Journey Part 2

Shaheen was running across the large courtyard, paved with glossy bricks. Her blonde hair under the scarf was exposed and shined. Pegions flew up in circles as she reached the lamp post.

Gasping heavily, she leaned her back and rested one leg half folded on the lamp post.

A cool breeze, from far across the sea, brought her a mesmerizing scent of freshly blossomed flowers. Branches of nearby tree were hesitant to let the golden rays to fall upon her face. Without wasting a moment, she took out a book and opened it. The anxiety on her face was increasing as she kept turning over the blank pages.

Finally, a message was found in the book which she impatiently started reading with her eyes wide open.

It was the moment Shaheen has been waiting for months. Her deep emotional desire, to connect with the most admired student in the University of Istanbul, has just become true. In other words, she has become the most privileged girl by winning the heart of Aditya – an Indian literature student at the same university. He was such a charming and enticing personality with whom girls easily fall in love.

Aditya was a literature student blessed with poetic skills.  The piercing lyrics of pain that flowed down the nib of his fountain pen caused many hearts to bleed and resulted in mad crush of girls on him.

Aditya became the synonym for sad, yet romantic poems.  Many girls became so impressed and dared to offer him love. However, he was not a man to be influenced by the physical beauty.

He had no crush on any girl until he found Shaheen. He was always chased by girls. Aditya, a boy of calm and quite nature, was always indulged in books.  When she met him for the first time at the library, no love at first sight occurred. Instead, he frowned upon her, thinking what the science student did here in the literature section.

Shaheen was actually in search of the classic Les Misérables (The Miserables) by Victor Hugo.

Failed to suppress the curiosity, Aditya approached Shaheen.

“Hello, can I help, you seem to be …not very familiar with this section”.

“Thank you…. Yes indeed…I am a science student…but literature is my passion…” she replied.

“…interesting…young lady…well I am Aditya…3^rd year literature..”. He introduced himself.

“I know…I read many of your poems in the magazine.” She said excitedly.

Aditya exclaimed:

 “But …I wonder…how come you end up with reading world classics, regardless of being a medical student? Rather, shouldn’t you be reading the Anatomy of Human body instead?”

“Oh really?” she replied sarcastically.

“I thought the library is not restricted for few”. She looked him intensively.

Aditya laughed “oops…young lady…I didn’t mean it… I was just joking and I am really happy to see you reading novels and poems. In fact, the library is proud to have an ambassador in the science stream”.

“Thank you”. She said it with a smile that hid her admiration towards him.

“….But Mr. Aditya, I always wondered do poems always need to be painfully sad.” Shaheen was in search of a pretext to elongate their conversation.

“Why do you think so Ms……?” He apologetically stopped as he forgot to ask her name.

“Shaheen” she filled the blank.

“Yea …Ms…Shaheen…why do you think so?”

“Because … many of your poems make our eyes tearful. It would be great, I suppose, if you could write something about the beautiful world.”

“All that glitters is not gold….that’s my perspective about life”. Aditya defended and started to lead her toward the other end of the long raw of book shelves.

The library, as usual, was least crowded and quite which made the page flipping sounds very audible, from different corners of the building. Walking along the long shelves, which hosted legendary and classics in world literature till date, Aditya was lost in thoughts about Shaheen, a beautiful girl with brain. As they reached the World Classics section, he stopped and took out the book she was in search for – Les Misérables.

“Thanks Mr. Aditya, for your kind help”. She never thought he was such a down to earth personality.

“No mention, please”.

He passed a formal smile and waved his hand before moving towards the other section of that grand library. She proceeded to the librarian to sign the register and then moved out to the large courtyard.

The giant tree, stood on large green lawn that surrounded the University of Istanbul, was a silent witness to evolution in the lives of many generations. The five centuries old university was the place where Science, Literature and Arts were all nurtured hand in hand – helping to shape up the future of humanity.

Affection grew into such a strong association that both Shaheen and Aditya became inseparable over time. Except on holidays, they could not miss the beautiful scene of dusk, at the campus. Vast green lawn around witnessed how they fell into love, a love affair that just did not limit to being affectionate to each other. Rather, lion’s part of their time was eaten up by arguments on literatures and philosophy. It was Shaheen who always took initiative to start a discussion on any subject of her interest, just to throw herself into a confusing state where her points would soon get nullified. Very often, Aditya would give in just to make her not disappointed. They, however, always felt every moment with each other to be comfortable, enjoyable and inevitable.

Beauty of love is not confined to a single sphere of expression of affection; it is rather in the search of a perfect blend of emotions and character - of two entirely different personalities.

That afternoon was cold after a short drizzle in the morning. Shaheen walked slowly, towards the bench near woods. A refreshing fragrance felt in the air, arisen from wet soil. She took deep breath, enjoying the fresh air and sat there with her legs crossed over – impatiently looked far across the lawn.

“How come Adi is late today!” she exclaimed. Chilled wind indicated approaching heavy rain. She stood up, thinking to walk towards the library room to meet him.

“Shaheen”, it was none other than the one she has been waiting for, Aditya.

“I thought you were lost in books!” Shaheen said vaguely as he approached her.

“No maa’m, I was stuck in a meeting to finalize preparations for the Annual Day. I am sorry”.

“So, what are you planning for this year? Something special?” Shaheen asked aimlessly, in attempt to cover up own displeasure from waiting long for Aditya.

“There can’t be anything special in my life, other than you, my young lady”. Aditya teased her. Shaheen started walking as usual, making his attempt apparently unnoticed. He realized it was an untimely joke and started to walk along with her quietly.

They would just keep walking along the paved ways without uttering a word –as if lost in thoughts. Yet, they communicated silently and passionately.

“I am sorry Shaheen. I know you have been waiting for me long time”.

She eyed him unemotionally and continued walking, then turned back.

 "You don’t have to be sorry Adi, I wasn’t hurt by your words at all. But, what makes me tense that our remaining days at this wonderful place where we have grown up as much as our intimacy. When you said Annual Day, which would be our last one, it really makes me think about the gruesome uncertainty before us. What do we do after?” Her face blushed and eyes were filled as she looked far straight into horizon.

Aditya did not see her serious and emotional like this, ever before. He was shaken, obviously – but managed to regain quickly.

“Look Shaheen”. He grasped her both hands and raised closer to him.

“We know that seasons would wait for no one. But that doesn’t mean our future is bleak or uncertain. We love each other and our love is not going to be affected by anything. We live to love my sweetheart. It’s not to be confined inside the walls of this college campus.”

She listened to him like an innocent obedient child.

“Shaheen, listen to me. I have already got an offer for trainee editor, from a newspaper. So my plan is to wait for another year to get stabilized. By that time, we should be able to convince our parents –which I hope would not be a problem. Doctor Shaheen weds Editor Aditya…. Cheers lady….life is always as beautiful as love”.

She knew that he is a master at convincing. Yet, a day without college and Aditya was simply beyond her imagination.

Aditya passed a hopeful smile and released her hands before started walking ahead slowly. Shaheen smiled back and quickly joined him. She firmly held his arm. They paused for a while, looking into eyes and then continued to dissolve in to the world of their own.

That bracing evening was decorated with beautiful backdrop of sunset, far across the sea.

Shaheen shared all her childhood experience with Aditya – including betrayal of love that resulted in her father’s suicide. Once she said, she was not adopted but took a rebirth to her adoptive parents who had loved, cared and brought her up much better than her biological parents would have. Had she not been adopted by them, her life would probably have been remained like shattered pieces of a glass.

Shaheen was adopted by a childless couple who worked as diplomats in Turkey. Father worked as First Secretary at the Embassy of Islamic Republic of Pakistan and mother worked as Press Information Officer. Ever since, they never went back to home country. Jovial and liberal nature of adoptive parents kept her happy, in spite of the gruesome episodes she had gone through in the childhood.

Journey Part 3

She opened her eyes, yet again into the same uncertainty.

Slowly, a soft smile was blossomed on the face as she saw a hole high in the roof. Facial wrinkles deepened when she wondered how the rain drops and light rays raced with each other, just to wade through the thick darkness prevailed in that small room. To her, it seemed rainy outside as the bashing sound increased up above the roof tiles. Weak light fell through the only hole in those tiles indicated the absence of a sunny day also. A desperate attempt to turn away from the dripping water only increased her pain. As her weak body started to shiver in the piercing cold, she inhaled deeply and extended her both arms in search of anything that could create noise, but in vain. Helplessly, she closed her eyes and fists as tight as possible, as if to fight the intense cold. At times, a light breeze would caress her shivering body – probably to prevent her from falling unconscious. Filthy condition of that room was well preserved by a locked door with rusty iron bars.

Few hours later, the door opened with a shrieking noise which awakened her. A man stepped inside with a plate of food and kept it down, close to her. She could just stare at him helplessly and tried to keep her eyes open. He bowed further to assist her to sit against the cracked wall. Dry roti (bread) served with lentil (Dal) failed to trigger her taste buds and thus remained as left over in the plate. Perhaps all her senses were occupied in dealing with enormous level of agony she has been through. She wouldn’t recall anymore the day her life was crumbled. As the ashen and curly hair fell on face, she attempted to move it aside – just like memories of her past life. Gulped some water with shivering hand and she leant backward. The man who brought the food wondered how this poor lady struggled with own life, if not with her surroundings. Everything around her had much to contribute towards the pitiable condition. He moved the bed to the dry part of the floor, little towards the door and helped her to move. Somehow, with painful steps, she managed to reach the bed and lied down. She kept her eyes wide open to avoid getting drown in memories and stared at the bare floor. But, that debilitated and enfeebled lady finally lost the battle and closed eyes.

He carefully stepped out as not to wake her up and cautiously closed the door.

It was an abandoned school building which was turned into a shelter for destitute, especially old people. This building and its tenants had many things in common, be it a glorious past or bleak future for both. After all, life is much more like an oasis which no one can be sure of until met with the ultimate fate, regardless of how reassuring the surrounding environment is. Things go upside down overnight, emotionally, physically or financially – if destined.