The Visible and The Invisible- Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

THE SHOOTING STAR

It was the end of May and the summer has almost gone. People of Palayamkottai (Southern India) had a good reason to rejoice. Of course, they would because the blistering sun had set the earth on fire and made it look like hell for at most three weeks. The change of tides in the Indian Ocean brought them a thunder shower as a relief. By stretching my legs long and supporting my shoulders by my elbows, in a very relaxed manner, on the floor of my apartment terrace, I had been enjoying the night sky with my naked eyes. The darkness of space was deep like heart. The light from my torch faded away at distance. The clouds were rolling by, showing the moon’s face now and then. The leaves of trees twiddled in the wind. It was not so cold, not enough to freeze the time. ‘Another summer has gone in my life.’ First a second, then a minute, followed by an hour, before I realize the flow of time, it turned into days, weeks, months, seasons and years. I wasn’t lucky, not just tonight, my hunting for shooting star continues.

Everyone sat for dinner at the dining table except my brother who would always be the last one to occupy the seat.
He was busy on his cell phone chatting with his girlfriend secretively in another room.
My mother yelled at him while serving the hot dosa with chutney to my father.
“I am hungry. Tonight, I would like to have more than usual” said Kulali, my sister.
My mother threw a wobbly at her and placed three dosas on her plate. “Eat like a woman (moderately), not like a man.”
Kulali sighed.
“C’mon dear, how long she’s gonna stay here? After her marriage she will be at her husband’s house. Let her eat what she wishes for at least now” my father uttered.
Dad’s supportive words encouraged her to turn a deaf ear to mom and tried to take three more dosas from a hot box that was placed before me by stretching her hand.
She couldn’t reach it, so she pushed her shoulder forward by leaning over the table, quaked it and the chutney spilled over the table cloth.
“Oops! I am sorry” she whispered.
Mom’s countenance changed.
“An assistant professor in a reputed college, but has no decency at table. Your thoughtless actions will definitely embarrass us in the future." said Mom.
Then, turning towards dad, with frustration and her voice raised a bit, “You are the one who spoils them” she said
“And Look? Uday still hasn’t arrived to eat. Uday! Uday! Get here to eat," my mom shouted angrily.
“Aw! I cannot bear all these sufferings anymore. No one in this house is paying attention to my words. I am extremely tired of you all! “She cried.
Mom sat next to me and opposite to Dad and Kulali. She started her dinner silently after a sigh. I am sure she would have thought that our behavior would not change.
I helped Kulali to get dosa and began to eat.
My sister was engaged to a military officer, working as Colonel in Indian army at Kashmir. His family was residing in Chennai, and their matrimonial date was fixed as June 28.
With a piece of dosa in the mouth, I broke the silence that suddenly entered the dining hall.
“Dad, I would be going to Kaniyakumari with my friends” after a small gap to breath, “We would leave tomorrow by bus at five in the morning," I said in a low voice.
“Pardon, what do you said?” mom asked as my words fell shortly from my mouth.
I repeated it.
Now mom’s face turned red.
“How dare you decide by yourself before seeking permission from us? Did you forget your parents before saying yes to your friends? Are you reminding us that you have grown up? My mom built her questions before me in rage.
I remained silent holding the plate tight. I hadn’t got a chance to retort.
“Open your mouth! And above all, who has the money to afford it?” my mom screamed.I knew no one here would understand what thoughts were running in my mind and why I was so eager to go. I too could not break out the reason. Hiding my emotions was easy I have learnt it well throughout my life. I couldn’t watch anyone rather I sat still starring at my plate.

Before my dad could speak, I stood pushing the chair slightly backwards. Facing everyone, I cleared my throat. “I am touring kaniyakumari tomorrow with my friends”, I said determinedly.

Though my voice sounded odd I continued, “I have decided, there will be no change in my plan”

“I would use the money that I saved all these days.” I stopped with a deep breath.

To my surprise, a drop of tear ran from my eyes through my cheek fell on the table. My mom scowled at my behavior. I couldn’t stand there anymore. I left the dining hall, leaving others to look each other’s face in dismay.

I washed my hands and went downstairs to the street. The church bell rang sharply at nine o’clock. Even before the final dong of the bell, the power was suspended throughout our area. This was normal and frequent these days. I walked where my legs would like to carry me in the darkness.

Some in police quarters managed to buy inverters to avoid power cuts. My father was a special sub-inspector in Armed Reserve, Tirunelveli, didn’t care about such a sophisticated life (how my mother used to say) rather he had spent all the money he earned for his children’s education. The police quarters had thirteen apartments, each had six flats. Only families resided in most of it.

On reaching the street one could easily see many cars and bikes parked under the tree along the edges of the ground at the center of our quarters. As the area of the ground was that of two tennis court, one- third of it was reserved for parking and at the other two-third, the children were allowed to play around, but strictly no cricket, and football. I caught sight of some children playing hide and seek: a ten year old boy was leaning over a tree, counting numbers from twenty in reverse, while other children near or above his age were searching for a hide-out in hurry.

Rosy, Megala, Parvati who were my mother’s friends were gossiping by sitting on the staircase of the opposite apartment. Mrs. Rosy, a stout one called me and inquired about my mom. I muttered not wasting much energy with two words, “Busy now”. It was rare to locate men outside at this hour as they would either be busy in their work at office or rest in home.

I wandered on the streets. It was not as dark as I assumed when I viewed from the terrace. Maybe, the moon was bright enough as if there is no need of Edison’s lamps. I used to spend the most of my evenings sitting lonely on the patio. Sometimes, the time might extend over even after the sky color transformed into jet-black.

I had no idea where my legs were carrying me and finally it ceased before Palayamkottai railway station. The groovy old small building with its thatched roof reflected the moonlight; the holes here and there on its roof allowed it to flow and the leaves of gigantic banyan tree in front shattered the breeze. Limited numbers of passenger trains were available through this station between Tirunelveli junction and Tiruchendur. The ticket counter had been opened as the train that departed from Tiruchendur would arrive here in the meantime. But there were no passengers at this hour. The platform was separated from the entrance by a blue-painted wooden fence with a door at mid-way. I looked up the moon, one of the divine deities in Indian mythical stories, who had twenty-seven wives. In reality, I guess he is a lonelier like me, deprived of love and romance or he might have realized lately ‘Love is a hell with angels of heaven’. I pushed the door and entered the platform.

By pulling the door, I rushed inside the school canteen, only to find a huge crowd on the last day of my school, after the final exam. I gasped. “Hey! Yudhi Wait! Let us accompany you……” Raj’s voice shrunk after he saw the multitude. He paused beside me. “Will we get anything to eat?” asked Nathan, who joined us along with my brother. “Of course, a glass of water” my brother countered. Disappointedly, we fled from the canteen before any of our classmates could notice us and headed to the bike stand. On the way we teased, laughed, pushed and poured the water on each other. “At last our exultant school days ended” Nathan said in a saddened note. “Don’t bring down the happy mood” Raj cheered.

Raj, a frivolous, light-hearted had a charming pretty face, curled hair and curious eyes. His canorous voice bared his accent more stylish. He was short, hale and hearty. While, Nathan, the shortest among us, wore a glass, had a long straight hair, round face and a small belly. He was proficient in mathematics and very reserved. He always preferred to go around with my brother rather Raj or myself. About Uday, my twin brother he was grim-faced, garrulous and athletic. He was tall, lean and straight forward.

We lounged on the bike stand for some time. I and Raj were leaning against the wall, Nathan and Uday were seating on the bike at right of us. We were planning to gather tonight on a restaurant for dinner. At that time, a group of girls showed up there. A girl with a white rose on her double plaits grinned at me. I forcefully pretended to be still and turned the eyes away from her. She frowned. She had a svelte figure and browned skin yet looked gorgeous. Her gaze was piercing my heart and her mesmerizing smile was compelling me to surrender. I couldn’t resist anymore. My eyes slowly rolled towards her. Raj interrupted, “Hey! What’s the matter? You seem so weird suddenly”. “Hmmm… No, nothing, I am fine” I struggled. His disruption helped me gain some breath. She along her friends took a position near the opposite wall between the bikes. She tended against the wall. She was very cute, just shorter by an inch than me. She wore a smile again, much prettier than the previous one. I sat on a bike beside Raj, faced Nathan and gave the impression of listening to their discourse. Secretly, my eyes cornered to find her resting on the bike just like me. I staggered to see her copying my actions. My heart beat slowed as never before. My mind was lost in her thoughts; recapping my every moment with her. The intense feeling that I always felt when she was around encircled me again. I startled, on seeing her gently walking towards me with her traditional smile. By smiling back, I rose from the bike. The distance between us was rapidly reducing. She stood in front holding a pack of chocolates. Our eyes locked, her lips glossed red, and her face sweated as her heart beat might be heavier than mine. I twiddled my thumbs in nervousness. She said,” Today is my birthday, Have some candy”. She breathed between each word. I smiled and she too. A voice at distance called “Yudhan! You are asked to meet the biology teacher now”. “Aw! Here the villain comes to disturb” mourned Raj, Nathan and Uday in a chorus. “Excuse me, I am sorry, I will catch you in a minute” I uttered. “Yeah, I will wait” She exclaimed very lowly as a sudden distress clot her words. I left her but returned after few steps. I apologized to her “I am sorry that I disappointed you in the happiest day of the year”. “No, not at all, I am glad, you are back” she expressed ecstatically. I took a chocolate and caught her hand on the spur of the moment, so she stirred but smiled in shyness. “Wish you many more happy returns of the day” I congratulated. She thanked whole heartedly, as tears streamed at the corner of her eyes in joy. I moved closely to her, narrowing the gap between us and whispered in her ear, “I know today is not your birthday”. She blushed and I ran off to meet the teacher.

I heard her chuckling sound far away from the present, only in my memories. I hadn’t seen her for years and no idea about her whereabouts. Lately, a rumor was spread in the social network that she had been spotted in Kaniyakumari. I knew very well it’s a rumor. But, I thought to play along with it to please my heart. My anticipation to meet her was increasing every day. I could not forget her. Maybe, I was crazy and unrealistic. I silently took the weight off my feet on the stone bench that was laid along the platform. The station master was hanging around alone for the last train to arrive. The moon hid behind the clouds. The opposite side of platform was pitch-dark and densely filled by trees and bushes.

“Are you planning to go to kaniyakumari in search of her?” Raj asked with a peculiar expression and sat beside me on the stone bench.

“Hi” I greeted. But his askance look hadn’t changed. “No, I haven’t gone there before, that’s why--” I stammered. Hiding the truth from him was not gonna help me. He would get me even by the look of my expressionless face, as he was always there beside me on every page of my past and present, on my happy days and on my hard days.

“Half-truth is a whole lie” He quoted.

I was not sure that I could find what I seek there. The lost love or the one I loved? All I could do was to leave everything in the hands of time and enjoy the moment. I will wait for it to bring her though it waits for no one.

The last train was approaching the station as the whistle sound can be heard at near distance. The station master ran close to the track with red and green flags and a lantern. He waved the red flag; the brakes were applied and the wheels screeched. Few passengers dodged from the train with their luggage and baggage and passed the station. I got a load of Raj. He was in deep thoughts looking at the sky. A tall creepy man strode and shouted at me. “Go home already! It is dangerous to lounge here alone at this hour.”