Getaway

       




        The Cathedral looked beautiful than ever, all decked up for Christmas ready for the much awaited midnight Holy Mass. It looked like a fairy-tale castle on a hill top. It had snowed quite a bit for the past few days and the quaint hill town of Blaegovard seemed to be enveloped by a white blanket. The cold could not keep people camped inside their homes. There was a lot of hustle and bustle on the streets even in the bone-chilling weather. Everyone’s face had a glow accentuated by warm smiles shared by the locals with each other as well as the outsiders or the visitors who were there just to experience the winter in the small, picturesque hilly town. People flocked the groceries to buy stuff for special preparations. Few of them were busy bargaining the price of the decorative items. Even though most of them would have had their house decorated by now there was always room for improvement. It was a cloudy 24^th of December in Blaegovard, but the spirit of the locals were upbeat ready to celebrate the birth of the Savior.

      Martin had come back after a long time to his hometown. Even though a local he felt like an outsider now. It had been a long five years, and he was finally back home. He knew it then, he had to return no matter what. Martin had thought it would be fine, but it had not been so. He was putting up at his friend’s place temporarily. The festive atmosphere outside could not douse the inner turmoil which he was undergoing. Martin sat on the top of a ridge, a place which he knew from his very childhood days. He was deep into his thoughts, inside a dense forest where he kept moving without any sense of direction. He felt he knew the way out but every time he advanced, he was repelled by the mighty forest. He kept trying relentlessly to somehow break free of this jungle, but he just could not figure his way out. He had grown tired, tired of fighting the endless green around him. He needed rest to regain his composure. He sat down for a while, panting heavily. His knees throbbed, unable to carry his weight anymore. Martin tried to pick himself up but fell down. His brow was sweating, as if effusing frustration from within. He cried out loud” Why don’t you let me go? Why are you keeping me like this?”He started to sob. There was no response from the unmoved trees. They stood tall turning a deaf ear to Martin’s cries. The forest just echoed back his screams. Martin broke into tears unable to control his sobs. A light breeze blew across his face caressing his wet cheeks.”You have to let it go”, Martin suddenly heard a voice from nowhere. He looked around to see if anyone was there but it was absolutely quiet for a minute with no one around. Once again the voice echoed”Let it go and you will be free”.

        Martin felt a tap on his back. He turned and saw his friend Xavier standing beside him.”Let’s go back, it’s getting dark”. Martin was almost motionless. Xavier shrugged him a bit and motionless Martin suddenly came back to life.”Oh sorry!I was lost in my thoughts”, he apologized to Xavier. He smiled and they both walked towards Xavier’s home. “Is everything fine?” Xavier spoke with concern placing his hand on Martin’s shoulders .”It should be, well did you tell her?”Martin questioned with a pensive look. Xavier confirmed with a nod. Just an hour was left for the midnight mass. Martin was all dressed up, looking smart. He waited for Xavier patiently enough. With half an hour left the two friends headed towards the cathedral. The people on the streets brimmed with enthusiasm. Martin did not share the same. He was still thinking what that strange, unknown voice meant. Xavier asked him to lighten up and enjoy the occasion. The view from the winding road to the cathedral was simply breathtaking. Blaegovard looked like a bride waiting for her bridegroom. The snow formed the marriage gown for a very pretty looking Blaegovard. The outsiders, the tourists were simply awestruck by the panoramic wonder. 

      The Mass had begun, the cathedral was completely packed. People gathered outside the door even in the harsh climate. Martin was inside, his eyes fixed on the cross trying to plead with the Savior for setting him free. He had not been able to live with it. Five years back, It had been an acrimonious exit from his home. He had gone against his dad’s wishes for choosing a career of his choice. Although success had followed him fairly the confrontation had left a scar on his relationship with dad. He had not spoken to him for long time and he could not remain angry with him for any longer. He had finally come back just to set things right with his dad and get back the lost love in his family. He had always known that dad loved him and in subconscious ways he had always been his inspiration. That one certain day, just an impulsive reaction took him away from his family. Martin always regretted it and he could only get back things to normal. The priest requested everyone to join him in the prayer that the Father has taught them.

”Our father in heaven…….

Forgive our sins as we forgive those who sin against us,

……….Amen”.

         The words “Forgive those who sin against us” ran through Martin’s head in the same voice which he had heard in the forest. He recognized the voice now and he knew the time had come to meet his family. He understood now what the mystic voice meant in the forest. Martin had found a way out of the mire he was stuck in .The Mass was over and everyone greeted each other. Xavier whispered in his ears,”They are outside; I have asked them to wait.” Martin walked out towards them. His dad stood there with his mother not knowing what to expect. Martin had asked Xavier to inform his mother that he was in town so she knew he would be there. He went in front of them and stood there facing them. Martin’s dad could not believe his eyes.He had been an upright man all his life.Traditional and stern at times,but he had always wanted the best for his son and family.Martin's decision to pursue an unconventional career had not gone down well with  him.He was worried whether Martin would be able to make it big in his career.He told his son he could do whatever he likes in a not so understanding way.Martin left home seeing his dad's reaction.His father had never stopped loving him though.He just looked at his son and hugged him. The tears flew from his eyes instantly. Martin was so moved by this.”I am sorry dad”, his voice breaking in sobs.”I love you dad”, he continued with lot of emotion hugging his dad harder. His dad was filled with unbound joy at the return of his son.”I’m proud of you Martin and I'm sorry too”, his dad uttered with utmost pride in his son."I should have understood you,I love you son and I have always done".The lost love had returned.The family shared Christmas greetings with one another and went about greeting the people around. After having met a lot of known and unknown faces they headed towards the altar for thanking the savior.

        Martin felt so light inside him. He was out of the forest, out of the mire. There was happiness within him and all around him. Martin’s faith had grown and he realized it would not have been possible without the Savior. He looked at the cross and thanked him by bowing his head. The choir sang a lovely song,

“Silent night, Holy night….All is calm, all is bright

………..Sleep in Heavenly peace…..”

The snow started to fall once again in Blaegovard as the Christmas celebrations began.   

  

           I was finding it difficult to sleep.The lines ran through my head, and I kept uttering them even in sleep. I never had sleepless nights before my exams but this was different. It was special .Well; those lines were the dialogues I had to deliver to her tomorrow. I twisted and turned desperately trying to get sleep but even the unconscious part of my brain had those lines doing the rounds .”Happy Valentine’s Day!All the best for your exams and may you pass with flying colors”. Those words were suggested to me by my elder cousin bro who was supposed to be more experienced than me in those matters. I had to deliver them with perfection the next auspicious day. I closed my eyes once again trying to calm myself and this time I succeeded. When my eyes opened I could see the eastern sun struck by a cupid too. Wow!What a day it will be, I told myself.

         I got ready for school trying to look a little bit more handsome today. I wished mom good bye and set off on my bicycle. I did not take the usual route though. I went to a friend’s place to get a very important stuff; hmm…it was a kind of necessity. Without it the situation would lose the punch. I reached his house and he was already there awaiting me. He gave me two roses; a red and a yellow one wrapped in a newspaper piece and wished me luck. I smiled and took off towards school with a different air around me. The roses were kept safe in the side space of my school-bag. Whole day I waited for the classes to get over. Usually everyone’s eager for the end of the classes and that day I was at my restless best always stealing a glance at my wrist-watch on every opportunity waiting for the evening.

       The classes came to an end with anxiety rushing through my veins, my mind trying to imagine the situation when I would look into her eyes and deliver the advised punch lines. I rushed to my friend’s place which lay just opposite to my KG school. She was there in her school uniform, a knee-length skirt, a white shirt for a top with the tie on. The chill of February evenings made sure that she wore a cardigan over her shirt. Her round eyes tried to avoid mine as I entered my friend’s house. She blushed away in anticipation and I too walked past her not sure what my next move would be. I tried hard  to organize my thoughts which all of a sudden had gone into panic state. She started walking away towards her house.

       I stared down urging myself to speak out and ask her to stop but nothing came out and I kept quiet. She had reached the junction which lead towards the parish church. I just took out the roses, and ran. I reached her real quick and called out her name. She stopped and turned back, our eyes locking for the first time. We stood there in the middle of the highway. Anybody could have witnessed us with the roses but we were at our nonchalant best then. I observed her curly hair waving across her forehead, her round lips breaking into a slight smile.”Happy Valentine’s Day”, I blurted out having no idea where that suddenly came from. She wished me back with a handshake which made us both go into a tizzy. I tremblingly handed her the roses.”The yellow one for friendship and the red one for love and care”, another poor choice of words I thought trying my best to sound as casual as I can be. My face gave it away though, with all the nervousness and anxiety which had accumulated over the previous night.

    

       She accepted   the flowers of love and friendship and this was the first time we talked with each other since our friends had started teasing both of us. I thanked her for the gift she had delivered to me the previous day through a common friend. “My friends told me to do so”, she uttered softly in her child-like voice with a lot of innocence.”That’s fine”, I answered trying to find a clue in her face which said the gift idea was hers’ and her friends just encouraged her to implement it. I didn’t find it but still I seemed happy to receive a valentine day gift from a very sweet and cute girl.”All the best for your exams and hope you pass out with flying colors”, I delivered the punch lines with not the best of emotions but at least with a sincere heart. She wished me the same and waved her hands,as she walked towards her home.

  

      I could not control my feelings, and just could not believe what had just happened. I sprinted towards my bicycle with a feeling which I had never had before .My heart felt light, and it had never been so happy and mad at the same time. I had a wide grin on my face and I could have ran till my home. I rode my bicycle, the freshness of the evening breeze spreading its chill over my face. I reached home still not able to absorb my first valentine day adventure. Whatever be, the moment had entered itself into the most of the most memorable events of my life and I’m sure hers too. I was sitting on the terrace when my bro suddenly tapped on my back.”How did it go?”He asked. ”Good”, I replied with a smile, my cracked lips hurting a bit.”Did you kiss her?”He spoke jokingly as my lips bled slightly because of the dry February air. I nodded and smiled back wiping the blood away with my forefinger.