Part IV
HE went to a quiet little bar in a village on the East Coast and sat down to drink a beer, then another, pained at the stones life was throwing at him.

“What is my wrong in all of this?” he questioned in silent agony, “If only you hadn’t died Sandhya.”

A man’s deep emotion does not always show with tears, but he cries inside.

He had been carrying a burden of guilt for her death because her family felt the accident wouldn’t have happened if he hadn’t been late that day to pick her up from work.

“How can one predict what happens in a person’s life, today or tomorrow?” he questioned.

Life for him had become dull and meaningless; all he could have done was push himself to work to relieve the pain. Aryan missed her so much. He had lost the joys of his little life until Marissa came into their lives. Somehow the bright colours of life came back slowly, the warmth, the smiles, the gentle voice, all that was Sandhya.

Life had given back something beautiful that had been taken away, but now, both families were adamant that no one different could take her place.

“What do I do?”
He finished the second beer and was about to order another when he felt a light touch on his shoulder. He turned around, but no one was there. A puzzled look crossed his face and he sighed, taking out his wallet to pay for the beers.

Marissa’s card was in his wallet, and as he looked at it, he heard or thought he heard a soft whisper, “Go see her now.”

Aditya looked up but no one was close to his table and he sighed again, deeply, “Guess I’m starting to lose my mind.”

Yet as he started his vehicle to drive home, he still seemed to hear that soft whisper.

“Is an unknown entity trying to tell me something?” he wondered.

He went to see Marissa, not sure what he was going to tell her. She was surprised to see him and asked, seeing the worried look on his face, “Is everything okay?”
“Not quite.”

Looking at her, he knew in his heart he wouldn’t stop seeing her, but he wanted her to know of the problem between him and the two families. Though it would hurt, the truth was important for her to know. After a long moment, she said in a calm voice, “I understand. These things happen.”

He looked at her, somewhat surprised, “You’re not upset?”

“It hurts me,” she admitted, “But being upset won’t change anything. When I look in the mirror, I love what I see, I love who I am and I won’t cry tears because some people see me differently.”

Those words, though spoken calmly, had deep passion in them and it left an impact on his mind. It was at that moment he knew he had to draw a new plan to build an independent life. He took her hand in his and said, “I don’t want to promise you anything at this time until my new plan is underway. There would be challenges but I would like you to stand by my side, if you can.”

She put her hand over his and said, in support, “I would be happy to.”

He kissed her lightly, “Good night and thank you.”

She did not see him often anymore, but he spoke to her almost every day to keep in touch. Some things had to be changed in a relationship that had begun to bloom and though Marissa tried not to worry, it showed on her face sometimes. One more as she sat at her desk, lost in thought for a moment, a little voice called her, “Miss.”
It was Aryan.

“Yes, Aryan?”

“Why are you looking so sad?”

“Oh,” she pulled herself together and forced a smile, “I am not sad, just thinking about something.”

“My dad is sad too.”

Those words sent her a feeling of euphoria, and she assured the child, “He’ll be fine.”

He raised his little hands to hug her in childish comfort.

Shivanie and Cindy stopped by her class the same time, one asking, “What are you getting a hug for?”

“Not to be sad.”

“He’s so sweet!” they expressed in unison.

“And how are you doing?” Cindy asked an edge of concern in her voice.

“I’m doing fine,” Marissa assured her friends, “Just sometimes the worry shades that.”

“Knowing the kind of person you are,” Shivanie stated, “You will be able to hold your own in the face of any challenges.”

“Thank you, guys,” Marissa said, “You’re such good friends.”

“Any time,” they said as they left for their classrooms.

Aditya came to school on Friday to see her, looking quite tired.

“Wow,” she exclaimed, “the hard work continues.”

“Yep, but I’ve decided to take the weekend off and I wondered if you’re free.”

“Hmm, I guess I can be.”

He took her to dinner on Saturday night, and on Sunday, they went for a drive with Aryan across the Demerara River to the West Coast. It was a wonderful day spent together; no one was happier than Aryan.

Aditya left the following week for the mining site as he continued to push to close operations there and focus on contracting works closer to home. He messaged her a few days later to say all’s gone well and he might spend more than a week. But late on Saturday night, he called her, desperation in his voice.

“Marissa, Aryan is missing.”

“What?!” she jolted up, wide awake, “What are you saying?”

“My parents went out to an event, leaving my two nieces with him, but they were watching TV and didn’t notice when he went outside.”

“How long ago was that?”

“About an hour, everyone is out searching in the community. Can you please go as well? I’m travelling out now.”

“Okay, I’m going now.”

To be continued…