A Flute's Heart

By Manisha Kalloo

Anjalie lives a life of sadness. Her mother shows no affection toward her and her sister; her dad, however, shows compassion. All that ends when she meets a mysterious boy who plays the flute. Will her life turn around for the better or for worse?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 6, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543434651

Manisha Kalloo

Manisha Kalloo is the author of Flute’s Heart and Prism. She is broadening her imagination and continuing to splay her fantasies within characters that you’ll grow to love.

Book preview

A

FLUTE’S

Heart

MANISHA KALLOO

Copyright © 2017 by Manisha Kalloo.

Library of Congress Control Number:       2017910405

ISBN:             Hardcover                         978-1-5434-3425-5

                      Softcover                          978-1-5434-3424-8

                      eBook                               978-1-5434-3465-1

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 07/03/2017

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CONTENTS

Mitai

City of Widows

Engagement

Nivin

Garlands

Nothing

Rekindle

Sonia

Promise

Thirty Years

Ten Years Later

Twenty Years Later

Dedicated to

Indradai Ramnath

Satee Ramnath

Mala Ramnath

and

Radha and Krishna

Mitai

T HE SOUNDS OF the rickshaws, the chanting of Shree Krishna, the sizzling sounds coming from the street vendors—it was Vrindavan, the city where life was created, where an embodiment of love had lived. It was an everyday routine, but you can never get tired of it. Everywhere you would walk, a Krishna temple would appear. It exposed you to cheerful chanting, as well as men dressed as Shree Krishna and women beautifully decked out representing Krishna’s beloved Radha. I think one of the most cheerful sights is seeing children take part in it as well. They’re growing with love and unity.

Anjalie, Anjalie, Anj, come play with us. Rishi and his friends came rushing to me as soon as he saw me near the vendors, knowing I would offer him something. I would see him when I was off to do an errand. He was like a younger brother to me.

"Okay, but you’re going to get me in trouble. I need to be home soon. Bhindi’s proposal will be there in a couple hours, and I’m carrying mithais [sweets] for when they agree to the relationship." I handed him some because I hadn’t any money to buy him another. I gathered my things into my satchel. I picked up the ball and threw it in the air. I raced through the park with Rishi and his friends, forgetting to look at the time. With all the anticipation, I noticed the sun starting to set. I called quits to the game. They ran off in sight. I sat down to fetch my water and noticed the box of sweets sitting in my bag. Remembering my sister’s proposal would be there any minute, I rushed to the street to hail a rickshaw. All passing me, I got frustrated. I hailed for another, finally getting one. Anxiety started to pile up. What if I don’t get there on time? I had to get rid of negative thoughts. I had to keep thinking there was still more time. Feeling like we had been driving for hours, I finally saw home in the distance. I asked the driver to stop a block before, thinking me running would appear faster than the rickshaw. I rushed toward the house, hoping the scenario of me getting in trouble would be a faded nightmare. I began to slow down when I suddenly noticed the family getting in the car. I raced toward the car. The elder woman noticed I was frantically coming toward the car. She panicked and warned everyone around her.

Excuse me, Aunty, I’m Bhindi’s younger sister. I’m sorry I’m late. I stuttered every word; the adrenaline in my body became worse.

I had stopped to get swee—

The elder woman started to laugh, interrupting me. She called out to my family from inside the house. I stood there thinking what could go wrong now. My head was down, fearing to look back. I heard my front door open. My mother walked up behind me. I had no choice but to look at her. She gave me the stare of anger and envy.

Mrs. Singh, she’s my youngest daughter. She was the one who was bringing the sweets. Is it too late now to celebrate this proposal? My mother was talking nervously. I knew I had embarrassed them. I quickly took out the sweets from my satchel. I handed them to my mother, hoping she would feel some kind of relief.

Why are these crumbled, Anjalie? There’s only a few in here. I gave you enough money to get enough for all of us. My mother stared at me in shock, holding the leftover sweets in one hand. I was speechless. I had forgotten I had given some to Rishi and his friends. They were crumbled due to me running. I couldn’t help but cry. I was careless, and I knew this was important for my sister.

"Mrs. Sahil, it’s okay. I just find it funny that you wouldn’t be prepared for a simple thing and for sweets, ha! It’s amazing. Well, I’ll see you