The Twist in The Fate - Chapter Three

The Twist in The Fate

Chapter Three

5.59 AM, 24th January 2001

In a village, Gujarat

It was early morning, inside the village temple which was on the top of a hill. The priest was chanting mantras. The boy and the girl exchanged their flower garlands twice. The girl’s mother tied the holy knot between the boy’s and the girl’s dress; their hands were joined to signify their union.

The villagers started showering them with rose petals and rice upon them. They both started walking the mangal pheras i.e, four rounds around the scared holy fire. The priest kept chanting the mantras. This was followed by Saptapadi, they walked seven steps together and took vows.

They both bowed before his parents to take their blessings. He came close to her ear and whispered “Sadhana, I love you!”

The girl slowly moved her hand towards his waist and pinched him hard there.

“Ouch!” He cried in sudden pain.

“Mukhul! What happened?” cried his mother shocked.

“Nothing…ma...I think an ant just beat me!” He said, looking at Sadhana, who had a mischievous little smile on her face.

Later, behind the temple :-

“Sadhana, you shouldn’t have done that,” Mukhul said

“Did it hurt so much?” She asked, rubbing her fingers on his waist. “If you want, you too can pinch me.” She added.

He went close to her and placed his hand on her waist. She closed her eyes anticipating pain. She felt no pain, but heard him whisper into her ear “I still love you!”

She opened her eyes…with a smile on her face. He gently kissed on her cheeks.

8.46 AM, 26th January 2001.

The powerful earthquake ripped through the village, destroying everything on its way. The walls of many houses bulged and the roofs fell inwards. The air was filled with choking dust of rumble. Cries of help filled the air from almost everywhere. Everyone came together and started helping those in need.

A middle aged lady dropped the pot of water she was carrying from the well and rushed towards her house, shocked and bewildered.

“Someone please help my daughter-in-law!” She cried, pointing her finger at the debris; where her house had stood some moments back.

The men started digging with shovels. They found nothing but bricks, dust everywhere. However, they didn’t give up.

Suddenly, they saw a mehendi hand of a girl.

“Over here!” cried one of them. Soon they uncovered the dust and found her lying unconscious beneath the debris. Someone sprinkled water on her face. She woke up startled.

“Where is Mukhul?” She cried in chocked voice.

“He went to the field along with your father-in-law!” Her mother-in-law said.

They all went searching for them towards the field. One of the persons who had helped them asked his friends on the way whether they had seen a middle aged man and a boy.

“Yes, we found a middle aged man and a young boy buried under the debris on the way to the field. We are sorry to say that both didn’t survive.” One of them replied

“Also we found this ring in the boy’s hand.” The other said, showing that wedding ring to them. “Do you recognize it?”

“Yes, it is Mukhul’s wedding ring!” Her mother-in-law cried, taking it.

“Why didn’t I die too?” Sadhana crieds, her eyes welled with tears and started flowing down her rosy cheeks. Her mother-in-law hugged her tightly.

Even the stranger had tears in his eyes seeing a young widow of 12 years. Also he had seen the lifeless body of her husband, who was around 14 years and was buried under the remains of a big wall. He had clutched the ring strongly in his right hand palm. It took some effort to free it from his hand.

Sometime later, Sadhana and her mother-in-law left their village forever.

They left in search of a new destination. Sadhana took the ring; it was the last memento of her loving husband. She kissed it whenever she remembered or missed him a lot.

***

Meantime, a NGO had adopted some orphaned kids from this devastating natural disaster.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes after a long sleep and found himself on a hospital bed far away from his village. The last thing he remembered was he and his father walking towards their field. Suraj his classmate joined them on the way.

He asked Mukhul to show is golden ring. Mukhul removed and gave it to him. The boy was too excited looking at it that he slowed his pace looking at it. He was behind him and his father.

Suddenly, the earth started shaking violently and the huge side wall was about to collapse upon them. His father gave him a big push with his all his might. Mukhul fell away and saw with horror the wall collapsing upon his father and Suraj.

He only heard muffled cries from the debris.

One of the bricks fell, striking hard against his head and he became unconscious.

“Where am I? Where is my father?” He asked, getting up from the bed.

“I’m sorry to say that you are the only survivor of your family.” A stranger said.

“No….no…” He cried, with tears flowing down the cheeks.

***

Mukhul had his name changed to “Abhay”. They took him to the Mumbai city; where he was given education along with the other orphaned kids.

He completed his studies and joined a book publishing company. He soon learnt the trade and started his own book publishing company. Soon the business thrived and he opened branches in other cities too.

Many years had passed since the incident which took away his loved ones away from him. He had just her passport picture; which he safely kept in his wallet. He used to look at it whenever he missed her.

***

Sadhana had completed her studies i.e, M.A. Literature and was hunting for a job in the big city. She had read the advertisement in the newspaper that “Ganesh Book Publishing House” requires Junior Editors and Editors.

She went for the interview and saw a big crowd in the reception hall.

The receptionist had collected all their resumes and asked them to wait for their turn.

“Hmmm…it seems many have turned up seeing our add” Abhay said, looking at his assistant Prithvi “Please send them one by one to cabin C5!” He told his receptionist.

Abhay started interviewing the candidates one by one.

Sadhana Mukul waited for her turn to come.

Soon, her turn came and the receptionist told her to walk straight towards the cabin C5. Sadhana started walking, with her heart beating fast. This was her first interview in her life. Meantime, Abhay waited for the next candidate to come.

He took his glass of water and had a few sips of it.

Suddenly, his mobile started ringing. He answered it.

“Prithvi, please take care of this. I need to go now!” He said, standing up and leaving.

“Sure, sir” Prithvi said, taking his seat.

Abhay walked out of the cabin. He saw a young girl outside…the next candidate…He kept the door open till she walked in…they both smiled at each other.

***

Six months went by; Abhay had to recruit some more people for his company. He told his assistant to get the rejected candidates resumes file. She brought and gave it to him.

“Sandhya, I will shortlist some candidates and send you the list. Can you please check whether they are looking for a change?” Abhay said.

“Yes, sir” She said, smiling at him, before leaving his cabin.

Abhay started looking at the resumes in that file one by one. Finally, he saw a resume. He was shocked looking at the name on the top of the resume “Sadhana Mukhul”. He scrolled down looking for other details. His doubt got confirmed.

“She is alive! She is …” He cried, with tears of joy in his eyes.

He called his assistant Prithvi inside his cabin.

“Well, why did you reject this candidate?” Abhay asked, showing the resume on the desk.

“Well, I thought she isn’t suitable for our company. Also she was a fresher with no experience.” He replied, looking at the resume and also the rejected Resumes file on his table.

“Mr.Prithvi, if we turn away candidates for the reason they don’t have experience then where do you think such candidates will get experience unless someone like us gives them an opportunity?” He cried.

“Yes, sir….but…” He said

“Please call this candidate now! I would like to speak to her.” He said.

“Alright, sir” He said, dialing her mobile number. He got the message that “This number does not exist”

“Because of your mistake…now her number is changed!” He said annoyed. “Come with me, we are going to her place now!”

“But sir, why are we going after this particular candidate?” He asked surprised.

“Because, we turned her away six months back!” He said, walking ahead of him.

Abhya explained him the whole story on the way.

They went to her residential address and came to know that they had shifted three months back. Somehow they got her new address…unfortunately; they had shifted from there too. They couldn’t get her new address. They had reached a dead end.

Abhay became frustrated. Privthi came towards him smiling.

“Please don’t irritate me with your stupid smile!” Abhay said, annoyed.

“Sir, I got her new mobile number…She is on the line..” He said, handing him his mobile.

“Sadhana!” Abhay cried.

“Yes?” She said at the other end “What is it?”

“Sadhana, you had attended interview in 'Ganesh Book Publishing House' six months back, remember?” Abhay asked.

“Yes, I wasn’t selected. So what about it?” She asked.

“Where are you working right now?” He asked

“I am working as the assistant editor in Rainbow Publishing Company.” She replied.

“Are you in office now?”

“Yes, why?”

“I would like to meet you now!” Abhay said, “Please drive to Rainbow Publishing Company!”

“Sadhana, It’s me Mukhul!”

“Mukhul…but?” She cried shocked other end.

“I will explain everything when we meet..” He said

“Ok..” She said.

Later, they met in her office cabin. Mukhul took out her childhood picture from his wallet and gave her. He explained her everything that happened on that fateful day.

“Mukhul, it’s you!” She said, tears of joy flowing down from her eyes and hugging him, “I am really very happy to see you!”

She took the ring from her purse and gave it to him.

“Oh! I am so glad I found it again.” He said, taking it, removing the thread on the ring and then putting it on his finger.

THE PROLOGUE

Many, many thousands of miles away from planet ‘Earth’. Somewhere in the outer space: -

“So the twist in the fate has been broken.” Said the luminous person, seated on the golden throne, “Man has always put up a fight when the going is really tough and has succeeded in turn.”

“So, Tina, are you happy now?” He asked, looking up at her. “Didn’t I tell you that love is really very powerful? Powerful than myself?”

“Yes, you did!” she said, smiling at him.