I
“Dipteshda, Swamiji wants to see you.” One of the boys told him. He was about to enter his dormitory after spending long hours at the library.
He reached the door of Swamiji within a few minutes. He was an orphan, being born and brought up in an orphanage run by swamiji. Swamiji was a rich man, who did not married and devoted his wealth to bring up orphans.
He used to give them shelter, food, education and vocational training. After that, first foot-hold in the real world.
Diptesh entered his room after knocking the door and touched his feet.
“Sit down.” Swamiji looked at him with eyes full of tenderness. “Diptesh was one of his favourite kids.”
“You have finished your training with brilliant percentage. The campus recruiters have recruited you.” He said with a heavy heart. “You know the system of ashram; you will have to vacate your bed.”
“I have talked with one of my best friends, Mr. Lahiri; he will have a room in his home ready for you on Monday. You can stay with him as paying guest.”
“Your salary will be ten thousand per month; he will charge you four thousand for every thing. Will that be alright for you?”
“Try to save some money, and try to come to meet us once in a while.” He said with a forced smile, hiding his pain.
A part of his heart always rejoiced whenever one of his boys went out to live on their own another part missed them. Because he knew, just like any parent, that this might be the last goodbye. He did not have any thing to pull them back to him, other than the affection which he has given to them.
Diptesh bowed down to touch his feet and two drops of tear fell on his feet. Swamiji hugged him tightly. Diptesh was a boy of very few words; actually people teased him for talking so little.
He left for Mr. Lahiri’s home with Mr. Lahiri. Who has come to the ashram to collect him. He was an elderly person with a dignified appearance. His very countenance spoke of noble character.
Mrs. Lahiri and their daughter Meghna was waiting for them in the verandah. It was a small two storied house. There were four rooms on first floor and four in ground floor, the whole house was surrounded by a spacious verandah in the ground floor and a balcony on the first floor.
The bedrooms were in the first floor. Mr. Lahiri took him upstairs to show him his room. It had a separate exit, a separate stair which came down to the drawing room. It was connected to the other rooms via the balcony.
It was a beautiful room, overlooking a small garden. “That belongs to Mr. Sensharma. He does not live here, his family lives in
“Baba, ma is calling you two downstairs, the breakfast is served.” A soft sweet voice sounded at the doorway, it was Meghna. She smiled at him. Diptesh smiled stiffly. He was always uneasy with girls and Meghna was a gorgeous young lady. Both Mrs. Lahiri and Meghna were beautiful.
The typical Bengali beauties, wheatish gold complexioned, plump figure, rounded arms and wrists. Long, voluptuous hair.
They sat down to eat the delicious breakfast. Soon they were engrossed in chatting.
Diptesh joined office from the next day. His office was in Dalhousie, a few minutes walking distance from Meghna’s office. They both had the same timings, so they used to leave and return together. Meghna was a few years older than him. Soon she became his best friend.
She took him under her wings and made it her priority to introduce him to the real world. They soon realized that they shared almost all the tastes. Starting from music to foods they loved.
II
Diptesh soon became a dear part of the family. Somnath and Deepali treated him just like their own son, to Meghna he was a dear friend. She soon conquered his initial shyness and introduced him to all her friends. Still they remained the very best friends.
“Diptesh!” Meghna interrupted his dreamy trance. He was sitting alone in the balcony watching the rain fall on trees and plants of the huge
He just loved to watch that garden from the balcony. It was like an oasis in Kolkata’ S concrete jungle.
He turned his eyes to look at Meghna. She looked like some fairy that has lost her way and landed on the balcony beside him. She was wearing a white saree without border and a small bindi was shining on her forehead. A single pearl shining in each earlobe. Another was hanging from the gold chain around her neck. She never dressed up too much.
“We are going for a picnic tomorrow and everyone has insisted that you come along.” Meghna said. “I know you don’t know my office colleagues but I have talked so much about you that they want to see you. I too don’t want to go without you. You have become a habit I guess.” She softly laughed.
“Okay.” Was his short and to the point answer.
Meghna was quite habituated with his shyness by now. Being a reserved person she adored this shy and reserved guy. She sat down beside him and started to relish the rain silently.
“Megh, Deep come downstairs and have your lunch.” Deepali called a little later and they both went downstairs.
“Ma, Deep will be going to my office picnic along with me. That means you won’t have to cook our lunch tomorrow.” Meghna said.
“That looks really tasty. Ma, what will we do without you? Why don’t you too come along with us and fix us some goodies?” she laughed.
“What about your dad?” Deepali smiled back, serving them the lunch.
“Oh we will take along him too.” was Meghna’s reply.
“Sure why not, then he will spend the day running after you guys. Don’t go too far in the sea, don’t do this, don’t do that…” Deepali smiled fondly. She knew her husband and his overprotective nature.
III
The day passed like a beautiful dream. Every one liked Diptesh. He had a fabulous voice and sang one song after another at their request.
Meghna was sitting there, facing the river, Diptesh’s golden voice was pouring down her ears, soaking her very soul.
Someone sat down beside her, it was Rosie, one of the persons she truly liked and believed that the feeling was reciprocated.
“Megh, I think Diptesh loves you.” she whispered.
“You are insane. He is ten years junior than me and he knows that very well.” She whispered back, furiously.
“Five years? Ha!!! In today’s world age does not matters any more when it comes to love.”
“You can’t see him, but his eyes are almost always at you. He just can’t pull them away from you.” Rosie smiled. “He is really handsome and fabulous. Perfect for you.”
“Shut up! You wicked girl!” Meghna muttered and got up, she turned her face and her eyes met Diptesh’s. She blushed hard and turned away her face to steady her breath.
She instinctively withdrew from him. Natural shyness and social prejudices created a blockage in her easy flowing heart.
They returned in the evening, Diptesh noted with deep pain that Meghna was absolutely silent during the trip and even after returning home.
She mumbled some half hearted words and retired to her bed after nibbling a few pieces at the dinner table.
“Deep, did some thing go wrong in the picnic? Megh is so reserved that she wont utter a word to any one.” Deepali asked, sounding a little worried.
“No ma. I don’t know what happened to her, I don’t think any thing has happened to her at all. May be she is tired after spending all day there.” He excused himself and went to sleep. He has noted Rosie whispering to her and her expression thereafter.
He has madly fallen in love with her. A love which he did not dared to express, nor will he be able to express it ever.
Meghna came downstairs next morning, a little tired after spending a restless night, dreaming about Diptesh. Dreams which brought blush to her face after she woke up.
“Why was I dreaming about him? Heaven only knows. I never took him that way.” She was muttering to herself when Deepali called her in the kitchen. “Megh, Diptesh is not up yet, he will be late for office.”
She went upstairs, the door was bolted from inside. Diptesh was the earliest riser in the household. He woke up before the birds. She hesitantly knocked but it went un-answered. She knocked harder and heard something incoherent from inside.
Diptesh opened the door, his eyes were bloodshot. She reached out her palm to touch his forehead it was burning with fever.
IV
The doctor was called; Dr. Basu was their family physician. He has been treating them for years. Meghna’s grandparents were treated by his father.
“It must be because of all that river breeze which you two soaked yesterday. You are alright ma?” he asked after checking Diptesh and writing the prescription.
“He will be back on his feet within a week.” He left. He was wrong. The fever refused to go. A week turned into a fortnight.
“We should better take a second opinion.” Dr. Basu said.
All type of tests have been performed every thing was normal but the fever was not leaving him.
“I think its some psychological trauma he is facing. Let’s talk with Dr. Deb.”
Meghna was sitting on the roof; she came out because the psychiatrist was talking with Diptesh. She rarely left his bedside during day time. In the night her father slept in his room.
“Ma Megh!” It was Dr. Basu. She turned her surprised eyes at him.
“Yes uncle?”
“I have come to talk with you ma.” He sat down in the chair beside her.
“That boy is madly in love with you. He is unable to express it and that is causing him the fever.”
“Kaku, he is ten years junior than me. What will every one say?” she blurted out.
“So you too love him.” He rubbed his hands happily. “You two will make a perfect couple.”
“Don’t hurry, right now just accept his affection and tell him to think about it thoroughly. Wait for at-least an year before finalizing the commitment.” Dr. Basu laid his hands on her shoulder. Every one who came in touch with Meghna ended up doting after her. She was a unique girl.
“Your father and mother were there when Dr. Deb discussed the matter with me. They don’t seem much averse to the idea. I think they will be happy to have him as their son in law.” Dr. Basu smiled at her before going back downstairs.
Meghna got up and went to Diptesh’s room. He was lying there, his eyes were closed. She gently laid her palms on his forehead; he opened his eyes and looked at her.
She softly held his hand in both of her hands and smiled. “Go to sleep and don’t worry about any thing. Any woman will feel blessed to have your affection.”
He went to sleep almost instantly; the fever was gone next morning.
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