SEVEN
She heard her mobile ringing.
“Hi,Maya. I've got some good news for you. Daniel Publishing House has agreed to publish your book! This calls for a party, Maya,” Reva said.
“Reallyyyy…?” Maya shouted.
“Yup,they have a wing which is encouraging new Indian authors. They liked our draft and are ready to take this forward for commercial negotiations.”
Maya felt as if she finally could breathe. Finally, her work would be recognised. However, she felt guilty and selfish about being happy now when she was supposed to mourn.
“It deserves a grand party,” Reva screamed, “And please don't come in your blue faded torn jeans, okay?”
“Okay. By the way it is not torn… (huh). That's style.” She hung up.
Who'd have a thought that there would come a day when people would pay big money for torn jeans!
“Yipppeeeeeee!” Maya could not control her excitement. This was a dream come true. Life had taken a 180 degree turn. She was going to make a mark for herself. She will create her own identity and paste it on the wall of the world. She could not contain her excitement. She jumped up and down on her bed like a small child. She was happy. As she looked out of the window, suddenly, thought about Nimesh again.
“Is it you who is doing this for me, Nemo?” She felt his presence. Yet it made her terribly sad as she could not share her joy with him. The intensity of any moment increases or decreases depending upon who we share it with, she thought.
“You shouldn't have been dead. You should have been here sharing this joy with me,” she said, looking up at the sky. She never missed him so much when he was alive.
The sky was a light shade of blue. Everything looked so lovely. Yet to her everything was also laced with sadness. A smile painted in a tear. A lie trapped in a truth.
She wanted to talk to Nimesh. She had read that there were ways and means to talk to the dead, but then she was scared of treading on an unknown path. She had learnt magic and heard about occult ways. There was another dark side of hers that she kept away from the world. She had a guide who introduced her to this world of mysticism. He wanted her to learn to let go and be indifferent to the world around. He wanted to help her discover herself. He had crossed this dimension. He lived in a different dimension, he was a magician.