RIVERS OF LOVE

                                     

Note: This story is based on the author's fiction. It does not apply to any historical references or real-life incidents. This story is a tribute to my friends Sam Dev Mohan and Aariyaan.

March 5, 2022

COIMBATORE, TAMILNADU

6:30 AM

In the town of Coimbatore, there lived a young college student named Kishore. He is pursuing his PG in Business Administration. In a few months, he will be joining his father's business empire.

Kishore was a handsome, fair-haired, curly-headed fellow. But he is hot-tempered and harsh. He and his close friend Aariyan, a BBA student from another college, leave Coimbatore to travel across Tamil Nadu and parts of India. Before starting their journey, he wished to meet Georgina Glenda Luiz.

"Hey Kishore. How are you, man? "You completely changed!" She said. Kishore smiled and said, "I am always the same, ma'am." "Glad to see you after a long time, ma'am."

Aariyaan smiled in happiness. After meeting their school teachers, Kishore came back. After looking at the school for more than five minutes, he looked at Aariyan.

"Aariyaan. "I wish my school days could have dragged on a little longer, or that I could go back and do it later in life."

He listened while holding his shoulders. Now, Aariyaan said: "When I say I miss school, I mean the friends and the fun." "Not the school." While speaking, Kishore sees a message from their school friend Adhithya.

The message came in Whatsapp as: "Hi Kishore. Good morning. How are you? "What are you doing now?"

Looking at Aariyaan, Kishore said, "Hey. "A message came from our school friend Adhithya da."

However, they didn't reply to his message. While going out, they were surprised to see Adhithya waiting for them outside the school. He embraced them with happiness and a smile.

"Hey, what's this, dad?" "You completely changed?" asked Aariyaan.

Adhithya explained everything that happened in his life and said, "Losing touch with school friends is a major tragedy of time, da."

"How did you come here?"

"In my Kawasakhi, the only Ninja is da," said Adhithya. Kishore asked him to park his bike at his house and join him on his journey.

While going in the car, Adhithya asked Kishore, "How is your girlfriend, Varshini da?" Is she good? "Have you spoken with our friends Sachin and Anuvishnu?"

When Kishore heard this, he immediately stopped the car on the Mettupalayam-Sirumugai roads. Coming down from his car, he smoked a cigar. Looking at this, Adhithya asked Aariyan: "What happened, da?" "Why is he acting like this?"

"Sometimes his old memories sneak out from his eyes and roll down his cheeks." Aariyaan said and told what happened in Kishore's life before a few years.

A FEW YEARS BACK

2018

MAHADEV COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCE, KUNIYAMUTHUR

Kishore was born to his parents, Manikandan and Sarojini Reddy. While his father is a Malayali, his mother is Telugu. They speak Telugu-Malayalam inside the house and Tamil with other friends. Kishore has a younger sister, with whom he has a strong bond and affection. However, he is weak in mathematics, which often troubles his relationship with family members.

In school, he was psychologically affected when his friends insulted him and blamed him for the mistakes that he didn't make. Amongst them were Anuvishnu and Sachin. The only guys who supported him were Adhithya and Aariyan. But, at one point in time, even Adhithya got fed up with his actions.

Since then, he has started losing his friends and good qualities. Kishore frequently confuses his mind about his friend circles. Henceforth, he thought of reviving them and bringing his boldness back.

Only Aariyaan was with him. The next year, Kishore left the school, and Adhithya also left for another school in the 9th grade. Aftermath in the college, Kishore met Aariyan. There, they patched things up again. Although Kishore changed, he was still angry with Sachin and Anuvishnu, and there were some differences with Adhithya. He tried his best to reconcile the friends.

At this point in time, he meets Vaishnavi. She was a cute, attractive, and friendly girl in Kishore's department. She was a strong supporter of Swaraj Swayamsevak Sangh and wrote many poems, emphasising the importance of women's empowerment. During a competition, she was given a chance to speak into the microphone.

While speaking, she said: "Females are the most beautiful, gorgeous creatures in the whole world." "And I think that we are gorgeous no matter what size we are." As she said this, the crowd laughed (particularly the men, except Kishore and Aariyan).

"I say if I'm beautiful, I say if I'm strong; you will not determine my story." I will. A strong woman is a woman who is determined to do something others are not. "Not to be done." Her speech really inspired Kishore and Aariyan. Both encouraged her by clapping. Slowly, Vaishnavi grew close with Kishore in the upcoming days of their college.

During the independence day, Vaishnavi distributed the book, "The Great Tribal Warriors of Bharat." While speaking about the book, she said, "This book plays a crucial role in telling the stories of unsung heroes and recounting their efforts, courage, and heroism." This book, co-authored by Tuhin A. Sinha and Ambalika, tells 17 inspiring stories from India from periods of colonial rule.

Looking at everyone, she continued: "This book retells the stories that history books have repeatedly overlooked. The contributions of these tribal heroes to the struggle for independence and the challenges they faced in fighting against British control are important, poignant lessons that every generation needs to hear. More importantly, this book also highlights the inadequacy of efforts by local, state, and central administrations to preserve history in the past.

For example, the first chapter tells the tale of Tilka Manjhi, the Santhal tribal leader from Bhagalpur, Bihar. In the 1780s, he rebelled against the British administration. He had attacked British collector Augustus Cleveland with a poisonous arrow that put him in bed for months. an act that made him the first recorded tribal leader to take up arms against the British. Manjhi was captured after years of efforts on January 12, 1785. He was tied to four horses and dragged for miles. The next day, he was publicly executed by hanging from a banyan tree. While Augustus Cleveland filled all the space in history, the story of Manjhi was lost to time until a few years ago. As a matter of fact, the official records suggest that Cleveland's poor health was due to harsh climatic conditions and stress. but has made no mention of Manjhi's attack."

Her aggressive speech really touched Kishore's heart. Looking at the saffron on her forehead, he decides to accompany her journey. Going near her, Kishore said, "Vaish." "I wish to be on your journey."

"Think about it twice, Kishore. "Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore."

Kishore replied: "We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfilment, Vaish." Impressed with this, she takes him to the Swaraj Swayamsevak Sangh, a Hindu organisation that is popular all over India for its Hindu nationalism and patriotic ideologies. She gives him a membership card.

Initially, Kishore was very apprehensive about Vaishnavi because of her strict rules. Since then, he hasn't been able to eat non-veg whenever he wishes. Later, he starts to understand the importance of God, faith, and unity when he takes marches and trainings in SSS. He takes part in the Nagpur March, the Kerala March, and the Tamil Nadu March, with Vaishnavi accompanying him everywhere in SSS.

"Look deep into nature, Kishore." Then you will understand everything better."

A few days later, one of his friends plans to propose his love to Vaishnavi because of their attraction. This irked Kishore, and he challenged them, saying, "He will lure her into his trap with love before they conquer her."

With the help of Aariyaan, Kishore manages to convince Vaishnavi. He takes her to his house in Chinnampalayam, a small place on the Pollachi-Udumalaipet road. Aariyaan's father, Syed, takes care of them like family. Their hospitality touched her heart a lot.

Vaishnavi asked Aariyan, "Brother." I thought all Muslims were extremists. "Now, I wish I should change my opinion."

"My religion is very simple, ma." It's kindness."

Vaishnavi herself falls in love with Kishore in a few days because of his charming nature. But, in a few days, she gets to know that "he chatted and flirted with so many girls previously." When Kishore was about to kiss her lips to convey his love, she stopped him.

As he is more obsessed with sex and womanising, she pushed him and asked, "So, you loved me to have sex and win your bet." Right?"

Kishore realised that Vaishnavi knew about the betting. Although he tried to console her, she said, "Kishore. Sex is about the quality of your entire love life. "Not the intricate alignment of your bodies."

"You're wrong, Vaishu." Women need a reason to have sex. "But men just need a place."

"This is the mentality of you people. Nothing wrong with you. All I should blame is your mother for teaching you so little about sexual life. She must have told you, "The mangoes are on top, and the women are underneath." Angered by this, Kishore gives her a tight slap and almost goes to kick her abdomen and stomach until Aariyaan intervenes.

He tried to console her. But Vaishnavi left in tears, telling me, "True love is not a hide and seek game, brother." Kindly tell him. Both lovers seek each other in love. Good bye!" Before leaving, Vaishnavi came near to a teary Kishore.

"Even my parents never slapped me, da." "How dare you give me a slap?" She slapped him in retaliation for his early slap. Now, she turned back and proceeded to leave.

Days later, Kishore started realising his mistakes and tried to negotiate with Vaishnavi. But he comes to know that she already left for Varanasi after the final semester exams. Aariyan consoled him and said, "Not to worry."

PRESENT

BHAVANISAGAR DAM

9:00 AM

At present, Adhithya and Aariyan were sitting in the backseat of Kishore's car. While Kishore drove his car towards Bhavanisagar Dam. Seeing the steep Bhavani river with all its sounds and floods, Kishore and Adhithya were feeling peaceful.

But some thoughts were striking in Adhithya's mind since Aariyan talked about Kishore's past love for Vaishnavi. Looking at the river, he said, "Aariyan." A woman in harmony with her spirit is like a river flowing. She goes where she wills without pretence and arrives at her destination prepared to be herself and only herself.

While hearing this, Aariyaan asked him, "Did you love anyone, da?"

"Indeed, yes. "I loved Janani, our schoolmate in 8th grade, and even proposed my love to her while pursuing my PG."

A FEW YEARS BACK

2020

Adhithya was born into a middle-class family. His father, Rathnaswamy, came from a poor family background and completed his education at the reputed Indian Institute of Technology in Madras. Inspired by him, he studied well despite lots of hurdles and hardships in his life, especially because of his lack of English-speaking skills.

As the days progressed, he slowly became popular by writing revolutionary stories and poems, which impressed and attracted Janani. Only she and a few other people have a good opinion of him, alongside his father Rathnaswamy, who'll go to any extent in order to provide him with a good life.

Although Janani had feelings for Adhithya, she eventually gave up because of his and Dhaswin's conflicts in the school. But Adhithya didn't have such intentions, though he had a little crush and love for her. Since, he was personally determined to take revenge on Congress, who were responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attacks and thus the reason for his uncle's death.

PRESENT

At present in Kodiveri Dam, Adhithya told Aariyaan: "After I left that school, I missed you and Janani, primarily da." I regretted fighting with our friends, particularly Dhaswin. Even now, I feel guilty, although I am changing little by little. In college, I proposed to her during her final year of PG. But she was agitated because of my focus on nationalism and Swaraj Swayamsevak Sangh. This led to a fight between me and her. In a heated argument, I slapped her, and eventually, she broke up with me by saying, "You can conquer me only through love." "Not by any other thing."

 

 

Aariyan consoled him when Adhithya was about to cry. He said: "Both you and Kishore are connected by love." No, it's not love. "It's rivers of love."

However, he laughed and said, "No, Aariyan." "The songs of the river end not at her banks but in the hearts of those who have loved her."

At that time, Aariyan looked at their friend Sam Dev Mohan's photo. His death deeply saddened him. Unable to see him like this, Adhithya asked him to move on, to which he replied, "You don't know who is important to you until you actually lose them, Adhi." "I felt like I had died too, and they just forgot to bury me."

"Hey. Wash your mouth, da, buddy. What are you saying? Then, what will happen to me? "Did you think about that?" Aariyan consoled him and said, "Control your emotions, da." "I will always be with you and Kishore."

The guys now head towards Bhavani Sangameshwarar Temple.

After seeing the rituals and seeking the blessings of an elephant named Saraswathi, Adhithya and Kishore decide to make a trip to Varanasi as per Aariyaan's idea. Initially, their family objects. But they later agreed to let them go on the trip, which would take one day and twelve hours.

"Hey. However, we don't know the route, la?" asked Adhithya, to which Aariyan and Kishore replied, "We have lots of facilities like GPS navigation. "Can't we use that and go?"

Turning on the GPS facility, Kishore heads towards the Dharapuram Road–Srinagar–Kanniyakumari Highway. From there, they continue on the NH 44 road towards Mumbai at around 8:30 p.m. There they pass by a lake and take a few minutes' rest. In Mumbai, Adhithya takes Aariyan to a Masjid, where he and Kishore chant Allah's slogans by joining with Muslims.

"Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads, da Aariyaan," said Adhithya, to which he replied, "The essence of religions is one." "Only their approaches are different, buddy."

The three friends experience the beauty of nature in and around Bangalore for one day by looking around the Western Ghats, waterfalls, rivers, and dams. Now, their planned route is ambitious, bringing them north across Uttar Pradesh. Around 12:00 PM the next day, they reach Haridwar. However, Kishore sends his car to change the engine gear. Since then, it has travelled more than 2,000 kilometres.

Aariyaan, Kishore, and Adhithya decide not to make their way to Varanasi until August. During their expedition, the trio encounters lots of changes in the city of Uttar Pradesh under the Indian Janata Party's rule. While visiting Varanasi Ghat and Khasi Viswanath Temple, Adhithya sees a clean Ganges. Turning back to Aariyaan, he said: "There are true Muslims like you even now, da. You understand well our Indian PM's measures to change our ecosystem. But I don't know why some are hating him!"

"Not all are like us, da." Most of our people are against Hindus and Christians. They somehow wanted to make this country an Islamic nation. I hope IJP will change it very soon." Aariyaan said, to which Kishore replied, "Enough." "We have to continue our journey, da." While continuing the journey, the trio encounters Aghoris performing prayers and yoga along with magic in front of Lord Shiva. They were glad and surprised by their spirituality and fitness.

March 25 2022

HARIDWAR

Meanwhile, as the car engine gets ready on March 25, Kishore tries to go get his car. But he gets blocked because of CM's arrival. Greeting the public, he spoke: "I wish everyone a very happy Holi." Holi always inspires us to not keep any kind of hatred or jealousy towards anyone in our minds. There are occasions when everything is dedicated to the nation; these festivals are giving us that inspiration. There is neither a caste nor a class or regional divide. Everyone is celebrating Holi together. "What can be a bigger occasion to give a message of unity?"

"Hey. "What's meant by Holi da?" asked Aariyaan to which Kishore said: "The festival of Holi, which celebrates the spirit of inclusiveness and humanity, heralds the onset of spring after winter in the Indian subcontinent. "It marks the victory of good over evil and is celebrated on two days—Holika Dahan and Holi Milan."

Later on, Aariyan, Kishore, and Adhithya continued their journey to Varanasi, the spiritual capital of India, on March 28, 2022, by crossing the sacred Ganges. The Hindu pilgrims who bathe in the Ganges river's sacred waters capture the heart of Aariyan. He additionally saw people performing funeral rites.

"What's so special about this place, da?"

"Aariyaan. Like your Haj journey, this is special for us. In the Ghats of Varanasi, you can see the cycle of life and death being repeated every day! Love it or hate it, "But you cannot ignore this sacred place."

After so much investigation with several people in Varanasi, Adhithya and Kishore find out that both Janani and Vaishnavi left for West Bengal. Both became heartbroken upon hearing this. Since they can't apologise to the girls and reconcile,

Aariyan convinced them by saying, "Adhi, Kishore." Don't lose hope. Surrender yourself to God; that is the biggest support. Anyone who has come to recognise this support is free from fear, worry, and suffering.

A visit to the ancient Hindu temples solidifies something in Aariyan and Adhithya. While Aariyaan realises the mistakes of his religion's people, Adhithya clarified that "he shouldn't oppose all Muslims." as not all of them are bad. "There are few people who really take care of humans." However, a visit to West Bengal completely broke the trio. Since then, communists, naxalites, and leftists have completely destroyed the state in the past fifty years.

Later, in Bengal, they volunteer for three weeks at Coorch Menar colony. There, Adhithya and Kishore observe the immigration of Rohingya Muslims from Bangladesh to provide illicit votes to the ruling party, which shocks him a lot. After seeing Hindus being massacred and raped by them, he decides to take Aariyan and Kishore back to Tamil Nadu.

Somehow, Kishore and Adhithya find out about Vaishnavi and Janani. Both of them are getting ready to evacuate West Bengal because of the ruling party and Rohingya atrocities. They are not ready to listen to what the boys, Kishore and Adhithya, are trying to convey to them. The girls leave West Bengal with the help of SSS workers.

After a sojourn at the Cooch Menar, Adhithya and the duo (Aariyaan and Kishore) confirm their inclination towards nationalism, conservatism, Hindu nationalism, integral humanism, and right-wing populism while making a birthday toast, which is also his first political speech. In it, he invoked the importance of Hinduism and religious unity, which would transcend the arbitrary boundaries of both nation and race. These encounters with social injustice transform the way Kishore and Aariyan see the world and their purposes in it. By implication, Adhithya motivates his later political activities as a nationalist revolutionary.

With the help of Swaraj Swayamsevak Sangh workers, the trio (Kishore, Adhithya, and Aariyan) escaped in their car on October 20, 2022. While staying in Tiruppur for one day at Aariyaan's sister Shabana's house, Adhithya and Kishore plan to apologise to Janani and Vaishnavi.

Meanwhile, Aariyaan's sister wishes to take him on their trip to Mysore. Adhithya and Kishore ask him to go on the trip. They plan to go back for Pollachi. But a snake bit Adhithya while she was getting ready to leave their house. At that time, Aariyan's sister treated the venom and took care of him like a sister. This made him feel emotional.

The next day, Adhithya and Kishore returned to Pollachi, where they both told their parents about the purpose of this trip and broke down.

"Don't worry, Kishore. My son. "Look at me." His father, Manikandan, said to him and added, "Love yourself and everyone." "Do everything you have to do, but not with greed, not with ego, not with lust, not with envy, but with love, compassion, humility, and devotion."

Rathnaswamy told Adhithya, "Adhithya." "Blessed is a human birth; even the dwellers in heaven desire this birth, for true knowledge and pure love may be attained only by a human being." They both go to a temple in Kangeyam in Adhithya's Honda City car.

The next day, they return, and Adhithya attends a reunion party with his school friends at Sakthi River resorts, where he apologises wholeheartedly to Janani by kneeling down. He admits his failure to care for her due to his focus on nationalism and patriotism. Janani finally forgave him and embraced Adhithya.

Dhaswin and his other friends were happy when they learned that he had totally changed after encountering various problems in life. When asked about Kishore, Adhithya said, "He is going to Kerala and hence didn't come."

After enjoying the party, Adhithya requested that some of his friends stop smoking. Since it's injurious to health. The same evening, Kishore informed him happily that Vaishnavi had forgiven him and reconciled after Adhithya reached home with Janani to spend some qualitative time with her.

"All the best, Kishore." A few hours later, Adhithya went to the upstairs of his house to feel the rivers of love with Janani.

ALTERNATIVE ENDING

However, the next day, another shocker awaited Adhithya and Kishore. It was Dinesh, who's Aariyan's closest friend. He informed them in tears: "Guys. "Aariyaan died in a road accident at Poondi on October 25th, da."

Hearing the news, both were frozen in shock. Informing his father, Adhithya rushed to Aariyaan's funeral in his car with Kishore. They both took part in his last rites under Muslim traditions. Several of Aariyaan's friends came there. Vaishnavi and Janani were heartbroken. Vaishnavi and Janani burst into tears.

The next day, after performing the last rites, Aariyaan's family speaks about his friendly nature and helping tendency. Adhithya controlled his tears while speaking with Aariyaan's mother, Zareena, and his father, Syed, who asked him to take care of poor people. While Kishore came out and burst into tears when he took a look at Aariyaan's photo.

At that time, Georgina Glenda came to see Aariyaan's family and expressed her condolences. She then came to Kishore and told him: "Kishore. The importance of good people in our lives is just like the importance of heartbeats. It's not visible but silently supports our lives. Take care."

Now, Kishore called Sachin and Anuvishnu. He apologised to them for neglecting them. They felt glad that he had reformed, at least now.

Unable to believe his loss, Adhithya drove back to his house in the car. While going in the car, he meets with a terrible accident at Sethumadai. He wasn't able to drive properly because of his grief and guilt.

Knowing that he would die anyhow, he texted Janani's Whatsapp number before driving the car from Aariyaan's house. In the message, it was written: "Janani." Every situation in life is temporary. So, when life is good, make sure you enjoy and receive it fully. And when life is not so good, remember that it will not last forever, and better days are on the way. "Good bye, and I am sorry."

Seeing the message, Janani panicked and informed Kishore immediately. He rushed to the spot with the help of the police, where they rescued a severely injured Adhithya. He gets admitted to the hospital in serious condition. Dhaswin and Adhithya's father, Rathnaswamy, came to the hospital in panic.

As the doctors came out, Dhaswin asked about his health condition, to which they replied, "He is mentally weak although strong physically." Someone has to be with him.

Since Rathnaswamy knows the bonding of Dhaswin and Adhithya well, he requests that he go and see him, which he accepts. Going to the ICU room, he was in tears upon looking at Adhithya's worse condition in the bed. Holding his hands, he said, "Adhi." In school days, we fought each other for one girl. But I eventually broke up with her and went for another girl. You still love that girl, and you even got her proposal accepted by waiting. I was very happy for that. Then only did I realise that to make a difference in someone's life, you don't have to be brilliant, rich, beautiful, or perfect. "You just have to care enough to be there."

Looking at his face, he continued to say, "I can't see you like this, da. Please come back. I don't have the guts to bear the deaths of my other friends, having lost Sam and Aariyan. Don't cry over the past; it's gone, and don't stress about the future. It hasn't arrived. "Live in the present and make our life and friendship beautiful."

He leaves the ICU ward, where he consoled Rathnaswamy and Janani. A few days later, Adhithya's health condition improved and he was cured successfully. Janani got him a promise that he should never leave her alone in the future.

A few days later, Adhithya and Kishore attended the wedding ceremony of Dhaswin, where Adhithya saw the reflection of Aariyan smiling at him.

"I never thought of surviving the accident, Aariyaan." Only after surviving did I realise that Lord Narasimha and you saved me from a terrible disaster. A thought had been going through his mind, until Janani intervened and asked, "What happened?"

"Nothing"

"You know one thing?" asked Janani, to which Adhithya replied, "What?"

"The power of the heart is much stronger than the power of the mind to empower our lives." Because of my strong heart only, you survived this accident." Hearing this, Adhithya smiled at her and went forward to gift Dhaswin.

After the ceremony, Dhaswin opened the gift in his room. It had a bouquet in which Adhi wrote: "Dhaswin." True love is like a river. It will cut a new path every time it meets an obstacle. "With love, your friend Adhithya." He kept the bouquet in the corner as his fiancée came, and they both embraced each other.