The Other Side of The Mountain

By Sivasankari

Twenty three year old Chitra and Gopi’s married life is short lived as Gopi dies seven months after their marriage. The story talks about her struggles, her emotions, and her fight in moving ahead in life and crossing over to the other side of the mountain... towards hope and happiness...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pustaka Digital Media
• Release date: Jul 4, 2022
• ISBN: 6580501808630

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The Other Side of The Mountain

Author :

Sivasankari

Translated by:

Subha Pande

For more books

https://www.pustaka.co.in/home/author/sivasankari-novels

Digital/Electronic Copyright © by Pustaka Digital Media Pvt. Ltd.

All other copyright © by Author.

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Table of contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

1

There was still a lot of time left for sunrise.

When she turned her head and looked out of the window, the crescent moon shone brilliantly in the western sky.

The call of a lone rooster could be heard over the whirr of an auto rickshaw passing by.

As she took a deep breath, the sweet fragrance of the night jasmine blooms felt soothing and heavenly.

The blinking red lights of a low-flying airplane streaked across the horizon and disappeared in a flash.

As she sat blissfully soaking in the peace of the early morning darkness, her heart filled with happiness. She smiled with content.

Why are you smiling at this early hour?

She turned around.

In the soft blue light of the night lamp, she could see that Gopi was awake.

You have hawk-eyes! How did you notice my smile? Are you too not able to sleep?

Of course, not! I was sleeping all this while! What about you? What are you smiling at, sitting in the darkness?

Chitra chuckled and lay resting her head on her husband’s shoulder. She looked up at his face and said softly, I couldn’t sleep…

Why?

I am feeling very restless…

Gopi smiled understandingly and pulled her close.

Aren’t you feeling happy? She asked.

Of course, I am.

Then, how can you sleep so soundly?

Soundly? No! Why do you think I woke up? Tell me one thing Chitra… is sitting wide awake in the middle of the night and smiling to oneself a sign of happiness? He asked teasingly.

Chitra buried her head into his chest and butted him with her forehead. Hey… Chitra… don’t tickle me… no… why don’t you go back to smiling and looking out of the window? That would be better than this torture!

Gopi said laughing aloud, tightening his grip around her. She too laughed heartily.

You know what the time is? Three O’clock!

Chitra turned over and lay supporting her face in her palms. She then spoke with ardour.

You know I have been ecstatic from the moment you told me last evening that the chairman had called you and told you that the board of directors have decided to appoint you as a director from the first of next month; I am literally floating in air with happiness. I feel like running to my parents place and telling them on their face, you thought a hundred times and gave all kinds of excuses to agree to get us married…ten years age difference… different caste… their family is not that well to do… and so on. You tried your best to separate us! But see for yourself… within seven months of our wedding, my Gopi has become a director in his company! We will have a car at our doorstep, earn a handsome salary and have all the possible comforts! What do you have to say now? I want to ask them with my head held high, with all the pride! Unfortunately, it was late and I couldn’t go. Once you leave for office that will be the first thing I am going to do in the morning!

Gopi found her determined and impassioned words amusing. He bent forward and kissed her on her forehead lovingly.

In this diffused light from the night lamp, you don’t look like the twenty-two-year-old, mature and intelligent girl that you are, but like a small child hidden in your five-and-a-half-foot frame! I really feel like just hugging you and cuddling you!

As Gopi sat up talking and tried to hug her, she rolled away from him laughing.

What did you just say? My behaviour is childish, is it? This is uncalled for! Remember what you used to tell me before we got married? You used to say, ‘Oh Chitra, you think and speak so maturely…I had no intentions of getting married, but it is your intelligence and maturity that made me changed my mind…’ Now don’t deny that you said those things! Your older sister, my professor, is a witness… Ask her if you have the guts! She will prove me right! Let’s go and ask her now… we can also tell her about your promo… Gopi did not allow her to finish. He pounced on her and hugged her violently…

Aah… I am not able to breathe… she shouted…

Cool down, why are you shouting so loudly? The neighbours will think I am torturing you… Gopi pleaded.

Both of them burst out laughing.

Really, do I behave childishly Gopi?

Yes of course… sometimes you speak super intelligently with gravitas and deep psychological insight, but at times you are like a little girl, chirping and thinking like a teenager. Just like you did now! But I must say this combination is what sets you apart from others. You are a bundle of contradictions and I love these contradictions in you!

What started as fun, ended with Gopi’s intense words? Chitra looked at him not knowing how to respond. She laid her head on his arms, put her arm across his chest, crossed her legs with his and hugged him tight.

Gopi lay passing his fingers through her hair.

You said you were planning to go and speak to your parents; I hope you said that in jest.

No, no, I meant it! What is wrong with that?

It is not right Chitra.

What is not right Gopi?

They must have spoken those things under some frustration at that time. Why should we create a big issue about it? Don’t they behave nicely with us now? Isn’t it better to try to mend fences than to hold on to the bitterness of the past? Also, the chairman has talked about it only this morning… It is better to wait for the official letter to come before we tell this to anybody. Don’t you agree?

Chitra sat up, cupped Gopi’s face in her palms and kissed him gently on his eyes.

You know what I like the most about you? This patience and calm! I love the way you speak so clearly and make me understand things patiently. When I analyse myself at times, I am like a wild river. I always worry that I might do something on an impulse without thinking properly… but ever since I have been with you; my worry has been decreasing gradually! You are like the bank of a river for me…I am sure your maturity will make me patient as well…

Gopi held her by the shoulders, pulled her close and kissed her passionately.

They lay with each other for some time and Chitra asked,

Are you feeling sleepy Gopi?

You woke me up from my sleep and have been chatting for the past half an hour. Is it fair for you to ask me that question so innocently Chitra?

Did Me… Did I wake you up? I was just lying quietly watching the moon… it was you who…

Ok, ok…I agree, I was the one who pulled you into a conversation… now tell me why you asked me if I was sleepy. What do you plan to do?

He asked with his eyes glistening with mischief. Chitra laughed and said,

I didn’t plan to do anything… just wanted to talk to you about something…

What else do you think you have been doing for so long? Gopi said chuckling.

He bent forward and took her hands in his.

Please, I am serious. Can I talk to you? said Chitra.

OK, I am all ears...! But can we speak with a hot cup of Horlicks, as usual?

In the past seven months that they had been married, they would wake up at the middle of the night quite often and sit chatting over a hot cup of Horlicks…

Chitra and Gopi went to the kitchen she lit the gas stove, boiled some water and poured it into two cups. As she added a spoonful of Horlicks to each cup, Gopi put his hands around her waist, bit her ears naughtily and traced the words ‘I love you’ on the nape of her neck with his index finger. Chitra wiggled her way out of his clasp. They went to the small table on one side of the kitchen with the cups and some biscuits. They pulled two chairs close and sat down.

Tell me.

Chitra spoke with her mouth stuffed with biscuit.

Gopi couldn’t understand a word of what she said. He asked her quizzically, What language are you speaking?

Chitra gulped down the biscuit she was chewing and took a sip of the Horlicks. She then repeated what she had said earlier, What you told me at night is true, isn’t it?

Oh! God! Is that what you asked! I thought you were abusing me in some foreign language! Gopi said teasingly.

Come on, be serious Gopi. Please answer my question.

What did I tell you? Please remind me.

Once you become a director from the first of next month, the company will give you a house and a car… Is that true?

Yes… yes… nothing but the truth!

What do you mean by company house?

Our company has taken a few luxurious bungalows on lease for the directors... We will get one of them.

We had never dreamt of getting the directorship Gopi! How come all this happened so suddenly? I am not able to believe it even now!

Gopi said kissing her palm,

I hadn’t told you, but I had been expecting a promotion. The chairman has been assigning a lot of important tasks to me directly; he has been consulting me personally on policy issues for the past one year. However, honestly, I hadn’t expected to jump four levels and become a director.

It is no joke! They have made you, the administrating executive, and the director, instead of promoting the regional manager or the general manager. How do you think the others will take this?

Gopi said shrugging his shoulders, No idea. And anyway, that is not my problem. It is the chairman’s headache.

Where are the director’s quarters Gopi?

Do you know Harrington Road? There are ten or twelve large bungalows in a massive compound…They are all independent bungalows with lots of trees, a badminton court… You will be amazed to see the place.

Are the other directors very rich?

What kind of a silly question is that?

No… Will we be…? I mean… will me…

Seeing her struggle to express herself, Gopi bit her little finger gently.

Aah!

This is the punishment for having such silly doubts. You are overwhelmed just by the rented bungalow. I don’t know how you will react when you hear the other things the chairman told me!

Other details?

Yes! Apart from a salary hike, house, car and servants, I will also get a share of the company profits from next year. We can travel to any holiday destination at company expense for a fifteen-day vacation… even to Kashmir! If we want our own house, the company will offer a loan at low interest rate, and…

Chitra closed her ears… and said Stop...I can’t take it anymore! This is enough for the day!

Gopi laughed aloud seeing Chitra so awe-struck.

This is why I did not tell you everything in detail when I came back from office...How my suspense was!

Chitra got up and put the empty cups in the sink. She came back and putting her hands around his shoulders from behind, kissed him on the top of his head.

Our own house… just for us!

Yes… just for us!

A flat or an independent house?

Your wish… what do you want?

Mmm... an independent house will be expensive…why should we spend unnecessarily? A flat will do, won’t it?

A flat would do, I guess.

How many Bedrooms?

Three?

Would that be enough?

One for us…one for each of our kids.

You mean to say we are going to stop with just two kids!

Oh! God! It will be quite a task to bring up two children!

What about guests?

When visitors come, we can make the children share a room or make them sleep with us…

Do you mean the visitors?

Chee! I meant the children!

The library room has to be spacious and airy… It should be comfortable so that we can sit there and read in peace, debate over topics and listen to music in our old age.

As you wish Madam.

The kitchen should be bright with good cross ventilation. I will be spending most of my time there!

Oh my god! Not In the bedroom?

Don’t joke Gopi…. and…

Can we plan the rest tomorrow? If I sit here for a few minutes more, my eyelids will close to on their own. Do you know what time it is? Four O’clock!

The milkmen walking around to sell milk with the cow-bells tinkling, the newspaper man passing by with his cycle bell ringing, the splashing sound of water being splattered in some neighbouring courtyard, the chirping of the birds, the cawing of the crows…Chitra and Gopi slipped into sweet slumber listening to the myriad sounds and their hearts overflowing with dreams, that Saturday morning.

It was at eleven O’clock that day when the news of Gopi having met with an accident on the way to office, and dying on the spot reached Chitra.

2

Can I leave?

Seventh time!

What do you mean?

I mean, this is the seventh time you have asked if you can leave!

Is it seven times already? I think I should wait till I reach a sweet round figure of ten… What do you say?

What is wrong with you today? Ever since you got your promotion, you seem to have changed. It is eight thirty! You would usually run saying you are getting late… What is the matter with you today?

Nothing.

You don’t seem to be in a hurry to leave even at eight forty-five. Aren’t you getting late?

No, sweetheart.

Wow! You appear to be in a romantic mood today!

When have I not been romantic? Even last night… Gopi said with mischief.

Ok, ok… now don’t start describing everything that happened last night! I won’t be able to take it! Are you going to leave or not?

What is this Chitra? Why are you driving me away like this?

Then, What? You have to work doubly hard and impress your chairman!

Big deal! Forget that… don’t I get anything special for having given you this good news?

Chitra said slapping her forehead in feigned frustration,

Last Night… sorry, do you know what time we slept this morning? Five O’clock! After all the ‘antics’ last night; you still have the guts to ask for ‘something special’?

Oh! Was it five O’clock by the time we slept? We had Horlicks… then we went to bed…and... Then…?

My lord, please forgive me for having broached that topic… Are you going to leave or not? The maid has peeped from the kitchen twice!

That is why I keep telling you… let’s go to the bedroom… we can…

Leave…Now!

Ok, ok…don’t get angry! Shall I leave now?

Chitra burst out laughing.

Eighth time! Is that why you are laughing?

No Gopi… I was reminded of a small joke… A newlywed couple lived in a shared accommodation with a few other families. That day the husband was going to work for the first time after their wedding. ‘Shall I leave?’, ‘Shall I leave?’ he asked twice as he came to the main door. He didn’t feel like leaving and asked, ‘Shall I leave?’ yet again. Just then, seven or eight windows opened and the other tenants, peeping out, shouted frustratedly in chorus, ‘get lost, you fool!’

Chitra couldn’t finish and burst out laughing uncontrollably.

Gopi glared at her in mock anger,

Old joke…very old joke! I didn’t find it funny at all! You mean, if I ask ‘shall I leave now’ once more, you too are going to say the same thing, ‘get lost, you fool!’ aren’t you?

No no… can I speak so disrespectfully to you? I will say please get lost Mr. Gopi!

Try saying that again…? Gopi said with feigned anger.

Chitra stepped back pretending to be scared and said, Are you angry? That is why I am afraid to pick on you…

Gesturing to her to stop, Gopi said, Alright my lady! I take back my words… The two of them burst out laughing.

The maid, shocked hearing Gopi’s angry voice, peeped from the kitchen, but once she heard their laughter, her shock turned into confusion and surprise. Her expressions made Gopi and Chitra laugh harder.

Once their laughter abated, Chitra asked, Seriously, is it a holiday today?

No.

.….

My scooter is out of order… I came home by the office car yesterday…

Chitra butted in, but I didn’t notice…

Only those who are interested will notice… you…

Aa... Aa… you are an expert at pulling people’s legs! Sorry my Lord! Please tell me how you are planning to go to the office today. Is the company car coming to pick you up?

They had told me that they would be sending the car… I told them not to…This way I can spend time chatting with you and go to the office a little late. I can even make an excuse saying I didn’t get a bus and come back!

Chitra stood enjoying Gopi’s childlike repartee and before she could respond, the wall clock struck nine. Chitra was taken aback.

Nine O’clock! Oh my god, the match must have started ten minutes ago! Who would have won the toss…?

She rushed towards the television and switched it on. Gopi laughed looking at her.

Oh! There is a one-day cricket international match today! And that is why you are pushing me away. Your ‘boyfriends’ are playing, aren’t they? Kapil Dev, Srikanth, Ravi Shastri…you forget food and water when you see these guys!

Yes… they are my boyfriends…why did you stop with just three names? What about the other eight players in the team?

Chitra said and sat on the sofa with her eyes glued to the television screen. Gopi realized