The Keepers of the Universe: A rip in the Veil

"Rooh, beta jaldi utho!" a woman yelled from downstairs making the sleeping girl groan out in frustration.

(Translation: Rooh, child wake up fast!)

Rooh shuffled few times in her bed and finally decided to wake up. It is the worst part of her day to wake up in the morning. Who don't love sleeping? She sat up on her bed with a frown on her face. Today is the first day of the summer vacations and her college will start after two months. She has two complete months for herself and didn't wanted to waste her time in sleeping.

In these two months she has to explore a lot and as well as study also. She picked up her phone from the side table of the bed and quickly typed a message to someone.

:I'm awake good morning :)

She smiled satisfactorily and waited sometime for the reply. In few seconds her phone dinged notifying the arrival of a message.

:Good morning bestie and now tell me when are you coming to meet me?

She read the message and something clicked in her mind. How can she forget this? She made a friend on social media who's from Russia. They have been talking since 8 months and are besties now. Her name is Sasha and she was insisting her to come Russia and meet her for a long time so she decided that whenever she will get a chance she will meet her and they both decided to meet when her vacations will start.

Rooh already told her plan to her parents but they were worried about their only daughter. How can they send her to a different country where everything is foreign for her. Indian middle class families are known for their strict rules and regulations on their children and her parents wanted to tell Rooh that's not true and they supported her everytime but this time they were worried for her.

:Don't worry I have already told my parents about our meeting and they almost agreed.

She replied to her friend Sasha and moved her gaze to the bag on the couch. She has already done all her packings and took the basic necessities with her.

Sasha: That's great I'm eagerly waiting for you. Come soon. Byy.

Her friend replied and she smiled reading the message because she was also eager to meet her foreign friend and wanted to explore Russia with her.

:Me too. Byy. Ttyl.

She placed her phone back at it's place and rushed inside the bathroom. She brushed her teeth and quickly took a shower. She was so excited to go to a differ country and meet her friend. They were planning this for a long time.

Rooh came out of the bathroom wearing a white crop top and blue washed jeans. She head downstairs and straightly went to puja ghar (Chapel). She joined her hands in front of the holy gods praying for the well being of her family and apologized for the mistakes she had done knowingly or unknowingly.

After that she sat of the breakfast table being so hungry. Her mother and father also came and sat down on their respective chairs. Her mother started serving breakfast and as soon as Rooh saw 'poha' (a healthy breakfast prepared with beaten rice) in breakfast she beamed happily because that was her favourite breakfast. She loves to eat poha with hot milk tea.

"Wahh mamma aj to apna poha banaya hai." she said grinning to her mother.

(Translation: Wow mom today you made poha.)

Her mother smiled at her childish behavior. She still becomes happy at such small gestures.

"Haa beta tumhe bohot pasand hai na isliye." her mother said amiably to her.

(Translation: Yes child because you like it very much.)

Rooh smiled and started having her breakfast while having a spoon of poha and then a sip of milk tea. She can die for it if she has to. Suddenly she remembered something and turned towards her father who was reading the newspaper.

"Papa!" she tried to gain his attention on her.

(Translation: Father!)

"Hmm." he hummed without looking at her.

"Apne kya socha mere Russia jane ke baare mein?" she asked him nervously because even if he supports her she is still a little scared of him.

(Translation: What did you thought about me going to Russia?)

As soon as these words escaped her mouth her father folded the newspaper and sighed. He was worried about her and she was still a teenager how can he allow her to go alone to a whole different country to meet a stranger whom they not even know safe or not. But she being stubborn about going for the past one month and they don't want to hurt her by denying again and again.

He looked at her mother who was denying him to agree with her gestures which were oblivious to Rooh. Then he looked at Rooh who was giving him her puppy eyes.

"Beta hum tumhe waha kaise jane dein. Tum abhi bhi choti ho or waha kisi ko janti bhi bhi ho." he father tried to make her understand.

(Translation: Child how can we let you go there. You are still young and don't know anyone there.)

When she heard her father words tears welled up in her eyes. Yes, that's her biggest problem she gets hurt on such little things. She tries to make herself strong but she always fails and comes out weak infront of everyone.

"Please Papa." she pleaded to get father.

(Translation: Please father.)

His heart clenched seeing the tears in her daughter's eyes. No matter what, they can't see their child hurt. He shook his head and tried to fight the battle between his mind and his heart and finally his heart won.

He raised his head towards Rooh and smiled at her. "Thik hai tum chali jao lekin hume call kar ke batati rehna waha kya ho raha hai. Thik hai?" he said with his heavy voice.

(Translation: Okay fine you go but keep calling and tell us what's happening there. Okay?)

Rooh and her mother became stunned. She took a little time to process and as soon as she did she squealed out happily.

"Thank you, Papa." she said and started jumping happily and ran upstairs to do her preparations.

(Translation: Thank you, father.)

As soon as she disappeared from their sight her mother turned her face towards her father.

"Apne kyu haa kar diya. Uss anjan desh me kaise rahegi humari bacchi?" worry laced in her voice.

(Translation: Why did you agreed. How will our daughter survive in that foreign country?)

"Mai kya karta mujhse uska udaas chehra dekha hi nahi gaya." her father said sadly to her mother.

(Translation: What should I have done I was not able to see her sad face.)

He stood up from his chair and said "Tum uski packing karne me madad karo aur mai uski tickets karwata hoon." he said and went away.

(Translation: You help her in packing things and I will book her tickets.)

Her mother shook her head and joined her hands looking upward. "Use sahi salamat rakhna, bhagwan."

(Translation: Keep her safe and fine, God.)

But little did she knew what is going to be happen with Rooh in future and what destiny holds for her in that foreign country.