The needle steadily pointed at 50 kmph in the speedometer. It had been long since he drove this slow. It wasn’t the roads that stopped him from driving fast as usual, it wasn’t any fog that curtailed the visibility either, and he wanted to slow down today. He wanted to feel the subtle breeze that swept across his car, the smell of the place he drove through. He wanted to be himself today.
The car drove smoothly into the parking lot of the cottage. He didn’t need a cottage this time as he was alone, but still he booked for one. Different from the types he had stayed earlier in. Sophistication was his second nature. Comfortable living space, vehicle and gadgets defined him. For a difference he broke all his regular routine. Unlike usual this trip was planned overnight, without his caring and beautiful wife and his lovely kids. He had an urge to be alone and an unexplainable force was pulling him to this place.
Silent Valley had been his escape spot right from the time he was 24. Each time he came the silence of the place tapped the resting inner energy of his soul. This was a place he wanted to drive to the very first time with someone unforgettable in his life. And till today he hadn’t driven to that particular road with that person and he knew he would not either. “Madhur Swaroop” he said at the reception. “Cottage number 5 Sir” said the overdressed receptionist.
“Hello, this is Sukriti here. Sorry, I am out of office. You may please call back on Monday or alternatively leave a voice mail at 09843360896”…… she finished recording her voice message for the calls she was not going to attend during her precious weekend getaway. It had been four months of tireless working and she needed this break for being able to work tirelessly for next four months. She always preferred this cottage. The rickety look of it, the cane furniture, herbal grass beds and cosy interiors made her experience the inner warmth.
“We should escape to silent valley whenever we lose our energy, be it physical or mental” she always told him and he had asked if she would go with him for a drive. She never had and she knew she never would.
Eight years of her career had been enjoyable. She loved her work, work place, colleagues and her home. It was eight years since she had heard that voice which enchanted her, dissolved her desperation and made her realize what being in love meant.
Her relationship with Madhur was like Water elements. All hydrogen and oxygen don’t make water and once they are linked it’s almost impossible to separate them. But manier times water becomes unfit to use for the right purpose too. A short-term relationship of 81 days it was but it left a lifetime impression in her. Her friends found the reason ridiculous…”cultural difference”. She still smiled when they said it on her face how stupid the reason was. The understanding she and Madhur had was that they respected each other’s decision. They respected their own break-up.
He stirred his hot chocolate and was listening to one of his favourite numbers from backstreet boys. He liked the different ambience of cottage restaurant with more of natural flavor. Sukriti had spent her three days doing things which she liked. She sat with her book and her ginger-lemon tea at the restaurant. She was reading Rabindranath Tagore’s GORA for the third time. She rediscovered the strength in her each time she read it. She was refreshed now. Taking another sip of tea she glanced around. A slip in the beat she could sense. Their eyes met and silence persisted for long. Madhur equally taken aback smiled at her first. They had been staying in the same place and same cottage.
Conversation was becoming lighter and easier. They were getting back to the same rhythm of talking as they had eight years back. Their tables weren’t different anymore. They talked about what they did and what they plan to do. More hot chocolates, tea and juices came in. Madhur knew Sukriti never had another man in her life other than him. Not because he kept track of what she was doing, but because he understood and knew her so well.
Sukriti knew he loved his wife and kids and at the same time he always wished the best for her whether they met or not. As the conversation unfolded, he suddenly asked her “Can we drive tomorrow to the road we always wanted to take?” She paused and smiled. She agreed to go with him.
The night was crawling, He felt. He knew he wasn’t doing anything wrong or nothing against conscience. He waited for the morning. He knew what to expect of the morning, still he went to the waiting lounge. He sat there for hardly two minutes and he walked straight to the reception. “Is there any message left for me? I am Madhur Swaroop” he said. With her trained smile the receptionist handed him a cover. He had expected this. He had two white tulip flowers in his hand with a tiny envelope. The envelope was very similar to the one he had received eight years back for his birthday. It was the same colour. He opened the message card inside. It had nothing but a smiley and a fish drawn to it. It didn’t require extra time for him to understand the message. The fish had left with all smiles to carry on with her life. THE HAPPY FISH. Madhur smiled at the fact she never changed. He carefully folded the message and slipped it into his wallet as proof of the fish being happy. He knew that the road would remain untaken forever after.
She had already pulled the top gear and covered more than 6 miles from the cottage. She pressed more on the accelerator and sped down the road with a big smile on her face.
As she drove, her lips broadened at the existence of water link between her and Madhur. Not as a couple, not as lovers, not as friends but the link of understanding between two humans. That road remained untaken by her and she knew she would not either.
