Estranged | ✓

XIV. coloured

vanraj

"You'll not join us in the Holi festival?", She asked, almost sounding sad.
"Umm.. I don't really play Holi.", I said honestly.

Her face dropped.

"But.. I want to put colours on you..", she said in her cute voice.
"You can.. but I can't go out.", I said.
She was wearing this mini white kurti with her relatively long hair in a pony tail.

"I am hurt.", She said, now sounding sadder.

I had no idea why this kid even liked me after my rude demeanour.
My heart wrenched.

"Now don't be hurt, Pakhi..", I said, slowly brushing back a strand of her hair.
"You come na.. and bring To-to-"
"Toshu?"
"Hmm.. he's also very nice. My elder brother, Winter-"
"Winter?", I asked, my lips curving in an amused smile.

"Yes! Winter! Winter told me to tell you to bring him. They know each other.",she said.

"Fine.", I nodded, "I will come."
"Now are you happy?", I asked with a smile.
Smiling took huge efforts nowadays.

She glanced at me with a distinct sparkle in her eyes.
And before I realised, she wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me tightly.

I paused for a moment or two, before I hugged her back.

I felt home.

I realised I was almost jealous of the man who was her father.
But I also felt sympathetic.
He didn't know what he left behind when he left them.

Nevertheless.

She released me, beaming.
"I will wait for you downstairs!", She said before jogging up stairs.

I wondered how her mother left a four year old to walk around the building.
I took a step out when I suddenly heard a sound,
Anklets.

Someone had been standing at the staircase through which Pakhi just climbed up.
They sounded familiar.

And then I heard the door upstairs shut.
So her mother had been watching her.

Good.

•

Toshu and I finally walked into the huge enclosure for the Holi Festival.
Toshu was thirteen now, but I could tell he had grown beyond his age.

Loneliness does teach a lot.
I did regret not giving him enough time, yet I could do nothing to change it.
He loved to play Holi,
Much like his mother.

"You don't play Holi?", She asked softly, almost teary, while I casually ate my breakfast.
Delicious thepla and chutney.
"No, bhabhi. Bhai just doesn't play Holi.", Dolly replied on my behalf.
"But you can, Anupamaa if you want to.", I said not looking up.

"No.. if you don't play.. how can I?", She mumbled.
"Your choice.", I stated plainly before standing up.
I didn't care to look at her, had I looked, I'd probably have seen what true love looked like.

I felt a lump in my throat, as the memory came back.
"Papa, should I go and play with my friends?", Toshu asked softly.

I nodded.
He rushed down to the other kids.
I stood awkwardly.

Just then I heard from behind.

"Kavya! You better stop!", I heard. The voice, I oddly knew. But I couldn't recall exactly.
I was about to turn when a girl just rushed by.

The next thing I saw was red gulaal, I immediately shut my eyes, as a reflex.

"Ohh! I am so surryy-"
"Anu! It's sOrry!", I heard the girl right from behind me.
"Yeah what—"

And she fell abruptly silent.

I gradually opened my eyes.

And I stood right before her, painted by her colours.

•••