Chapter: 33
(The Counter-Current of Time)
After that incident, the college seemed to have transformed. In every corridor and on every winding staircase, it felt as though unseen eyes were lurking. For Aishi and Ayush, for whom time was once a golden playground, the ground beneath their feet now felt strewn with thorns. Shreyasi, Anindya, and even the familiar professors maintained a cold distance. It was as if something had occurred that no one wanted to speak of, yet everyone knew.
Aishi had learned to endure this. Petty insults could no longer break her. Every day before coming to college, she stood before the mirror and looked at herself. She found a hardened shadow in her eyes and thought—this girl is me, who once dreamed of building a home, and is now fighting just to save her existence.
Her mother's voice was rarely heard now. There was a time when her mother would wake her up with a gentle hum; today, even that call felt distant and pushed away. Only occasionally at night could Aishi hear her mother weeping silently in the other room. She knew that just as she was suffering, her mother was hurting in her own way. But Aishi wasn't to blame for this pain! She had only loved—and that too, someone who respected her, understood her, and gave her courage.
Ayush's situation was even worse. At home, he faced a mountain of questions every day—Where are you going? Whose message is on your phone? It's not that Hindu girl, is it? His mother no longer looked him in the eye. In a voice thick with suspicion, she would simply say, "May Allah guide you, Ayush. I don't want to lose you."
Ayush would remain silent then. A strange ache would settle deep in his chest at his mother's words. But he knew that as his fear of losing his family grew, the dread of losing Aishi became even more intense. Every night, he opened a diary to record the fears within him. He documented every conversation, every insult, and even the silent language of Aishi's eyes—so that he would never forget.
In the midst of all this, they met one evening in the college canteen. Dressed in a deep blue saree, Aishi quietly sat down beside Ayush. Not just beside him, but as if across a wall.
"You know, don't you?" Aishi said suddenly.
"What?" Ayush looked up, his shoulders tense.
"My family is arranging my marriage. They are looking for a groom." There was no crying in Aishi's voice, only a profound emptiness.
Ayush's hand tightened into a fist under the table. He hadn't wanted this to happen so soon. He wasn't ready to face such a difficult decision yet. And yet, circumstances were forcing his hand.
"Do you agree?" Ayush whispered.
Aishi gave a faint smile and said, "You know I never loved anyone by seeking permission. Even coming to you was a form of war."
"Then?" Ayush's voice rose slightly. "What are you thinking?"
Looking at him deeply, Aishi said, "I'm thinking of running away. I'm thinking of that notebook where you drew the map of our future. I'm thinking—the day you say the word, I'll be ready."
Ayush stared at her for a moment. The surrounding noise faded away. Only two pairs of silent eyes spoke to each other.
"Then..." Ayush said slowly, "Next Friday. 5 PM. Stand near the old bookstore right behind the bus stand. I'll come. Let the new journey begin exactly where we first met."
Aishi bowed her head in agreement. At that moment, the canteen around them was bustling with noise, but for them, time had stood still. All surrounding sounds had fallen silent. Before them lay only one path—where the future was uncertain, but love was unwavering.
That afternoon, when they parted ways, Aishi walked away without looking back. Ayush watched her go. His heart felt like a canvas—where color, blood, dreams, and fear had all bled into one.
Back home that night, Ayush opened his notebook to write more. He sketched new plans—which road to take, where to stay, and what identity to adopt. He knew their families would search for them and wouldn't stop. So, this time, everything had to be flawless. Touching a small photo in his pocket—Aishi's smiling face—he whispered, "I will never let you cry again. But before that, we must be brave."
And Aishi? She couldn't sleep for nights on end. She hid her sobs behind the whirring sound of the ceiling fan. She repeatedly opened and closed Ayush's notebook kept close to her heart. It was as if a war was raging beneath her eyelids—love against fear, courage against society. She knew this war wouldn't last forever. This war had an end. And she was waiting for that conclusion—not just waiting, but preparing herself, bit by bit.
To be continued.....🌷