If You Would Be With Me.........

      The rainy season has started. I, Radhika, enjoy this season among others. Nowadays, I am used to being stuck in a time warp on the terrace of Keshavji’s house. It might be our home one day!

      When I joined Zumba Fitness class two years back, Keshavji was very happy and encouraged me to do well. I improved myself day by day. Plank for two minutes, squat for eighty counts, Cardio Zumba, Bollywood Zumba etc. perfectly done by me in the class. I was wishing maybe one day he will come to class and be surprised to see me doing all these.

      

Mr Keshav, a humble, intelligent and calm person. Very dutiful towards his respectable profession. Remarkable changes in both my physical appearance and mental well-being happened after he entered my life. Little by little, he was becoming my world.

     It was a busy morning hour and I was driving to college. Suddenly a speedy bike came from a lane as a bolt from blue comes and we had a narrow escape. I got frozen for a moment, what I was thinking of? About the last event with Keshavji! A smile turned up on my face.

     I have informed Keshavji about my program at Women’s College for their Foundation Day celebration. Never asked or expected anything from him as he had other important responsibilities. Still, I was hoping for his presence. “I request our gorgeous Radhika madam to express her views about our college”. One lecturer had invited me to the podium. When I was going to speak, I sensed Keshavji is on the front chair. My nervousness was gone, and with confidence, I completed it in the best way. Then I realised he was not there!

    

 When I arrived at the terrace today, the sky was clear. Not so hot, but the weather was pleasant. I reached my favourite corner from where I could see the beautiful garden of the house. At this time, Keshavji reads the newspaper while having his morning green tea. I noticed two police officers sitting and saying something to Keshavji in the seating area of the garden. I rushed down and tried to hear them from behind a pillar of the portico.

    “Sir, we are giving our best to investigate the negligence of the skydiving team. We are sorry to say that we should also be careful”. One of the officers was saying politely.

    “I hope for the proceedings to be fast and thank you”. Said Keshavji with a mournful voice. His eyes were heavy. The officers went away.

   “Radhika!! What you have done?” He relived these words as if the words are not willing to come out. Holding the pillar tensely, I kept on crying. How could I give him such pain to whom I love the most? I wish to run and hold him while keeping on saying sorry till he forgives me. However, it is not possible for me. I cried out for describing all the details of that unfortunate day, which was almost one month before, to Keshavji, which he has to know. But how could I?

 

  I remember every moment of that day. “Radhika dear, reach the airport on time. We are on our way”. Swarupa had called me while I was getting ready. I packed my bag and baggage the day before. I wore my favourite diamond bracelet which Keshavji has chosen for me and left for the airport. Eight of our college friends had planned for this Goa trip at our last get-together. I had informed Keshavji about it also. As expected, he said nothing. He knows when to keep silent and when to speak and this quality of him has tied up me with him. This time I was pretty sure that he will come to Goa and surprise me.

    It was the day before the last day of our trip. According to our itinerary, we got up early and reached the Tandem Skydiving Adventurous Sports camp, about 30 kilometres from the city. We dressed properly according to their instruction guide. With a fawn colour t-shirt and denim jeans, I was looking well dressed. The diamond bracelet on my hand was enhancing my look. All of us were very excited. We put on the safety coats containing parachutes, helmets, gloves, and knee caps properly and got into the aeroplane. The guide trained us for one hour about the procedure of skydiving from jumping to landing.

    Wearing our hearts on our sleeves, we flew to the specific height from where we had to jump one after another. My turn came at last. I bowed my head to Lord Ganesh and jumped. A few seconds later, I was surprised to see that Keshavji had jumped from an aeroplane next to ours and not far from me. I felt euphoric and started calling him. I was in another world with him at 10,000 feet above the ground and forgot about the rest. When I accelerated to the height where I had to press the burble and the ringing of an alert siren in my ear, I did not realise any of these. And when I realised, actually Keshavji was not there at all, it was too late. The ground was visible to me and I assured myself that I am going to hit the ground within a few minutes. I cried his name for help hoping he would be there on the ground and take some measures to save me. And I hit the ground without any protection.

    After the accident, now I am free to be there around Keshavji. But tragic thing is that he could not see me, feel my presence. Before sometimes I thought of whether he has love, warmth for me as much as I have for him! Now, silently I am witnessing his feelings for me and it is tons more than me.