STORYMIRROR

Vaman Acharya

Drama Horror Tragedy

4  

Vaman Acharya

Drama Horror Tragedy

Some Memories Never Fade

Some Memories Never Fade

7 mins
29


Some Memories Never Fade

(A short story of a young girl)

by Vaman Acharya


The musical instruments playing outside early in the morning disturbed my early morning sleep. I woke up to see what was going on and opened the front window. Just opposite my house, I saw the opening of ‘Agastya Medicals’ with the gathering of few people. The name of the shop prompted me to recollect the memories of about a decade back.

 

I was studying in B. E. final year in the Siddhartha college of Engineering in Bengaluru. One day, myself, Avantika and Arunima, all classmates, planned to visit Pavanpur, a tourist center about one hundred kilometers away from Bengaluru on coming Sunday. The taxi was booked in advance and the driver was told to come at eight am. We three stayed together in a rented house.

On Sunday morning we were ready and waiting for the taxi.


Taxi came at the right time. We left Bengaluru immediately and reached Pavanpur at 12 noon. In the tourist office, we collected brochures containing the details of Pavanpur. We did not take the service of a guide. The non stop sound of the milky waterfall and the pond below was an added beauty of nature. It was a magnificent look. 

The varieties of blooming colorful flowers attracted the visitors. We danced with excitement due to pleasant weather. The  different types of birds flying in the sky making noise. A male peacock with long tail feathers opened up like an umbrella. Monkeys  jumping from one tree to another tree. One monkey was moving on the road carrying her little baby in search of food. It was really wonderful to see how the baby monkey did not lose its grip despite the mother monkey running fast. It was really wonderful.


The sun was shining and there was no sweat and we didn’t  feel uncomfort. This is because of the tall trees and the cool breeze.


Mobile helped us to take a lot of photos. My desire was to swim in the pond. Friends warned me not to venture into dangerous adventures. Without listening to their warning, I took a dip in the pond and drowned for just ten seconds. Arunima saw water with blood. It may be her illusion. She thought I was bitten by a crocodile and died. The visitors standing there were  scared of how to face the situation in the event of my death. But to their surprise, I came out safely, moving my hands and dancing.

Arunima asked me,


“Why did you take a risky adventure?”


“You know, I received many bravery  awards during my school and college days.”

 

I noticed with surprise that our classmate Agastya was present and he was staring at me. I didn’t like his behavior.  About three months ago, he invited me and Avantika for lunch in Hotel Mayur. He is a cousin of Avantika. The purpose of the invitation was already explained to me by Avantika. I have seen him as a good boy from the first year BE and felt he is a perfect life partner for me. While enjoying the sumptuous food Agastya told,

“Sharanya, you know me for five years. I don’t know how I fell in love with you. I revealed my wish to my cousin Avantika. Please let me know your opinion.”


I believed my friend Avantika and said,

“Agastya, I too love you.”

He was happy and said,


“Sharanya,  you are the only daughter to your rich parents. After marriage, I will get the ownership of the entire property movable and immovable. My dream of becoming rich would be fulfilled.”


I became angry for his greed and said,


“Agastya, you love not me, but my property. I hate people like you having greediness.” and left the hotel. 

Agastya never expected such a situation may arise. He became disappointed with the sudden development. 

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, 0);">I remembered that incident in Pavanpur and told him to mend his behavior. But seeing the situation, I kept quiet. Agastya tried twice to talk to me and express something in his mind.  Since I disliked him, I didn’t respond to him. We shared the different types of mouth watering dishes prepared by us. As a courtesy, Avantika called him to have food.  It was a picnic cum sightseeing. The uninvited guest Agastya also tasted dishes and tried to join in our conversation.

 

I told my friends, 

It was a  memorable and exciting experience in the pond. There was no threat either from crocodiles or from any other creatures. The water was crystal clear. I took precaution not to move further. The spot where I took a dip was not so deep. I felt too cold and could not stay for long.”


My friends were thrilled to hear about my experience. Agastya praised me for my adventurous efforts  with clapping. I totally ignored him. Avantika also wanted to clear my doubts about him. But I refused to hear. 

At 4 pm, we left the place for Bengaluru.


Agastya called me over the phone every day in the evening for about a fortnight to clear my doubts. I was fed up with him because of his frequent calls for a fortnight. Suddenly, Agastya stopped calling me. By the time I realized my mistake and felt very much for my indecent behavior and no courtesy to attend his call and decided to meet him the next day.  

I told Avantika and expressed my intention to meet Agastya at 6 pm on the following day.  When we reached his house, it was 6.30 pm.

 

She asked me to follow her and then we entered his house. There was a pin drop silence in the house. We went to Agastya’s room. The door was closed. Avantika knocked on the door twice. There was no response. She tried to push the door physically.  The door opened. I was surprised to see the critical condition of Agastya sitting in the corner. It appeared that he was not taking the meals regularly.  Food leftover plates were lying on the floor. It appears, he had no bath for several days and not shaved for a long time. He was holding an anklet and a piece of paper with something written over it. He gave me an anklet, which belongs to me and a letter and requested that I read it. I began reading loudly.


"Dear Sharanya,

On that day, I visited Pavanpur only to meet you and clear your doubts. My cousin Avantika  told me about your trip to Pavanpur. I saw you had a dip in the pond and came back dancing. I appreciate your bravery. I became mad to see your beauty. On that day, I demanded your property as a joke and you took it seriously. I was very much disappointed with your behavior towards me at the picnic. At the end you and your friends were ready to move. My other attempt to talk to you utterly failed. I saw your anklet had fallen on the road. I picked it up to return and failed to meet you because your car was moving very fast and you refused to attend my phone call.

 

On reaching Bengaluru,  I took your mobile number from Avantika. I tried several times to express my love and clear your doubt. I failed to understand the pulse of you.  I thought there was no purpose in living and taking extreme steps to end life. I may not survive more days. Take back your anklet and wish you a happy married life with a life partner of your choice.

Always yours,

Agastya


Tears were rolling in my cheeks continuously. I could not recognise him. It was too late to meet him. 

I expressed myself with sadness. The poor fellow ruined his life for greediness. I made a major decision in my life to remain unmarried. I did sin by ruining the life of a young man without proper thinking.

These unforgettable memories never fade in my life and remain till my last breath.

I stopped to remember old memories, when a neighbor  little boy Chintu came and asked,

“Aunty, give me chocolates.”



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