Destiny's Girl!

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“You are Destiny’s girl, born for fame!” smiled Maya’s mother, looking at her perfect little bundle of joy. Her husband had a grin on his face the whole time. They had both wanted a little girl, and now, here she was, the light in their life.

As Maya grew up, she excelled at everything – academics, sports and the arts. Her parents were proud of her and spared no expense on her education. She was like any other girl, fond of clothes and make up, and enjoyed outings with her friends. Her mischievous streak got her into trouble often, but her endearing smile got her out of it as well.

As they lived in the picturesque town of Shimla, Maya’s earliest memories were of the statuesque mountain peaks with the fluffy clouds that crowned them. She loved hiking and had her own special spots from where she would sit and gaze at the peaks. She called herself the free spirit of the mountains, and often, her voice could be heard singing a melodious tune as she strolled along the mossy paths.

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When Maya started winning prizes in various singing contests, her parents hired the best music teacher in the country. She had the voice of an angel, and when she sang, it was as if the world itself paused to hear her sing. Her teacher taught her all she knew, her heart swelling with pride when she heard Maya sing. Each note was perfect, the melody unbroken!

It was when Maya was in college that she got a scholarship to one of the most prestigious universities in America to further study music. It was a dream come true for her and her parents.

“Ma, I will miss you and Papa so much!” she sighed. There was just a week left for her to leave and her heart was torn in two directions. She was looking forward to her new life, and all the wonderful music that awaited her there. However, she knew she would miss her family, her friends, and most of all, Rohan, who had just come into her life around six months ago. He had been in the first row when she was singing at a contest, and she had been aware of the slim, handsome boy who had not taken his eyes off her from the moment she had begun to sing.

They had become friends right away. Rohan would tease her unmercifully about her parents’ pride in her. “Destiny’s girl! Of course, you are! Only child and all that!” Maya’s parents were also fond of him, and he had become a regular visitor at their home.

In his own way, he was also proud of her. It showed in the way he took care of her when they were together, and in his possessiveness when any other man looked at her with admiration. Soon their feelings for each other grew stronger and as the day for her departure came closer, their hearts broke at the thought of being away for months at a time.

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Two Years Later:

Rohan walked into the drawing room where Maya’s parents sat watching television.   He knew how much they missed her. Two years had gone by since Maya had first gone to America. He remembered the day he had walked in and watched television with the older couple, so that they would not miss her too much. He shuddered as the scene came back to him... the shooting at Maya’s university, the lone gunman who had emptied bullets into a defenceless crowd who had gathered to watch a concert.

Maya’s garlanded portrait smiled down at him from the wall.

 

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This post is part of #BlogchatterHalfMarathon