Episode 13 - The Paradise has a Heart

Half an hour later, Roja was outside the house staring at the snowfall. She, always wondered at the star-like structure that was conventionally used to indicate snow. But that day when she looked at snow on Mr. Wahib’s car, she noticed that the structure did exactly look like the hexagonal snow symbol. She took some pictures with Pradyuman while the others vacated their rooms and all the luggage bags were placed in the living room. Meanwhile Zayed arrived and it took him a while to turn the vehicle around. The snow showed no signs of ceasing. Quickly everyone loaded their bags into the tempo traveller. Mr. Wahib and his wife gave them a warm send-off. While looking out of the window, Roja saw that the entire city looked completely different from what she had seen until the previous day. The roofs of houses and buildings were covered with snow. The naked branches of trees were coated with snow. It looked like a view straight out of fantasy land. The entire face of the city had changed in a matter of hours.

‘Madam, I think the flights might be cancelled today,’ said Zayed while carefully driving on the wet road.

‘Why?’ asked a surprised Roja.

‘Usually, when it snows like this, the flights get cancelled. Have you received any message from the airlines?’

‘No. All our flights are showing on time as of now.’

‘Okay. Then maybe it will stop snowing soon. Let’s see’

Once again she continued staring outside the window. Her eyes were greedy to take in all the visual beauty of the place before leaving the city. They reached the BSF check post which was 1 km before the airport. All the passengers and their luggage should be scanned here before proceeding further. They groaned at the very thought of unloading and loading so many bags again. Thankfully, the moment the vehicle stopped and door opened, the BSF soldiers themselves unloaded all the bags and put them on the conveyor belt of the scanning machine. They stood in the security check line. The officers were quite quick with checking and soon enough they loaded all their bags into the vehicle. The security check was efficiently completed in a matter of minutes. When they reached the parking lot of the airport, it was not completely full and Zayed easily found a parking spot. Pradyuman unloaded his bag first because his flight was due to leave in an hour and he had to rush. Just then he checked his phone and saw a message that his flight was delayed to 2 PM. He and Roja heaved a sigh of relief.

‘I would suggest that a few of you first go and check the status of your flights. Then you can come and collect the luggage,’ suggested Zayed.

Karna, Agnivesh, Vasu and Pradyuman went to the airport counters to check the status. It was complete chaos. All the passengers were outside the airport because the airport authorities did not open the entry doors. The flights were halted due to snow. Meanwhile Jennifer, Sushma and Roja clicked pictures in the snow. Slowly the intensity of the snow reduced and then it stopped. After what seemed like a really long time, the men walked back to the tempo traveller. Agnivesh and his friends’ flight was delayed by an hour and a half. It was due to take off at 12:30 PM while Roja's flight was delayed to 3.30 PM. Pradyuman's was delayed to 2:30 PM. The airport had opened and the authorities allowed the check-in for Agnivesh’s flight. It was indeed a small airport and also with heavy security. Therefore only those passengers whose flights would take off in the next two hours were allowed inside. Except Roja and Pradyuman, the others picked their bags and alighted from the vehicle. All except Agnivesh exchanged greetings with the couple and walked towards the airport. Agnivesh gave one last look at Roja and walked away. She could not be certain but she thought she saw pain in his eyes.

Suddenly a beam of sunlight peeped through the cloud cover. Roja sat with her head rested on Pradyuman's shoulder while they waited inside the tempo traveller. Zayed was indeed kind to wait with them until they were allowed inside the airport. He could have simply dropped them at the airport and driven back but he did not do that. After a while Pradyuman went to check at the airpott counter and saw that passengers on his flight were being let inside. He walked back to the vehicle and informed the same to Raja. 

‘But the passengers of your flight are still not being let inside,’ he said worried.

‘Don't worry Pranu, I will manage. Anyway I have a phone in case I need any help. But you must leave now otherwise you will miss the flight,’ she said as a matter of fact.

Although she looked unruffled on the outside, she was not ready to say her goodbye to Pradyuman. Not yet.

‘Sir, you don't worry. Madam is like my sister. I will make sure that she goes into the airport safely. I will stay with her until she is inside the airport,’ said Zayed reassuringly.

Roja was indeed overwhelmed by Zayed’s words. He had indeed won her trust and his assurance did make her feel a little better.

‘It is okay, Pranu. I will be fine. Anyway we both have a layover in Delhi before our flight to Bengaluru. I will call you as soon as I land in Delhi,’ she said squeezing his hand.

‘Alright, you take care darling. I will see you soon,’ he said half-heartedly. 

Pradyuman gave her a tight hug and a kiss on her forehead before rushing towards the airport. Roja went inside the vehicle and sat down at one of the window seats. Suddenly an emptiness enveloped her. She could not fathom if it was because the vehicle was empty or because Pradyuman had left. She brought out the book that she had been carrying in her bag and began to read it just to keep her mind occupied. After about 20 minutes, she received a call on her phone from an unknown number. When she answered it, she heard a very familiar voice.

‘Roja, they are announcing the check-in for your flight. Get your luggage and come soon,’ said Pradyuman on the other end.

His mobile SIM card did not work in Srinagar and therefore he had borrowed a phone from another passenger. Roja informed Zayed and he accompanied her to the airport. She checked the display board and confirmed that the check in for her flight had begun.

‘Thank you very much bhaiya,’ she said and took the trolley from him.

‘No problem madam. Please do let me know when you come to Srinagar next time. Anyway you have my number, please feel free to contact me if you need anything here,’ he said with a smile.

‘I will surely contact you the next time I am here. Take care bhaiya,’ she said with gratitude filling her heart.

The line to enter the airport was long but it was moving fast. As soon she entered the airport, once again her bags were made to go through a security scanner. She picked up her bags and moved to her airline counter. There were long lines in front of each airline counter and the airport was packed with people. Everyone was in such a hurry to get on their flights that there was hardly any social distancing maintained. Just then, out of the blue, she heard his voice.

‘Roja! Roja!’ called out Pradyuman waving at her.

It took Roja a few moments to actually catch sight of him. A smile lit up her face and relief washed over her. He was the next in that line to drop his baggage. He proceeded further after she waved back at him. It was not until the moment she saw him; did she realize the magnitude of his absence. The joy she felt on seeing him was incomprehensible. If missing him for half an hour could affect her so much then what would happen if she missed him forever? If this was not true love, then what was? Quickly she dropped her luggage at the counter and collected her boarding pass. Even before she could look for him, Pradyuman was right there waiting for her before joining the security check line. She flung her arms around him and embraced him tightly. He hugged her and gently rubbed her back.

‘Sweetheart, I think we should head towards the security check,’ he whispered.

Gently he released her from his embrace. She gazed into his eyes.

‘Pranu, I don't think I can survive missing you. It kills me to stay away from you. And if marriage is what it takes to be with you forever, then I really want to marry you,’ she said deeply.

He looked at her surprised beyond measure.

‘Is that a yes for my proposal?’ he asked unable to believe his own words.

‘A big, emphatic YES!’ she said with a smile.

Once again he pulled her into a bear hug with tears almost welling up his eyes.

‘I love you, Roja,’ be breathed.

‘I have never loved anyone, the way I loved you,’ she said with a tear sliding down her check.

Roja had indeed discovered true love in Srinagar, a place known for both unparalleled beauty and violence. The paradise on earth is not just a place, it has a heart and you can bear its heartbeat only when your feet touches its ground.

****The End****