Mekhala Swapnam

By Anbarasi Selvakumar (Saha)

With each passing day they grew closer to each other, even unspoken they couldn’t be distant from each other. They did not propose to each other, nor did they shower on gifts. Even the day’s classes became harder for Aadhi to stay away from Mekhala.

When it comes to destiny vs us; despite having better plans, it’s always destiny that has the win. Their breezy days were to see thunderstorms very soon. Whenever Aadhi thought of Mekhala, she seemed to be an underlying mystery to him. He had a lot of questions, and she always kept him thinking. Except for the fact that she ran off home in fear of getting married and her dream to become a research fellow in Biotechnology. He had no clue about her, he was not ready to trust someone and then become a fool.

Just then he heard her anklets, she was back from classes and was up to a project, as this is her final semester. She started narrating all that happened that day, but not a single word seeped through his ears. As a sense of guilt took over him, was it fair to approach a girl saying, “I am in love with you and it’s you who has made my life better.? Will you marry me?” How can he even think of doing that? Will she think of him being advantageous over her? Lots and lots of thoughts began to turmoil him.

Just as she waved her hand signaling, where was his attention? She gets up and goes to refresh herself. All of a sudden, he heard noises and her shouting like chasing someone across the room from the room. He rushed and saw her chasing a cockroach all around the room, she finally managed to hit it. Just as she was about to throw it out the window it started flapping and the chase went out of the room again. All this made him laugh his heart out and held her hand to stop the chase. Their eyes locked in a moment and before Aadhi could step closer, she pushed him and ran towards the hall.

He too was running behind her through the stairs asking her to stop and she stopped, and he bumped into her. And asked, “Hey! What happened you stopped…?

He saw Mekhala’s friend Zikhar along with 2 men. Confused he kept asking them, “Excuse me, Sir may I know who they were and how did you come here...??” Even before he could understand what was going on, the man slapped Mekhala. Aadhi just could not hold his anger and held the man’s shirt collar, just then Mekhala sobbingly said, “He is my dad.” Aadhi left the collar Mekhala’s father pushed Aadhi away and dragged her. Her teary eyes were the most terrible scene he had seen after his father’s demise. Zikhar narrated everything that had happened.

He was no stranger to Mekhala; she had loved him since her 1st year at college. He had designed her a costume, long back at the inter-college cultural meet her costume was damaged, and it was he who had immediately designed a new costume and had requested the organizing committee to change her order to last to get some time and on stage cheering her up. He did not see her face or stay till the award ceremony. He left to drop Riya at home.

Aadhi was in utter disbelief, still not completely convinced, he called up Ameer, who told him how Mekhala had always been there in each scene and Aadhi never noticed her. Totally broken and shattered after realising how much she loved him. Tears welled up and he fell on the ground crying just then he felt a hand caressing over his head. After almost 2 years his mom came back.

She felt bad for her son but was still happy somewhere deep inside. She wiped her tears and said, “Aadhi, I just have 1 question, do you love her? If yes, then go. Fight for her, else don’t ever say again you loved her, or you want to be with her all your life.”

Back at Mekhala’s home, preparations were going on for her marriage to one of her relative’s sons. He was the same groom who once rejected her saying she did not deserve him. But now things have changed.

Everyone was tensed by the fact that Mekhala was so calm. She is not crying or creating a ruckus. When her mother asked will she elope with Aadhi. She calmly replied, “Ma, he is my Aadhi. He will never run away like a coward. He will come here, hold my hand, and take me like his queen. Just in front of you all. Keep watching the door, he will be here anytime.”

Shocked and stunned by her confidence. She quietly walked out of the room.

Indeed, she was right, Aadhi had reached their home the very next day. All her relatives pounced on him, he expected this anyway. Hearing of the noise Mekhala realised of Aadhi’s arrival. She rushed through the corridor and took her grandfather’s rifle. Hearing of the firing everyone was startled. They stopped and saw Mekhala with the rifle. Her brother shouted at her, “What do you think, you can emotionally blackmail us into letting go of this crook. Or you will kill yourself. Is that?”

Mekhala smiled and said, “Why should I kill myself? Even a single step towards Aadhi then this rifle will take their name. And now nothing comes my way. If he did wrong, then by living with him I have done equal wrong. Kill me as well.”

She walked up to Aadhi and asked him to leave, “I won’t come to you hereafter. Please leave.”

Saying this she ran back to her room and closed the doors behind her.

Cut back to the present, another student asked, “What’s next sir?” A small smile took over Aadhi’s lips and he started to Mekhala’s village. The memories of that day flashed through his mind. The last time he saw Mekhala was asking him to leave the place with teary eyes.

From then, she had locked herself in her room away from everyone. And the only person who could get in was her mother. Even if anyone dared to enter her room, she would do nothing to them, instead would harm herself. Watching her in pain was even more painful for her family.

Slowly Mekhala started taking up dance classes for the school students and that was the only thing that eased her pain a little. That year students were asked to perform the epic of Ramayana. She was very busy rehearsing the students, and her family was happy to see her warming up with the children at least. All roles had been taken. Except for the queen.

Mekhala asked them, “So who is going to play Queen Sita?” All the girls on the team started pointing fingers at each other and no one wanted to be the Queen who was simply sitting. Mekhala said, “Queen Sita was not just sitting, she was waiting. Anyone can sit quietly but to wait you need…” She felt her grief striking her voice but kept speaking.

Everyone fell quiet as she started talking about Queen Sita, “To wait you need patience, and that comes from the trust you have in the person for whom you have been waiting. But as time goes by you need strength to fight with yourself pricking you with Whatifs…”

“What if he had moved on…? What if, he had given up on you…? Or...” She could not hold back her tears and sob. “Did the queen cry the same way each day waiting for her King?” The voice brought her back to her senses. “Didi, why did Ram make her wait for so long? Did she tell King how much she loves him?” asked one of the boys.

Mekhala wiped her tears and deep breath and said, “And that will be the decision of Destiny which made them meet, love, and then separate them. It is the love that kept her alive through the darkest nights and longing to hear her King’s voice calling her name, Sita.”

“Ok, now it’s getting late you all go home and from tomorrow we will start the rehearsals for your drama.” She was busy cleaning the room, but the question of the boy kept disturbing her. As she walked up to the mirror to put up the screen. She looked at herself and just stared through lost in her thoughts. She heard the footsteps rustling; it was neither her mom nor her dad. For her heart was racing against her chest and she started becoming restless. Her eyes shut tight, and her hand clasped the flower vase but then, “Mekhala”. Her hands let go of the vase and her eyes opened slowly, she did not dare to turn back. But the footsteps were steady and nearer to her.

She turned back slowly, tears flowing down her cheeks and her grief did not allow her to trust what her eyes saw. Her eyes still remember Aadhi as the same man covered with blood and dirt being thrown out. She went near him slowly and her shaky hands dared to touch him. She could feel it, he had changed a lot. He stood still and gave her the time to accept that he was there to take her back.

She still did not completely believe that it was really him. Or was she getting mad? Her shaky hands checked through him. He held her hand close to his chest, she felt the warmth of his hand hold hers. She rested her head on his chest.

He gently wiped her tears, she looked at him. Even before he could say anything she pulled him closer and kissed him. He didn’t stop her; it gave him all his answers. He just held her by her waist and pulled her closer to him. This was not due to mere physical attraction but her wait of more than 7 years. She broke the kiss, stared at him with teary eyes, and sobbingly said, “I was scared that you…” Just before she could complete her sentence, he kept his finger on her lips and said, “Let’s go home, my Queen.”

Her mom just remembered Mekhala’s words; Aadhi will take her like a queen. As she watched them leave their home.

Indeed, they were destined to be together…!

The King & Queen lived Happily ever after…!!!

By Anbarasi Selvakumar (Saha)