Chapter 5

AADHI

Even though I couldn't sleep well, I was not tired at all. In fact, I felt refreshed and excited to go on this trip. Finally, we were on our way but unlike yesterday, we conversed during the drive.

Everyone gathered at the destination. Even though I had been there before I was excited like it was the first time.

A smile was plastered on my face. We decided to spend our time in a secluded place where there was no one except us.

The waterfalls poured down from a high rock, forming a pond before flowing down again like a fountain. So we could either swim or enjoy bathing in the falls.

Everyone started diving in the water. The boys even had a swimming competition. We girls enjoyed bathing in the falls. After some time, everyone started pairing off.

Nija with Shivani, Karthi with Ruby, and my husband with Harsha. So I just sat there on a rock with my legs in the water, watching them.

Unlike the others, my husband and Harsha got bored. They climbed the rock where the waterfall started and decided to dive.

Some locals who happened by warned them to be careful and not to jump if they didn't know how to swim, because the water was deep in that particular area.

They didn't mind them because everyone could swim except me. They started to have fun jumping from the cliff. Nija, Karthi, Shivani, and Ruby all joined them.

I laughed and enjoyed watching them while sitting on my rock. Karthi and Ruby had a couple's fight, he must have teased her or something.

I couldn't hold my laughter when Ruby started throwing stones at him while running after him.

Nija and Shivani sat on a rock to chat. I felt so relaxed looking at all of them. My mind was so peaceful being in that place and being with them.

I felt someone sit beside me. I turned to find Harsha making himself comfortable.

Everyone else started climbing the cliff to dive again. My husband stayed down to ensure safety in case if anything happened.

"Don't you want to join them? Why are you here?" I asked Harsha.

"It's okay, I want to keep you company." I felt weird, but I didn't say anything.

I just nodded, giving him a grim smile.

Karthi and Ruby held their hands before they jumped together. I guess Ruby wasn't ready but Karthi dragged her while jumping. She screamed bloody murder.

After coming out of the water, she started hitting Karthi. Everyone was laughing at them. I knew what Karthi did was dangerous.

"I am okay, Aadhi. It's all because of this idiot"—she punched him in the stomach—"Come with us, Aadhi, it's so thrilling.

If you are scared then we can jump together," she begged me, bouncing in excitement.

"No... No... It's okay. It's better here," I said in an anxious tone.

Next, it was Nija and Shivani's turn. They jumped together holding hands. He carried her out of the water bridal style. They were so cute together.

"Aadhi, come on, let's go too. It will be such a rush," Harsha encouraged me to join.

"No, no, no... It's okay... I am not interested," I declined, trying to hide my fear. I didn't want to be embarrassed.

"I know you are scared, but don't worry. I will be with you when you jump and your husband will be down there to catch you.

You don't have to be scared about drowning, okay?" he tried to comfort me, thinking that I would comply.

"No, Harsha, please... I am scared," I said in an embarrassed tone. I hated to show my weakness to other people. Why couldn't they let me be?

He was hell-bent on making me jump. So he called out for my husband to reassure me. "Dude, she is so scared of jumping. Tell her you won't let anything happen to her."

My husband looked at me doubtfully for a second. "Come on, Aadhi, it will be fun. Don't worry, I won't let you drown," he encouraged me enthusiastically.

I didn't know why but until that point, everyone had been calling me and I had refused, but then I got up and started walking toward the cliff, determined to try. Maybe it would be fun?

"Hey, this is unfair! I called you too, saying the same words," Ruby said, rolling her eyes.

"Babe, you are not the one who married her," Karthi said, winking at me.

I was embarrassed and looked at my husband. He started laughing at me which made me throw a stone at him saying, "Shut up."

From down there it seemed like an acceptable height to jump. But after climbing up the cliff, I realized that I was wrong.

It was terrifying up there. Everything looked so small from there. I decided to back out and turned only to see Harsha blocking my way, shaking his head. "No way."

I started begging. "Please, Harsha, it's so terrifying, I made a mistake climbing up here. Don't make me do this, please."

"It's perfectly safe, Aadhi. Your husband is down there to make sure nothing happens to you and I am here with you. So don't worry and make the jump."

I looked at him pathetically. But he wasn't going anywhere without making me jump. I looked at him and then the height...and then him...and then the height. It made him impatient.

"Okay, for your sake I will jump first and wait for you down there. So there will be an extra pair of hands to catch you... Okay?" Harsha said, trying to ease my fear.

It was a little less scary when he said that, and I agreed. He made the jump and shouted at me to jump from down there.

I was at the edge of the cliff and took a peek. It just made me more scared. It had been fifteen minutes and I couldn't muster up the courage to jump.

Harsha was constantly encouraging me and assuring me not to be scared and to make the jump. My husband got impatient, and he said something to Harsha before he moved away.

Harsha signalled me to wait until my husband returned and I nodded okay. He moved a little bit farther to rest on a stone. All the while I didn't notice Karthi standing behind me.

Harsha shouted, "Karthi, no!"

I turned to look back but started screaming as I was already falling. He pushed me. I closed my eyes shut and heard laughter, which must have been Karthi's. The next minute I was in the water.

Due to the force of the fall, I didn't know how deep I had plunged. I started flapping my hands and kicking my legs, believing that I was swimming and I would reach the surface any moment.

I should have been ascending gradually, but it seemed like I was still in the water. I should be ascending gradually, but it seemed like I was still in the water.

I panicked and opened my mouth to shout which let the water inside my mouth. I coughed and couldn't breathe. Worst mistake ever.

I was scared and started thinking this was my last day. Because of my panic and continuous flapping, my body got tired, and I couldn't fight anymore.

I was out of breath and started to feel dizzy. I expected someone to rescue me but no one came. I didn't know how long I was there but it felt like so long without air. My eyes started drooping.

Suddenly a hand wrapped around my waist and tried to pull me but my pants got stuck somewhere and I couldn't get out.

A hand pulled my leg forcefully, tearing my pants to the bottom before pulling me out of the water.

When I was out of the water, I tried to breathe but because of the water I drank, I started coughing and couldn't breathe properly.

Someone spoke to me and slapped my cheeks. I guess that was my husband who came to my rescue. But I couldn't open my eyes properly.

With limited vision, when I saw the person who was carrying me, I was shocked. It was not my husband. It was Harsha.

He carried me to the shore and tried to talk to me. "Aadhi, do you hear me? Are you okay?"

I tried to nod my head and gesture that I was okay even though I was still coughing up water from inside my stomach.

Someone was patting my shoulder while I was coughing my organs out. Everyone sat around me looking worried.

My husband asked, "Are you okay?"

What? That's it? I made it out of a near-death experience and all he asks is, am I okay?

I knew I was exaggerating, I must have been in there not more than three or four minutes, but still, I know what I felt.

I looked at him pissed, thinking this was partially his fault, but after looking at his eyes I lost it.

His eyes said everything that his words didn't. There was sadness, guilt, and anger in his eyes.

I just nodded my head that I was okay. Even after that, I felt like I was in a dream. I couldn't clearly see what was happening around me. My mind was hazy and I was shivering.

Someone covered me with a towel. I heard Karthi apologize, "Abhi, I didn't mean to do this, man... I thought you were down there, ready to catch her... I am really sorry, man."

Who is he calling Abhi? Is there another person here? Did someone else come here after I jumped?

I heard my husband yelling, "Why did you push her, Karthi? It wouldn't have come to this if she had jumped herself! You think this is funny, huh?"

Now I was confused.

Is my husband's name Abhi? No, it can't be... It shouldn't be... How could it be? No...no...no... Maybe there is someone else here?

Oh God, why does it have to be Abhi out of all names?