Re-knitting Yarns

“They will never accept our relationship. They have high expectations from me, I can’t let them down.” said Azaan.

“I respect that but you too have a right to decide for yourself. They are happy in their world, now it is your time to experience the same.” said Shlok.

“But I am their ideal, I don't want to do anything that they feel ashamed of. This might ruin my image.” Azaan shared her concerns.

“We are not doing anything that we shouldn’t. Is it wrong to spend a life the way you want to?” Asked Shlok.

“But...” Azaan was concerned about the image she earned for herself.

“You are free, do what you feel is right for you. I will wait for your call by 10 pm. Tickets are booked for the early morning.” concluded Shlok and left from the temple for his home.

***

Azaan was a woman of 58 years of age and stayed by herself in Delhi. Both her sons were married and settled in Bangalore. Besides this, she was also a Yoga instructor. Yoga classes was where she met Shlok.

Shlok was a retired government official. He had a son, Rishab who was working in an MNC as an investment banker. He stayed with his son but barely got a chance to talk to him. By the time he used to come home after his office & late-night meetings, Shlok used to be off to bed and morning by the time Shlok would be back from yoga classes, he would be off to work. They got to meet each other only on Sundays.

He was sure that his son would understand him as he has always been a super dad for him, who has never let his son down. However deep inside the heart, he was busy convincing himself if Rishab would accept this new side of his dad.

Both Shlok and Azaan were proud of their kids. It wasn't one way, their kids were also considerate and used to look at them with high spirits.

Post her husband's death, Azaan started working with a Yoga Training Center. Her husband was the only person she knew in her in-laws as he got disowned by them on the grounds of marrying a girl from another community. However, after his death, they helped her. They were always there for her on a small condition of saying 'yes' to everything.

Yes to share his husband's pension with his parents.

Yes to work for them as a house-help.

Yes to raise niece and nephews as a governess.

Yes to give full body massage to her brothers-in-law.

A single 'no' would mean she is not obedient enough to be a part of them. She stayed with them for 3 years but could not give a good massage to them and hence was thrown out of the house on being shameless and arrogant.

She established her own world with her two sons, started yoga classes in a small garage with double shifts. Now, she was managing a yoga institute with 8 junior and 2 senior instructors, one being herself.

Shlok got divorced with Aarti when he realized that they weren’t compatible with each other. Soon after the divorce, she died in a road accident. He restarted his life with his son Rishab. Being from an affluent family, he had multiple options for getting married.

His mother also said – “Get married dear, how will you raise a kid all alone? He would need a mother too.”

To which Shlok replied – “My love story has gotten over now. I cannot give that place to anyone. My world means Rishab. If he needs a mother, then it is you and a father cum friend then it's me. That’s all."

Rishab was more of a friend to him. He is the one who got him admitted to yoga classes. However, due to his new job, he was not getting enough time for Shlok and wasn't aware of his dad's new budding world.

***

“Are you sure? Is it correct?” asked Azaan with anxiety.

“This is the best we can do for them.” replied Shlok. “Hope you have kept all your belongings safely.” Shlok continued.

“I have kept it in the locker and have shared all the details to them through an email.” Replied Azaan. “Have you?” She enquired.

“Yes, I have left the file on the table, with all the details in the same.” He replied.

“Don't worry, he will be alright.” Assured Azaan. She could understand Shlok as she was going through the same storm of emotions as was him.

It wasn't easy for Azaan and Shlok to leave everything behind and restart afresh. Both had tasted the adventures of life, now destiny wanted them to get ready for more. To smile a bit more, to cherish a little more and to live a bit more.

***

The bus was running at full speed leaving roads and trees behind.

“What are you looking at?” Asked Shlok.

“Nothing, I was just thinking how life reshapes itself.” She smiled.

“You still miss Mr Mathew right?” Asked Shlok getting the nerves of the situation.

“When Mathew died, people used to sympathize with me saying, eventually everything would be all right, the pain will reduce. It’s been years & I am still waiting for that moment.” Said Azaan.

“The pain never gets reduced, it becomes a part of our lives. We learn to live happily with that pain. It's like a vacuum that can never be filled.” Shlok shared his experience.

“Why didn't you try a second marriage?” Asked Azaan.

“As I said, I started living happily with my pain and new partner would have fetched new dreams which I was never ready for.” justified Shlok.

“My happy world would always mean Shlok and Aarti.” said Shlok and closed his eyes to revisit the memories of Aarti.

“What about you? You are beautiful, why didn't you go for a second marriage?” asked Shlok after coming back from the memories of Aarti.

“Well, thanks for the compliment but I have had enough memories of my first marriage. I was just not in a mood to rediscover the same.” Clarified Azaan. “I left my home when I was 21, Mathew left for the heavenly abode when I was 25 and I left my in-laws' house when I was 29. I have gone through a roller coaster ride and I was not ready for more adventures. Since then, I decided to be happy without Mathew than being sad with unwanted people.” She explained. “What are we gonna do now? I mean, do we have any plan?” Asked Azaan.

“Has our life ever followed a plan? I doubt. The only plan right now I have is not to have any plan.” He was ready to explore a new life.

***

Re-knitting Yarns - It was written outside a small home near hillside facing lush green fields. It was a small two room set with a kitchen and a giant living room from where sky scrapping mountains could be seen and a backyard from where the roar of a flowing river could be heard. It was in a small village in the lap of Himalayas.

Shlok started tuition classes with subjects from Mathematics to History and Science to Arts. Money was important to lead a respectful life and understanding this, Azaan also re-started her yoga classes in the backyard of the house. They started knitting the loosened ends of their lives.

They were the messiah who came up with a light of happiness in that village. They started a school with 2 kids and after 7 months, they had 26 students. In the school, no one would discuss money. Of course, it had a fee but that fee could be any amount that the villagers could afford. To the surprise, no one was learning for free. Villagers were trying their best to pay their teachers. There were only good students everywhere.

***

Every evening, Shlok and Azaan used to share the latent part of their lives. Shlok still had a clear memory of all the moments spent with Aarti whereas Azaan could still feel the warmth of her husband's tight hug.

They used to cherish their moments spent long back in their lives respectively but were still fresh in their memories. Now Shlok also knew about the habits of Azaan's husband & Azaan was aware of Shlok's wife’s beauty. They had started living their present with a respect for the past. They found a new energy within.

They developed an interesting habit of writing a letter to their kids daily sharing the happenings of the day, however, could never muster courage to send the same.

***

Ten months passed and Rishab was still looking for a clue to find his dad. It was Friday morning when he got a blank letter. He thought someone had played a prank on him but then got surprised as it had a stamp of Manali Post Office. Without thinking twice, he reached Manali. However, his foot got hurt while getting down the bus. The pain was unbearable and that’s when an old man advised him of a Yoga instructor in their village. He somehow managed to walk through the address.

He saw an old man teaching students in the small veranda of a house. It was the moment he was waiting for last 10 months! He wanted to run and hug his dad, he stepped forward to run but suddenly a group of people rushed against him to get inside. He moved aside and got to know they were going for a yoga session. He asked one of those people going inside about the house and people living there.

He stayed in a hotel for 2 weeks, observed Re-knitting Yarns & the people staying inside. He knew his destination but wasn’t sure of the road to be taken. He started introspecting. How he could not understand his dad? How he got so occupied with his life that he could not share his father's pain? Why he could not realize that a new story can be reknitted with old yarns?

He wiped his tears and got ready for his D-Day. He was firm that he had to question them. Like a daily ritual when Azaan and Shlok were discussing their past lives, Rishab entered the hall.

“Hey Dad! What's up? How are you doing? It is beautiful. Isn’t it like a dream house? Oh, you are also here. Ma'am, you are very beautiful.” Rishab was going on & on. “I wish I could have attended your yoga classes in Delhi. I would have met you there only. This would be the biggest regret for me now. Never mind, it is never too late.” Said Rishab.

“I will be back,” said Ms Azaan, understanding the situation. She thought perhaps she should move out.

“No please stay, I want to talk to you. I had enough interactions with my dad before, I have come here for you ma’am. Rather I would ask you, dad, please give us some time in private.” Requested Rishab to Shlok.

Shlok left from there but with a baggage of questions in his mind. What will Rishab say to her? Will he scold her? Will he be upset? Is he being sarcastic or real? How to explain it to him?

Rishab started again – “Don't take me wrong Ma'am, but you are really very beautiful. In fact, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever met. Well honestly, I don’t know where to start – I am sorry for not understanding my dad. I am sorry that you both could not share your feelings with us. I am sorry for not creating that world for both of you. I would like to thank you. Thank you for sharing my dad’s pain. Thank you for giving me this opportunity, thank you for letting me share my feelings with you. No one outside this house knows that Teacher Azaan is still Miss Azaan Ali and Sir Shlok is still a bachelor.” He said. “Would you please complete my family? Would you please be my mom? A mom that I have never met, only imagined. Will you complete my family? I have a dream of a family with a happy mom and a dad. Will you help me realizing the same?" Rishab was sitting on his knees with a ring in his hand and tears in eyes.

Azaan was crying standing in front of him. Shlok was standing outside the room, praying to God to

give him the strength to answer his son’s impending accusations.

***

Today is Azaan-Shlok’s 7th Anniversary. Every year, Rishab visits his parents in Manali with his wife. He organizes a small retreat where the kids of Azaan also join to re-learn the new version of love, faith & respect.

Azaan & Shlok still share the moments of love with Mathew & Arti. The only difference now is Azaan understands Aarti better than Shlok does & Shlok celebrates the anniversary of Mathew & Azaan with villagers as a carnival.

There seems no limit to the purity of love. It can happen beyond the set norms of understanding & beyond any explanations. It is limitless.

#RespectIsLove #Beyondwords #Purity