Love Waves

Note: This story is based on Author’s fiction. It does not apply to any historical references. It’s the story of two different couples. So, the narration type is in linear mode.

24 DECEMBER 2017

PEELAMEDU, COIMBATORE

7:30 AM

Priya Darshini is a 19-year-old woman living happily with her family consisting of her father Narayanan and siblings Kaviya and Bala Rajitha. She is living happily with them in Peelamedu. She studies at PSG College of Arts and Science, five kilometres from her residency. Since she’s a model student, everyone likes her so much. The same year in her same class, she becomes close with Dharanedharan.

Dharane liked Priya Darshini a lot. Both of them started to spend time together alongside the busy schedules of Short-films and web series roles. Upon seeing this, Priya’s father asked her: “Priya. Is Dharane your boyfriend?”

“Yes, dad.” Although his daughter is just 19 years old and this age is not suitable for serious relationships, Priya Darshini managed to convince her father by telling him good things about Dharanedharan. She says, “He is so loving and caring boy.” One day, Priya’s father invited Dharane to her house during the weekend, which he gladly accepts.

There he spends some memorable moments with the family. He gave nail polish to Priya’s siblings and made counter comments regarding films, which made them happier and more enthusiastic. The weekend went as such.

Even after Dharane went out of the house Priya was very happy, thinking about the weekend, which she described as her “Best weekend days.” But, the next day, Priya receives a message from Dharane: “Let’s end our relationship Priya. Let’s break up.” Seeing the message, Priya was heartbroken. She asked him, “Why and for what reasons?” But there’s no reply from Dharane.

Instead, Dharane spreads false news about Priya for the whole year. Wherever Dharane sees Priya, he bullied her and said to his close friends, “I not only hate Priya. If I get one chance, I would go to the extent of leaving this college for my own good.” But, his friends don’t take this seriously.

One of his friends Adhithya joked saying, “If you shift to another college, I would bring you multiple offers for acting in films, which is your dream since childhood days.” For a whole year, things go as such. The next year, Dharane’s character completely changed. Even his behaviour started to change. Suddenly, he showered love and affection on Priya. He expressed his interest in Priya once again.

Although he has abused her for the past year, Priya still loves him a lot. So, she accepts to let him in her life again. The next month on 25th July 2021, Dharane sends a message on Facebook, “Hi Priya. I have registered for my post-graduation course in Film Direction and Screenplay at Film and Television Institute of India, Pune.” He says that “He needs to meet her alone in the Tidal park, which is popular to speak some of his personal life with her.”

Priya dressed up well with good make-up. However, her father feels concerned and panicked about her. He asked her to be in touch. Until she reached Tidal Park, both Dharane and Priya were in contact. The morning where they met, Dharane changed the profile photo in which he kept the photo of Tidal Park. He messaged Adhithya: “You are going to get me the film offers soon.”

So, Dharane holds their hands of Priya and takes her for some distance. There he speaks with her about, “How his father worked abroad in Ukraine. He doesn’t know the value of love and affection. Since his mother always abused him physically and mentally. Only when he saw Priya, did he realise the importance of true love? And for days, he has just tested her love and realized, she loved him truly.” Priya feels emotional and hugged him.

“Take my hand, take my whole life too. For I can’t help falling in love with you, Dharane.” Priya said. Then, Dharane said, “He is going to Pune for his post-graduation for which he is writing the JET exam within three days.” Priya agreed to let him go. When she was crossing the roads to pick up her bus in the heavy traffic roads of Hope College, she is hit by a van in front of Dharane’s eyes. She’s thrown to the other side of the roads. Dharane is devastated and heartbroken after seeing her in the pool of blood.

FOUR YEARS LATER

17TH JANUARY 2021

9:30 AM

Dharane tried his best to save Priya. But, she is declared dead by the doctor. He cried aloud on the roads. Four years later, he is standing on the same road, where Adhithya, who had initially challenged him for film offers said: “Buddy. I said you would get film offers if you change your college. But, I never expected that your life would take a turn although you are now a good film director today.”

“Buddy. A broken heart is the worst. It’s like having broken ribs. Nobody can see it, but it hurts every time you breathe.” He added telling Adhithya, “Adhi. When we expected something good to happen in our life, fate changes it to a miserable state.” Dharane shifts to Telugu film Industry. Since he can’t forget the memories of Priya Darshini by staying in the Tamil Film industry.

WALAYAR, KERALA

12:30 PM

Around 12:30 PM, Adhithya drove his Honda City car towards Walayar-Palakkad roads in order to meet his girlfriend Alakananda after a long time, since his work as a financial accountant in the Indian Defense Department of Madhya Pradesh. Alakananda is now working as an RJ(Radio Jockey) in the Palakkad district of Kerala. 

She is now waiting at Walayar Bus stop waiting for the arrival of Adhithya. After reaching the place, Adhithya asked Dharane: “Whether he reached Coimbatore International Airport?” Dharane messaged on Whatsapp: “Yes da. I reached the airport. Going to get inside the flight within few hours of time.”

At the bus stop, Adhithya took Alakananda in his car. When travelling towards Palakkad district, she asked: “For four years where have you gone da? I had messaged you through so many ways.”

Adhithya parked his car nearby the roads of Kanchikode. Standing amidst rain, Adhithya said: “In one way or the other, I was solely responsible for the present condition of Dharane, Alakananda. If I have not intimidated him about film offers, his love problems and psychological issues could have been solved. Now, he lost his love. Also, he is losing himself thinking about Priya Darshini.”

Alakananda holds his shoulder. She said: “Baby. Life imposes things on you that you can’t control, but you still have the choice of how you’re going to live through this.” She asked him to move on from the guilt that he is imposing on himself for the death of Priya. Adhithya agreed and they travelled towards Dhoni waterfalls around 1:00 PM.

While Adhithya drive towards Mazhampuzha Dam, Mouni embraced him and said: “I could no longer wait Adhi. I wanted to explore this whole world. I have a big list of some places, which I would like to travel to. It could take a minimum of two years.”

“Hey, Alakananda. Why you are so obsessed with travelling and journeys? I seriously don’t know.” Adhithya looked at her and questioned her with some shower of laughter. She replied by holding his cheeks: “Because to me, every day is a journey and the journey itself is home.” Looking at the Western Ghats and a canal, she added: “I believe that life is a journey, often difficult and sometimes incredibly cruel, but we are well equipped for it if only we tap into our talents and gifts and allow them to blossom.”

The couples spent some time together in the dams of Mazhampuzha. There, Alakananda joked: “Life’s a journey, not a race.” A few hours later, they travelled to various places in India for three months. Subsequently, they get married. But, she requested Adhi to forbid their first night so that she could be able to travel all over India, to which Adhithya agreed. 

Upcoming November, Alakananda is going to become 25 years old. They decide to go to a special place in order to celebrate her 25th birthday. They choose Tapovan and Rishikesh, which she wishes to visit for a longer period of time. The main speciality of this place is “Mandakini-Alakananda meet each other to become the Ganges.”

Adhithya returned to the job in Uttarakhand, where he have been transferred as an Accounts officer from Madhya Pradesh. There, Alakananda feels very enthusiastic and happier, experiencing the beauty of nature. After his work, Adhithya returned to the house at night, where he saw Alakananda in a beautiful sari.

She holds the hands of Adhithya. Alakananda said: “Adhi. Do you know? Couples who schedule a time to connect with each other have healthier, happier relationships.” She indirectly expressed her desire to enjoy their first night. Inside the bed, it starts with a kiss. Slowly, Adhithya leaned the hands of Alakananda and removed her sari, like sculpting a statute. Both of them have passionate sex and slept together using the blanket.

When hugging Adhithya in the bed, Alakananda said: “Adhi. Done well, marital sexuality can be a supremely healing experience.”

“Alakananda. Do you know? Sex is one of the most powerful gifts god ever created. It was designed to bring a man and woman together in a physical, emotional and spiritual bond that would create, pleasure, intimacy and also production.” Alakananda accepted his point of view. She stated: “Yes, sex involves our bodies. But it doesn’t involve only- or even primarily- our bodies, it’s so much more than that. Sexual intimacy is a continuing process of discovery.”

A FEW DAYS LATER

FEBRUARY 6TH 2021

A few days later, Adhithya continued his journey with Alakananda to Haridwar on 23rd July 2021. Before going there, Adhithya went to Gangotri and Yamunotri glacier along with Alakananda. Since it was full of snowfall and chillness, Adhithya and Alakananda took all the necessary materials that were needed to climb up the glacier and an important temple. After seeing the glaciers, they went to Tapovan on a two-days journey.

After reaching Tapovan, Alakananda took her phone to record the beauty of Mandakini-Alakananda's confluence as the Ganges. They experience the beauty of Kedarnath, Rishikesh and Haridwar by roaming all around the place in the midst of rainfall. Around 11:30 AM, they reached Tapovan, where Adhithya is showered with love and affection by the Pandit people.

FEBRUARY 7TH 2021

NANDA DEVI GLACIER, CHARMOLI DISTRICT

The next day on February 7, 2021, a portion of the Nanda Devi glacier broke off releasing the water trapped behind the ice, creating an avalanche and deluge that quickly turned into flash floods in Uttarakhand’s Charmoli district.

The glacier burst generated a sudden flood in the middle of the day in the Dhauli Ganga, Rishi Ganga and Alaknanda rivers- all intricately linked tributaries of the Ganga- triggering widespread panic and large-scale devastation in the high mountain areas.

Two power projects in progress- NTPC’s Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel project and the Rishi Ganga Hydel project- were extensively damaged with several labourers trapped in tunnels as the waters rushed in. Adhithya and Alakananda were unknown about the flash floods. They celebrate their journey in Tapovan, which is their second trip plan.

However, the flash floods washed away the Dhauliganga dam at the confluence of the Rishi Ganga and Dhauli Ganga. A bridge in the Tapovan area that connected 13 villages was also washed away in the Avalanche. In the flash floods, the severely hit were Joshimath, Rini, Nanda Devi National Park, Tapovan Vishnugad Hydropower plant and Sridhar. Authorities alongside Two C-130 J Super Hercules with 3 teams of the National Disaster Response Force(NDRF) were deployed in the rescue mission of people.

Many villages were evacuated as authorities emptied two dams farther down the river to stop the floodwaters from reaching the towns of Haridwar and Rishikesh. When bringing in the villagers, the NDRF forces were unable to give seats to Alakananda. Soon, an Indian Army helicopter also comes to save them.

Alakananda sends up the woman and child who are with them first, then Adhithya, then an older man, and finally prepares to go herself. But there is only space for one more person and the father of the family has not gone yet. She sends him instead.

Perplexed, Adhithya asked Alakananda: “Hey Alakananda. What rubbish thing are you doing?” Although Alakananda has done this with a heavy heart, she wiped off her tears. Instead, she can’t pretend to laugh. So, she cried saying in her mind: “Adhi. Crying is a way your eyes speak when your mouth can’t explain how broken your heart is.” She wiped off her tears once again and said her final words to Adhithya: “Baby. When you look at me, when you think of me, I am in heaven. See you in my rebirth.” As Alakananda sacrifices herself, Adhithya screamed loud as he helplessly watches her die as the ground below crumbles into the raging river.

When drowning in the river, Alakananda recalled the memorable days she and Adhithya spent and had a last smile before her death in the flash floods.

ONE YEAR LATER

FEBRUARY 6TH 2022

COIMBATORE DISTRICT

One year later, in the winter, Dharane returned to Coimbatore to meet a heartbroken Adhithya, who is still living with the memories of Alakananda and listening to her favourite song “We are the world” on the radio which she dedicated to him. When hearing the song, he looked at the letter, in which Alakananda gave her acceptance to marry her in a few months. He kept it asides.

While Dharane sat near Adhi and asked him: “How are you da?”

“I am fine,” Adhithya said in a low voice. Dharane reminded him about the happiness and enthusiasm, that he lost after the death of Alakananda. Adhithya looked at Dharane and said: “Dharane. I am now nothing. Just like you, living with a broken heart. Fate is like a strange, you know. We often meet fate on the road when we try to avoid it.”

The friends hold their hands and proceed to walk away. While a reflection of Alakananda and Priya Darshini smiled at them.

“Love was like the waves in the sea, gentle and good sometimes, rough and terrible at others. But that it was endless and stronger than the sky and earth and everything in between.” Although Alakananda and Priya Darshini died, Adhithya and Dharane’s love for these girls are still like the waves in the sea. It can’t be destroyed by anyone in this world.

EPILOGUE

“Those we love never truly leave us. There are things that death cannot touch.”

-         Jack Throne.

 

“The sorrow we feel when we lose a loved one is the price we pay to have had them in our lives.”

-         Rob Liano.