The Love Bond #8

Chapter-9

The Love Bond
Growing up

Over the years Sofia recognition grew in her town. Her name was something every people wished for in any event that took place. Her performances created happiness in people. They loved watching the little girl dance.
” Do little Sofia perform today? ” asks one in front of the Slovay theatre.
“I heard she won’t, she is sick probably” said another.
“Oh then let me leave” said the former person.
People wanted to enjoy her performance the most.
The theatre companies in Bratislava begin booking her for any events possible and little Sofia have already started to experience the stardom in her town.
The girl was smart and talkative and much loved than her brothers by the entire family. Mr Peter over the couple of years have expanded his business into almost the entire part of Czechoslovakia and the nearby European states. Money came pouring into his accounts and made him filthy rich.
Sofia got everything she wanted by her side from her dad be it cloths, chocolates from swiss or let it be a playing instrument.
Her popularity in her town have made her one of the most notable student in her school as well. She had two other girls with her all the time. They were Eva and Gladice. She loved them more than anything. They meant everything to her. Eva’s dad owned the Slovay theatre at the town. Most of Sofia dances was performed at the Slovay theatre as well. Peter felt more comfortable being in Slovay.
Whereas, Gladice wasn’t financial sound her father sacrificed his life to the Germans during the German invasion in Slovakia. Her mother who recovered from her illness due to spinal disorder does knitting for living and helps in a grocery store to feed her family. Sofia had hugely convinced Peter to help Galdice’s mom in her treatment that if she was able to make a single step without any pain then Sofia is the person and the reason for her wellness. She loved her like her own mom Sylvia.

Probably her birth was something that happened with the kindness of many she was eventually blessed with a kind heart as well. She never hurted any animals and she loved rabbits a lot.
Jadi her white furry rabbit tickled her arms and hands and they played a lot after her schools hours. Three of them maintained a close friendly relationship to each other.
There school days went as memorable one and years past by.
The winter arrived at Bratislava this year earlier as ever before. Cold wind blew through the streets causing the dry leaves to fly away. The Hornik family was in a mood of celebration as Sofia is turning twenty one.
Peter and Sylvia has arranged a grand birthday celebration inviting their neighbours, employs and relatives to grandeur of birthday celebration. The wind kept blewing outside as the clock striked seven in the evening causing the guest a little inconvenient to the reach the Hornik household. Simon and Samo got suited up for the event in twin colours and they looked smart. The living hall was decorated with balloons, multi coloured crepe papers from one corner of the big room to another and party streamers.
The Casa Nova Bakers famous in the town baked the three multi layered cake out from the box. It looked sumptuous with cherry toppings and chocolates. Sylvia invited the guests as they arrived. Made them comfortable from the blistering cold outside and Peter tossed a glass of wine with his fellow mates.
” Where is the pretty lady ?” asked one of the guest to Sylvia.
“She is upstairs getting ready, I should probably check her out” said Sylvia.
Sylvia walked upstairs to check out Sofia.
Eva and Gladice have already been in her bedroom helping her to get dressed for the party.
” you must probably go for some dark shades on your lips, what do you say Gladice? ” asked Eva.
“Yup, you are right Eva” said Gladice.
Eva tied her brown locks of hair in style.
“What you think will he come over tonight? ” asked Eva.
“Eva, may I know whom your referring to my dear ” asked Sofia.
” Gladice did you notice those face? Come on Sofia, the handsome tall guy whom appears to be the house captain of our college” said Eva.
Giggled them.
“I have invited, but I do not know or probably their is nothing like that like what you thing beautiful girls” said Sofia.
” Let’s see it to ourself, but I tell you what he is very much interested in you, I am pretty sure about it sweetheart” said Eva”.
” Evaa! ” yelled Sofia.
Knock knock! They heard the door knocking.
Gladice went to the door and opened it.
“Girls! What is going on? Please make it fast the guests have already arrived, they are asking for the birthday girl.” said Sylvia.
“Ok mom, almost over, will be their in a second” said Sofia.
She looked dazzling in her sleek red long gown and a beautiful diamond necklace. Pretty and gorgeous she looked.
By the time they got downstairs, the calling bell rang.
Peter opened up the door to meet the guest. A man stood tall and hansome in his long jackets in the cold. Peter welcomed him in.

To Be Continued..
Thanks for reading.

Copyright@Gokul Vijayan.

The Love Bond #8

Chapter-9

The Love Bond
Little Sofia

PS: let me begin with an apologising note. Got pretty sick and wasn’t able to write.I heartily request your forgiveness.Thanks to all my readers for enquiring about the further chapters.So, shall we begin? Here it goes…. where did I stop? Aah ok… 🙂

Peter was getting his accounts in his drawing room.SylvIa was knitting cloth beside him on the rocking chair near to the fire place.

Dhum….dhum… heard the voices from the room upstairs.

“What is that noise? ” asked peter.

“I have no idea Peter, maybe they might be running around.” said Sylvia.

Sylvia stood up from the chair,peeped through the curtain saw Samo and Simon busy in the garden.

“Peter, Simon and Samo are in the garden. Where is this sound coming from then? Sofi! Shouted Sylvia but came no reply.

“It’s ok, I will go check out.” said Peter. He walked upstairs. As he moved closer the sound seemed increasing probably like heavy foot steps.

The room upstairs was closed and mild music from the radio kept coming out of the room.
“Sofi ! Where are you? Said Peter.

He got the knob of the door and opened gently without making a noise. He peeped into room and he saw little princes. He kept quite rushed down stairs and called Sylvia to come over with him upstairs.

“What is it Peter? Where is Sofi ?!” Sylvia asked.
“Ssshhh!! Just be quite, I will show you something” said him.

They both looked into the room. They were astonished to see the five year old Sofi dancing to the beats of the Slovakian music from the radio. She moved to the beats in so much co ordinance. She danced with lot passion with what a five year can dance. They kept staring at her dance with so much of happiness.

“Sofi! ” said Sylvia.
She stopped quickly and ran towards the curtain with shy.

“Sofi, come out you danced so well.Good girl” said Peter.

Sylvia pulled her out of the curtain and kissed her.
“Do you want to learn dance? ” asked Peter.

Nodded the little girl with her head for the big yes.
“From where did you learn those steps?, it was beautiful” asked Peter.

“Dada, I saw the beautiful ladies dancing at the ball day before yesterday. I wanted to dance like them” smiled Sofia.

“Sure, I shall make you join a dance academy, now it’s time for some food, you must really hungry little princess” said Peter and they walked downstairs.

That evening Peter took Sofia to nearby dance academy to make her to begin her first dance training with a professional trainer.

She was the youngest among all the students in the academy.

Mrs Penelope, the dance trainer was very much interested in Sofia as a young child she was very keen in grasping the steps one by one. She showed a lot of passion and her each steps was nearing perfection day by day. She finally stole her trainers heart, Penelope started to have a lot of expectations for her.

Three years passed by, Sofia was one of the best performers in her dance academy.

In 1945, Czech and Slovakia was reunited under the Russian soviet union.

She started to become in her school, she bagged lot of prizes for competitions. The neighbourhood had gatherings in the weekends at the town hall.
Sofia performed in all the possible opportunities she got.
She turned on her radio danced to it all alone in her room when she got bored. Dance begin to be her life after all. She danced while walking, bathing, studying and even in her dreams. Her feet kept tapping to a rhythm at all times. Dance meant everything to her.

Thanks for reading.
Copyright @ Gokul Vijayan

The Love Bond #7

Majdanek Camp (Right Gas chamber)

Chapter-8

 

The Love Bond

Insight

Peter gave Madeline a pouch of gold coins as rewards for coming over to help. She thanked him and with joy she left home. But she or her family wasn’t lucky enough. As the World War II was in its heights of battle to depress the German power on Europe and abolish Nazism for ever. Jews were searched and found out from hooks and nooks of the city and were send to camps. Madeline and family became the victims of this as well .One week after, They were caught red-handed by the Germans and was deported to camps. They were split to three Madeline was send to one, children to another and her husband to another one. In huge coaches of train without even a proper ventilation the were loaded like goods and were taken to the concentration camps that where build for them. Madeline and her family where taken to Majdanek, a death camp which was constructed in the city of Lublin, Poland.

The huge bogeys of goods train unloaded large number of people to the camps. From there woman’s, children and men where separated. They are send to three different blocks painted in green.

They formed long queues, in the beginning and they waited for their turn to enter the a barrack, which was concreted completely. They were greeted with so much of politeness by the Schutzstaffel or the popularly known SS men with words like “Ma’am could you move forward ?” but who knew what actually was waiting for them the next minute ?

Inside the barracks they saw benches that are long and cemented. They were asked to strip themselves before advancing to the next block.

They removed there dress and was said that they could have it back once the bathing or the purification was over. They moved forward in queues, a huge board written ” bad Un Disinfecktion” welcomed the naked fearful live bodies.

What they saw is a concrete room with no possible ventilation, twice the size of bath houses. Tiled walls which contained numerous holes which had pipes projecting outwards. Puzzled victims stood their rubbing and touching the naked bodies to others assuming the flow of water from the pipes any moment. They were filled up to the maximum that it was not even possible to properly tilt their body from side to side. The doors went closed leaving behind not even a ray of light except a small opening on the ceiling and a keyhole which is possibly 2 cm in diameter. It was absolute dark and hot with these people breathing on each other.

As soon as it went dark warm water leaked into the room for a while, and then pale blue crystals of zyklon B was released which immediately vapourized in the hot humid atmosphere. Who knew that it would cause them suffocation. Wondering it to be a cleansing agent they kept quiet but after a while they all were dead with suffocation.

Naked dead bodies piled one above the other. They went in turns woman’s, men and and even children.

In one of the Queue Madeline kept stood high in her spirits. A telegram arrived at her residence in Slovakia. It was lying on the floor in front of the door. Lara opened it. It said

INFORMATION NOTICE

 “The members – Madeline Aatami (28),Abdiel Aatami(35), Abel Aatami (14) and Aaron Aatami (11). Deported and vergasted (which eventually means ‘gassed out’ at Majdanek,Poland.Confirmation Death”.

SCR- 1000072385678, Germany.

 Lara read the telegram and tears started to roll down her cheeks. She kept the telegram closed to her heart and prayed to god in a murmur.

After a year of Sofia’s birth the Russian red power over threw the German power from Slovakia and thus the Czech republic and Slovakian republic was once more joined together to form the Czechoslovakia. In 1993, Dec 31st Czechoslovakia was reborn.

The communist rule of the Soviet power was in its heights all over the nation. Red flags waved in the streets of Bratislava.

The Hornik households finally began to witness some peace. There business started to grow higher and bringing them all the luxury and money once again.

Couple of years past by, Sofia turned eight. She was as adorning as a doll. Maids kept all the attention to her. She was perhaps naughty than her brothers. Peter loved her than anything. She was presented precious gifts which the cities other children would dream for. A gold bordered fabricated pink frock was her gift for her eighth birthday. She wore that for the entire day and walked around with so much of courage along the corridors of her mansion. Maids surrounded her all time pampering her. Sylvia asked the maids not to pamper her so much that she would be spoiled of excessive pampering.

The beautiful young girl was smart in her studies and was just as good in anything even helping out with her dad’s business at this age!

On a bright sunny day, Peter was sitting at his office solving his accounts, it was then Peter discovered this………..

Thanks for reading,

To be continued….

Copyright by Gokul Vijayan.

The Love Bond #6

Chapter- 7

    The Love Bond
Henchman

Lara kept walking and then running for a while consciously without getting into the sights of the German troops.

Her skirts where held high with one hand and the other holds the black umbrella, she did not wanted to get tripped. In a blurred vision on the opposite side of the road she saw the lights of a vehicle approaching her. She immediately sheltered herself in high bushes and waited impatiently for the vehicle to pass by. She threw her umbrella not to get noticed. The vehicle came closer and closer. At a point it passed by and moved forward. She pulled her skirt up again and started to move and then she realised that the vehicle had stopped at a distance. She stood still and looked back. The reverse light of the vehicle glowed as shivers of fear ran down through her body. It was an army vehicle and it came closer to her and stopped. A tough young man in his boots with thick mustache got down the car and looked at her fiercely with his eyebrows raised.

He said ” Get into the car now!, you are going nowhere! ” in his masculine tone.
Lara shook with fear and pleaded ” Please! Don’t take me away! I am not Jewish and I am no harm to your nation. Please let me go. Please I beg you” tears came through her eyes as she said.

” Lady! We shall discuss that at the camp. Now I say, get in the car or else……” said the young German soldier with a higher tone.

” Please listen to me, I swear to god I am not lying to you. My mistress she is about to give birth and I am on my way to call the Mid wife who lives downhill. Please let me go…. ” Begged Lara.
All of a sudden his heart began to melt in her words. He felt sympathetic, there is a very peculiar reason for this. A year back he lost his beloved on her delivery due to complications, leaving behind a a smart young boy with him, she left to eternity.

He felt for her ” Stop crying and listen to me. I shall take you to the midwife, sacrificing my life I understand your situation because I have lost my wife in a similar situation” he said.
” No Sir, just let me go that would be the kindest thing you could do” she said.
” Are you scared of me ? Don’t you trust me? ” said he.
” Sir please, what if I am guiding you to a Jewish house? You shall take them to the concentration camps? That would be the cruellest thing that I am doing to that family, I can’t do that for gods sake” she said in shattered voice.

” Don’t be so judgemental mistress ! All Germans are not nazist, we have hearts too. I am working for them to feed my family. I have to obey them, I have no other go but I will give you my word, I shall not harm you or your Mid-wife’s family. I would take you safe downhill anyhow you have no guarantee that you will reach their by foot” He said.

Lara trusted his loyalty and accepted his offer to take her to the Mid-wife’s house. She got into the jeep and hid herself under the seat.
They drove towards the midwives house in a hurry. They got down the jeep. Lara rushed to ring the doorbell. She rang the bell continuously but no one came out.

They kept hidden them self in the basement f the house fearing the German invaders. The doorbell made them feel terrible and their hearts kept pounding as they heart the voice of the door banging.
Lara shouted ” Madeline! It’s me Lara please come out no ones here, I need your help!”
Please come out!!

The knob of the door tilted and then came out Madeline.Her face reflected her inner fear.
” Don’t worry Madeline, This men helped me to come over here. Mistress Sylvia is in need of you, the pain has started, please do come with us to the mansion.” said Lara.

She immediately went inside and asked her husband to take care of her kids and told him that she will be back very soon.

They got into the jeep and the army men drove them uphill. They reached home.
As they walked into the house,Sylvia’s voice was clearly heard outside. She cried in pain. Madeline immediately rushed and asked Lara to bring a basin of warm water and pieces of cloths along with some candle sticks.

Lara bought all the things that she told and got into the bedroom and then closed the door.
Peter waited outside with so much of anxiety. Simon and Samo woke up from their sleep hearing the cry of Sylvia.

Simon and Samo are twins.They turned five last month.
Simon asked ” Dada… why is mom crying? ”
” You are going to have a little baby brother or sister very soon” said Peter.
All of a sudden they heard the voice of the baby crying. After a while Madeline came out of the room with the baby wrapped in a soft towel.
She said “Both are fine, It’s a girl”
Tears of joy ran from Peter’s eyes.

He took the baby from Madeline and showed it to the happy little twin brothers
“It’s a little sister for both of you! ” he said with joy.

“Sweet she is, I will call her dolly.She is like a doll” said the big brother Samo with excitement.
Simon, the calm one among the twins kept looking at his little sister.

“Well my boys we will call her Sofia, Sofia Reznik Hornik” said Peter.
“Sofia, the princess woooaow” the boys agreed to the name.
She was red like a strawberry, soft and beautiful. Born with a smile on her face.

Meantime Peter handed over the baby back to Madeline and went downstairs to thank the German soldier.

“I really don’t know how to thank you. You reached them here on time, please let me know what help I can do to you? ” Said Peter.
“Absolutely nothing, I understand the situation you went through because I had gone through the same a year ago….but..but god loved her so much that he did not give her back” tears fell from his eyes as he said.

” Brother, why is all these things happening around us. Why are these people fighting for ? When will all this come to an end ? Your are such a good soul, a messenger from god who came in boots. Please don’t feel sad about your past. I am sure you and your boy will do great in your life” said Peter from his heart.

“I am assigned duties, I must leave. Take care and don’t leave home unless everything calms down” warned the Army men.
” What is your Name? I forgot to ask you” said Peter.
“Sergeant Carl Benedict” he said.

“Carl please feel free to come over anytime here, You are always welcome. Please visit us once these calamities are over.”

He smiled and got onto his jeep and drove away. Peter thanked god for sending him to help him with this situation. He realised that not all men are bad nor everybody have the same intentions it’s there circumstances which leads them to do the job that they don’t like. Good souls did lived under their skin.

He kept staring at the Vehicle unless it vanished from his eye sight.

To be continued…
Thanks for reading,

Copyright by Gokul Vijayan

The Love Bond #4

Chapter-5

The Love Bond
The Beginning

They arrived at Mr James apartment that night. He welcomed them with hot cup of chocolate to get rid of the cold.
Mervin left immediately after a while telling James that he would arrive to pick Ayush to Krishna Inn as he is invited to have breakfast.
James showed Ayush his room. All Ayush can remember was him getting undressed and lying on to the bed, he was dead tired.
The chirping of the birds from the trees, the sun rose late across the horizon of the mist filled atmosphere.
Ayush woke up by the knock of the door. He opened the door and fond James with a cup of coffee .He took a long sip to get himself comfortable in the cold morning.
” why don’t you have a walk to the nearby gardens? It’s beautiful” said James.
“Yes, I think I give a stroll in the gardens before Mervins arrives to take me the Restaurant for breakfast, need to get some Slovakian air” replied Ayush.
Ayush unpacked his bags and took his sweaters out and made himself ready for the morning walk. He took the stairs and came down towards the entrance of the building and opened the door. Beautiful looked the morning seen. The architectures of the buildings amazed him. Rich and elegant in style. He did not go around much indeed he has to get ready before Mervin arrives and it’s his day to join the Midway school for work.
He got back to his apartment and freshened up and soon he heard the calling bell ringing aloud. James had already left for work. It was Mervin arrived sharp at 9:00 am. They both drove to Krishna Inn just after. As they parked there car in the parking lot the old lady Mrs Sofia came out from the restaurant.
” Come in my son’s, did you get a good sleep Ayush? ” asked her in a greater voice.
“Yes, very well” said Ayush.
” Have your breakfast, do you want idli and sambar or chappathis?, whatever you want want have it” said Sofia.
A young girl who looked in her twenties to him, very beautiful but a little bit obese came from the room inside with tears in her eyes came and sat in one of the tables. Mervin immediately walked towards her and asked her something. Ayush was noticing all these while having his breakfast. Then what he saw was the girl was crying and Mervin was comforting her by wiping her tears and hugging her. Their interactions actually created a sense of discomfort to Ayush eyes thinking why should Mervin be so close to someone who is so grown up that too a lady.
After a few minutes of comforting that young lady Ayush saw him taking a some tablets from a box and asking Sofia to have it on time and giving out some advice for her regarding her health. Some words were in english which helped Ayush to understand a little bit. It was later when Ayush realised that the young girl who he saw was the grand daughter of Sofia Reznik her name is Leah. That she was so upset to go to school that day because some of her friends made fun of her due to her over weight and she was just 15 years old, which made Ayush realise that the girls in Europe looked much older compared to the girls in India who are fifteen.
Ayush was comforting her and was giving mental strength to believe in oneself and let go all the unwanted comments and see the world with positively and head to school.
Ayush had a splendid breakfast and thanked Sofia for the invite and told that he must leave immediately to reach school on time to begin his duty as a teacher. On their way to school Ayush was so curious to know about Sophia and the reason for the good relation that Mervin and other staff show towards her and her family after all they are foreigners to him. About the bond of love that holds them.
And finally he asks about it to Mervin.
Mervin laughs mildly and says ” Love and affection do not have nationality or religion, it’s just an emotional attachment between two souls”
“The old lady who Invited you today, My boss Sofia Reznik her story will give you the answer to you curiosity” said Mervin.
Then Mervin begin telling the story as they car cruised through snow covered roads of Slovakia heading to the Midway Elementary School in Bratislava.
The story dates back into the 1940’s when Slovakia was Czechoslovakia, the time communism was wide spread across the city and was a part of the soviet union.

To be continued……

Copyright by Gokul Vijayan

Thanks for Reading.

The Love Bond #2

Chapter-3

                                  The Love Bond

                                    Journey Begins

 

The wait for the day for the journey that Ayush was waiting to get abroad, find a job and earn which was throbbing in his heart was coming to an end. The flight he booked was with the Austrian Airlines to Vienna International airport in Austria. The city capital Bratislava of Slovakia resides 50 Kms from Vienna. Mr. James Ayush’s dad’s meat dealer and friend were assigned to pick the much anticipated young man Ayush to his apartment from the Vienna airport.

The Bratislava Milan Rastislav Štefánik Airport is huge and has most of the carriers in service but most of the outsiders land in Vienna to save a lot of money in their pockets.

And finally Ayush bid goodbye to his family and leaves for the beautiful European country Slovakia sandwiched between the other big and popular countries in the central Europe.

He walked along the Chatrapathi Shivaji terminal browsing through the bookstalls and antique stores which labeled the pricy tags to kill the waiting time for his flight.

He purchased a translator from the airport which would fit in his pocket.

The information board showed check in and the boarding procedures began.

With all the curiosities of a first time flyer Ayush walked along the aerobridge and boarded the aircraft.

The gorgeous Austrian flight attendants guided him to his seat numbered B-1 giving to a relief to his worries. The safety procedures were illustrated by one of the cabin crew, Ayush kept watching it with great concern, the entire procedure when frequent flyers would doze off during that time mostly, the engine sound kept rising and the aircraft was getting pushed for its final run before takeoff.

Anticipation grew in him. Butterflies filled in his stomach and final breach started slightly pushing the passengers to their seats the Austrian carrier gained its speed through the Mumbai runway and glided into the air bringing hope and wings to young man waiting for his new life abroad.

After approximately 11 hours duration of travel with a transit at Dubai finally the flight touched down at the Austrian land at the Vienna International airport. The passengers disembarked the flight.

They lined up in the queue at the  immigration counters, it was Ayush’s turn the white pale fat man took his passport and rolled his eyeballs through the visa page, gave a serious look at him which caused Ayush a little bit of anxiety thinking that anything wrong possible has happened. But everything went right after all it is every travelers wish to get through the immigration process without any difficulties finally the man took a big stamp and punched the immigration stamp and smiled at Ayush and said “Welcome to Austria”.

This gave a much relief to Ayush and then he collected his bags from the baggage belts and walked outside the airport. The big clock at the airport showed 9 PM.

He decided to keep waiting for his father’s friend Mr. James in the blistering cold who was supposed to take him to Bratislava. The chill of the cold winter night was taking power; it was penetrating into his skin. He couldn’t hold take it anymore so he decided to unwrap his bag and get his leathered dark grey trench coat. And then of a sudden Ayush gets a text from James.

Mr James ford got its tire punctured on his way along the freeway, he texted about the unexpected and told him to catch a cab from the airport and messaged him the address of his apartment.

Stranded in the night in a foreign land Ayush kept walking to find a cab. He enquired the cab driver about the about the ride charge. Overhearing his conversation with the driver a person in his 30’s probably looked Asian walked towards Ayush and asked him “Are you travelling to Bratislava”.

“Yes, I am” replied Ayush.

“I am off to Bratislava too, I work there and I am from Bangalore, would you mind travelling with me because I think cab usually charge too much, we have rail services it’s cheap and safe. I can help you out probably if you don’t mind” he said.

“Oh! Thank you! I am glad” said Ayush.

“I am Mervin by the way, how about your good name sir?”

“I am Ayush, I am from Mumbai” smiled Ayush.

They walked towards the Hauptbahnhof Station in Vienna.

The European unions are well connected by EU rails which are easily accessible and incredibly cheap.

They pretty much have the world class trains and season tickets valid for a particular period time can be purchased. They purchased two tickets costing them Euro 15 each to the Bratislava Hlavna Stanica station with a travel time on the ticket which indicated one hour.

They waited at the terminal and finally a porche silver red lined Double Decker trained arrived and stop in front of them. The train actually fascinated him in its looks when Ayush thought and compared it to his homeland rail services.

They stepped into the warm luxury couch and settled down in their seats and felled a great relief from the husky cold outside.

The train began to move taking them Slovakian capital, Bratislava.

 

Thanks for reading,

Copyright by Gokul Vijayan

To be continued…….