Chapter-26
Aaru kept the search on, day in and day out. During the day in the forests across different trails every day and during the night planning new ways to dig in further information about her love. Such was her passion and determination that even God’s heart melted. Tearfully sweating the whole day in the sun had made Aaru look like a corpse. None of us was able to bear her condition anymore but would never leave her side come what may.
That fateful morn in February was different though.
Jatru kaka had just informed Aaru that an elderly couple’s driver had come to meet her. He was an acquaintance of Jatru kaka’s relative whom Jatru kaka spoke to, during the course of their search.
Aaru rushed to the drawing-room to talk to him. He was a middle-aged man standing with both his hands folded as if in prayer. She couldn’t believe what he told her,
“Madam, Dr.Shahib has sent me to tell you everything because he knows you have been looking for the person who fell from the cliff around seven years ago. I saw that fateful fall myself. I was driving down Shahib and mem-shahib home from a distant wedding when we heard a loud thud of something big falling from the sky which made me pull the brakes instantaneously. We saw a young man hanging in between the branches of a tree in the deep bushes. Since he was alive we took him home. It was indeed a miracle that he got saved in such a steep fall. With doctor Shahib's medicine and memsahib’s care, he came into his senses in just a few weeks but we soon realized he has lost his memory due to the sudden shock of the fall. Also, he hardly spoke.
Not knowing his whereabouts, Shahib and mem-shahib accepted him as their only son Arpit who they had lost a year ago in a road accident abroad, where he studied.
Not many people knew about this incident and thought he is their son who had returned back. Their heritage bungalow is secluded and far off so other than we three, hardly any come comes there.
Our Arpit baba loved colours so when mem-shahib saw her new Arpit getting excited at a glance of paintbrushes and colors, she happily gave him her son’s painting room. That room has been the lifeline of our new baba. He has made numerous paintings in the last seven years and the moment I saw you I realized all of them are yours and a little baby girl. He also listens to music with shahib and gives his rare smiles to certain songs but hardly mutters any words.
For the last few days, he has suddenly shown signs of improvement as if some magic is happening around him that is bringing back his memory gradually. He has often spoken the name Radha and smiled and cried at the same time perhaps remembering incidents from the past. Doctor Shahib feels you can help him recover if you are his Radha and so they are waiting for you to come and help their son. Hence, they have sent me for you. Are you his Radha, madam?”
He asked innocently.
“Yes, I am his Radha, Sham’s Radha! He is my Sham! Yes, he paints beautifully and loved listening to songs. I knew he was alive! Give me a moment I am coming with you!”
Aaru cooed with delight and ran inside in the zest to reunite with her love.
“Get up my love, we have found daddy, baby!” She confided in her lovely daughter's ears.
They quickly got ready and hopped on the car. The most joyous moment of their lives was going to arrive and Aaru’s heart rate soared in anticipation. She felt he had not experienced this joy for ages. She wore the white outfit Shamit had gifted her and looked divine. Incidentally, she just realized it was also her birthday that day and she could not have asked for a better birthday gift from God. She looked up to the Almighty and thanked him with all her heart as a lone tear rolled down her left eye.
The most awaited moment had finally arrived. They were escorted to the room where Shamit sat and painted, facing towards the sun such that his back was towards the door. The moment Aaru stepped in, without turning back, she could clearly hear her Sham utter,
“Radha......”
His heart had heard her. He turned back gradually in the rotating stool he sat on. He looked so weak and pale too. The moment spoke volumes on how the two were so incomplete without each other and were somehow or the other destined to meet even after the prolonged separation.
“My Sham......”
Said Aaru, running towards him and not able to control herself anymore.
Shamit got up and took Aaru in his arms as the two kept smiling and kissing each other for as long as they could as rivers of joyful tears came cascading down their eyes. Time froze that moment. Their joy knew no bounds. Sharu their princess was overwhelmed to see this and hugged them both merrily.
Pure love can indeed defeat destiny. Life had a lot more in store for them..keep reading this series further to know what all happened hereafter...I am sure there are still many questions unanswered..well, time only shall answer them all😊
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