The Red Silk Ribbon

‘Tringgggggg’- The doorbell rang.

After collecting the newspaper from the doorstep, Aashvi was dusting the drawing room. She wasn’t expecting any guests, so early, on that dull morning of December.

    She had come back to Chikmagalur after 7 years. Chikmagalur- A serene hill station in Karnataka, famous for its picturesque coffee plantations, and captivating landscapes. It is an ideal destination for nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts, offering a peaceful retreat amidst lush greenery and stunning vistas. During her childhood, every summer, this place was her only comfort. Her Nani lived here, alone, in a small, beautiful bungalow.

Perched atop a hill, this charming, blue-roofed bungalow offers breathtaking views of the valley. Surrounded by lush greenery, its elegant architecture blends perfectly with the landscape. The large windows fill the rooms with natural light and provide a glimpse of the starry night sky. A perfect retreat for seekers of solace.

Aashvi was one of Nani’s six grandchildren. But Aashvi was her favourite. Nani’s death was a shock to every single person in the family. She had got her will be prepared before her death. The will strictly said that her belongings will only be shared among her grandchildren. Aashvi got Nani's bungalow. But being busy with her work at a leading corporate law firm in Hyderabad, she wasn’t able to come here and stay. Now that she had completed her internship, she thought of coming to her Nani’s place, which was officially hers now.

Hesitantly she opens the door. There stands the postman, with his small handbag, in his brown uniform.

“Beta Namaskar!” “Namaskar Chacha”

“Here’s a letter for you. I came here last Saturday but the house was locked. I met your neighbour, Praveen Babu, last evening, at the market. He informed me that you have come. So, I thought of delivering this.”

“Yeah Chacha, I came on Sunday only.” “Okay. Now take your letter. I’m in a hurry.”

Handing over the letter, the postman rushed into his 1951 Raleigh with a hub dynamo.

Caressing the silk ribbon tied to the envelope, she closed the door. But who sends letters these days? In a world where people have already shifted from sending handwritten letters to telephonic conversations and then from there to texting messages on the phone, getting sent a letter from an unknown was such a peculiar event for her. Even when it was a bit confusing to her, she was so excited to read what was written inside.

A brown coloured envelope it was. Not sealed with glue but was tied with a red ribbon. The envelope was elegantly crafted with modern-day Kurrentschrift.

From Ridit, it said. A stamp of Sarojini Naidu at the right-most corner. A tercet below it read-

"A brown envelope, sturdy and plain,

 Conceals a letter's heartfelt refrain. 

It's secrets within, waiting to explain."

 

She gently unties the knot and playfully ties the red ribbon on her forefinger. She sits on the chair, folding her legs. Then she holds the envelope and directs it towards the sunlight entering through the window. She looked at it from every angle, before taking out the letter, for 2 minutes straight.

The atmosphere around her filled with the characteristic smell of the paper, as soon as she took out the 3 paged letter. In an instant, she recognized that it was the smell of her favourite caramel flavoured coffee. She opens the letter and starts reading. “Hiiiiii Lady”- it said.

She giggles. She was expecting a more decent opening. Nevertheless, she continues to read.

And it was written-“Smell the paper you’re reading! Do you get the aroma? That’s of my coffee. This is the same aroma that I was having when I saw your picture for the first time. The same aroma which reminds me of you, every time I take a sip of my coffee.”

A grin was all that could be discovered on her face. Putting the 3-page letter on her old wooden table, unfolding her legs she stood, having a glance at her coffee jar.   A freshly brewed double-shot cappuccino along with a few cookies was prepared. Again, folding her legs, she sat on the chair.

Taking the first sip, she reads-“I wish I was with you right now, telling you things I’m unable to put into mere words. But wait! Why would you sit with me? I’m a stranger, right? A stranger, when having the first and only telephonic conversation with you, was at a loss of words, smiling continuously in reminiscence. A stranger, who was happy because he thought his confession was respected.”

Her mind, at first, became blank. She couldn’t recall talking to someone like this. Hesitantly, she drops the letter and takes another sip of the coffee and puts her head on the table. After a moment she recalls talking to one of Shalini’s school friends. Shalini was her law school colleague.

Now, very clearly, she recalled how a stranger confessed to her on the phone how much of a big crush he had on her. He was blushing during the entire 3-minute conversation. He also mentioned how Aashvi’s photograph, when he saw her picture for the first time, was reflecting the aura of a goddess. He had also written a poem for her and had it sent to her through their mutual friend.

It was 7 months ago. She was so busy with her stuff that she forgot that something like that had taken place. She felt pity for the boy and continued reading.

“I can’t explain how fortunate I felt that day. But I don't know if I can explain how it felt. I told you about the crush thing. Right? One day the urge to see you was so much that I begged Shalini for a picture of yours. Ok, fine! I felt like a despot afterward. But it was worth asking for a picture.

That was the day I realised that I have fallen for you. Because that day, looking at the picture of yours, it felt so overwhelming that my heart started pounding really hard. After calming myself I thought this feeling might be because you look really really pretty to me. But let me be honest about it. It was not because of the picture of you (Of Course you are damn beautiful!). It was because of you. It was because of the sight of yours. Those cute inky moles on your lips. Those cosmic black eyes, believe me, when I saw them I felt like drowning in them.

All this made me realise that the crush thing was only an attempt to make me not fall in love with someone else, but a little later I realised that I have fallen for you. Those eyes, that voice, and every single thing about you, ah!

I wanted to tell you all this stuff to you myself but neither was I able to meet you in person nor got another chance for a telephonic conversation as you are busy with your internship.

I don’t know how you’ll react after reading this letter. I wish I had not creeped you out with whatever I have written. All I wanted to say is that yes, I have a soft corner for you. Not being able to tell this all by myself was what was poking me making me restless for the past few days. Now I’m relieved.

Can you please ask Shalini to inform me that you got the letter? And yes, that silk red ribbon! I had brought that for you thinking that I might give it to you if we met. Alas! To my disappointment, we didn't. In Japanese culture, it is believed that a red ribbon connects a future couple, invisible to humans, but gods can observe the interconnection of the fated pairs. So, if you don't like the letter then please burn the ribbon. But can you please consider meeting once you come back to Hyderabad? Not a date. Just a normal meeting.

Ridit”

After reading the letter she was so puzzled that she dropped the letter. All she could manage to do was to think how someone, who hasn’t even met her, has fallen in love with her so deeply. Was this because I talked to him so politely? What could the reason be?

Inarticulately she sat staring at the vintage wall clock. All of a sudden she teared up. Then the doorbell rang again. She wiped her tears, put the letter into the envelope, and moved towards the door. When she opened it, she saw a man in a blue linen shirt and trousers, panting.

His face lit up when he saw Aashvi. Controlling his breathing pattern he said- “Hiiiiii”

“Sorry, but I couldn't recognize you, sir.”

“I’m Ridit. Shalini’s friend. We had talked on the phone. You remember I had told you that I had a huge crush on you?”

Aashvi was dumbstruck. She wasn’t expecting Ridit to appear in front of her right after she had completed reading the letter.

“But-”

“I’m really sorry that I couldn’t inform you before visiting. Shalini said that your number was not reachable. But she said that you were planning to stay at your Nani’s place in Chikmagalur. She had planned to meet you. I thought that this might be a chance to meet you and tell you how I feel. But at the last moment, Prabodh uncle became unwell. So, she had to cancel the plan. As there was no way of meeting or contacting you I thought of sending a letter. After requesting Shalini for like 1000 times I got the address and sent you the letter. 2 weeks had passed but I didn't receive any message from you receiving the letter. Shalini was also clueless.

 I telephoned the postmaster of Chikmagalur yesterday but was told that the letter was returned and was at the office but he was unable to locate it. I thought of delivering another letter with the same text. I started my journey yesterday evening and here I’m with the letter. I also had something else to give you but I guess I lost it in the previous letter. Anyways, here is the letter.”

Aashvi listened to him carefully with a poker face. She could see the enthusiasm on his face when he was narrating everything. But she didn’t know what to reply. Nothing like this had ever taken place with her before.

She received the letter. She thought there would be another silk ribbon with it. But to her disappointment, there was no silk red ribbon attached to it. She tried feeling it inside the envelope, in a subtle way, but didn’t find it. Anyone could have easily seen the disappointment on her face but she didn’t utter a word.

Upon seeing her change in expression, Ridit thought that he mustn’t bother anymore and should leave.

“I guess I have bothered you a lot. Don’t worry I won’t extend it further. Now that I have handed the letter to you myself, I guess I should leave.”

Aashvi still didn’t utter a word. She was drowning in the ocean of thoughts, but she just nodded to his words. Taking her leave he was returning to his car. His face dropped every single expression as he turned. He was upset because Aashvi didn’t even say a single word even after getting to know he was.

Aashvi was making up her mind when he entered the car. He glanced at her for the last time before leaving. She was standing still, holding the envelope. Suddenly something captured his attention.

It was the red ribbon, tied on her forefinger. He knew that it was his ribbon. He concluded that she had got the letter and even read it. Aashi also saw that he noticed the ribbon. Both of them exchanged smiles.

She was confused about whether she should stop him and have a conversation. Ridit was also confused about whether he should come out of the car and ask if she liked what was in the letter. But he couldn’t do that. He thought leaving was the best option rather than creeping her out anymore. Ridit, with a heavy heart, nodded at her and left.

She sat down on the doormat contemplating everything. 2 hours passed by. She read the other letter again and again, caressing the ribbon for those 2 hours. Now, she had a smile on her face. She now knew that there exists someone who likes her this much.

She got inside and texted Shalini- “Can you please send Ridit’s phone number?”