Fitoor

I don't know why I am doing this to you guys, but... I think I am also a vindictive girl. This book will be out somewhere in the middle of August but I have it written halfway and I am dying to share the sneak peek with you all. Please note that from now on the blogs will be exciting and contain the sneak peeks or promotion advertisements or giveaway alerts rather than sorry notes. The book as the title of the blog suggests would be named 'FITOOR' and I really hope you get what it is gonna be like. A tale of rejection to admission, to adoption, and finally to obsession. Love will find a way in the middle of those, I believe. Therefore, the excerpt. 

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“Do duni chaar, do tinya che, do chauko aath.” He sang along with the kids in the verandah, his specs were resting freely upon his nose and the afternoon breeze played with his hair as he sauntered back and forth. (Two ones are two, two twos are four, two threes are six.)    

“Teen ekkum teen, teen duni chey, teen….” He continued, unaware of the appreciative glance I was savoring upon him from afar. I watched as he squatted down next to a gaunt kid, helping the kid to memorize the tables. I was so engrossed in admiring him that I missed the presence behind me until my name was called. “Maithili!”

Turning abruptly and smiling weakly at the warden, I straightened myself but couldn't help glancing back at him. He had moved over to the other kid now. I gently smiled and looked at the warden again, “Mrs. Gupta! Do you need something?”

She shook her head and forwarded a cup of hot cocoa to me. I gratefully accepted the drink and nodded my thanks. I veered to watch him again, standing on the dusty patio and noticing how clean and perfect he looked in every sense. He was perfectly dressed like always; his cotton shirt was tucked in brown pants, the top button of his shirt was left open and sleeves were folded to his elbows. His hair was properly combed with a side parting. He looked familiar yet so completely distant that it chilled my bones.  

He said something and the kids chuckled along with him. I felt their smile crawling on my lips too. I heaved a contented sigh, sipping the lukewarm beverage. He had begun to chant the tables and the kids were repeating him in sync. I never knew someone could enjoy learning so much. Their vibes were infectious. 

“How long will you stare at him like that, Maithili?” Mrs. Gupta’s voice floated over me and settled down in my senses after a while. I slanted her a quizzical glance, hating the sympathy in her eyes for me. “Why are you hurting yourself? Go back and start a new life. For seven years, I have seen him detached from people. You are just wasting your time on him, dear. He is insensitive.”

“He was the sensible one in both of us once upon a time.” I pointed out, turning to venerate his smile again. “Mom told me that he would be the shore to my untamed waves, and I was so eager to prove her wrong that I forgot the waves have no home away from the shore.” I smiled sadly, looking at the empty cup in my hands. “If I leave now, I will be leaving my life here with him. So what’s the point of going back?”

“I hope he will understand one day. Have faith in God!” She grazed a soliciting palm on my shoulder and I found my eyes traveling back to the man they were never tired of watching. “He is my God. He is my prayer. He is the only thing I believe in. He is my whole universe, and if I fail to win him again, he will be hell too. I will only leave this place either with him or without me.”

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Let me know what do you think about it, and CAGED is gonna be live any minute now. Hold you breath! 

Love, 

Shruti. XOXO