"What is wrong with you? I can see you are not focusing on your studies." Ron's mother was checking his English spelling mistakes. Indeed Ron was disturbed. Particularly after hearing Jo's narrative about their relationship. He had won her friendship, but now there was a strong sense of guilt in him. Perhaps if they would have not visited the Granny, all these philosophical issues would not have emerged. 'Or I am too young for all this' he wondered. But, right now he had to face his mother, his tutor, and make her feel that everything was all right with him.
He took the test book back and started making the corrections. Concentrating on his studies freed him from the emotional trap. After checking his test book his mother looked a bit more satisfied.
"Do you want a break?" She asked him. He nodded "Yes."
Ron came out of the house. He was not sure what to do. At that moment he realized how immature he was. His only hope was Karan. Karan had solutions for everything in life, he thought.
He cycled to Karan's place and called him out from the street. After some time Karan appeared in the window. "Ron! You impatient fellow. Come in. The door is open"
Ron shouted back "No, you come out."
"Okay, wait I am coming." Karan sensed something was wrong with his younger cousin.
As, Karan came out on the street, buttoning his shirt, he started looking keenly and Ron.
"First tell me, yes or no?" he asked Ron in his coded language.
To Karan's surprise, Ron said, "Both".
"Both", what do you mean. "She said 'I love you" and then asked for a divorce! ha!"
Ron looked blankly at Karan to which he reacted, "No, you are too young to understand my mature jokes." He threw his arms around Ron's shoulders and they both walked to a low wall nearby.
As they sat on the wall, Karan asked Ron to tell him everything that had happened in the day.
Ron told him about the meeting which he had with Jo's mother. Karan asked how was her behavior towards him. Ron gave him positive feedback. "In fact, I liked her very much."
To which Karan commented, "It is not important whether you liked her, rather it is important if she liked you. Did she?"
"Yes."
"Good. next, go on"
Ron continued with the day's incidents. He told him how Granny had called out, how Jo was trying to climb the fallen tree, how she had apologized for her behavior.
Here Karan stopped Ron, "This was the moment when Jo became your real friend." Karan observed.
Ron continued with his reporting. When he mentioned Granny and her philosophies Karan started getting excited. "So, according to your Granny, all that took place, or what we did was pre-arranged by destiny. Me helping them to pull out their luggage from the train boggy, your toothache, your interest in learning the English language,..all was designed, it was scripted!! hm"
Karan went into a deep thought. "...and we thought how clever we were. No, now I think we, or rather you were being driven towards Jo, like a boat is navigated towards the harbor... "
Karan placed his hand on Ron's shoulder, "I don't know whether she is right or wrong, but you know, she has helped you!"
"How?" Ron asked seriously.
"You see, you are still a child. Both of you, I mean you and Jo. It was necessary for someone to put the spark in you two."
Ron immediately told him about the 'heart-to-heart' concept which the elderly lady had explained.
This was another shock for Karan. "You mean she said, that we too can communicate with each other, with our minds or heart, whatever you call it...!"
"Yes." Ron replied.
"Then I think this is what love is about." Karan started thinking. "And what was Jo's reaction?"
"She has started believing her." Ron told him with a serious tone.
"Then does she think that her heart can communicate with your heart." Karan asked with a smile.
"Yes, I think that is what she was trying to say... indicate." Ron was trying to find the right words.
"Great! What else do you want?" Karan exclaimed.
"You did not ask me in you cross-questioning why Jo thinks that our two hearts are communicating with each other!" Ron looked at Karan with very mature looks.
"Okay! Please tell me, sir." Karan decided to play a submissive role to secure the information.
"Your wafer package!"
"What?" Karan was not sure what Ron wanted to say.
Ron explained, "Yes, the wafer package. She thinks, that I knew that she likes to eat wafers because my heart received the message from her heart."
"So what?" Karan was trying to put two and two together.
"So What! I am feeling guilty. For I know that this is not the truth. It is a lie."
"And did you tell her the fact?" Karan came back into the questioning mode.
"Not yet." Ron looked very upset.
Karan too was silent for some time. He strolled around the small wall as Ron sat with his head bend down. He watched Ron from a distance. Karan was realizing the purity and innocence of his little cousin. He understood that this fellow was now under a storm of emotions.
As he was observing Ron, suddenly a thought struck him. That posture of Ron reminded him of something simple but valuable.
Karan walked up and stood in front of Ron. He fondly caressed his bend head and asked Ron, "When and how did you learn that she loves to eat wafers?"
Ron replied, still keeping his head down, "You know, during the film show."
"Please can you describe how you met her or saw her eating the wafers during the film show?"
Ron sat up straight. "I have already told you. You are not yet convinced.?"
"I am convinced. I want you to describe the situation again, now."
Ron began to tell Karan how he was late for the show because of his English language tuition. How he had entered the premises when the movie had commenced. How he navigated his way in the dark, stepping over the sitting audience. And finally how he found a place just beside Jo.
"That's it." Karan exclaimed. "This is exactly what the Granny was talking about. Of all the hundreds of people out there why and who gave you the place to sit beside Jo. Some unknown power had driven you towards her in that darkness. Or somewhere in your subconscious, your heart was craving for Jo and so you were pulled there.'
Ron was trying to understand what Karan was saying.
"The wafer pack was only a tool. Yes, definitely it is the power of your heart, you innocent soul. You are young but you are destined to be with her."
Ron smiled. "You mean..."
"Yes I mean you both are in love!"
***
To be continued ...