait on the wall by imaganing what would our future look like if we were about to spend the life together right? so now the time has finally come Aditya, my dad has realised his mistakes, and now there are no more walls between us...lets bring this portrait into reality. Aditya: yes Aashi...the time has finally come now to bring this portrait into reality. let's get married...let's travel the world together...let's have kids...and in the end ...let's grow old together...Aashi: oh my love...I just can't wait to experience this journey of our beautiful life together. With excitement and happiness, they once again hugged eachother and sealed eachothers lips with a kiss. And in that moment, as they stood in each other's arms, surrounded by the echoes of their love and the memories of their past, Aditya and Aashi knew that they were meant to be together, forever and always. Their love had withstood the test of time and distance, and now, they were finally reunited, ready to face whatever challenges life threw their way, hand in hand. THE END