Dancing Flames (Pranushka story)

Harini Ranganath

The paragraphs in italics indicate Harini's point of view. The story lies between the pair of four asterisks.

*Baasinga - A traditional thread tied slightly above a bride and groom's forehead. A round or kalash-shaped piece of metal or thermacool is aligned with stones and pearl(maybe original or artificial) at the circumference. Different cultures design different types of baasingas . This one's in Carnatic tradition.
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"I don't understand anything. What's all this confusion? First they say Sandhya lost her life in the accident six years ago and now you say... I died?"
Vihaan breathed unevenly. It was evident that he was trying to hold back his tears, portraying himself to be the strong person he is.

Settling down on the rocky surface beside a waterfall, Janani gave a quick pat on his shoulder and withdrew immediately seeing him uncomfortable with her touch.

"Vihaan, there has to be a way out. Think! Can you recall anyone in the name of Harini Ranganath?"

Closing his eyes in dissapointment, he palmed his face.
"Yes! Yes, I remember. It's in our house."
He jolted in sometime.

"What's in your house?"

"I'd seen a brown diary in our house which had the name H-A-R-I-N-I on it."
- -

They scurried off to the Kamarottu house and kicked open the door which had been seized by the police.

"You head towards that cupboard. I'll search in the drawers."

"Did you find anything!"

Frowning, he strided upstairs to the attic, where Sandhya had created a small library for herself.

"Switch on the lights."

"There's no power, Vihaan."

He avoided directing his senses at the rocking chair on which his wife would most of the time be found relaxing over and delved into her collection of books.

"Here! H-A-R-I-N-I." Janani paced to him.

Vihaan's pulse felt abnormal while he could hear his own heartbeat. It wasn't something that could be given an explanation. The sudden rush of fright through his viens and the uneasiness he fought within reasonless, or was it? 'Why?' was another question to which he too lacked an answer until he flipped the cover revealing the first page....

****
They say that things we are oblivious to, would never hurt us. Not paying heed to what my conscience said was wrong, I listened to my heart and sealed the truth about you. Vihaan, my life infact has two phases, one was before you entered and the other after you stepped in.

"Oh, where is this girl? She absconds in a fraction of seconds."

"Shilpa, look there."

Clad in a gorgeous royal blue lehenga, sparkling accessories and breath-taking smile, she tapped her feet to the melodious music from the santoor.