Wander lust Woman - Part 8

Radhi and Karthick laid their eyes on Priya without moving their pupils. Radhi felt exhilarated to see a part of herself before her. She held Priya’s hands and could she how much their nails resembled each other. Left hand with colored paint and right hand with half bitten nails.

The villagers surrounded Priya and gazed at her like looking at the Goddess reborn against all the odds. The moment she came to their village, the rains stopped and exactly after five weeks, their most awaited reunion has occurred. What their ancestors couldn’t do she did it. They villagers celebrated her rebirth and reunion as a festival. All cleaned their houses; parents bathed their kids, made sandalwood paste and applied on each other. Young women applied mehandi on their hands, and feet and a grand feast was arranged with music and alcohol.

The elderly woman checked Priya’s pulse and commented that she is completely alright except that she has forgotten her entire past. Karthick thanked the universe for bringing her back to life. He had no complaints or regrets. His life was before him. This is what he earned for all these past weeks. He spoke to Priya but Priya didn’t reply. She felt everything new. Karthick called her parents and advised them to come early.

She saw the whole village in delight like a kid watching the firecrackers for the first time. Radhi’s parents made sure she ate at the correct time and Radhi was around her all the time. After months, Priya dipped herself in the running water for a fresh bath. Her hair bounced back to its shiny curls after being washed by mineral rich water. Her original color came back. She looked ravishing in her new white colored cotton top and green skirt. Radhi adorned her slim, long neck with a pearl necklace and handed her a silver colored anklet as per their village customs. They strongly believed that silver ornaments will protect a woman from danger and also boost one’s immunity and single stud pearl will remind one not to break down easily.

When Radhi and Priya came out, the fireworks warmed up the dark night and the villagers boozed in joy. When the villagers offered a drink, she said no. Karthick strongly believed she may have forgotten her memories but not her habits. When he was taking steps to get closer, the head called him. He obliged and the head announced that they found Lakshmi and she will arrive here in few hours. He jumped like a nomad and Priya smiled.

Karthick asked her for a dance and she clung on to his arms. They danced slowly to the drum beats around the campfire until dawn looking at each other’s eyes. As the sky changed its colors, they heard a elephant roar. She stopped and looked around.

“Its an elephant roar. I must find her”

What?

She ran beneath the woods and found Lakshmi. She hugged her and the elephant recognized her in an instant. She sat on her and they walked in. Karthick looked amazed to see them together after a long time and immediately ran in to grab his camera.

Lakshmi was found two days after the accident by the forest officers. Seeing her wounds, they have taken her to the nearby wild park and given medical treatment. Unable to find her in the forest, a young villager who aspires to become a forest officer has come up with an idea to check with them. And his idea has bought Lakshmi alive before Priya.

Karthick captured her fresh memories in her instapix and Radhi saw them in joy. By the end of the day her parents arrived and they wept seeing her. She couldn’t recognize them yet she carried her smile throughout. The only conversation that excited Priya without any difficulties was children’s education. She overflowed with ideas and had a perfect wavelength with Radhi.

Karthick clean shaved his beard, wore his formal clothing and handed over the documents as promised. He has adopted the two villages and come up with schemes that improve their lifestyle, education, health etc. He introduced the villagers to few people from his side and explained the same to Radhi and Priya. Both nodded.