Rdirected To New Residence

By Kanchanamala

This is a dejavu! A dream come true moment. After all, how long have I yearned to reside in this

house? Haven’t I? I can say that ever since I married Revant, my option was to renovate this

mansion. I just can’t wait to see Revant. He said he would be there. He said he’d take care of

things. It’s too much to ask from him. Gathering all the things could be laborious. I should have

been patient enough to come along with him.

Well, having landed here, let me explore my house. This is a legacy handed down to me by my

grandparents. I just want to be here forever. Once upon a time, it used to be surrounded by a lush

green garden. It is still sturdy and stately. But the garden is in a state of neglect. Overgrown grass

and parched trees. We need to spruce it up. I find the interior has remained in tact. Plaster on the

wall looks new. The curtains have faded. Oh, those canopy of cobwebs!! Revant, we have lots and

lots to do. On the balcony, “ah, my favourite swing chair,” I used to swing while reading, learning,

and listening to music.

I caught sight of a man next door. One human is over there. The man in the blue kurta. That must

be our neighbour. He doesn’t seem familiar. Is he an albino? It looks too pale all over. I can also

wave to him. Revant will be glad that I have already started socializing. I am waving my hand. He

is looking elsewhere. He is just walking up and down. Overlooking the compound wall, I paused

to seek his attention. A dreadful shock welcomed me. The man in the blue kurta was not full.

Below his kurta, I could see the floor and stones where his legs should have been. Besides, when

he smiled, he revealed a socket in the mouth bereft of dentition. I screamed. I yelled. I bellowed.

In vain. I could not hear my voice.

“Revant.. Revant”, I was just chanting his name off and on. Oh, he is yet to come. By the gate, I saw

the good old milkman. He has aged a lot. Walking with a limp, he stopped by the gate. His gaze

peered through me. He did not recognize me at all. However, I was happy that at least one

familiar person dwelled there. Now my curiosity about surveying the house has drained. I

thought of relaxing a little. But a sort of restive mood dissuaded even that. I tried to push the

door open. I couldn’t. After meeting the blue kurta monster, I feel pale and feeble. My hands were

powerless. I just reached the gate to see some vans and cars approaching. I heaved a sigh of

relief. Revant must be here. But why have these people joined him? Pramod Uncle, Yasoda Aunty,

Granny, Manju, my sister-in-law. Revant has invited them all, I guess.

Everyone started entering. They walk past me. ”What is happening here? Not one to look at me.

Like the old milkman, they are peering through me. It is ridiculous!. I am walking with them.

Even Revant is just ignoring me and my presence. He is busy talking to someone. Yeah, I could

have called him. But how? I landed here without my mobile or my bag. Enough is enough. I feel

like shaking up Revant. I brushed his shoulders. He turns to look at me. No, he is listening to his

aunt’s instructions. Why Revant? Look here. Stop everything. Just look at me.

Meanwhile, they cleared the place, lining up by the walls. Two men were fetching a box. Is it a

mortuary carrier? I got a clearer view of the one in the box. “It was me!." I am looking at my own

self embalmed and lifeless . I looked at Revant. The blood stains and his frustrated look. It

dawned upon me like a flash. There I lay in a pool of blood. Revant assured me, “Anju, I’m there."

Since I was fond of this place, I am here. I cannot call out to Revant. I do, but I am not heard. I

wish I could stroke his hair and wipe his tears. I cannot hold. Literally eliminated without the

elements in me. That was a night of wake. Revant’s eyes were swollen and looked so broken. He

was looking at my bandage-wrapped body. When I looked at the people seated there, some were

chatting, and some were weeping. Some started sleeping. Revant sat on the veranda. He was in

such pain.

I realized how I landed up here. I have not tracked day or night since I slipped out of my form.

Revant, you were frantically crying out. From the road, in no time, like the wind, I blew into this

place. I neither had keys nor did I open the doors. I was drifting around all corners. I never felt

hungry or thirsty. As I contemplated, I enjoyed an aerial view. I found myself on a tree. From

where I was clinging, I could see two more on a tree outside the house. They were grinning at me.

They recognize me. So do I. I’m able to see all those strange beings. However, the living are

unaware that I am still present.

As soon as the priest arrived, he started the rituals. A lot of fumes rose up like clouds. They

started enveloping me. They take me away somewhere. I can't get into Anju there. I can't be

Revant's counterpart anymore. The Legacy House is full of those vapours. I can't stay here. I

cannot go back to my house in the city. I have nowhere to go. Can I be with you, Revant? No!. The

funeral has started. I watch them. I can't get in. The rituals request that I leave. But I am

redirected like an unclaimed parcel. My capsule, where I was resident, has been reduced to

ashes. Revant is sobbing and writhing in pain. People do commiserate and express their

condolences. Revant stood there motionless.

Back again at the house, all those who paid homage took leave. Granny was wailing miserably.

Aunty coaxed her. All left one by one. Revant said he wished to stay there and work from home

for some days. Aunty and Pramod uncle tried their best to convince him that he must not stay in

utter loneliness. Revant was staring into the vacant space and nodding bye. After seeing them off,

Revant went upstairs and stood in the balcony. Leaning on the rails, his mind delved in

reminiscing over the early days of their marital life. It just ached. He could not help but cry. Tears

rolled down his cheeks. How could he have noticed the swaying of the swing chair?

By Kanchanamala