Silent Dreams

. She was used to thick deep silence and hardly spoke .She had no goals, no aim in her life yet she lived each day with categorized tasks and continued living each day, but without anything much to look forward to .Getting up early to clean her small neat white washed home,cooking, filling earthen pots wth waterfrom the well , after her morning prayers she ate a little meal then started working outdoors in her garden.There, she had the most interaction with another soul. He came everyday and loudly cawed at her.She turned frowning eyes at him a small smile hiding the corners of her lips.And ,he looked back innocently at her..Caw Caw Caw.In her mind and heart she adored his company,but everyday she frowned and fumed at him shooing him away.It was always the same routine since he started appearing.She shooed him and he cawed.Then she bought leftover bits of stale chappathi  from last night for him.

Two years ago there was a day when some men had killed her husband and son and threw their bodies to float in the lake.She was numb and dead for days.There was no reason found,no one caught,and everyday she hoped for miracles which never really happened to people like her.She had no place to go so she continued living here and waiting for nothing in particular. Days weeks and months passed as time stops for nothing and she continued growing vegetables.The vegetables she grew were collected by the farmers going through the narrow lanes towards the mainroads leading to the city.Why dosent she have the courage to leave this village and go to the city.She asked herself many times during the day.Each night she looked in the mirror closed her door tightly locked it  and prayed for a safe night

Life was moving along waiting for some days of sunshine.Farmers passing by told her many times about all the things that happened in the city Her life did not change in the past years.She had fallen into a routine as safe as possible ,growing older bearing the memories of her husband and young son crying without tears and living on and on

Every monsoon she went to the city once to visit the shrine of a religious leader.
Today was the day she got ready for her journey into the city.She closed her small home carefully and left in the bus for the city
.Entering the shrine Aditi carefully removed her slippers and went to the grave covered by colourful shiny cloth and fresh mogra flowers.She placed her palms on the top and closing her eyes prayed for a long time.Slipping back in time she remembered her past.She was the only daughter of her parents the most affluent zamindars in the village ..But she had got married to Devendra because she dared to rebel against the old traditional system and only because her father who loved her very much, was supportive.Since her marriage she abandoned her parents home because Devendra was from another village,another world …both their villages were 1000 kms away from each other.Many times when her strength gave up she thought of returning to her parents home but something held her back.She clearly remembered it .The neighbours who had ,who were….!!! She shook her head and concentrated on her prayers.The face of that man still made her sweat with fear.He was someone who would kill her if she saw him ever again.She placed her face down again on the fresh flowers of mogra and took in the peace feeling safe.She was tortured and abused battered and almost killed by the nieghbour when she was 15 and just because she was a Zamindars daughter the whole thing was hidden.Aditi left the shrine and outside she sat down on a cool step leaning against the pillars.Her grey cotton saree covered her totally ,head ,half her face.She looked a lot older than her 29 years but there was so much beauty and peace on her face that she was like a diety sitting there with a beam of sunlight touching her hair.

He touched the pistol hiding in his belt pushed it in deeper ,climbed up the steps swiftly,but silently.26 years old Deva pushed back his long shiny hair out of his eyes and suddenly stumbled badly as he turned because he did not see Aditi sitting behind the pillar.He fell headlong on the ground and immedeately took out his pistol and held it up to shoot the person who made him fall. He would have fired a shot if he didn’t realize it was just some old beggar woman.He again pushed away the long hair out of his eyes and got up slowly.She was beautiful.He heard his heart say as he saw the face of the woman.

He looked at her saying nothing.She turned away without saying a word.She knew his type of people.There was no use talking to them She walked away towards the end of the terrace and stood there looking out far away at the green stretch of land in the middle of this hustling city.There were so many people so many cars a big city smell enveloped her .She stood quietly looking away.She had a whole day to spend in the city as she always did .This was the only day she came to the city and again after another year she would come if she were alive till then.She bowed her head thinking about herself.Looking far away she saw the boats floating along the coastline and felt someone behind her.As she turned smell of fresh mogra flowers reached her and amazed she looked into the eyes of Deva.He held out a bunch of garlands ,gajras of mogra flowers.She stared icily at him,then turned to walk away.He was in front of her gajras in his hand extended towards her.She avoided him again moved away started walking arms tightly folded crossed over her chest but he again stopped her way and placed the gajras in front of her eyes .There was no look in his eyes ,just blankness.Now irritated she took the flowers from him and was going to throw them over the balcony of the terrace when he caught her hand and stopped her.
”Wear Them” He said.
“Go away’ please! She said slowly ,
”Please Wear them “Deva said.
“I Cant,I am a widow”
“Please Wear Them”He said again.
Cant You understand,I shouldn’t ! I am A widow”
Dosent Matter”,Wear Them.(was that an order.)
Aditi uncovered her head and tied the gajras around her braided hair .She resigned now to his madness.She walked away from him and stood in a corner looking away. Deva was smoking,he looked deeply at her.Aditi started worrying how she will spend her one day that she always did in this shrine .Why and who was this man she wondered sitting nearby watching her.Worried she wiped her forehead.
Don’t worry Deva will never let anyone harm you
Aditi stared at him coldly

Where do you live?he asked

Aditi was too upset to answer

See,she said”Don’t bother me,I have come here for peace
HaHahaha,Peace!?wheres the peace madam Theres no peace anywhere…!
Anyways,I like you very much.I will always be with you
“Tell me about you”…
What?  Aditi said
Nothing madam
Just tell me who you are?Your name?

Please leave me alone
No I cant
Yes
I need to be alone ,Go away!
I will not
Oh  !  Shall I call the police
Yes
Uff
Aditi put her head in her hands,exasperated.

He gotup to go
“I am getting something to eat”
Don’t move from here ,or else I will shoot you!
He went down the steps …Aditi sat dumbfounded looking at the steps
He returned in just few minutes and handed some food to her
“Eat This”
“Stop ordering me”
Hahahaha Why should I?

You look like a lost baby,Sitting here !!”like a small meek Lamb”
Are you mad?
I am not impressed nor scared of you,Aditi said clenching her teeth.

You Understand!!Aditi was truly annoyed,She closed her fists tightly.
Yes!
He said softly” Now I see a bit of life in your eyes”Grinning,he bent and
he touched the gajras in Aditis hair.Then bent down to put his nose into them.She froze like a snow statue,cold and dumb.
“Mmmmmm ‘he said.”These flowers smell so much better!HaHahaha”Thanks to you!
What Are you doing?Aditi hissed with fear and anger

Just go away
Deva never goes away
“I will always be with u “he smiled, lazily smoking 

For another two or three hours Aditi sat quietly ,And Deva sat looking at her.It was evening.Aditi went to wash her face,returned and went inside the shrine
After her prayers she started getting down the steps.Deva came near her.Madam”tell me where you live.”?
Why?
“I don’t know”
Aditi walked away

After leaving the shrine she left the city with the farmers who were to take her back.She did not know that Deva was following her.The third day Deva stood on her doorsteps .She looked at him angrily.”Now what do you want?”

Nothing.

Ok

Then

I want to talk to you

Give me some water

I cant

Who are you

I am Deva

I want to talk to you about myself

Please let me

“This is a village and I am a widow,I can waste my time with people like you”

‘I will work for you”

“What kind of work”

“I will grow vegetables”

Aditi resigned.She went inside and sat down in a corner ,suddenly tired of fighting
He started working in the garden.Humming..After almost 3 hours He entered her home and saw her sleeping with her elbows placed on the table and her head on the elbows.He sat down quietly in a chair.watching her,smoking.