Something about winters or so she believed, which often brought back the memories of that day. She had always tried to block them but an odd comment or a random reference often triggered a series of images in her mind.
His lifeless body lying in a puddle of blood. She could hardly take that picture out of her head. Someone had not only killed him but gone one step ahead and mutilated his body too.
“But you were only five. And it is okay, we were hardly close to the Khandelwals,” her mother dismissed the conversation no sooner did it start.
If only she could understand this easily.
There was something about his face, like he was begging her to bring him to life. Like she was the only one who could reverse the actions of that murderer. That murderer. Yes it is fifteen years to that day and police has not been able to find a single clue leading to the killer.
For her this mystery poked a hole in her heart and soul. She wanted a name to that gruesome act. She needed a closure.
“Devyani, why bother?” her mother’s additional two words to the topic.
* * *
And it was one such winter day again. Her mind was filled with the thoughts of that afternoon. She was getting restless and Azhar was oblivious to her state of mind presently.
“Could you drop me home?” she asked softly.
He turned around slightly to give side glance. He could still see her clearly from the corner of his eye. She was wearing a fuscia pink suit coupled with her light brown shawl. The normally tied hair were today let loose, playing havoc with the eyes. Eyes. Deep and brown they held a strange mix of sparkle and water in them. And if you had done the mistake of looking straight into them, it took a while to come back to your senses. Or perhaps it was just with me, he thought smilingly.
“Of course, let me finish the last few pages of this novel quickly,” he answered promptly.
* * *
The soft breeze outside rattled the windows of the room. And the fact that she could still listen to them convinced her that there was little sleep she was going to get tonight.
She decided she rather use this time to finish that unread novel in her bag. She picked it up and there on the first page she found a familiar set of handwritten notes.
“To my dearest,
May it remind you of me in times of parting
Azhar.”
She involuntarily smiled. The purpose of the note was perhaps in a way completed.
It had been four years since that rainy afternoon at the bus stop. What seemed like a passing attraction was now fast evolving into something far more than love. She had reached the pinnacle of her own expectations, she had finally found a man she could enjoy silence with.
Azhar. ” She stared at the written words in the novel again.
contd. at Of course, it was not that simple- Part 2
* * *
And this time again, I am taking part in the thirty day writing challenge UBC. I have completed the challenge successfully twice before. Once in July and another time in October. Both these times I wrote a thirty-part running story and even released them as novellas. You can download them from The Other Side of Human love and The Unsent Life.
And with me my fellow bloggers are also participating in the festival, I would love it if you could go around and provide them much needed motivation too. Trust me we all thrive on it.
If you are also taking part in UBC then please do leave your blog link in the comments.
This year I will be contributed all my earnings from blog for nanhi kali. An organization supporting the cause of girl child education. You can read more here. You can also help contribute by making your amazon and flipkart purchases through the widgets on the right sidebar.
Every successful purchase you make through this, I get a commission and I will donate that sum to the organisation.
Have you found ‘The Philospher’s stone’ on facebook? If not then click here
A murder mystery, a love story, a saga of sorrow…what would it be this time? Too soon to guess? But the beginning looks so promising. Will follow the story.
Loved the lines “she had finally found a man she could enjoy silence with” I guess that is indeed the pinnacle of emotions 🙂 Thanks <3
Thanks Kajal 🙂 and yes we all can only wonder what it would be this time 😀 😀
and finding a man with whom you can share silence is a bliss!
How the hell do u come up with these story lines! The first part catches the attention quite well – how can something taht she watched as a five year old distrurb her even now! Errr thou there seems a missing link between part 2 n 3….
Thanks Meena 😀 and as discussed there is no missing link 😀 I hope you stick around madame 😀
All the best Gal! Waiting to read the next part 🙂
Thanks a lot Seeta 🙂
This looks like an amazing start to what will be a captivating and brilliant story. You are one talented writer. I can not wait to read more!! ♥
thanks Kathy 🙂 I hope you like what comes ahead too 🙂
Richa….brilliant start! Wow…you’ve just included the right spices on day 1…all the best…I’m already hooked!
Thanks Aditi 🙂 I hope you enjoy the rest of the narrative too 🙂
Lovely! You have my attention!
Keep it coming!
Healthy blessings
Thanks Gena 🙂
Thanks for adding me to the blogroll for this challenge! Am linking yours right up too. All the best to all of us!
Any time Michelle 🙂 and yes all the best to all of us 🙂
A murder mystery… wow… Richa, this is an amazing start. I am hooked already! 🙂
Thanks a lot Shilpa 🙂
ooh this is going to be another interesting story. Richa, you are an amazing story teller. Can’t wait for the next part.
Thanks a lot Suzy 🙂 I am very glad you are enjoying it 🙂
Obviously a great beginning. But what awes me, Richa, is this: you roll off stories with so much ease. And it must take planning, right? 🙂 I can’t wait to see this story unfold.
Blessings to you 😀 Hugs!
Thanks a lot Vidya 🙂 and I hope the coming parts too enthrall you 🙂
Wow, If Jairam is a post machine. You are a Story machine. As Vidya says, how do you do this? Can’t wait for the story to unfold!
Haha 😀 really? It does sound good 😀 and I am happy you are enjoying it 🙂
Good Start !!!
Waiting for the next part 🙂
Thanks a lot Veena 🙂 Looking forward to your reading it 🙂
There you go again! 🙂 Looking forward to reading it through.
Thanks a lot Corinne, I would love it if you read through the story 🙂
Awesome Start! I’m really impressed! 🙂
Thanks Sheethal 🙂
the development of the characters is interesting…moving on to read the part 2 of the story…I came across this blog via UBC and its the first time I am taking part in it.. by the way, I can see we have some mutual friends, Kajal and I share a common love for movies and Nabanita is a friend too… moreover, I saw a winners badge for an Indiblogger contest sponsored by Sony, well I won in that contest too… good to connect with you friend.. 🙂
Amritt R
http://thebiggestmovieblog.blogspot.in
Oh a lot of mutual connections really! And yes always good to connect with bloggers 🙂
Whodunnit now from the ever talented writer … I am sure you also dun know as yet.. I loved the start and am already hooked…
hehe Well I am super happy that you are liking it 🙂
Richa..love ur style of narrating the story and it makes me happy since I’ve been associated with Nanhi Kali. Somehow, I was unable to contribute last year due to unforeseen circumstances…sharing the first part:)
Cheerz
Vishal
Really? You have been a part of Nanhi Kali, that’s great! That’s okay as long as you catch up!
Yes, in fact I was sponsoring a girl child’s education for a year in 2012 but going through a kinda crisis and hopefully this year things will be sorted out. It’s a promise to the self and should catch up this year:)
Oh that is quite a good thing you know and I hope and pray you can get back to this noble cause this year 🙂
Read one of your article on Indiabookstore.net and followed you till here on blogs, it was not a wasted effort. I have already started reading your previous novella and I really think you are a gifted writer. It’s a pleasure reading your blogs. I want to write my own blog someday and I am jealous of every good writer but that doesn’t stop me from praising your work 🙂
Thank you sooo much 🙂 as you must understand we writers thrive on such things. And yes I am glad you enjoy my work, makes it all worth it. Thank you for downloading the novella, feedback would be awaited 🙂