Lost Soulmate

"Promise me you'll never leave me" exclaimed five year old Bodhi. Her chubby cheeks were puffed while her nose was running, her warm blood-shot eyes had already ceased crying. Some of her 'friends' had teased her for her past. Yes! She was born differently. Her birth was exactly was in seventh month, her kundli said it was very unkindly to human. All the misfortune was considered her fault, except for her loving parents. And of course her best friend Rahel. "I promise Bodhi, will stay with you always" he entwined their fingers.

This is the world of soulmates. Where everyone are destined to meet someone. And the soulmates have their own unique identification. They would get their own tattoo at the age of fifteen. Here in this world everything is different. People here are more humanly than the other original one. You might think it's almost fake. Of course that will be our first thought cause we are not as godly as them let alone human.

Only at desperate times they have to take desperate measures.

"Why this always happens to me?" Bodhi was whining. It broke Rahel's heart to watch the gut wrenching sobs. He was almost on the verge of tears too. He always adored the girl. She was his soulmate, at least he thought so. He would do anything to get his girl happily ever after. But that's not the fate right? When you think you are in some kind of merry go round you realize you are in for fucking roller coaster. Life bites back, when you are too invested in your moments, forgetting about the reality.

Everyone on this world has got their tattoo like normal. And so Bodhi thought. Like normal, her own unique one would appear at the age of fifteen and hoped it was as same as Rahel's. So that it would get much easier. The whole over enthusiasm got her so deep down, cause it never happened even at the age of seventeen. Of course her birth has to do something with this. She dreamt of going on with new adventures after finding about her mate, how stupid of her to think it would all be blissful.

"Everything will be alright! I will make sure" he hugged the brown-haired girl. She was slowly calming in his arms. She always thought he was her home, wherever he is she would be there. And suddenly something jolts up Rahel. His dim black anchor tattoo glows brighter than the moon. When soulmates meet, or have any contact their tattoo glows, and it would be illustrious as if there are hundreds diamonds sparkling at their first meet. The bright gloom in his right arm almost blinded them. This was his first intense moment with her and his tattoo seemed to found its mate. This clicked something in him. He shoots up quickly. Startled by all this, Bodhi confusedly followed him. He was jumping as if he was high on some tranquil nectar. "Are you alright?" She asked him worry clearly etching on her face. "Of course I am, you know---- what this means?" He pointed at his outstretched arm. She shook her head not understanding any of this. "You are my soulmate Bodhi!" He screeched. Oh God! He can wake up the sleeping deities from his catastrophe. She was smiling like a fool in love but the reality hit her harder making her face rigid. Tears brimmed in her chestnut iris. "I have no such tattoo" she announced and fled the scene. He deeply frowned at his best friend. So what? He has found his mate despite the identity, it's like finding your one true love with their flaws or whatsoever and accepting them however they are in our world.

The whisperings of the populace around the chief and his fellow ministers was no longer hushed. It was even more clamorous when Bodhi was brought into the episode. This was the day they would execute her. This was all the plan of cunning Minister Vadik. She had once fought him over a bribe, which is practically considered sin but none could face him with their guts, nonetheless a fearless Lass Bodhi. Oh boy! Everyone felt pity for her. This is what you get for standing up, in whichever world you are just pity. He however escaped the sentence, but didn't forget the girl behind it. And once he found out about her situation he used for his advantage. There was never a single person without the tattoo and here stood Bodhi in all her glory without a single inked mark on her. Her parents were groaning in pain seeing their daughter get executed. Of course people of this world don't do crime, but after insisting and passing more bills, having more rough arguments they had come to conclusion that this was the final result. There was not much of codes of conduct here considering, people here are satiated and happy.

Executioners ask her last wish and she happily says she wants to see her Rahel. When he sees her being beheaded his soul darkens. His soulmate is vanishing into thin air. Since people here are more sensitive all leave the ground except for her parents, Rahel, the executioners and the Chief and his ministers. Once she is beheaded her blood smearing on Rahel's face who was hugging her before her execution stood there motionless. What happens next stuns everyone they watch Rahel collapsing on the ground. His face goes pale and cold, this means that his soul has gone with Bodhi's.

The death of Rahel soon makes news, his parents demanding justice. He is not the one without the ink mark, was he? No he had but how did he die? Soon Chief and his council of Ministers make amendments and what not?! Confused by the whole situation, the wise Minister Yuvira states that the soulmate of Rahel was none other than Bodhi 'cause if your soulmate is having their last breath then it's your last chance to say good bye too. Soon the deities make their heavenly appearance at the court. This was the tragic event. So they wanted to mend some things. Upon seeing Rahel's parents pleads they bestowed them. It was they would be born but in the other world meaning ours, and once they find their mates in each other they would return back.

"Apoorva" "Apoorva".... The whole hall roared. Apoorva stood there in defense stance. Her nose bleeding, her braided hair had disheveled she was almost beaten to death but her eyes spoke something else. There was burning fire in those iris. If her stare could set fire then the whole hall would have burnt to mere ashes. Her inner monster couldn't give up yet. However she looked beautiful in her broken state. Her cheek bones perfectly accentuated, her angular jaw line was no less than any sharp knife, her broken yet straight nose and her doe eyes everything was just perfect. If she was any normal shy girl then she could have whole college behind her drooling over her but she was toughest woman you'll ever come across. It wasn't only about her beauty, it was about her passion, intellect and also bravery.

Before she could jab her fist into her opponent's face it was half time, both players were pulled back by their trainers. "You have to focus Apoorva, you can't lose it; think of your struggles, jeet se aage bahut kuch paane ko hai" her trainer Mohammed counseled her. He was pretty famous at their district. He was also named after worldwide champion Mohammed Ali, due to his tricky tactics. He however trained mainly girls to empower women. He would always choose the ardent and fiery ones to train.

Once when he was returning home after his session, he witnessed a indelible incident. A incident which involved a girl constantly punching the drunken man. He quickly hustled over there and inquired her of her arrogant behavior. She didn't hesitate to answer back. It was simple----she had seen him harassing his wife and plainly started blowing him off with her fierce punches, sure her knuckles turned sore but she cared less. Her past was no less, her father had abused her mom drunkenly so many times, and her mother had always advised her to stand up for herself unlike her mother. Now she was the sole earning source of her family. She had quit her school after her twelfth to support her mother but unfortunately she had passed away few months back. She had a younger sister who was dependent on her. That day Mohammed decided that----this girl here would be his best trainee. And guess what she was his all time favorite. She competed in state levels and won almost all, and also managed to secure her seat in college through the sports quota and most of her money was spent on her sister's education.

"Bhaiya don't worry, it has already taken care of" Ria was trying to assure her brother. This was what happened---she was newbie to her college and all shy nerdy girl, she was being bullied by some of the seniors for her studious persona. But her roommate Apoorva whom she proudly call her bestie, had already warned them, getting beaten by trained wrestler wasn't there plan so they cowardly crawled away. Now they share not only their dorm but anything that's needy.

On the other line Yug was furious. How dare anyone bother his baby sister. He can't take this. Their bond is inexplicable. They are super close. He wanted to immediately come through but his sister was convincing him. And he was confused. How and who had saved his sister? "Ri, who took care?". "It's my bestie remember I had told you about---we share our dorms!" she cheerfully informed him. Oh! Something flashed his mind. Recently that was all Ria would talk about. How her best friend is more strong than most of their college boys or how her intellect stands out among hundreds. She is a crowd pleaser he thought. "Mujhe unse milna hai, mein agle hafte aaraha hoon" it was more like a statement. "Yes!! I've missed you so much, jaldi aaiye" she exclaimed happily.

“And now welcome to the ring, undefeated champion Ms. Apoorva” the hall was filled with hollers and hoots. She had this aura that could make anyone run for their life. It was as if she would become a whole new person at the ring. She walked to the ring with her fiery masked face. She was cladded with black sleeveless top, and red boxer shorts---her name written at the hem. She had her hands covered with red gloves, her mouth stuffed with mouth guard. The whole hall was dark except for the ring lights.

“Let the fight begin” The announcer announced.

The opponent who was in her red top and blue shorts was as strong as Apoorva. Now at the moment Apoorva held the opponent in arm lock, almost suffocating her.

“Hello, where are you?” asked Yug amid all the chaos, and incessant cheers. As promised he had arrived to the college to meet his sister as well as her special friend. He was informed the directions, and as per that---he had reached outside the wrestling hall which was few miles away from the college campus. But he couldn’t much decipher why he was outside the fight club---which he called. “Bhaiyya, I am not hearing you, toda jor se boliye” she was practically screaming. She was inside the ring, watching her friend beat the shit out of the opponent. She wasn’t the one who missed such a entertaining match. He could hear the crowd cheering Apoorva. Suddenly he felt a jolt… Why?

Apoorva had felt the same jolt too, so she had to free her opponent from the death grip and resulting her to knock down. Her inner arm was tickling sort of, before she could think… she was blown off. Her lower jaw cracking, she was now held in head lock, the final ring had rung so declaring her loss. The opponent was pretty rough, so she didn’t yet release her even after the ring, causing Apoorva to cough, she was clearly suffering from lack of oxygen, her face turning pale, but the opponent’s trainer pulled her off before she could get her permanent ban for breaking the rule. What a pussy? If Apoorva wasn’t disturbed by her arm tattoo she would have stomped the wimp down forever ago.

“I am not interested in fair Ri” stated irritated Apoorva. “Shut up there are scary house, the sole reason to come here and believe me they are the best” Apoorva just rolled her eyes. “C’mon you can forget that, and don’t roll your eyes so much, one of these days you are going to be blind” laughed Ria making her friend smile too. If you’re cranky then the best solution will be your friends, cause they can be more bitchy than you.

“Bhaiyya yeh Apoorva hai, aur Apoorva ye Mera bhaaiy Yug” Ria introduced them beaming. They shook their hands with their sweaty palms, why though? They were suddenly nervous. They were staring longingly at each other much more for their first meet, As if they could connect in a different way, that only they could understand. They were soon brought back by a high pitched squeak. “Oh heaven! Why didn’t I notice this earlier” they both looked at her confusedly. She didn’t let them speak. “You both practically have the same tattoo” then they noticed the tattoo at his wrist was ditto as hers.

It seems like Ria literally abandoned them, to meet her college gang. And she had not yet rejoined them. These both were all giggly and stammering, how anyone feel like---when they meet their crush, or having to spend time with them makes them giddy, they were feeling the same. “So you are Ms. Mary Kom” he asked with certain uneasiness. She noticed his odd behavior, and laughed it off. “Relax I am not gonna bite you” still he seemed uncomfortable. “Being a wrestler doesn’t mean that you have to fight each and everyone” she assured him. He released a relief sigh. Now that he was assured he was back at the flirting. “Then, you will be the most beautiful boxer, I have ever seen” truth to be told he isn’t the type of the guy who would watch WWE and get torn between whom to side----John Cena or the Undertaker. He was an entrepreneur, Who owned Thakur group of hotel chains, which extended all over Asia. And also he was named one of the most influential people in the world surveyed by Forbes. But that wasn’t his concern right now, he wanted to woo this mystery girl. He could go little off limits right? he can come out of his business mode and will his wings out like a free bird. She wasn’t the toughest girl now, her cheeks were proof. She blushed bashfully at his compliment. Why this stranger is making her feel so good, her walls were crumbling.

They ended up in one of the tents, that they even didn’t try to know. They went to each and every stall and tent and tasted so many different snacks at the food fest and tent. This had a different vibe. Something strange. There was a middle aged woman working on some crystal meth. They were so lost in their world sharing their sweetest moments, goofing around. The woman snapped her head at them, she raised her eyebrows amusedly. She smirked at the scene, the time has come. She cleared her throat loudly drawing their attention.

“You both ready to know your life's purpose?” she asked them both. They nodded their head quickly, they were not the ones who believed in these superstitious beliefs. They were very eager to know as if they were hypnotized. She brought her both palms near the crystal ball. There was some electrifying signals moving to and fro. They both focused intently. There they could clearly see the image of another serene world where two people similar to them sitting near the fluorescent lake. The under water creatures were glowing with bright neon green, illuminating whole scenery. They were hand in hand talking non-stop. “It’s about time to return back” when they questioned her why, the scene in the ball changed to the one where---Bodhi was beheaded and then Rahel passing away. Then they observed the two dark loveless souls wandering around. The significant tattoos in them started radiating the spark which grew its tendency second by second. “Now connect your marks this way” the woman guided them. And when they did the past life played like a movie in front of them. “Your world is awaiting” she gestured to the ball where all the people were eagerly looking at the open sky with much enthusiasm. “Bodhi” Yug croaked through his tears, he couldn’t express his happiness to finally meet and connect with his soulmate the one and only his best friend. She was no different, she just nodded her head as if they were talking psychologically. They felt everything light, their body weighed much less than the feather itself. “Are you ready to experience whole new thing with me?” she proposed and he just sealed their lips agreeing to the forever treaty. They walked hand in hand back to their world. And here in ours there was no such crystal meth, no suspicious lady, no Ria, not even Wrestling master Mohammed, it was a mere phantom.. A imaginary world which was just to connect the two lost soulmates…