Kruthi - The Diamond That Could Never Be Cut!

Fiction # 4 -- Strong Is The New Beautiful!

Anthara was scrolling through her phone gallery, pausing here and there and smiling occasionally. She could close her eyes to reality but not memories. Memories for that matter are very insane and drive you crazy at times. After a good 20 minutes, she stopped at a picture and stared at one distinct picture for a long time. A picture of a couple of weeks fetus in a scan. A picture of a soon to be arriving niece/nephew. That very thought of another member coming into the family is exciting. Meantime, Anthara looked back to the days when Krisha was about to be born and how excited Kruthi, her best friend was. Having a best friend is the best thing ever.That was the coolest thing that befell, only if the storm had not hit their life, she thought.

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Kruthi was a very pretty and innocent girl. She was overly pampered by her parents and extended family. She was an apple of their eye. Kruthi was a lively and joyous girl among her friends. She was known for her impeccable dressing style and the food she carried from home. Kruthi was adored by her friends for the girl she was. Sooner than the family thought she was into her bachelor's degree. Every other family member made sure she was at her utmost ease when she stepped into her college. Although Kruthi was from a very sound and affluent family, her behavior had inherited no influence from the family status. She spent her time with friends from every walk of life.

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For Kruthi was a beautiful girl, she had gotten more alliances than any of her friends did during her college. However, there was no rush until she graduated but her soulmate arrived sooner than expected. For she had a very beautiful soul too she had agreed to marry a business man who was an average looking man. The very first proposal and she agreed to her parents' choice for her. Anthara was happy for Kruthi. For Kruthi always spoke about Varun, her fiancé and what a great guy he was. Every single time Kruthi told everyone how Varun never forgets to make it a point to surprise her, for he lived on another continent across the oceans. The love never found any excuses. It blossomed to be a beautiful flower by the time it was the wedding time.

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Anthara was enjoying every bit of how Kruthi had turned out to be a responsible woman who is just about to be graduated. While everyone else including Anthara was just the college going irresponsible and about to be graduated chicks. Immediately after graduation, Anthara moved out of her city for a job and Kruthi stayed home preparing for her big event.  As Anthara joined a new job, undergoing a training and was writing her exit exams, she couldn't be part of the big day. But she was very excited for Kruthi and made sure her family attended the event.

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After the wedding, Kruthi flew away with Varun. She called up Anthara and told how a great city she was living in and what was it to be married to Varun and living with him and making her new home. Anthara always hoped and prayed that Kruthi is this happy now and forever. Days passed by and months too. Anthara could only look back to the memories of college and could no longer live there. However, she was getting accustomed to new life and new people and same were the cases with Kruthi in the States. They moved on with their lives happily, one was building the career and another a family.

Life seemed like a garden of roses, until one day when the storm hit their life hard. Anthara was on a lunch table with her colleagues when she received a message. The message was from Kruthi that clearly stated - "I'm very sorry to leave this earth rather soon. I cannot live like this anymore. I am very sorry Mom, Dad and you all. Good Bye".  Anthara dropped her phone and started weeping inconsolably. Her colleagues read the message and tried to console her. Her Boss even asked her to leave ASAP and check on her friend. It was only a few days that Kruthi had moved to Bangalore. She was living all alone in a PG in spite of having a big family and house. The depression had made its way into her life.  Anthara made innumerable calls to her, to no avail. She then started calling Kruthi's mother, casually enquired how was everything. Her mother started crying and informed about the message they had received and then there was no conversation with her anymore.

Anthara lost no hope, she hired a vehicle and made her way to the place where Kruthi lived. Her mother gave some idea about the place. And then there is a trouble of searching the PG, where Kruthi lived. She informed her brother and a friend to start and search for her until she reached. The boys went searching in every possible direction, however, there were many Kruthis who lived in every area and the boys were not allowed to enter and check. This made it only impossible to reach on time and make sure things were fine. Anthara called for the (n-1) times, this time the phone was picked and she was only hoping it was Kruthi and none else. The tension that had built up over the last hour was beyond the imagination unless you have gone through it. Kruthi broke down the minute she received the call and only said she doesn't want to live and disconnected the call. This made it even worse to imagine the unimaginable by the time they could trace her. The minute Anthara entered the room, she was almost surrendering herself to the worst.

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Kruthi had surrendered to depression after a whole year of domestic violence. Kruthi's mother-in-law had made her life much worse than she could ever imagine, husband did not stand by her.  On the day of her 1st anniversary, she was in the courtroom for the divorce hearing. Every single day had been a hell to witness. For the girl just out of college, who was always being pampered by family this situation was unacceptable. She went on telling Anthara what had she been put into.
Anthara cried all night after hearing the trauma her friend was into.

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Kruthi was later sent to her husband's place. Things slowly started changing, for good. But however, mother-in-law did not surrender herself to any kind of changes. She once even left the entire house to get packed with LPG. It was only by luck, Varun entered the house from outside and got Kruthi out of the danger. That's when they decided to stay without Varun's mother. Eventually, after a year or so Kruthi conceived with Krisha.

Things were so different all of a sudden, just like the days when Kruthi was just married. Krisha's arrival had changed everything in everyone's life. The first time Kruthi smiled in a while was when Krisha's arrival was confirmed. Anthara could still remember when Kruthi's mother informed her of the news. Everything first that happened because of the baby was special. Every time Anthara spoke to her friend, she was never tired of the little baby's rantings by mumma. Anthara enjoyed hearing Peppa pig more than any other song now. Baby's first snow, her first walk, her little ramps, her first Krishna avatar everything appeared to be so special. Then on there was no looking back for Kruthi.

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Today Krisha is almost 3.5 years old and she knows there is a baby in mumma's tummy. Anthara keeps looking at Krisha's pictures now and then. It's no longer only Krisha now, there is another niece/nephew to arrive soon. Anthara who is now a successful working woman only looks at Kruthi and feels proud of her best friend of how courageous a girl she was. Anthara looks at Kruthi every time and realizes how to bounce back after the storm. Definitely, when the storm rips her into pieces, she had to decide how to put herself back together again. Being tested makes you much stronger than you ever were.

Part of Kruthi's life's mystery is how was she so calm in the storm. It was what she chose to become when she was walking through the fire. Every time a window closed, she ran to the next one and possibly broke open a few doors. As Buddha said, Pain is inevitable but suffering is optional. Today Kruthi makes a house of a 3 with the 4th one coming soon and stands much taller than what she was with all the pride. Varun is now a doting father to Krisha and keeps Kruthi very happy.

"New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings." says Lao Tzu. All's well that ends well.

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Kruthi: Hello, hey we had a scan and I'm sending you the pictures.
Anthara: Really?? Waiting.
Kruthi: Maasi we miss you.
Anthara: Maasi loves you guys!


Love,
V
(Nutty Wordsmith)

And when it breaks!

Disclaimer: It is highly unlikely that any sentiments expressed in this short story in any way coincide with those of any other person in any way associated with me. It is purely my work of fiction. My Mind is back to work after a long vacation.

'Cause when a heart breaks, no, it don't breakeven, even, no
What am I supposed to do when the best part of me was always you?
And what am I supposed to say when I'm all choked up and you're okay?
I'm falling to pieces
I'm falling to pieces
They say bad things happen for a reason
But no wise words gonna stop the bleeding
'Cause he's moved on while I'm still grieving
And when a heart breaks, no, it don't breakeven, even!

This day that year -- 

The alarm rung, I realized the last thing I remember were the above lines echoing before I slipped to sleep.  I cursed the alarm for breaking my dream where I was trying to tie all the loose ends before it is too late. I was trying to get answers for all the questions. I was haunted by the past. I wasn't getting over it. Even before I could knock the correct doors to get any answers my alarm resounded.

I chose on dismissing and was laying on the bed remembering the last encounter. Just realized my presence did not matter and that let me know that nor did my absence made any distinction. That brain which is literally brainy understood all of those, nonetheless the very busy and sensitive heart did not buy any of it. It just stayed there madly and deeply.

The brain signaled something.  I could not resist but react immediately. Quickly got ready, unlocked the bicycle and reached the University campus. One last subject to get the grades to graduate from the well-known University. There are many reasons to live life happily. But the (bloody) heart does not allow me to. However, I wrote that test as per my brain's command. I also knew that my parents take pride in my success. I'm going to be the first post graduate from my family and that too from World's top university. Just a few more months before I see my home and my people.

Killed a couple of months in despair. Doing things I'm best at were tumbling apart to realize how lousy I have turned out to be. And today after I rehearsed a thousand times, on the dais my motivational address for my juniors turned out to be a mess and I ended up saying something unexpected :
"I wish that I had never met you.
Then there would be no reason to impress you, no need to want you.
No need for loving you, No need for crying over you.
No need for heartbreaks, No need for pain or tears.
No need for forgotten promises, No need for acting like you care.
No need, for everything you've done to make me feel like absolutely nothing."

My close friend walked straight onto the dais and dragged me out of the stage. I had not realized what had I done. I blindly trudged out of the amphitheater just to pose for a picture with a flying graduate hat. So that I continue to make my parents feel proud. As I walked by the restaurant in the campus, I saw you Mr.! You walked with another person with the same camaraderie we shared.

A few years have passed by, nothing has changed except you and my fate. Today, as I type in this letter outside my psychiatrist's cabin how I wish I had never met you.

Receptionist : Ms. Astha.
Me: Hey, I'm here.
Receptionist: Ma'am you can walk in the doctor's room in 2 minutes.
Me: How many today?
Receptionist: Ma'am 3. You may choose to meet them based on your convenience of time.
Me: Cool!

I walk into the doctor's office and get startled to see you and I stand still . The doctor suggests me to sit next to him so that I can talk to you. Today, I'm here to help my cousin to counsel some of his tough nut patients. And you are here too, but you are here with all the broken pieces just because Karma never forgets any address. I see that you are falling into pieces and that very thing saddens me.

So here I say, "I'm Ms. Astha. I'm here to help you and you may please count me as your friend so that I can help you completely." First time in years, I was forcing my brainy brain to use the word Friend to my client whom my bloody heart refused to call as Friend. Well, my heart no longer even treats you as one. But I will still help you because I know when the heart breaks, you breakdown too!

And when a heart breaks, no, it don't breakeven, even!  -- Astha!

#Fiction03
Breakeven

--V

Walking Alone In The Crowd..

Image Source: Voice

She sat by the seashore. There were only the tides that hit the rocks by the shore. None around. She was haunted by memories. She cherished the last time she met him. Neither of them knew that was going to be their last one.

She revived all the good times. Their bonding, friendship, care, affection, embraces, kisses, fights and getting back to each other in no time were Magical. Everything was like a fairy tale, only until they were together. He left her with infinite questions unanswered. He denied to even speak. Today she was all by herself, still reminiscing about him. She wondered what was her mistake?

She asked the sea if it wasn't forever then what was that? Amidst the silence, a wave hit her feet and said - If it isn't forever, it isn't love.

While he was oblivious to everything, she picked her white cane and walked her way. There was emptiness. She was walking alone in the crowd.

-V
#Fiction 2

Hota reth hai par lagta pani!

Disclaimer: It is highly unlikely that any sentiments expressed in this short story in any way coincide with those of any other person in any way associated with me :) . It is purely my work of fiction. My Mind is full of nonsense :P 

She resisted change, even when she knew it was a source for her growth. She was in a deep grief over something. She sobbed and only the pillows could know what was befalling deep within her. She wanted to get out of it and she had no clue what to do. She thought it was time to end all the pain. She fell deep asleep. 

She woke up when the sun rays were really harsh and she could feel them on her face. She tried to pull the blanket on, to only apprehend that, she was feeling paralyzed. No touch responsiveness. She was appalled. She instantly looked around to check where she was. She was in the living room and her family was around. She was relieved for a minute. She closed her eyes to doze all over again. And this time, she woke up with the disturbance around. She yelled at everyone to allow her sleep. But nobody could hear her.

She was alarmed by the changes. At first, she felt numb and now that nobody bothers to hear her. Mystified yet trying to convince herself she murmured "Stop Stressing, everything will be fine". Then it was the freaking revelation that when she last slept she was in her flat at Mysore. Now she was in her hometown. Whoa! What's happening? It did not take her much time to realize that there was something really freaky. But she was too stressed to do anything at that point. She overlooked the circumstances. 

After a while, she heard her mother cry in intense sorrows. She finally decided to wake up and know what happened. She noticed a grave silence once again. Meanwhile, her mother was grieving in pain. She did not understand why. Her sister was in an unrecoverable shock, brother was banging his head. And the father was the only man who was taking care of all despite all the heart-wrenching thing that befell to the family. She went to each one and asked what happened. Nobody responded and she felt ignored by each one of them. 

She thought I was already enough ignored by the rest of the world and now that my family too! She looked at the centre of the living room in aghast. Who was that? She thought she was sleeping there and now she still finds someone lay in deep sleep. She was double puzzled and went nearer to watch closely. She jumped and turned away. "Is that me? Is that really me?", she asked everyone in the room.

Image Source: Google

It was beyond all her imaginations. She stood in front of her mother to tell her - "I'm right here, don't cry *Amma". She looked at her father, the reality had hit him so hard that he could hardly bear it. Her siblings did not understand how to embark on this long sad journey. She wanted to wipe each one of their tears. She wanted to yell out loudly that she is there and right there. Nothing seemed to work. Her voice did not seem to reach anyone. She recalled the grief she was in last night. "That wasn't anything at all, I could easily sail through it. I somehow could have sustained all that, I could bounce back to a better life if not in a day but at least in a year's time. But! What went so wrong? So wrong that I do not have another chance?"

She shifted her focus to others in the room. She saw her friends grieving. She looked at her grandparents who kept telling everyone why are we so unfortunate to have lived up to this day? Relatives were trying hard to console her family. She started looking for her best female friend who stayed abroad. She wondered, will I be here at least until she comes to see me? Or I shall be moved out of my own home? She was saddened to not find her best male friend, she remembered the fight they had a few months back. She asked herself, am I so bad that he did not even come when I lay here lifeless? 

It was a series of flashbacks she was presented with - An argument with Amma, which she should not have taken beyond a point. The last time she hugged *Appa. Her twin siblings and their birthday celebration that she personally arranged as a surprise. A long walk with grandparents early in the morning. Her long talks with her best friends. 

She said - I never told Amma and Appa how much I loved them. I never told Ayush and Arya they were not only my siblings but my god gifted treasures and I loved them. Even though Grandma and Grandpa would not get fascinated with 'I love you' but I could have told them they are my favourite. I could have told Anu, my best friend that she is the best one that ever happened to me. Mum couldn't have handled us as sisters so she was sent as my best friend, I was hoping to see her once and tell her that I love her. I could have said Dhruv, even though we fought every day and he stopped talking to me, he was the best pal always and my 'go to person' anytime and anywhere. If he had spoken once, for now, I could tell him how much I love him. 

There in the corner is the little Ginger, he always licked on the face just to show his love. I always punished him for biting my footwear but the next time I visited he poured all his love on me. Now he is sad and is weeping too. I wanted to go back and undo all the punishments I gave to Ginger. I wanted to tell everyone in that room that they mean a lot to me. 

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She suddenly felt a jerk and a scream. Khushiiiiiii! It's 12 noon. Go freshen up and you can have your brunch yelled Ruthu. Khushi opened her eyes to see Ruthu in front of her. Khushi cried in joy. She immediately hugged Ruthu and told her "You are the most terrific roomie and yet I love you". She called up home and spoke to Amma, Appa, Ayu and Arya. She told each of them that she loves them, they asked if she was alright. She sent a WhatsApp message to Anu that she loves her. She dropped a text message to her long lost friend Dhruv that she was sorry and he was her most lovable friend. 

She woke up with a new lesson of life. She learnt the epiphany of life. The past will always be behind you, it's your choice to look back or not. Be anything but Happy. Tell your loved ones how much they mean to you. 

She said to herself - *"Hota reth hai par lagta pani"!

Image Source: Google


Note: *Amma - Mother, *Appa - Father and *Hota reth hai par lagta pani - A Mirage!

-Luv
V