Fragrance - The invisible connect

Tring Tring. Tring Tring.

A slim, tall girl, all of 24 years, trudged her way from the bed to her phone on the other side of her hostel room. The typical room with a single cot of bed, a tiny study table stacked with books of sizes that even a giant can’t get a proper grip off and a pile of clothes lying haywire had been her home past 2 months.

“Hello!” Her voice was meek and tired. “Yes Rashmi. I’m better now. It’s just a bit of dehydration. I will be back to hospital tomorrow."

“I really hope, I didn’t miss anything big in the anatomy class today”, she exclaimed.

There was a pause in the conversation as her friend animatedly mentioned about the day’s proceeding at their House surgeon course. As Rashmi, enquired further, the girl was long lost looking at the bright blue skies and the blazing sun beneath the window. With sudden reverie she was back to the conversation. “Oh Yes! I will remember to drink water. Thank you, Rashmi. See you tomorrow."

*Sara.

As the name beholds, she was a princess of her world. A girl of confidence and a charm of her class. She had the aura that one could envy upon, yet she was the dearest of all. She was brilliant with her studies as much as creative. Her ever caring and helping nature was how she was known around. She was a bundle of joy and found happiness in the most smallest of things.

Her beauty was eternal and her cheeks was always found lifted up touching the eyes. That enchanting smile, forever skipped a beat of the seen.

Growing up from a modest village in the northwest of the country where monsoon was over 8 months of the year, she knew the struggles of managing the living. The effects that the rain and resultant floods had on their livelihood. She knew the worth of living the next moment, let alone living the next day.

The past one year has been strenuous. Moving from one camp to another. The numerous camps in the north of Banaras, Himagiri, Derangi with different cultures and different tropical climates was an experience in itself. Every day was challenging & stressful. Facing the unknown became her second nature and even being far from home she was relentless and never brooded or shed tears over anything.

But, it all looked like a mirage of the past.

The ever glowing Sara, was gloomy. She seemed lost and grim. Her cheeks now bent to touch her chin only. No one could understand what had come upon Sara nor could she figure it out. Ever since she reached Kalanki, the village close to the arid desert on the eastern side of the country, all she felt was an emptiness within her. A lull lifelessness. *

Osha shaaa… Olaa laaaaaaa…  Deep music rings as the alarm goes off in the present.

Sara rose up from her bed again, glancing at the clock and chanced a look at skies through the window. It was getting dark. She was determined to think deep and identify the reason for her dullness, for she; wasn’t who she used to be.

She sat next to the window and sighed heavily.

A sudden gentle breeze caressed and her face lit up like the moon illuminating the night sky. The tiredness seemed to wear out. She leaped out of her chair with excitement of a kid seeing a candy and jumped towards the door.

She ran faster than ever. Thug! thug!. Thug! Thug!. Her heart bet multiple times than usual. She toppled her way down the stairs. She missed the sight of passer-by. She looked like a tigress chasing a stag. A complete focus towards the front door.

She stopped as she reached the ground.

Took a deep breath.

She felt it. Her nostrils widened and she wanted more.

Inhaling more avidly, she could sense it more now. Pleasantly lost in the invisible fragrance that entered her nostrils, that passed through her trachea and that filled her lungs.

She could feel like her complete self once again.

She felt life.

Looking up at the skies, she slowly closed her eyes and felt the tiny droplets emerging from the immeasurable space above drop on her face and on the ground.

She found her source of strength. The fragrance of the rain kissed land was her energy. The fragrance that she was used to for 24 years of her life. The fragrance that kept her on her toes. The fragrance that reminded her of the existence. It was her source of inspiration, determination and perseverance.

Her eyes turned moist and she let out a loud cry of joy. Salty tears mixed with the clean rain drops. She smiled and breathed.

Mann Vasanai! – The fragrance of the land.

Divya Venkatesan.