“Who is opening the curtain daily in the drawing hall? I keep it
closed” said Mukund with some irritation as he drew the curtain close. He had
just returned from office. He did not like the young man from flat on the same second
floor of the opposite block standing in his balcony and staring at Mukund’s
living room. That good looking guy must be less than 30, tall, rugged looking
with a week’s bristle on his face. Could the dislike be because Mukund was
short, plump with thick glasses and bulbous big nose?
Mohana, his wife, was busy in the kitchen and did not respond to his
question.”Where is Manisha? I don’t see her” he asked her.
“Why? She has gone to meet Lavanya in the opposite block to collect
some project report. She should be back any time”replied Mohana.
“Which floor is Lavanya living?”
“I have no idea. How does it matter as there is lift as in ours?”said
Mohana
Mukund did not reply and went to his room to change dress after a wash.
She peeped through the curtain to find no one looking at her complex.
When Manisha returned after a while, Mukund admonished her for the
keeping the French window open.”What are you talking, dad? The windows are meant
to let in sunlight and air. Why do you insist that they be hidden by curtains?”
replied Manisha, a beautiful 18 year old girl. She had evidently taken after
her charming mom in looks.
“It is not the light or breeze, I am talking about” mumbled Mukund
“Then what?” she asked querulously.
Mohana intervened to say “Do not argue with dad. There must be a reason
for his telling.”
After some silence, Mukund cleared his throat and said to his upset
daughter “I see one guy always standing on the balcony of the same floor as
ours in the opposite building and staring at our apartment possibly to catch a
glimpse of you. That is why I wish to keep the curtains close.”
“Dad, are you really serious? When I walk in the road or in the college
so many see me and some even stalk me. Do you want me to wear a burqa or live
in a dark cell away from men’s eyes? You seem so out dated” she said laughing
aloud.”I am not going to keep the curtains closed because some man is watching
our flat and rather I will draw them open every time I see it closed” she
added.
“Manisha, stop it. He is telling for your good” said Mohana and turned
to Mukund and said “Do not worry. I will take care. Our girl is always in her
room busy with her studies wanting to get into IIT and she does not idle away
her time.”
From the next day Manisha was happy that the curtains were drawn open
in the day time with living room bright till her dad returned home in the
evening. She was also pleased that her mom sat more in the living room to
listen to music or do some knitting. She also agreed with her mom when she said
men are always suspicious by nature and Manisha should not be upset with her
dad.
Manisha smiled and said “Mom, I can now understand why dad is suspicious.
Even at your age of 39, you look so young and gorgeous, that makes me too
jealous.”
“Silly girl, stop blabbering and drink your bournvita before it gets
cold” said Mohana
Two weeks later, Mukund received a call around 4pm from Manisha. “Dad,
please come home immediately. There is something amiss.”
“What is it about? I am busy here”
“Mom is not to be seen in the home. When there was no response to the
repeated bell, the aunty at the opposite apartment opened the door and gave me
the key telling that mom requested her to give the key to me as she was in a
hurry to go somewhere.”
“Did she tell where she was going? Did you try her mobile/”asked Mukund
“I did, dad. The telephone was shut. I rang up our relatives to see
whether she had gone there. She could not be traced. It appears she left around
11 am.”
After 30 minutes, her dad came home. He looked crest fallen and
perspiring heavily. Manisha brought a glass of cool water which he drank in one
gulp.
“Dad, I am worried about mom. She would not go without leaving
information behind or talking to you.”
“Listen carefully. I asked the security whether he saw your mom going
out. He said he saw her in a flustered manner leaving the complex towards the
main road. She had a bag in her hand. When I asked the security whether anyone had
accompanied her, he said the tall fellow with the stubble in the opposite block
came out in a taxi at the same time and talked to your mom for a minute before he
left. I really don’t know what is happening” he said with worry and anger writ
large on his face.
“No, daddy.That guy would have left for some errand on his own. Why do
you connect them?”
“I also thought like that and went to the second floor of that complex.
That flat was locked. I enquired at the opposite flat and learnt, he has
vacated the flat and left the key with them around 11am.He did not leave any
address behind” sobbed Mukund.
It hit Manisha like a sledge hammer. Could mom be so treacherous, she
thought? No, never can it happen, she reasoned. Tears filled her eyes as she
hugged her dad consolingly.
It was 630pm and they were debating whether help of police should be
sought when they heard the door bell. It was mom. There was no bag in her hand.
“I am sorry I could not inform you or Manisha before I left. There was
an urgent call from the nursing home where my maternal aunt is living with dementia.
I thought she had died as they did not tell me anything more than my required presence.
As I was coming out of the gate, the tall fellow from the opposite flat who
came in a car asked me if I needed to be dropped on the way. I declined his
offer to help. It seems my aunt fell down and sustained a fracture. She was
taken to hospital along with me. They have put plaster and sent her back to hospice.
I took a few old nighties for her use. I could not ring as there was no charge
in my phone and I thought I would return before Manisha comes from college at
4pm. My aunt could faintly remember me and would not allow me to leave. The
nurses gave her some tranquilizer and advised me to stay till she dozed off to sleep.
I am sorry I got delayed. Were you both worried?”
Manisha did not say anything but hugged her mom and smothered her with
kisses even as her dad hung his head in shame for having doubted his wife.
