Durga | ✓

21. Taj Mahal

Rudra and Ramaiah looked little tensed. Rudra rubbed his brow. Ramaiah was tensed yet looked calm.

" I don't know what to do?" asked Rudra.

" Sir, I will do that. Don't worry." assured Ramaiah.

" Look Ramaiah, I agree I was mad at you. But it didn't mean that I will remove you from team. Please don't misunderstand me."

Ramaiah sighed. " Sir, what's wrong with you? I know that you were mad but it wasn't entirely your fault. I am careless."

" See, try to understand the situation. She has that book. So we need her to be with me while translating the other texts. We have to do this work as soon as possible. Only then we would be in the position to can ask him to increase the fee."

" And you have to be here because you have researched on Sage Agastya as part of your project. I will write that article for newspaper. I don't understand why you are getting so worked up?"

" Because I don't want any negative thoughts entering your mind."

" Ennu? Negative thoughts?" asked Ramaiah.

" Negative thoughts as in that I am trying to reduce your importance or such things..."

" Are you mad Rudra? Do you have any idea what you are blabbering about?"

" I know I sound insane but... you know... after losing... them... I don't... want... to lose... my friend..." said Rudra, in between the deep breaths.

Ramaiah patted his back. Rudra looked around, trying to hold back his tears. Ramaiah hugged him.

" Why don't you let your tears flow?" asked Ramaiah, as they withdrew from the hug.

Rudra shrugged. " Sometimes I feel if I would have been little stronger then they would have been with me."

" Why don't you forget it, Rudra? You had promised me to start your life, again."

" It's not that easy. To forget them."

Ramaiah knitted his eyebrows. " I am not telling you to forget them. I am telling you to forget that one incident."

Rudra gave a weak watery smile. Ramaiah asked, " About that article, should I write on Taj Mahal?"

Rudra nodded. Taj Mahal. Reminded me of that incident.

He went back in time when he was still a student.

Akshad greeted the class with warm smile. Rudra, Ramaiah, Arjun and Rishab were the first benchers, waiting eagerly for his class. Everyone greeted him. He wrote on the board.

Taj Mahal

Everyone looked excited. They started whispering about it being a symbol of love, one of the seven wonders of the world, their views and their visit to Agra.

Akshad coughed. Fake of course. The whispers were lost and silence prevailed in the class.

" What is the first thing when you here the word- Taj Mahal?" asked Akshad.

Arjun replied, " Mahal meaning palace."

Akshad grinned. " Are you sure?"