"No woman is worth all that."

The picture was perfect, the hapless victim's blood was flushing out, and on top stood the victorious "Kaali" – the Goddess of destruction. He felt the same as the victim in the picture which hung right a behind the Guruji. He was spontaneous and frightening just as "Kaali" when he did his consulting, otherwise Guruji was a calm person. "Kaali" – the Goddess worshiped for destruction, it is believed that sometimes destruction is for good; Goddess "Kali" destroys a karmic cycle and starts a new one, that way the energy in the world is balanced.

The room was small with old styled walls, on the left was a pyramid decorated with idols of various Gods at each step of the structure, the top of the pyramid had a skull which looked an original human skull to Adithiya. He could not relate these idols to the thousands of Gods he knew, these were different and fearsome. At first Adhi had the impression that these idols were made by Guruji himself in his leisure time and kept in his consulting room, just to create that fearsome atmosphere, however all his misconceiving was cleared after the consulting. The idols were mostly covered with the flowers offered by Guruji. On to the right of Adhi was a bunch of books which looked like centuries old. The thick jasmine scent from incense sticks filled the room, the words which came from Guruji made Adhi sweat.
    Adhi had insisted on this consultation with Guruji after he heard from his childhood friend Nikhil about his mystic powers. Adhi was on vacation before his final year college exams in city. Nikhil said that Guruji always took the people by surprise, revealing their dark secrets, even before you introduce yourself to him. Adhi was no different to him; Guruji spoke about Adhi's love affair he had in his college away in the city. He even said that she was from different religion and she was elder to him. Adhi was floored. No one in the village knew about it, not even his childhood friend. Adhi was thankful for not bringing his parents along, it was just him and his friend Nikhil, and he can be pursued to keep a secret. It was hard for a person like Adhi, to keep away something so important to him from his cousins and parents but the fear of hurting them, the fear of a dispute at home, kept him from revealing the truth to them.

Guruji had Adhi's full attention and went on promising a good future written for him, already. And then he said this which made Adhi sweat like a pig.

"No woman is worth all that"

"There is no future for this relationship, pains will be washed and the sins forgiven"

"A bright and sunny land waits for you!"

Outside the temple Nikhil was curious of the girl whom Guruji mentioned and was waiting for Adhi to start on the topic. Adhi didn't seem to notice his curiosity, he was lost in thoughts. Adhi managed to sell a story to Nikhil and headed back to the city.

People seemed busy with their life, they all had something to catch or somewhere to be in time, but Adhi was waiting for more than an hour for her. They will be minimum two sessions late to college. The place was still wet and muddy from the yesterday night's rains, which also drenched Adhi on his way back to city from his village.

She was the smartest girl in the college with rabbit eyes, she was famous, every single boy in the college wanted to get close to her. She comes from an orthodox Christian family, her father a contractor who undertakes most of the government works in the state. He was powerful. Adhi knew the risks he was taking, but the depth of the risk was unknown to him, but he was determined.

In the college she always had a fleet of boy around her wherever she went. She was studious and outspoken and she always wore a perfume which turned to be her trademark later on. Just by the fragrance in the corridor, guys could tell that she was there, and could follow the aroma to find her.

Those are the days when you really don't care what you do as long as it interests you. The warnings from his friends or her stories with other men didn't prevent Adhi from going for her.

Whether it luck or was his strong will to share a life with her, it didn't take much time for Adhi to offer hand which she accepted and pulled out the Cleopatra from her admirers. Soon they were the famous couple of the college, right from the office boy to the dean of the college knew about their relationship. His company of friends changed, he befriended other couples, went for movies, beaches. He shifted his house which was close to college to stay near her house because he could avoid the freezing morning trips to the bus stop near her house, where they would meet and come to college all the way back. He reduced his unnecessary expenses, he controlled on his food, he eat just to keep him going, never spent a penny more, he saved all the money to take the bus tickets and expenditures when they are together.
    The bus stop was green, rusted green, and most of the benches in stop were worn-out of excessive use. Adhi remembered that were in the middle of a serious fight when he left for his village, he still was to recover from the curiosity given by the “Guruji’s words. He found his favorite bench empty, where he always waited for her. The bus stop was beside a busy street, he glanced through the people who made a living there. The unusual rains in May destroyed the equilibrium of life arround.There were bombaywalas with their tasty panipuri on stands, there were mouthwatering green mangoes cut and filled with chilly powder and salt, there were people who earned their living from begging.

The golden years, as they say moved on quickly, by the end of 3rd year Adhi was unhappy man, he didn't have good marks for his subjects; his health was bad as a result of eating less and cheap food. He didn't any real friends, everyone who was with him stayed away because of her, and above all the relationship was never at peace. First there was always difference in tastes and views, which both adjusted. But later on Adhi discovered that they no longer could adjust each other with smiling faces. The quarrels became frequent, and on almost everything. Because of her orthodox belief in her religion, she never respected his religion and always insulted it. Many times the relationship was on the edge of breaking, but its her tears; she always caught hold of his weakness, the promise he gave to her to live life together and finally Adhi always gave another chance to make up for everything.

The heat of sun has started to show effect on the stop, he had a close look at his watch. He was annoyed with this waiting, as always! He knew he had to do something about this relationship," it was time for a move". A potent decision was gaining momentum in him, He glanced through his past years with her, and it only made him more clear and strong of his decision. It was a late realization of truth, all those said in words cost him three full years of his life which can’t be lived again.

She was struggling through the crowd to make it in time, as if she was a minute late. She was wearing his favorite velvet salwar with golden spots in it. She looked the same, it was the same girl whom he proposed in this very bus stop on an warm evenings of February. He felt darkness could help him hide his tears if she rejected, he chose the bus stop, because it was easy to disappear in crowd. Everything had stayed same, the place, the girl, but it was he who was transformed. Her mere presence brought the chillness, he felt with the rain yesterday. He greeted her with a fake smile, which grew ripe with love as she approached. She returned his smile and reaching for him, she hugged him. He felt the warmth of her body, yet he didn't feel her close. He no longer felt her unique fragrance, he could smell her sweat. He tried to hold her tight, he didn't close his eyes as he always did while embracing her. He kept his eyes open on the streets. She started giving excuses and slowly freeing her hold on him. Adhi closed his eyes and held her tight, she didn't not speak, she stayed quiet, he felt his heart beating against her, and he felt as if, his heart beats could knock her down. He searched for the strong decision he made, couldn’t find it. He went deep into his darkest corners, where he thought there was still place for hiding, he couldn't find the strongest decision he ever took in his life.

” He opened his eyes"

He noticed a woman in the middle of street caught in traffic while trying to cross the street.

She was now correcting her hair and her bindhi; the little dark circle out of red she always wore. She started playing her excuses as it was pre recorded one to be used on occasions like this. But nothing fell on his ears. He noticed one of the street boys walked towards the women and took the woman's hand who had pale frightened eyes. He admired the determination of the street boy, he saw the boy’s half naked body through his torn shirt. He discovered the similarity between the boy and him, they both sensed the same sympathy when they saw woman caught in traffic, the realization of their difference insulted him. The boy helped her cross the street. He kept his eyes on them.

He heard her last excuses when he came back to her, he looked deep into her rabbit eyes. It was deep enough to hurt her with mere stare. There was silence! His three years played and replayed until everything blacked out in a moment.

The words echoed in him, "No woman is worth all that"

And for years to come, he would remember that day, of the rusted green bus stop, the streets, the street boy, the woman with pale eyes, that significant day, each and every detail.

And that day would come into his mind every time he would remember her!