Exile

9. REALISATION!!

Agastya's heart raced madly when he couldn't find Harika even after good 10 minutes. He almost asked each of the villager but no one saw her. He could only think all the negative possibilities. The girl is pampered like anything. She got away with every thing. She is not held accountable for any of her actions. After mollycoddling her to such extent, their reaction today is too harsh for the girl. Especially when she doesn't even believe that she did something wrong by opting unfair means in exam. He just hoped she didn't do something impulsive!

When he found her nowhere out of their compound, he ran back to his outhouse. He desperately hoped she is present there.

Agastya sighed in relief when he found Harika crying in his outhouse, hugging her knees. His heart went out for the girl. While he was angry at her for what she did, he didn't have it him to leave her and let her suffer the consequences of her actions, especially when the consequences were directed at a different tangent. He didn't want her to grow up with the wrong attitude. This attitude will force her to face many problems in future! He would rather have her learn it right now!

He approached her slowly and kneeled in front of her. He tried to speak as gentle as possible - Harika... Bacha please meri taraf dekho ek baar.

Harika looked up as soon as she heard him. She leapt onto him, hugging him, crying her heart out. Agastya's heart pained listening to her cries. He coaxed her to stop crying but she was having none of it. He gently patted her back, trying to soothe her but to no avail. When he finally had enough, he pulled away gently and firmed his voice - Enough! Bas! Chup karo pehle. Stop crying!

While Agastya always behaved differently with Harika, the tone which he just took, was completely new to her. She stopped crying in the mere shock and looked at him blinking her eyes as he wiped away her tears. He got up pulling her along with him and sat her down on the bed while he walked into the kitchen to fetch some water.

She didn't have to be coaxed for drinking water this time. She gulped them down when he offered. She didn't like the serious look on his face neither was she comfortable with the fact that he is angry or pissed off with her. He was about to put the glass back in kitchen when she caught his wrist. Agastya turned back. Harika looked at him - I am sorry.

Agastya gently got his wrist of her grasp. Harika's eyes filled up when he did that. She was about to cry but Agastya came back and sat beside her, asking - Kyu Sorry ho tum?

Harika mumbled - Aise darane ke liye. Bhaag ke nahi aana chahiye tha.

His tone was yet to go back to normal and she didn't know how to deal with it. He commanded respect when he took that tone. The whole reason why she blurted out that sorry even before he said something.

Agastya gentled his voice. He could see she is getting worked up. He didn't want that. Not yet atleast - Bhaag ke kyu aayi vaha se Harika?

Harika looked away - Mujhe acha nahi laga. Di mujhe aise kaise maar sakti hai? Mumma Papa ne bhi nahi maara mujhe! How could she slap me like that? Mai bachi thodi hu. Mere sare friends cheating karte hai. Uss class mein bhi almost everyone were cheating. Sab karte hai apne school aur college life mein. Iska matlab ye thodi hai.. ki they will turn out be murderers or criminals in future?! Bina baat ka batangad bana rahe hain sab. Di ne toh thappad maar Diya mujhe...Not done!! Not at all done!

She looked back at him whose face was devoid of emotions - Aapke alawa...Thank you Bhaiyya....Aapne bacha liya. Sirf aap hi pyaar karte ho mujhse! Varna mujhe tho sach mein dar laga ki Papa college bandh karwa denge.

She ranted out her anguish and frustration with the way she was treated in her own house. She strongly believed she didn't deserve it.

She held his hands and genuinely thanked him again - Thank you so much, bhaiyya!