Note: This is the eighth chapter of 'Memory Intrigues', a collaborative novel being etched out by a group of ten bloggers.
Join our team, the 'Dynamic Word Weavers' as we #CelebrateBlogging with BlogAdda's 'Game of Blogs'
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Designed by Ruchita |
Read the previous part of the story here
Trapped in the melancholy night, the
crickets screech with a drudgery might
Breaking past the rustling leaves, their
intermittent voice, a story they weave...
Shekhar's unsteady hand works past midnight as Tara tosses in the bed. He gazes at his wife's silhouette beneath the silken sheets...
"What had happened to them? Why had all the love drained?” he sighs. But his lack of desire and interest in his wife is the least of all his worries.
The sound of crickets brings back all the nagging memories which aren't letting him sleep, even after downing four beers. It has been two days since Jen had called. Dark tense clouds hover above his mind, every minute of every passing hour.
"What if...?"
"No! She is fine!” Shekhar taps the end of the pencil on his forehead reassuring himself to stay positive, but the feeling of unease has lately become very much a part of him.
"Damn! I hope that she is fine. Oh, please call Jen! What have you gotten yourself involved with?"
He is still clueless about the minister's scandal that Jen was referring to. He has racked his brains but is unable to single out any names, until he can get hold of more clues. And Jen's erratic calls have been of no help, neither in tracing where she is nor in finding anything about the 'sensational' story that she has gotten hold of.
"If an influential political party is involved here, Jen could be in serious trouble!!"
Shekhar starts to freak out again; gradually as his breathing evens out, his hand unconsciously starts scribbling on the notepad again. Poetry has always calmed Shekhar, secretly given him even more satisfaction than seeing his work getting published and recognized. It had been long since he had strung verses baring his soul. The monotonous circle of life had caught up with him and his ever-smiling persona had been eclipsed by Tara's increasing grumpiness.
But Jen...Dear Jenny had always brought out the best in him, and even now when God forbid, she is lost in time, it is the fear and anxiety that he feels for Jen that causes the words to pour out...
Like a lightning that ruptures a dark sky
My heart thunders and wishes it could die
A sign, a whisper is all that I desire
to soothe my burning mind, set on fire
Suddenly, weighed down by the colossal thought of 'what could have been' between Jen and him, drowsiness takes over. Shekhar drops his head on his writing desk and gives a drunken snore.
***
"What in the world!!! Have you been up all night and messing up my house?" Shekhar gets up with a jolt as Tara's shrill voice pierces his ears.
"Our house!", Shekhar corrects nonchalantly and grabs his throbbing head.
"Please do calm down Tara, you'll bring the house down with that voice! Please, for Roohi’s sake!"
Shekhar doesn’t notice that Roohi has tip-toed into their room and has already been dragged into the couple's fight.
Tara menacingly glances at the strewn sheets of paper on her husband's desk. The written words, which clearly are not meant for her, along with the empty bottles reveal last night's truth, making her quiver with anger.
"Quite a concerned father you have become overnight? Roohi, can you ask your father where this love was yesterday, when we needed him the most? When you deserved a hug after your bad grades and me some affection after my pathetic day at work?"
Without a word, Roohi runs out of their room, banging the door behind her, leaving both her parents shocked. The agitated steps of Roohi running away from them can be heard above the sniffling crocodile tears being shed by Tara.
"Can we behave in a civil manner Tara? Please get me an aspirin while I go talk to Roohi", Shekhar musters an apologetic half smile as he clasps Tara's hand.
He is disturbed by Roohi's behaviour. The naughty, chubby-cheeked little girl has turned very withdrawn over the past few weeks. He fondly remembers the cute pranks she used to play on them and her gleeful laughter. She has now been robbed of that laughter, sadly by her own parents. Shekhar feels a huge pang of guilt and gulps down his dismay as he walks towards Roohi's room…
***
Me and my team are participating in ‘Game Of Blogs’ at BlogAdda.com. #CelebrateBlogging with us
Nicely Written Aditi!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Ruchita!
DeleteExcellently woven tale - just like a word weaver! Excited to see how this is going to continue :)
ReplyDeleteDestination Infinity
Thanks Rajesh! Excited to be a part of team #DynamicWordWeavers :)
DeleteWhat a vivid description! Well-written Aditi.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kiran!
DeleteJolly good job Aditi!
ReplyDeleteThank you! :)
DeleteThis has your touch all over it. I have not read the rest of the story but this is a great write! Will read the rest soon.
ReplyDeleteThank you Shailaja! I think this is a plus as well as a challenge when working on a collaborative project like this- not to loose your style but at the same time all the different chapters should have a certain synergy to make a novel out of it!
DeleteToo woot! To the next part! Great plot outline!
ReplyDeleteThank you Michelle! :)
DeleteYou're so good at this, Aditi! Good luck to the Dynamic Word Weavers!
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot Corinne! :)
DeleteNicely done!
ReplyDeleteThank you Laurel! :)
DeleteThis is great you know...Come up with the next part soon..And oh yes All the best!
ReplyDeleteThanks Naba! Chap 9 link is at the bottom of this post, being written by another blogger of team #DynamicWordWeavers. Do read!
DeleteHey Aditi, I too wrote part 8 for my team's story :) Liked your chapter a lot, best of luck.
ReplyDeleteGreat! :) All the best to your team as well! :)
DeleteLiked your post better than others. Nicely written, witty words, awesome poetry.
ReplyDeleteBeing one of the contestants, you are a tough competition.
May the best team wins!
Radhika, that really is a compliment! Thanks a lot!
Deletepoetry is good but otherwise this chapter doesnt do much to continuity of story
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feedback Vishnu. Will look into it!
DeleteShekhar as a poet is awesome
ReplyDeleteThanks Shobha :)
DeleteVery Well written Aditi, A G+ For your post and Have a Nice Day... :)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ourjaipur.com/
Thank you! :)
DeleteStagnancy in the story flow seems to be chipping in with some form of repetition albeit the literature angle continues to maintain its brilliance. The suspense over Jennifer-Shekar relationship avoidably is slipping into a dragging slot. Pace of the story line is definitely on a slow down mode. Something needs to be done to tone up and bring in fresh angles different to the one that is offered.
ReplyDeleteSridhar hope you like the next part!
DeleteNice to know that both Sekar n Tara are worried about Roohi- the bond in their relationships. The inter weaving of the words rightly tell us about how the marriage have soured up but still they are living under one roof. As far as the story part it has not moved rapidly. The action is slow and the pace has to be speed up
ReplyDeleteThank you Nitya! The pace will surely catch up in the second part! We have something enthralling for you readers!
Delete