Home was the same dreary thing. Preparations for wedding, and then, more preparations for wedding.
I thought over and over again - of everything Nadhiya had spoken. She had promised to save my life. All I had to do was to fake my happiness in front of the world. It was that simple.
But was Nadhiya trustworthy? Would she really stop my marriage? Or had she said it simply because I must not attempt suicide once more? Moreover, she was a counselor. She would definitely know how to brain-wash people.
OMG! She has saved my life. I owe her my life. I ought to think of her with reverence and not as a brain-washer. She had taken all the pains to follow me up to the beach, wait for me to walk till the sea, and then save me… She was definitely up to something. She has taken it upon herself to save lives of women. I ought to respect and not think ill of her.
I tried smiling at home; it wasn’t quite a successful accomplishment.
A few days later, Nadhiya called me up, and asked me to visit her at her house. It was just one week more for the wedding.
“Hey Nadhiya”
“Hi Karthika. Your wedding will be stopped on 3rd, by 9AM or even before that (muhurtham was scheduled at 9:30AM). I will create some turmoil. A cab will be waiting for you outside the wedding hall. I will send you the cab details in the morning of Sep 3rd. Use the confusion to escape and come to my house. Here’s the duplicate key. You can come and change your dress here, and then take the cab to the airport, Here’s your ticket to Hyderabad. The flight leaves by 11:30 AM. Whenever you find time, you can bring your luggage and keep it here.”
“But Nadhiya, what will I do in Hyderabad without a job? Life will be even more miserable”
“I have a friend’s NGO there. They arrange and impart training to destitute women. Would you like to help?”
I held Nadhiya’s hands in reverence. I didn’t know what to do.
“And here’s a Hyderabad SIM. It’s already activated. Once you get into the cab, abandon your old SIM, and start using this. Don’t use it until then. I have the number with me. Here, make a note of it. Don’t share with anyone – not even your best friend, if ever you intend to escape. I have also made arrangements for your stay there. The lodge details are inside the cover. Once you reach there, you can contact Gokul. I will send you his number shortly. Good luck”, and she pated me loving on my back.
“Nadhiya. Thank you so much. I am not worth all this. What will I give back to you? How can I ever thank you enough. Why are you doing all this to a woman you don’t even know?”
“Don’t I know you enough?”
“May be. But it’s not reason enough to be doing this. Are you crazy?”
“May be its because I believe you deserve a better life. Do you?”
My eyes were filled with tears. I hugged her for the second time, speechless.
“By the way, how are you planning to stop my wedding? I can’t wait to know the surprise”
“I am not spilling the beans yet. Now run back home. Bye”
I softly asked, “How can I ever pay you back Nadhiya?”
“Pay it back with a life full of purpose, helping women live respectable lives. That’s enough.”
I didn’t doubt Nadhiya anymore. I was as cheerful as a lark. My face was glowing with happiness. New life, new hope.
I triumphantly embraced her one last time before leaving.
I spoke loving words with Kannan, knowing that I was anyway not going to live with him, not with a guy without a backbone. No way!!
Parents were very happy to see me cheerful. I liked it. How I wish everyone around me would be happy all the time. But the problem is my happiness and theirs was always mutually exclusive, making us incapacitated to smile simultaneously at the same thing with the same feelings. I only wish we could!
Two more days for the wedding……
I packed my clothes – they were meant for Bangalore. I took a few more clothes and packed them separately.
“Mom, I have some important work. I have to go to office today”
“But, haven’t you applied for leave since last week?”
“Yes mom, it’s urgent. They need me, I will be back in sometime”
I squeezed my luggage inside my backpack, and the rest in a hand luggage.
“What’s there in the luggage?”
“They are collecting old clothes for poor people in my office”
“Do you have to carry all your old clothes only now? When are you going to be responsible? It’s just two days more for your wedding, and its only now that you thinking of giving the poor.”
Now what did this responsibility mean??!!
“Mom, the drive for collecting the old clothes is happening in my office. It will be over in a week. I can’t give it otherwise”
“God knows why you are suddenly trying to be a good Samaritan. Wait. Let dad come home. Let him drop you at the railway station at least. Are you going to office just for this?”
“No mom. I seriously have work. Trust me”
“Show me what dresses you have packed to give away. Are you sneaking out anything? Then why are you taking these things even without informing me? What game are you up to? ”
Oh.. I was caught.
I was about to open my bag, then suddenly, an idea struck me.
“Mom, don’t you smell leaking gas?”
“No, don’t act. Show me your bag NOW”
“Mom, go check in the kitchen first. Don’t behave like this. I am not running away. I am having only old clothes.”
Mom went inside. I pulled out one of the dresses she hated, and showed it to her. She was pleased.
Dad dropped me at the railway station, and then I made my way to Nadhiya’s house. I opened her house and put my luggage in one of the shelves, along with a thank you note with a Rs. 30,000 cheque for the help. I don’t know how much her service was worth. It meant life to me. I am sure to a normal client she would have demanded a few lakhs for these services. Thirty was all I could afford.