Catastrophe

Disclaimer: All the Characters and incidents portrayed in this story are fictitious. Any resemblance of the characters to an actual person, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Today 11.30 AM, Somewhere in the premises of a subordinate court, Chennai.

Karthick was sipping a tea at the canteen within the premises. He was nervous and his face read clearly that he already had lost the case, however he still wants to hear the verdict out. He hardly had any emotions left out on him to express it out. The 19^th day beard on his face had made him look as if he was in his early 40’s. His phone was switched off to avoid any distractions during the day.

7 years earlier, 20.30 hours on a flight which was about to take off.

Karthick was at his window seat and was having a peck outside and didn’t really bother to notice the adjacent co-passenger by then. “The cabin lights will be dimmed during the take off, should you wish to read you may use the reading lamps above your head” spelt the airhostess while the flight was gaining momentum to set afloat.  Suddenly he felt a beam of light glowing above his head and slowly turned out to realize that Priya seating next to him had wrongly switched on the panel light above his head instead of her’s. Someone incidentally had pressed the button to call the flight attendant at the same time. His first look at Priya had set the tone, a light glowing above the head with a ting tong bell. He had read this in comic stories and even had watched in movies.  Priya just bit her tongue (like :-P)  with her hands on top of her head to  quietly apologized to Karthick for the mistake.

Today 12.15 PM.

Karthick had lost it. He couldn’t believe that she is no more his. While he was walking in the corridor, his memories took him back to where it all started. Everything was fine till a couple of weeks back. He had everything that one would have wanted for. Happiness all through his life. Now he has no one. He felt like screaming, in fact he was screaming within himself.

6 years earlier, 6.30 AM, Karthick’s residence, Chennai.

Karthick and Priya had bonded ever since they met at the flight. It took a little less time for them to realize that they both were tailor made for each other. After spending some quality time together they had decided to get married. In fact life post marriage was even sweeter for them. They just had so much of love for each other.

There were exactly 10 people present in that beautifully decorated hall. One could locate every possible colored flower on the floor and walls of the hall. It was the most beautiful ever wedding ceremony that could have happened. Priya held Karthick’s hand tightly when they both came around the small mounted agni-kund at the center of the house. The rest who were present had ionic bond either with Karthick or Priya. The marriage ceremony was then followed with a quick breakfast. They all set out for a long drive after a couple of minutes. 

Karthick always had a plan to adopt a girl child and when he proposed the same to Priya she was happy to nod on his wish. They got to know that it would need a minimum of 5 years of togetherness before legally adopting a child. They decided that they’ll wait till then and adopt a girl before having their own biological child.

Today 12.30 PM

Karthick picked up his phone to turn it on. He now needed to talk to someone and pour out his agony. He initially thought of not calling anyone and just head back home before doing anything, but he couldn’t overcome his emotions. Just when his phone was taking it’s time to switch on a female’s voice interrupted him

“Mr. Karthick, if you don’t mind may I talk to you for a few minutes?” uttered the old lady.

2 years earlier, at an adoption agency, Chennai

Karthick suddenly stuck a rapport with Maya and so did Priya. Maya was 4 year old. Karthick and Priya decided to bring home Maya and legally applied for adopting her. Malavika, the agency’s secretary was so kind in helping them filling out all the papers and undergo all the formalities needed. It took a good year and eight months before they completed all the formalities and was informed by the agency that they can take her sweet little angel Maya home in another couple of week time.

Today 12.35 PM

Malavika starring at Karthick told, “I know you are broken deep down the heart and might be cursing me for filing this case and not handing over Maya to you. I regret for the same. I also understand that what pain you might be undergoing after losing Priya in the fatal accident a couple of weeks back.  All your hope would have been on Maya and having her with you. Though the law doesn’t allow having a single male parent adopt a female child, I wish Maya was with you and you would have definitely been a great father to her, but for a moment, I thought that it will be a great sin to refrain that little child getting a mother’s love. I am sure that your love for Priya will never allow you to marry again. Maya will always be deprived of mother’s love. Now she fairly stand a chance of getting adopted to a mother. That’s the reason why I had to file the case. I am sincerely sorry for that and would appreciate you should you understand this!”

Karthick’s eyes were moistened. He now didn’t really feel bad about losing the case. He also strongly realized that Maya wouldn’t have been sufficient enough to fill up the void left by Priya.