Cross Roads: Pick a Path (4 page)

I didn’t realize that I was looking down
while pouring my thoughts to her. When I took a glance towards her
she was fast asleep. It was such an annoying but amusing moment, I
finally gained the courage to express myself and she’s asleep; just
my luck. Lying on her side, with her back turned towards me she
slept, more beautiful than sleeping beauty herself. Turning off the
night lamp to our side, I took rest on the couch.

Freshly brewed the smell of coffee made my
morning rise calm. “Good morning,” Hasini greeted; she was already
showered and in the midst of packing for our flights later in the
afternoon. It then hit me that we’ll all be catching flights in a
few hours, and we’ll be heading back to our daily routines. It was
a blessing to not wake up with a hangover, considering the amount
of partying we did last night. While she topped off her packing I
quickly made way into my room and threw everything into a suitcase;
after all I was going to go home and throw everything around my
room anyway.

I was in such a rush, all just to spend time
with Hasini. After showering and getting ready for the day I sat on
my bed taking down the remaining sips of the coffee Hasini brought
me. Waiting for her knock at the door I sat wishing she heard the
things I had to say last night. It was just my luck that she had to
fall asleep while I vented my feelings, but its not like I won’t
get another chance. I have to tell her again, if I don’t I may risk
losing her; that wasn’t an option.

“Don’t you lock your room? You’re going to
get raped!” Shouted Hasini.

“You’ve got jokes,” I replied in my
sarcastic tone. Dragging her out the door with me, we made way to
the buffet; I was starving. The rest of the guys were already
seated at a table. There wasn’t any room for us at the table, so
Hasini and I took a seat at another table for two. We had a
pleasing conversation; she even proposed we hangout sometime when
we’re back in Toronto. I felt elated with the exchange we had over
the breakfast buffet, though my mind would partially regret every
passing moment where she didn’t know how I felt.

Time turned quickly, and a weekend of
memories was about to end. Waiting for cabs to the airport we took
seat in the hotel lobby. Rohini and Akil were about to head off on
their honeymoon; the rest of us will be back to our boring jobs and
regular routines. It took about thirty minutes, but the first cab
showed up with room for four people. With others willing to wait
Rohini, Akil, Hasini, and I were the first on our way to the
airport. The drive to the airport consisted talks of the memories
we made this past weekend; upon arriving I was first to be out
unloading luggage from the trunk. Hasini remained alongside myself
while Rohini and Akil made way to get their boarding pass.

“Last night, in the hotel room; I heard
everything you said,” she said.

My eyes pound open with an unstoppable beat
within my heart; it was disbelief. She calmly grabbed her luggage
and rolled it away with a smile, while I was left feeling remote
from my body. Clicking back in I grabbed my bags and ran behind
her.

“Hasini, STOP!” I shouted.

“You heard everything? So you weren’t
asleep?” I asked, extremely curious.

She stood with a continual grin on her face;
it was pure torture. I needed to know; looking down at her passport
and ticket she once again calmly drifted her head side to side.
Stepping closer to her, standing eye for an eye I asked, “Hasini,
What are you thinking? I need to know what you’re thinking.”

“
That day when you tried talking to me at
the bar for the first time, I was pissed at you. In those moments,
I really did not feel like seeing your face. After realizing you
were Rohini’s brother, I found myself laughing in my room, all
alone. It’s been quite a while since I laughed like that. From that
moment till the instance you saw me standing by shore your face
kept popping in my head. Then later that night when I was walking
back towards the hotel, I hoped for you to call me back, and you
did. I find it very difficult to tell people about the struggles
I’ve faced, but in your presence it came without my notice. I put
my trust in you faster than I can do with any other. Though our
dance is when I knew I completely fell for you. Even when lying in
my bed I pretended to sleep in hopes you’d say something, and once
again you made my hopes come true. I don’t want this trip to be the
end of our journey.”

Grasping Hasini close with no distance to
spare I saw it in her eyes once again. This time around I wasn’t
going to let my chance go; I kissed her, something I wanted to do
this entire weekend. Letting breath go slowly she remained embraced
to me; for the first time I felt love.

“Aren’t I just like cupid?” Interrupted a
voice.

It was Rohini, it seems as if this were her
intention the whole time. If I didn’t love my sister enough before,
I sure as hell am thankful for her being now. If it weren’t for
Rohini, Hasini and I would have probably been two people who never
got off to a great start. By the time all four of us got our
boarding passes the others arrived from the hotel. Their reactions
after seeing Hasini and myself together were quite priceless;
Thiru, Mahat, and Asha were glad I was finally able to find someone
who taught me to love. Then there was Benny; he had a real hard
time trying to figure out how she liked me.

“
You? She likes you? Man, this is
unbelievable; no offence bro but how can anyone fall in love with
someone like you? You got no game!”

What an annoying creature he was, but it was
amusing in its own way. If I were to actually analyze it even I’d
be curious. Hasini did though, and to me that’s more than enough.
My flight back to Toronto won’t be an easy one; Hasini being a
journalist is taking flight to India to cover a story, and she
won’t be back for a few weeks. Knowing that she’s mine is relieving
enough to help me pass through the next few weeks. Hasini’s flight
happened to be before the rest of ours; saying goodbye wasn’t easy
but it wasn’t forever.

~

Those weeks weren’t easy, but being able to
talk through video call accompanied by my time spent at work the
weeks flew. When she was back we began what I hoped to be a
lifetime of memories.

Before we knew it, a year passed with the
same love between us. A year together and yes, we did have our
fights; some were nasty but we were always able to get through it.
Our relationship worked so well because we were never ones to act
like high school kids in love. In majority our time spent together
was better defined as friends in love. In fact since that weekend
in the Dominican we haven’t really expressed our love in words.

The day October 12
^th
2012, I
invited Hasini to a spot she once took me a few months back. It was
a place where Hasini’s father took her as a child to watch stars
and the moon. After the passing of her father her uncle also took
her there at times when she’d cry trying to forget. She loved that
place; it’s where she’d go to find peace in mind. It was around
10:00pm and when we arrived the water was already glistening with
moonlight amidst the significant amount of stars. Standing near the
edge of the cliff the atmosphere was just right. I dropped on one
knee, as she stood stunned.

“
We’ve only been together for a year, but
a year in the world you take me to feels like a lifetime and a
lifetime is exactly what I want to spend with you. I’ll never be
great at expressing my feelings and you know that. But here, at
this place where the most important men of your life have protected
you I ask, can I be lucky enough to join their company? Hasini, I
love you. Will you marry me?”

“Yes, Yes, Yes! Holy shit! Of course I will!
“ Screamed Hasini.

After placing the ring on her finger she
tackled me with tears of thrill running down her cheeks. With a
breath of fresh air I felt relieved; I may have cheated a bit
though. A few months back Rohini told me about a conversation she
had with Hasini. One about the possibility of marriage in our
future, with hints roaming in the air I felt all my thoughts toward
tonight’s decision were well worth it.

Everyone back at the house already knew that
I was going to propose to Hasini so it didn’t come as a surprise
when we walked into the house together. Similar to the day Rohini
and Akil made their big announcement; we once again popped
champagne in celebration. Times were great, and the bond of family
was irreplaceable. Standing amongst family, I found myself wishing
for all the hard times to be over.

Four months since the announcement Hasini
and Arrun decided to put off the wedding plans for a year or so.
Hasini had a huge story to cover, one that needed the attention of
a global audience; she needed the space and time. A few months back
after the trip to the Dominican, Hasini left for India. What she
found there was a story for the ages. Being a journalist you can
only dream of some day getting hold of such. When she came back
from India, she became somewhat obsessed with exposing the story.
She never told anyone about the story, minus her co-workers; some
wouldn’t care, others couldn’t be trusted.

While in India she stumbled upon a story,
one of Marona Duranjis son, Miran. Miran is the youngest of Maronas
two sons, the other being Verone. Verone was quiet and much more
reserved when it came to violence, nothing like his father. Then
there was Miran, completely reckless and Maronas favored son. Miran
is second in head after his father when it comes to leading the
criminal activity. He was responsible for many of the murders,
child trafficking, and drug circulations around the world. Yet his
actions are not known to most, but why would they be? Ninety-five
percent of the world’s population did not even care for the
stranger next to them. Hasini was different; she was part of the
special five percent that dreamt of making a difference in the
world. Journalism was her tool to make things right, and once
grasping hold of this story she turned all attention towards
it.

A lot of important people turned their head
the other way when it came to criminal activity orchestrated by the
Duranji’s, but Hasini is one for the people, and she kept tabs on
all events led by the family. According to the word she received,
Miran was in Toronto. Kidnapped women were to get transported from
Canada back to India to be sold to the wealthy. Violence against
women has become a major concern in India as of late, and the
leading cause of it is because of men like Miran. The location of
the warehouse was quite sketchy, but it was her only chance to get
the job done. Catching some footage or quality pictures will put an
immense hole in the Duranji Empire.

Driving up to the warehouse her safest way
to capture photos would be through the consuming forest. With the
time of the sky in her hands it would be easier for her to capture
everything unnoticed in the dark. Among the trees and bushes it
would be greatly difficult for one of the henchmen to notice being
documented, or so she thought. Hasini was not alone on this, she
brought along her partner Trent. However what she did not know is
that Trent was not one to trust. Miran is not someone who would
have loose ends lying around, and buying Trent’s loyalty did not
come at any difficulty.

One flash, one flash from the camera is all
that it took for one of Miran’s henchmen to come of Hasini’s
location. “Pack everything quick, we have to get out of here,”
shouted Hasini. Trent standing motionless with his head down could
not find his words. Pulling Trent by the arm Hasini did not want to
leave without him, she knew getting caught would not end well for
them.

“Trent we have to leave! Now! Please come!”
She screamed.

“Hasini, I’m sorry,” replied Trent, holding
his head low in shame.

Something was wrong and Hasini knew it;
there is no longer use in fleeing. Fate was no longer in her hands,
and with a deep exhale she closed her eyes. The aggression was
clear, but she was too consumed in fear to have a glance of her
surroundings. No future is ever clear, but they do come with plans;
the thing about plans is that they can be altered in an instant.
Pushed to her knees, she heard the cries for freedom from the women
held captive at the warehouse. With fear and sorrow striking war in
her mind the tears found its way out.

“Open your eyes,” demanded Miran.

Miran’s sinful being was well dissolved in
his voice. Hasini opened her eyes and was received by Miran
standing at six feet in height; bald with a heavy beard, and a
gruesome scar above his right eye his presence equivalent to that
of a monster. Behind him were about twelve henchmen who were
equally provoking fear in all. Bending down looking Hasini directly
in they eye he began to speak.

“
Tell me, what exactly was your plan? Did
you actually think you could just walk in here, to my place and
expose my activities to the world? Do you really think of yourself
as a hero? You know, occasionally some men come along and try to be
the savior, and guess what it never works out for them. You’re the
first woman to have actually even tried to bring down the Empire
and for that I applaud you. Bravo! Hey, you know what? Take a look
to your left; you see all those women standing there chained and
beaten, were they the ones you tried to save? I want you to listen
carefully; their fate is sealed, they are going to be passed around
from man to man, generating me money and you can’t do a thing about
it! You know what you’re quite the beauty yourself, maybe you’d
like to join them?”

“Please, I beg you. Let us go and I promise
not to speak a word,” cried Hasini.

Laughing hysterically, Miran took out his
gun; walking towards some of the women chained to the side he
grinned taking shots ruthlessly. While turning back towards Hasini
he screamed, “Do I look like an idiot to you? Do I?” Grabbing
Hasini by the hair he hauled her to the mirror leaning against the
metal beam and smashed her head into it till the blood initiated
flow. The blood ran but she remained awake to the horror as she
tried getting up.