Life goes on

Smita looked out of window… she could see the dark outlines of the trees and bushes in the park just a little distance away.

The stars and moon were not visible in too illuminated kolkata night but crickets were singing their soothing song and a wonderful surprise.. some fireflies were flying in the darkness.

Seemed crickets and fireflies have adapted themselves to the pollution of the kolkata.

The doorbell rang, she heard her mother open the door and then she heard the pitter patter of tiny feets.. soon the owner of the feets appeared in her door way.

A tiny thing, as gorgeous as a porcelain doll, only difference was her huge eyes were dark not blue.

She directly headed for her with the biggest grin on her face and climbed up on her lap, nestled up against her as if she has known her forever.

She looked out of window and spoke in her sweet voice, “do you know smita masi, those are fairies!”, she pointed out her chubby fingers at the fireflies, “They come to kiss the flowers good night!”

“Really? I did not knew that!”, Smita hugged her gently.

“Lekhamasi, she tells me about fairies and mermaids.” She beamed at her. “Do you know what mermaids are? Have you seen them?”

Smita feigned innocence and started to play with her curly hair. Soon Mishtu got tired of fairy tales and jumped down from her lap, she straight headed for her computer with Smita on her heel.

Mishtu sat down with her on her lap while and played with the mouse and keyboard.

They were fully engrossed in the computer. All of a sudden both of them were startled when a voice rang right behind them, “I hope she is not bothering you!” Smita was surprised to hear a male voice and turned around.

He was a tall, dark and handsome guy. The most stunning thing in his feature were his eyes.. extremely beautiful but full of immense pain.

She saw her mother standing on the doorway, “Mishtu’s father Jayanta. He came to take her, its past her bed time.”, she explained.

Jayanta stretched his arms toward Mishtu who obediently went to him and smiled at her, “I will be back tomorrow aunty. Good night.”

Jayanta softly looked at her, and then looked at Smita, “don’t let her bother you.. she will drive you crazy.”



Smita went to have her dinner after seeing them to door. Her parents were waiting for her there. Jayanta was their next door neighbour. He lived with his mother and Mishtu.

Her mother said casually, “If we think about the pain which some people have to go through…”

“Mishtu’s mother Pronoti was a fairy without wing, Jayanta saw her in some marriage and married her without any enquiry at all. His family were happy beyond measure to have such a beautiful, sweet natured girl as their daughter in law.”

“They had a hunch of it within a week of marriage but when Mishtu was coming to the world they realized that Pronoti’s parents have cheated them. she had severe psychological problems.”

“She spent the entire pregnancy under strict supervision of two nurses and spent next year in a psychiatric rehab centre.”

“Her family lodged a case against Jayanta, he was arrested, discharged after six months because it was proved that the problem was old.. since her teenage.”

“Pronoti passed away in the rehab centre suddenly, due to an attack of malignant malaria. Jayanta was in jail.”

“Her parents are still harassing Jayanta and his family to no end for Mishtu, but this time law is on Jayanta’s side.”




Smita was returning from her office next day. Her office was near her flat, she walked the small distance. It was good for both, body and mind. The day was wonderful, cloudy and breezy. On the way she saw a vendor selling some beautiful clay dolls, she picked up two of them.

Smita has just reached her flat door when Mishtu’s flat’s door opened. A beautiful face appeared on the doorway, “You are home. Can I come with you? I have completed my homework.” . She smiled happily at Smita.

Smita restrained her laughter, Mishtu’s innocence was too heart warming. “Tell grandma to lock the door from inside and take her permission. You sure can come to us whenever you want darling.” She laughed a little.

Mishtu disappeared for a while, “she is bothering you too much is not she?” a very soft voice asked her.

She turned to face an elderly lady. Smita could assume that she was Mishtu’s grandmother. She was a frail looking lady, one of those faces which are very easy to forget. There was a deep shadow of tiredness on her face, which made one’s heart go out for her.

“No aunty. She is an adorable child, very well behaved and sweet.” She said with a smile.

“Please come and have a cup of tea with us.” Smita’s mother said, who has opened the door.

Mita, Jayanta’s mother hesitated at first but gave in when Arunima, Smita’s mother insisted.



Smita changed her dress and ate something while Mishtu roamed around her room with childish curiosity.

“Are they toys?” she soon discovered the packet which Smita has left on table. “Can I see them Smitamasi?”

“Will you play with them? Can I play with you too?” she asked innocently.

Smita hugged her, “Which one do you like more my sweet princess?”

She gave her selection to her and kept the second one. “Now we both can play.”

She held her tiny wrist in one of her hands and went to the drawing room. Arunima and Mita were sitting there with cup of teas in their hands, she could see that they have already become good friends. “Ma, aunty I am taking Mishtu to the park below. Or else she will become a bird of cage like us.” She smiled at them.

As they headed for the door Mita noted that Smita was limping.

She was about to say something but very softly spoken words from Arunima prevented her from uttering out any thing.

“She had a birth defect, which completely ruined one of her legs. After years of therapy she has been able to get an ample amount of control on her legs.”

“This is why she is unmarried, we have tried quite a few times but you know our country.” Arunima hid the tears which were about to well in her eyes.

Mita softly clasped her hands.



The Park was a part of the Housing society. The society had a pond, which they did not filled up. In place of that they gave it a form of a gorgeous park. The pond was guarded by tall fences, so that the water was visible from the park but was safe for the children.

The pond was open for the adults and matured kids through guarded gates.

It was a piece of oasis for the Housing Society. The whole society loved it and took care of it. Smita and Mishtu were in the outer park.

Soft white clouds were sailing in the sky. Winter was about to come down to Kolkata. Though the autumn crispness has not been able to penetrate the kolkata pollution but the weather has become quite pleasant.

Smita was sitting on the grass, watching. Mishtu was playing near her. Running after the butterflies, scaring the birds, laughing….


“Smitamasi, do you cry?” Mishtu asked her. She has laid down on the grass, a little tired after running around, her head was resting on her lap.

“No sweetheart, adults don’t cry.” Smita smiled, her fingers were playing with her curled hairs.

“Daddy cries, every night.” She said, “I have seen him crying, with mom’s photo in his hand.”

A deep pang formed in her heart. She could realize how much Jayanta loved Pronoti. She has seen her photographs. She was truly a fairy without wings.

“When someone dear to us goes away from us to live with God we miss them, and cry.” She softly said.

“Why did mom go away? Why did she left us?” Mishtu was about to pout.

“We don’t go sweetheart, God calls us and we have to go. Those who are very, very good God calls them to her very soon. Because she cant live away from them for long.” Smita said.

“Am I naughty?” Mishtu asked.

“No darling, God has left you behind to take care of dad, and dad to take care of you.” Smita bent down and kissed her forehead.

Her answers satisfied Mishtu and she demanded a story. “Smita masi tell me a fairy tale.”

“Smita masi will not tell you any thing. Get up little lady, its time to go home.” A male voice rang.

“baba!!!! You are home.” Mishtu jumped up and pounced on him.




Smita smiled at Jayanta as he hugged Mishtu tightly. She could feel his deep love for his little doll. She was a gorgeous child. Simply adorable in and out.

“Baba, please don’t take me upstairs, please let me play a little more..” she implored and won.

She ran away chasing the poor birds who were looking for something to eat on the ground while Jayanta sat down near Smita.

They first started to talk casually and then got deeply immersed in talking both wondering how much they had in common.

Their spell was broken by Mita’s voice, “Its late, I am taking Mishtu home.”

“There is no need of your coming upstairs, you two can talk for a while.” She said, there was something in her eyes which stopped both of them from standing up and following her.

She took Mishtu by her hand and took her upstairs, “Smitamasi I will finish my homework and studies before you come upstairs, then I will listen to the story, ok?” Mishtu hugged and kissed both of them before leaving with Mita.

“soon she will pack her bag and start living with you.” Jayanta laughed out loud.

“she is an adorable child.” Smita softly said.

“And she has never tasted the affection of a mother. We all sometimes lose temper at her because she is full of energy. A thing which you never do. I should say you have some energy!!!!” he looked at her with admiration and gratitude.

“I love children, they are purest things on this world to me.” Smita smiled.

“Lets go upstairs now before Mishtu comes back looking for us.” Jayanta said after checking his watch, its been more than an hour they have been talking.



Evening has softly changed to night. The streetlamps were spreading their mysterious light around them. People were coming back home after spending the day in office.

“Will you join us to a picnic in Botanical Garden next Sunday? We are planning to spend the day there.” Jayanta asked Smita.

“All of us? Both famillies?” she asked.

“Yes. Ma has already asked your father and mother and they consented.” Jayanta replied.

“Then its ok. I will love to.” She softly said.

They started to mount the stairs side by side.



That night Mishtu was lying near Jayanta. He was telling her a story.

“Mishtu, would you like it if Smitamasi comes to live with us?” he asked her.

“yes.” She instantly answered.

“If she stays with us in this room? Sleeps with us?”

She grinned from ear to ear and shook her head.

A deep peace settled on Jayanta’s face. He went back to the story he was telling her.