Memories Palace- Part 2

In Part 1, I gave a formal introduction to Raghav's family and his life. He also met a beautiful girl who was new in the city and live in the house just opposite of his own and joined the same tuition class in which he study.

It was Seema's first evening in the new city. She was standing near boundary of roof of her house watching the sunset and birds returning to their nests after long day in search of food. Evenings gave her a peaceful feeling and it was been her regular routine of watching sunset since she was five. In the distant some kids were still flying kites and their mothers clipping off the clothes from the metal wire which they hung in the morning to make them dry. City is so beautiful and alive even in the evenings she thought.

Seema walked up the table nearby to pick up the novel she brought with her, A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks. A series of images of meeting with Raghav today flashed in her mind. She blushed.

"Stupid guy", she said to herself.

"Hey!", shouted Raghav from the window of his room. His house high enough that window of his room came in perfect line with the roof of Seema's house.

"Well hey", said Seema.

"You didn't told me your name this morning."

"You are still a stranger." She laughed at her own words.

"Well lets be friends then?"

Seema was surprised by his offer. She never had any male friend in the village as she was always too shy to talk to them. She didn't know how to react and stood still for few minutes.

"I think I should leave now, bye". said she and went downstairs again leaving Raghav all confused. Strange girl he thought.

***



That very night, Raghav's younger sister, Ashvini was unable to sleep. She heard voices coming from her parents room and she knew they were fighting. She hated any kind of violence. She was so sensitive that if someone even talks to her in loud voice she would faint. Irritated and confused she went upstairs and knocked at her brother's door.

Raghav who was half asleep woke up immediately hearing the someone knocking at his door constantly. He knew it could be no one else than his sister. He opened the door and let her in.

"What happened to my dear sister?" he asked seeing tears falling from her eyes.

Mom and dad are fighting. Why they fight? she conveyed through movement of her hands. Raghav felt pain and guilt at the condition of his sister. He hugged her close and said, "Sister they are not fighting. They are just having a discussion. Its more like a debate but it doesn't mean they are fighting." Aware of the fact that her brother was lying to her she kept on sobbing in his arms. He kissed her forehead and told her to sleep in his room that way she won't be disturbed by noises from downstairs.

He laid back on the bed with Ashvini holding him close. He looked out of the window. Moon shone brightly illuminating crystal tea pot in his room but his eyes kept on searching for the girl he met on the bridge.