The next morning, Kartik went to the same place. But this time he went alone. After yesterday's warning to Kavya by her mother, it was not possible for her to accompany him. He loved the place. There was something around it which beckoned him in an eerie way. The best part of the place was the river flowing nearby. He went and sat on its banks and tried thinking of what had happened last night. It seemed peculiar.He had never seen his mother this way.
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"Mom...the place is so beautiful!!I want to take you there tomorrow."
"Which place? And whose idea was it?? Your aunt had gone crazy when she got to know Kavya was outside. In India, these kind of things are still not acceptable, you know. " - said Rya and smiled.
She was folding the clothes when Kartik came from behind and hugged her.
"And do you think the same too?" - asked Kartik.
Rya turned around and said "No. But simultaneously, I don't want any unnecessary trouble sweetheart. Kavya is a sweet girl. She deserves a happy and nuisance free marriage."
Rya went near the cupboard to keep the pile of clothes.
"Do you know Ryan Mehra Mom? He studied with you and Kavya's parents in the same college right?"
For a moment, Rya felt as if time had stopped. She didn't know what to say. She looked back at Kartik.
"How do you know him?" - asked Rya.
"Mom!! Does it really matter? Did you ever interact with him? Are you still in touch with him or do you know anybody who can help me get in touch with him? I have been thinking..."
"Actually I should ask Aditi Auntie about him. He was her friend. She might be knowing...but had she known, Kavya could have contacted him...I just don't know..." - continued Kartik. He seemed to be really perplexed about finding Ryan and was trying to find out links to reach out to him.
"How do you know him Kartik???? " - shouted Rya.
"Cool down Mom. Why are you so angry? Kavya mentioned him. She seems to be pretty close to him. She shared a significant part of her childhood with him. But now she is unable to find him. If I could help her find him, she would have her best wedding gift, you see "- said Kartik and smiled.
"But why did you get so angry? What's the matter Mom..."
"Nothing. Nothing Kartik" - said Rya and went back to the pile of clothes.
"There is something Mom!! I have never seen you this angry. Do you know him?..."
"Whats happening between mother and son?? "- said Aditi and entered into the room. She put a big yellow sweet into Kartik's mouth and said "You won't get this there. Just eat and relish" and smiled.
"Rya. I need you downstairs. We have a ritual in which we need married women. Come downstairs in next 10 minutes." - said Aditi and turned back to leave.
"Auntie. I want to talk to you for a couple of minutes. Can I come with you?" - asked Kartik.
"I am going downstairs. You can talk to Aditi here." - said Rya and left abruptly.
Aditi could not understand what was happening around. She looked at Rya and knew something had affected her deep.
When Kartik asked her of Ryan, she understood everything. She denied knowing anything about Ryan and suggested Kartik to stop bothering about finding him and rather enjoying the marriage. But she knew she had to speak to Rya.
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Kartik wasn't a kid anymore. He knew there was something about this guy. He had to find him. But "how" was the question. There was nobody to help him out. As he sat near the banks, he saw somebody sitting on the other side of the river. She was a lady, the age of his mother probably. She seemed to be in deep thoughts. Kartik felt an urge to speak to her. He didn't know why though. He had to cross the river. He tried searching for a bridge. There was none in sight. He kept walking for quite some distance until he found one. He crossed over and found that this part of the place was more beautiful than the one where he sat. There was a small cottage nearby too.
"She must be staying here." - thought Kartik.
It was a beautiful cottage. There was a small patio in front of the house too. Small flower plants added to the beauty of it. The house had a nameplate infront of it - "Aranya".
Kartik walked past it and stopped on reaching where the lady was sitting. His presence was comfortably ignored by her. She sat quietly. She had tears in her eyes. She was in deep pain.
Kartik sat next to her. He tried to make a nervous attempt of conversing with her.
"This place is so beautiful!! Even the cottage! Do you stay there?" - asked Kartik.
The lady got startled. Probably she wasn't used to this encroachment in quite some time.
"Who are you? Why are you here?" - she asked.
"My name is Kartik. I stay in US. I have come to India for my friend's wedding. She showed me around this place yesterday. I liked it so much that I came back here today and I found you sitting here. Thought of ...talking to you..."
The lady got up and started walking away from Kartik, towards her cottage.
"Whats your name?" - asked Kartik from behind.
She didn't reply.
"Can we talk?..." - continued Kartik.
Still no reply.
"I am here to find a person. He used to come here often..."
She continued walking away from him.
"Ryan. Ryan Mehra. By any chance do you know him?...".
She stopped.
Turning behind, she asked Kartik "Who are you?"
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After hearing everything from Kartik, Meeta (the lady) heaved a long sigh. She looked down and smiled to herself.
" Kartik, can you do me a favour?"
"Yeah. Sure." - replied Kartik.
"Meet me tomorrow at this address and get your mother with you."
She scribbled the address on a piece of paper and handed it over to him.
"Can we meet Mr. Mehra tomorrow" - asked Kartik, being hopeful.
Meeta had given him the hope that she knew Ryan.
"Kartik. Lets meet tomorrow first." - said Meeta and got up to leave.
"But you didn't tell me who are you and how do you know him? " - asked Kartik.
Meeta paused for a second and finally said "I am his wife."
(To be continued...)
