Touch of love

I

 

“Wake up you lazy brat!” he felt the sting of the cane upon his body. He jumped out of the bed in horror.

 

“Wear the clothes and come with me. If this house also sends you back I will kill you with my bare hands.” Mr. Yadav growled. He was a dark, short, fat man with cruel eyes and strong hands. Hands he used to thrash the small and big boys of the state run orphanage.

 

He collected a large amount of money from different sources but it just vanished. He never kept boys with him for more than five years. After that he used to give them away to people of distant places, in lieu of money. They used to get a slave for few years and he a little bit of extra money.

 

Deepak has been given away a couple of times but he ran away from those homes whenever he was mistreated too much. Police has rescued him from the street a few times and have warned Mr. Yadav. This time Mr. Yadav has arranged a house hundreds of miles away.

 

They were coming to pick him up. A car stopped outside a few hours later.

 

A very serious looking man entered the office. “Mr. Yadav? I am Dr. Banerjee.”

 

“Is he the boy? He looks malnourished.”

 

“What’s your name?” he smiled at Deepak.

 

“Tell him your name beta. He is a very mischievous boy. You can call him a rogue.” Mr. Yadav said sweetly.

 

“That’s ok. I don’t expect him to be an angel.” The man said. “My wife and mother will handle him perfectly. He is just a small child. How old is he? Seven?”

 

“No sir, he just looks small, he is ten years old.” Mr. Yadav was preparing the form for adoption. “Don’t go by that innocent face sir. You will regret.”

 

Another hour later Dr. Banerjee opened the door to his car for Deepak. He climbed inside stiffly.

 

“Are you hungry?” he asked. “They were passing by some sweet shops.”

 

He shook his head so vehemently that he laughed out loudly and stopped the car. He took Deepak inside and ordered some food for him. He watched him devouring them hungrily.

 

He bought and handed him over a few packets of chips and chocolates for the journey. They won’t reach Kolkata before afternoon.

 

 

 

 

II

 

They reached a small house situated just outside Kolkata. Dr. Banerjee has opened a chamber just outside Kolkata. He earned enough for a luxurious life. Having enough property from ancestors he did not have to worry much about future.

 

Two women and a small girl came out one by one when they heard the car entering the driveway.

 

“This is the boy ma.” Dr. Banerjee smiled at one of them.

 

“He is too skinny and dirty.” The lady said. All her hairs were white like the sari she was wearing.

 

Deepak went toward them and touched their feet one by one. They all blessed him.

 

“Come baba. What’s your name?” the elderly lady asked.

 

“Deepak.” He said.

 

“Wow! You can talk.” Dr. Banerjee laughed. “I have asked him this question atleast five times since I first saw him. He just kept mum.”

 

“Call me dida, her ma, her didi and him baba.” The lady instructed him before taking him to the toilet. She showed him the ropes and left him a set of fresh clothes.

 

When he came out they were waiting for him in the dining table. He was placed in the room beside dida. They went to the market in the evening to get necessary things for him.

 

He was really surprised. He pinched himself a few times to confirm if he was dreaming but he was not. He was fully awake.

 

Soon evening turned into night and he went to bed after dinner. Scared that he will wake up in the orphanage in the morning. With the stinging taste of Mr. Yadav’s cane on his body.

 

 

“Deep, are you sleeping?” he heard a soft voice and felt a soft touch on his forehead.

 

He woke up confused. He was lying in a small bed; a small beautiful girl was standing beside the bed.

 

Then he recalled everything. “No didi.”

 

“Then brush your teeth and come with me. I will pick flowers and you will have to hold them, then we will decorate the rooms, ok?” Hema said.

 

Soon the little ones were in the garden. One picking up flowers the other holding them in his hands.

 

Together they brought them to the verandah. Hema has already placed a few water filled vases there. She got busy with them. She soon decorated the first one and handed it over to Deepak. “Go and put it in the drawing room table. The one in the middle of the room.” She ordered. She was happy to get a helping hand.

 

Deepak meekly obeyed her. He started for the drawing with the vase then slipped fell and the vase was shattered to pieces.

 

The crash brought both Janaki and her mother in law there in a second. Janaki saw the small boy shivering like a leaf sobbing.

 

She soon reached him and started to inspect him for scratches. There were none. Her heart felt the reason behind the tears and softly hugged the frightened child to her heart.

 

“Don’t cry baba. Its alright.” She wiped his eyes.

 

The maid cleaned up the mess. Deepak rejoined Hema. Then onward he was cautious while walking.

 

 

 

 

III

 

Soon his life transformed into a beautiful dream. Dr. Banerjee enrolled him in a local school first then in a very good school. Finally he left to study MBBS in Delhi on scholarship.

 

He got his first offer there and got settled there. Dr. Banerjee stayed in Kolkata but they were constantly in touch.

 

Within a year of getting his job he came back to Kolkata to wed Hema off to Jiten. A young man settled in South Africa. They were a family of businessmen. Jiten appeared to be a very nice boy. He was very kind to Hema who was slightly autistic.

 

“Deep, baba you should get married now.” Dr. Banerjee told him. He was visiting Delhi.

 

“I was thinking about shifting to South Africa with your ma.” He said. His mother has passed away a couple of years ago.

 

“I feel a little worried about Hema, all alone there. I know Jiten is a very good boy but you know a mother’s heart.”

 

“Jiten was asking us again and again to shift there.” Dr. Banerjee said. “What do you say?”

 

“Baba, don’t worry about me. I will be alright. But don’t hurry for my marriage right now. Give me five years. Then fix a match for me, I will marry her.” He said.

 

Dr. Banerjee sold off his property in India; a thing which Deepak advised him against but he did not listened.

 

“There are hardly any chances of our returning here.” He said. He left a hefty amount in Deepak’s name simply rubbishing his vehement opposition.

 

He bade them goodbye from Dumdum airport, crying like a child. A decision he later regretted bitterly.

 

They maintained a regular contact for the first year then simply disappeared. Vanished without a trace.

 

Deepak tried every thing but they have simply vanished. It appeared as if the foreign land has swallowed them alive.

 

Deepak married after a few years, his wife Smita was a very loving lady. They were blessed with a daughter soon. They named her Hema.

 

Twenty years have passed by. Deepak was now a well settled doctor in Delhi. He had two nursing homes in Delhi. One was completely charitable the other one was run to bear the expenses of both and his own.

 

“Dr. Banerjee. There is a serious injury case. A woman, she seems to be in coma.” The receptionist informed her as he was entering the charitable nursing home – Janakisadan.

 

He headed straight for the ICU.

 

 

 

 

IV

 

He stopped short before entering. There were two elderly persons sitting there, huddled to each other.

 

He stood there staring at them. “Dr. Banerjee?” he asked. One of them shot up his head and stared at him.

 

He bowed down and touched their feet. “Sister, take them to my home and give Smita this note.”

 

He quickly scribbled something to a note. But they both refused to budge. “Please first check our daughter.”

 

“Ok, sister take them to my room and give them whatever they need and tea.” He entered the room.

 

Fortunately the woman was only in shock. She was badly bruised and unconscious.

 

He took the necessary steps and left her to the care of a sister. “She is my sibling. Take very good care of her.”

 

He entered his room. It was a small suite type system. He has to often spend days here at a stretch so he has made likewise arrangements.

 

They were sitting side by side on the sofa with a surprised expression on their face.

 

“How is Hema?” Janaki asked.

 

“She is alright ma. Only bruises. We will go home when she comes to senses.”

 

“Deep. You have not forgotten us?” Dr. Banerjee asked him. He has already seen their photo on the table so they have guessed who he was.

 

“Where have you all disappeared?” he was almost in tears. “I searched you like a lunatic.”

 

 

 

 

V

 

“Life has changed into a nightmare after we shifted to South Africa.”

 

“When we reached there we saw that Hema has lost her vision in an accident, Jiten has not informed that too us.”

 

“He grabbed all our money and kept us under house arrest. We could not do any thing due to Hema.”

 

“He vanished after a month and we came to know that his family has already disowned him.”

 

“We spent all these years trying to arrange for the money to return to India.”

 

“He has grabbed all our papers so all I could do was do menial works and that too at dirt’s rate.”

“Your ma had to stay at home to look after Hema. We managed to come to India five years ago but have lost your address.”

 

“I tried to get my medical degree’s copy but failed. The bribe demanded was too much.”

 

“We came to Delhi hoping that we will stumble into you by some miracle. That miracle did happen.”

 

 

“Dr. Banerjee, patient has come to her senses.” They all rushed toward her room.

 

She was sitting on her bed. Trying to understand what has happened.

 

Janaki sat down beside her and softly picked up her hand in her hand. Hema recognized the touch and hugged her.

 

“Let’s leave for home now.” Deepak smiled.

 

 

The car pulled into the driveway of a small house. A young woman and a very small child were waiting in the verandah.

 

“Smita, ma, baba and hemadi.” Deepak smiled happily.

 

“Dadu, dida and pishimoni.” Smita told her daughter before bending down to touch their feet.

 

Glossary:

Dadu = grandfather, dida = grandmother, pishimoni = auntie

Eyes

I

 

Tilak was coming out of his cubicle when he heard Chandan call him. “Will you come here for a while?”

 

“Will you please read what is written in the sms?” he asked when he entered his cubicle.

 

Chandan was one of the most meritorious employees of their company. He was a magician when it came to composition of background scores of the ads that their company created but just like all the geniuses, nature has balanced his fortune with a misfortune. He could see things alright when they were far but could not see things that were close, or things which were hard to read, like smses on a cell-phone.

 

He often asked for the help of his friends, who happily helped him because he was a wonderful person.

 

Tilak read him the message.

 

“Will you please answer it? I will tell you what to write.” Chandan requested again.

 

It seemed that the girl who has written the message truly loved Chandan. Tilak answered the sms.

 

He heard Chandan talking with the girl as he closed the door of the office behind him.

 

“Hey Tilak, I want to see Pausha, I want to know her more.”

 

“I think that’s a good idea. She seems to like you. Why don’t you take it a step further and see if you can end up together forever.” He laughed.

 

“I think you are right. May be we should meet. I like her very much. She is a very sweet girl.”

 

They were having their lunch together. On Chandan’s request Tilak texted the smses and fixed an appointment in a restaurant next Sunday.

 

 

 

II

 

 

“Tilak, I am scared. What if she refuses me? And calls off the friendship?”

 

“Don’t be scared buddy, she will like you, and you are a marvelous person.” Tilak smiled at him fondly.

 

It was Sunday morning. Tilak was still in his bed when his cell-phone rang. It was Chandan. “I am on my way to airport. My flight is at ten. I am leaving for two years to Singapore.”

 

“Will you do me a favour? Will you meet Pausha on my behalf? She will be coming here all the way from Raniganj just to meet me. Tell her that I am really sorry that I had to go away like this. I received the sms fifteen minutes back or else I would have called her up myself. She must be on her way to Kolkata so calling her now is useless and rude. I will pay you the bill buddy; just take my girlfriend to a date. Please!”

 

Tilak agreed because he knew that if none showed up in the restaurant that will mean end of Chandan’s friendship with Pausha, there are slim chances that she will take it sportingly.

 

He got up and left for the restaurant at the given time. Pausha was sitting in the table; it was love at first sight. He spent the whole day with her and left absolutely drowned in her love.

 

She really was like an autumn morning. Simple, calm and serene. An air of purity enveloping her whole being.

 

He hid the fact from her that he was not Chandan. Why heaven only knows. He told her that he has changed his phone number and email address and gave his phone number and email id to her.

 

He knew Chandan has left his phone in India. He was dead sure that he will forget her in two years.

 

Sometimes people lie just without any reason at all. May be he thought that it would be their first and last meeting. But then why did he give her his own number? Hoping she too will be smitten by him?

 

She did not contact him back and two years passed by. Though he tried his level best to befriend her she remained aloof.

 

Chandan returned to India as his boss. Tilak got a little scared that he will ask about her, and if he finds out the bluffs, the results will be extremely bad for him.

 

Well, he did, the first question he asked him when they met was about Pausha, how was the meeting and what type of person she was.

 

“She is married. She came with a small daughter.” Tilak blurted out.

 

“She can’t be married. She told me she is unmarried and she is not a liar.” Was Chandan’s firm answer. He brushed off all that Tilak said to convince him.

 

 

III

 

 

 

He has already replaced Pausha’s number with the number of his cousin sister. Who lived in Raniganj. He has told her every thing and begged her help. She was furious but promised that she will help him as much as possible.

 

He has gathered enough knowledge about Pausha pretending as Chandan, he shared them with his sister and requested her again and again to get rid him of Chandan as early as possible, or else she might get caught and that will mean his doom.

 

He has failed to gauge the depth of Chandan’s feelings for Pausha. He was one of those persons who loved very rare, and when they did they loved with their every thing.

 

“Tilak, Chandan is nagging me to meet him again and again.” It was Doyel, his cousin on phone. “He is ignoring all my attempts to brush him away. I can’t be cruel to him without any reasons… tell me what I will do!”

 

“He is convinced that I am not married, because he calls up at all hours and asks me to let him speak with my husband or daughter, now from where will I get a husband or daughter?” she added, “So I avoided his grilling without saying anything.”

 

“Give me little time sis, just little time, I will try to shake her off his head. Can you give me your phone for a few months?” he asked and she happily gave it to him because she was absolutely disgusted with the entire affair.

 

Tilak started to sms him as abusively as possible. Trying to shake him out of his obsession.  He could see that Chandan was shattering to pieces, his heart started to curse him.

 

So he tried to treat him with firm friendliness even that failed. He could see that he was deeply in love with her.

 

His mother complained to him that he is turning down all the marriage offers.

 

He felt like banging his head to the wall.  He truly liked Chandan and hated himself for slipping into this quagmire of endless lies. He was sinking deeper into it with every passing day. He could see no way out of it.

 

 

 

IV

 

Pausha was sitting in her room when her phone rang, it was Chandan. She was a little irked. He did not turned out the man she thought he was and have been trying to get rid of him since then but he just was not giving in.

 

“Pausha, I am coming to Raniganj, can you meet me for a while? It’s urgent.”

 

“When and where?”

 

The venue was fixed. Tilak met her, told her the whole story and begged her to save him and Chandan.

 

Pausha scolded him but forgave him.

 

Next day Tilak entered office, “Chandan, Pausha wants to meet you.”

 

“Where? How did you know her?” Chandan beamed.

 

“I gave her my number when we met.” Tilak said, she is coming to Kolkata tomorrow. Please don’t go to Singapore again. Tilak laughed hiding his pain and fear.

 

They met in the same restaurant. “Where is your daughter?” Tilak asked her naughtily.

 

“I am not married; she is my sister’s daughter. I brought her with me as a safety measure.” She laughed. “When you told me that you are not Chandan I was so mad at him that I deliberately lied to you and gave away the phone to my sister. She has been playing all these pranks with Chandan.”

 

“I am sorry. Really.” She smiled at Chandan. Tilak could feel their mutual attraction. He tried to slip out but was not allowed. They passed the day together happily. Pausha went back to Raniganj glowing like a jasmine in early morning. Leaving behind a ecstatic Chandan.

 

(END)

Fake pearls

I

 

“Do you really think you will be able to do it? Take her place?”

 

“Give me some time, I will try and win.” She said with confidence.

 

“Okay. Then lets start trying.” Her mother in law said. She was a rich woman, very rich and was habituated of having her ways. Her only son fell in love with a poor girl.

 

She had other plans. She wanted him to get married to her friend’s daughter, after an exchange of a hefty sum of dowry.

 

She chalked her plan. Hired some goons to scare the family of the girl off the marriage and got her son married to the girl of her choice.

 

These two girls were as different as day and light. That was perfectly fine for Mrs. Majumdar but not for her son. He simply rejected her as soulmate but fulfilled his duties as husband.

 

Shyama complained to her mother and mother in law. It was not acceptable to any young woman that her husband will reject her as soulmate.

 

A weird idea popped out of the twisted mind of the woman.

 

She contacted her goons again, they contacted the girl’s family,”We have a request for you. You can keep it or leave it, it’s up to you.”

 

“Our client’s son is refusing to accept his wife as soulmate because of your daughter.”

 

“She gave us an assignment to kill her but we will not do that, we will give you a fair deal. We will give you an address, you have to keep your daughter there, and we will tell you for how long. Our client’s daughter in law will try to learn her ways. To become like her, as much possible.”

 

“We guarantee her safety if you listen to us, nothing if you don’t.”

 

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II

 

Her parents have knocked every police station when she was threatened first time but they received only two things, by name lecture and sniggering.

 

The reputation and life of their daughter was intimately involved so they surrendered their weapons and let them had their way. The girl was sent to that house with her older brother.

 

Then the woman started her real game. She on one hand made the life of the girl insufferable, praying deep in her heart that she will commit suicide on the other hand her daughter in law tried to mimic her as much as she could.

 

Watching her through her window, using a binocular, and placing a small listening device in her room, listening to every thing that was uttered in that room.

 

One year passed, two years passed. Slowly the girl’s family started to lose their cool.

 

Whenever they asked about getting their daughter back, all they heard was “wait.”

 

Finally it got on their nerves and they contacted the man whose love’s price she was paying. He promised stealth and soon accidentally entered the room when his wife was snooping, he saw and heard both.

 

“Shyama, I can forgive you because you are from an unsophisticated, rustic background, so you don’t even realize how disgusting it is to snoop on a person. Not only that, it is illegal too.”

 

“What will I do with my own mother? She can’t give your excuses.”

 

“Listen, you will never be my soul-mate, you just don’t have those materials in you. If you are not happy with being my wife you can walk out any day.”

 

“I have collected enough proof of your and mother’s deeds, if she is not released from that house immediately I will send you both to jail.”

 

“If any thing accidental ever happens to her, you both will meet me in Court.”

 

“If you apologize to her and me I will take you with me to my new home. But you will have to snap all ties with your and rest of my family forever.”

 

He walked out of the room.

Control

Every thing was silent in the park, the summer morning was moving toward a scorching noon. The threesome were sitting side by side, watching the lake water glittering like a shawl stiched with diamonds in the sunshine.

 

A car stopped at the park gate, a driver came out of the car to fill a bucket with water from the lake. The passenger sat in the back seat. He turned away his face after seeing them sitting on the bench.

 

The threesome looked at him grimly, Mrs. Gupta softly said, “I sincerely hope that monster is finally happy that his control over his children and their life is proved.”

 

“Even the very thought of him fills me up with hatred, inching his own son toward suicide.” She added.

 

Her other two friends preferred silence. There was nothing to be said about this affair.

 

The car drove away after the driver poured the water in the radiator.

 

Mr. Singh was a rich industrialist, known all over the community for his arrogancy and greed for money. His wife was exactly the opposite, timid and God fearing. She passed away when their children were young, he did not married again. He did not lived the life of a saint but he thought it better to not marry and concentrated on his business and two children.

 

His paternal affection made him a control freak, he dictated every step his children will take.

 

His daughter revati was completely under his control, he married her off to a suitable boy when she was eighteen. He waited till then to avoid legal problems.

 

Lucky for Revati that her husband Supratik was a nice guy. Understanding and caring.

 

Problem cropped up with Lekh. He made it quite clear from his teenage.. his life is only his. No one else dictates it for him.

 

He ran away from home after being spanked once, police rescued him from a remote village, working in a tea shop. Since then Mr. Singh treated him with apprehensive acceptance.

 

They both avoided confrontation because Mr. Singh had some weakness for his boy child and Lekh did not enjoyed working in the tea shop at the least, so they both pranced at each other like two tigers in adjoining cages.

 

18.10.2009

 

Revati was sitting in her drawing room. Supratik was out of town. Her tiny son was playing in the garden.

 

“Ma, Ma mama has come with an aunty. She gave me this chocolate, can I eat it?” Ron clutched her hand. “Please ma.. can I?

 

“Please allow the tiny one to have the chocolate your excellency!! Sorry Sunita should have given it after taking your permission, but she is not much expert in handling children.” A sonorous voice sounded from door way.

 

She stood up happily, “Dada, when did you returned to kolkata?”

 

She looked at her brother. An extremely handsome man, a pretty looking girl was standing beside him. Fair and cute.

 

“Meet sunita, your would be sister in law.” He said with a soft smile, he doted after his little sister. “Sunita this is the light of my life and eyes, my little baby sister Revati.”

 

Sunita came forward and hugged her. Revati felt the warmth of her heart instantly.

 

She asked her brother in a subdued way, “Does dad knows it?”

 

“I have not informed him yet. I don’t know if I will inform him or simply marry.” He said after sitting down. “Now will you please give your bhabhi something to eat? Or you want her to gossip about your clumsiness for the rest of my life?”

 

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19.10.2009

 

They gathered around the tea and snacks on the table. Chatting heartily.

 

“Dada, you should have told dad.” Revati said, “I know he is not the perfect father but he is our father.”

 

“We will talk about it later, right now you should be buttering your bhabhi, our future relationships depend on her. You know that don’t you?” Lekh smiled, Revati understood the unspoken words and became silent.

 

She did not let them go without having the dinner. Sunita called up her parents to tell them that she wont be home for dinner.

 

“Dada, can you drop by tomorrow morning?” Revati asked when she found him alone for a while. Lekh nodded.

 

Revati passed the night dreaming nightmares about a furore between her brother and father. She loved both of them.

 

She was too soft natured, hence she never resisted her father or her husband and in laws, so no bitterness cropped up inside her for anyone.

 

Lekh being independent minded clashed with his father again and again. As a result they rarely talked with each other now. Lekh spends his limited time in kolkata at his father’s home more out of sympathy for the old man than love.

 

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20.10.2009

 

She woke up before dawn and went out to the garden with a cup of tea. Ron was still sleeping peacefully. She stood for a while looking at his peaceful, innocent face.

 

How lucky he is!!!! She thought. Supratik dotes after him, pampers him to no end. If he did what dada is going to do we will accept his wife happily.

 

She sat down in the garden chair watching the city slowly waking up.

 

It started with the paper boy and milk man. They both smiled at her. “good morning didi.” Every one liked her because of her soft nature.

 

Peace was far away from her heart. She knew very well what will happen when Lekh will tell dad or she will have to tell him.

 

She was looking at the trees, bushes and flowers around her, trying to divert her thoughts but nothing worked. She gulped down the tea and went inside.

 

Ron was still sleeping. She went to the kitchen and occupied herself with work.

 

A couple of hours later she called Lekh and asked him to spend the day with them.

 

The bell rang at eleven. Ron was in school. “hi Revu, what is the menu for breakfast? I am starving.” Lekh beamed at her.

 

She observed with great happiness how much he has changed since Sunita came into his life. A thin shadow of sadness which always wrapped him was gone.. a warm happiness has taken its place.

 

“I am sick of Ramukaka’s horrible cooking.” He winked at her. “First give me a hot cup of coffee.” He said.

 

She felt guilty to discuss some thing unpleasant with him right at that moment.

 

They were sitting with the coffee cups in their hands when the bell rang again.

 

Revati was surprised. She got up and opened the door. Supratik was standing there. He was about to give her a hug but restrained himself when she giggled shyly.

 

“Its alright, its alright, I am looking the other way. If you want I can even close my eyes or pretend that I don’t exist here.” He heard the voice of his brother in law.

 

“You rogue!!!! How dare you enter my home without my permission?” he hugged him tightly.

 

They have become best of friends since Revati married Supratik.

 

---------------------------------------------------

 

“Hmm!!!! That’s a great news. The best news I have heard since eternity.” Supratik winked at his brother in law.

 

“Don’t worry, I will try to pacify the dragon.” He laughed. He had a wonderful relationship with his father in law. “After all I am his only son in law.”

 

It took quite a long time. But Mr. Singh finally gave in and agreed to meet Sunita’s family.

 

Lekh was flying in the seventh sky. They went to see Sunita to her home to finalise the formalities.

 

It was a very ordinary home but beautifully decorated. Entire home was decorated with hand made things.. paintings, stich works..

 

There was not much to say, Mr. Singh kept mostly silent, then he was silent by nature. Sunita’s family was overwhelmed.

 

Lekh’s vacation was over, it was fixed that when he comes back in March, two months later they will get married. In the mean time the elders will fix a date and let him know.

 

A few weeks passed like dream. Revati was sitting in her drawing room. Supratik was in office, Ron in school. She has already finalized her dresses for her brother’s marriage, was finalising Ron and Supratik’s dresses since last few days.

 

The phone rang, she rushed to pick up. It was Supratik, “Revu, do you know Sunita’s family has called off the marriage?” he sounded distressed “I will be back home early, lets go and talk with them.”

 

Revati mumbled some thing.

 

“Please forgive us.” Sunita’s father folded his hands, “We thought it thoroughly, but we are no match for you.”

 

“A beggar shall not dream of a palace.” He added sincerely. “I have decided it after judging it from every angle. I wont change my mind.”

 

“We have already fixed Sunita’s marriage somewhere else. Next month.” He added. “Please come to bless the newlyweds, I will certainly send you a card.” His solemn expression said there was nothing to say.

 

“Can I see Sunita?” Revati asked pleadingly.

 

“Sorry child, she will be married next month. In our familly its strictly prohibited that a girl whose marriage date is fixed mixes with non relations.” He folded his hands. “Please forgive me, us, tradition is tradition.”

 

They came back shattered. None knowing how to break the news to Lekh.

 

Next morning the phone rang again early in the dawn, Supratik picked it up and placed it down within two minutes. His face has lost every colour, “Sunita has committed suicide last night.”

 

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22.10.2009

 

“Pack necessary things we are leaving for Delhi by the next available flight.” Supratik said.

 

Revati heard him talking to his secretary and airways office. By evening they were with Lekh.

 

They were scared by his absolute silence. There was no expression of grief on his face. He was never talkative, now he has become absolutely silent.

 

Supratik came back leaving Revati and Ron with him. “I will meet dad and talk with him.” He said at the airport.

 

Revati could see that Lekh has taken the thing very badly but he refused to open up.

 

“Why don’t you do one thing?” Soha one of his colleagues asked. “There is a good temple nearby, where every evening a genuine class on spiritualism is held, these mahatmas help people in grief. I have seen them working wonder.”

 

Revati went there with Ron and was overwhelmed by the environment. It was absolutely peaceful. An orphanage run by the mission was attached to the ashram and temple. The swamijis, sadhvis and the orphanage dwellers took care of every thing.

 

She took Lekh there in the evening, when the arati was about to start. She could feel by his relaxed face that he too have been blessed by the peace of that place.

 

Since that day she took him and Ron there every morning and evening. She had to return to Kolkata a month later because of Ron’s school.

 

“Dada, if you ever feel lonely do come to kolkata or call me, either me or Supratik will catch the next flight.” She hugged her brother tightly.

 

“Don’t worry Revu. I will be alright.” He said calmly.

 

It was this calmness which scared Revati beyond words.

 

She hugged him tighter and boarded the plane with tears in her eyes. Which kept on rolling from her eyes till she met Supratik at airport and he firmly held her hand.

 

“Don’t worry Revu, I have talked with my secretary, from now on I will be handling North India and he will be handling South India.” He said gently hugging her, “That means I will be able to meet Lekh atleast once a month.”

 

“I will call him every day, you too do that. Make him talk, with you, with Ron.” He added.

 

“Dad has teken the thing quite calmly. I asked him if he wanted to meet Lekh and he said that he has talked with him. Lekh did not wanted to see anyone.” He said. “They are really not at all close to one another.”

 

“It must be his fault, he must have said something to Sunita’s dad.” Revati said. This was the first time in their married life Supratik heard her saying any thing against her father.

 

He softly ruffled her hair as she hid her face in his lap venting out her frustration by a torrent of tears.

 

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23.10.2009

 

The next time Supratik came back from Delhi he was visibly disturbed.

 

“Revu, I don’t know if I am over-reacting but all his neighbours asked me to get him married asap. He is spending all his free time in that ashrama.” He said seriously.

 

“they are afraid that he will join them.” he added. “May be he needs some time to get over the immense pain. But very frankly, I too have the same suspicion.”

 

“You know dada. He will never agree to marry. No one can make him do any thing against his will.” Revati said softly. She knew her brother very well.

 

“I will try to pull him out of this state of mind. You can try to persuade him to get transferred to kolkata.” He said. The discussion stopped there but it left the undercurrent of worries in both hearts.

 

Six months have passed since the discussion between Revati and Supratik. Revati was sitting in the garden when a taxi stopped. She stood up and saw Lekh coming out of the taxi. She ran to him with a smile.

 

He hugged her and kissed her forehead. “How are you Revu?” he sounded calm and peaceful.

 

She smiled in return.

 

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24.10.2009

 

They were sitting side by side in the drawing room sofa. Just enjoying the company of each other after such a long time when the door bell rang.

 

Revati opened the door, “Hi!! Amina. Come inside.”

 

Lekh looked up, a gorgeous girl was walking towards them. Hardly nine or ten years old.

 

“She is Ron’s classmate. They recently transferred here from Delhi.” Revati smiled. “Sit down beta. Ron will be back soon.”

 

Amina left with Ron after he returned from school and changed.

 

“They take tution together. Amina’s father passed away in an accident, her mother returned to her father’s home with Amina.” Revati said. “She is a very bright child and very well behaved.”

 

The bell rang again, Revati went to open the door, “Hi Neelofar, we were talking about you and Amina just now. Please come in.”

 

Lekh looked up and his eyes stayed there for a little while. He has rarely seen such a combination of beauty, sophistication and grace.

 

Neelofar folded her hands to him. “So you are Revati’s elder brother, both Ron and Revati dote after you.” She said with a sweet smile.

 

“They are the ones to be adored, not me. Where did you lived in Delhi? I live there.” Lekh smiled softly.

 

It was a mere coincidence that they lived in the same locality. That opened a stream of discussion, memories and experiences.

 

Neelofar left with Amina but not before inviting all of them for lunch next day.

 

They became wonderful friends within the next fortnight that Lekh spent in Kolkata.

 

Revati was happy to note the change of mood in Lekh. He was slowly getting back to his normal self.

 

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26.10.2009

 

“Revu, I am coming back to kolkata next month.” It was Lekh on the other side of phone. “I have taken transfer to Kolkata office.”

 

Revati was happy and relieved beyond words. Lekh returned to kolkata after a month and started to live with his father.

 

Months started to glide by like dream. One year has passed by since his return to kolkata when Lekh showed up at Revati’s door.

 

Revati was sitting in the lawn, watching the winter flowers that has started to bloom one by one under the careful affection of her and Ron’s. Ron was now eleven years old. He was the one who deserved the main credit behind these beautiful flower beds.

 

“Revu!!!” she almost jumped up from her seat, “Did I scared my little sister?” Lekh laughed.

 

“Dada, I have told you a thousand times to not startle me like this.” She scowled at him.

 

“I love to see you jumping like that, you know that.” Lekh was still laughing, “Its my pet hobby.”

 

“Will you have a cup of tea? Or coffee?” Revati smiled.

 

“A little later, let Supratik come I will have something with him and tea or coffee and dinner…” Lekh smiled.

 

Revati’s eyes became moist when she saw the deep peace and happiness on her brother’s face. She was scared that he has lost that forever.

 

“Revu, I am in love with someone, and I want to marry her, and if I tell dad he will get a heart attack.” Lekh said softly.

 

“I know I am being a monster to you, but I could not help it. it was love at first sight, I tried to wipe it out but the more I tried to wipe it out, the stronger it became.” He continued a little sadly.

 

“Who is she? Do I know her?” Revati asked.

 

“Neelofar.” He replied looking keenly at her face.

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27.10.2009

“You will get us all killed.” Supratik said grimly. “Dad will kill all of us and then kill himself if you tell him that you want to marry a muslim girl, that too a widow with one daughter.”

 

“I think you are right.” Lekh replied.

 

“I like Neelofar very much. Does she shares your views? Her family?” Revati’s comment came as a surprise to both of them.

 

“I have talked with Neelofar and her family. Amina’s father was Sikh.” Lekh replied.

 

“I will talk with dad.” Both Lekh and Supratik stared at her.

 

She talked with her father the very next day. Tried her best to soften his heart. Finally he gave in and asked for a few days.

 

She was sitting in her drawing room when her maid stopped by her before leaving.

 

“Didi, I was thinking about telling you some thing for long.” She was clearly hesitating.

 

“Sit down Ruposi.” Revati said.

 

Ruposi huddled close to her, as much possible. “I have full faith on you that you wont tell it to anyone, not even jamaibabu.” She looked at her with begging eyes. “But I just cant silent my conscience, its been bugging me since I heard that you are trying to get your brother married to Neelofardidi.”

 

“Why? Whats wrong in that?” Revati frowned. She was not much of a gossiper, but some thing in Ruposi’s body language told her she should better listen.

 

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28.10.2009

 

“When you fixed your brother’s marriage earlier.. The girl who killed herself?” Ruposi started to say in a halting manners. “She killed herself because she did not wanted to marry anyone else.”

 

“But your father had her father threatened that he will not take any responsibility of her safety if she enters his household as a daughter in law.”

 

“My husband was one of them who went to scare her father.” She added. “I did not knew that girl, but I have seen Neelofardidi and amina, they both are very good.”

 

“I told you all these things because I know you wont tell anyone.” She looked at Revati with pleading eyes.

 

“I wont tell anyone, you can go home now.” Revati said.

 

They both jumped up when they heard a commotion at the door, which Ruposi has left open because she was about to leave.

 

Revati saw her brother disappearing outside the gate. She screamed out his name but he entered his car and sped away.

 

She ran for the phone, called his cell but it got disconnected. The next time she called the recorded voice informed her that its switched off.

 

She called up Supratik and Neelofar one by one and told them every thing and collapsed on the sofa.

 

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29.10.2009

 

The whole night passed away like a nightmare, early next morning the police called. Lekh’s almost lifeless body has been found. The whole family huddled outside ICU.

 

Every time a doctor or nurse came out they will run to him or her to hear “we cant say any thing right now.”

 

It was well past next day’s afternoon when the doctors finally gave them the first signal of hope. “If he makes it through the night, we can be half sure that he will pull through it alive. But we will have to wait for his recovery to realize how much damage he has done to himself.”

 

The night passed away, the family took the first breath of relief.

 

Mr. Singh observed the grief on Neelofar’s face, her beautiful nature and behaviour. She never left them all through the trial.

 

Lekh slowly started to come to his senses. Fortunately none of the damages were irreparable.

 

He walked out of the hospital two months later with four boons.. a new life, a father, a wife and a daughter.

 

A month later the threesome were sitting in the same park, talking with each other.

 

“Sometimes people learn lessons from past. I am really happy that Mr. Singh learned his lessons and welcomed life.” Mrs. Gupta said.

 

“As a parent we should never forget that we don’t own our children. They are live beings, so they have every right to decide their fate.” Mrs. Ghosh said.

 

“Well, when one’s own nest is hit, even monsters start to act like human beings.” Mrs. Sinha said.

 

“Lets pray for the happiness of the family, especially Lekh.” Mrs. Gupta added with a smile.