Doubly Lucky (1188 words)

 

Vinod had his account with the bank on the ground floor of his office building. It was manned entirely by ladies except for the security. He preferred frequent visits to the bank and rarely used an ATM or the credit card facility. The reason was not far to seek. It was the attraction of the charming lady teller who drew him like a treacle to an ant.

 She was around 27, quite efficient and business-like. Though she smiled, her answers to Vinod’s questions were professional and to the point. This did not deter him from trying to cultivate her. Unsolicited, he informed her that he worked in the same building and was an engineer in a good position. Sometimes he would talk about the weather and the overcast sky. She would just count the money and hand it over with a smile. But the pleasure of seeing her once daily was an adequate reward for the visit.

Vinod had gone with his mother to a book fair on a Sunday. It was a huge fair drawing a heavy crowd and on this day it was unmanageable. The weather was oppressive in the mid-summer. With poor ventilation and narrow corridors, it was smelly and hot. His mom bought some religious books while he went for cheap editions of old classics. It was nearing 8 pm and they had covered more than half the fair. Suddenly, they heard cries of ‘Fire, fire’ from one side and soon there was a mad scramble from the visitors for the exit gate even though smoke was coming from one corner. Soon the fire spread and engulfed larger areas.

 The unruly rush became a stampede near the exit and it was by luck that Vinod found an opening on the side to take his mother out. Someone had cut the power and the whole place was plunged into darkness. He could hear the bells of the fire engines rushing towards the different sides of the fair. In a short while the fire engines were dousing the fire and the shopkeepers' keepers were busy in salvaging the books. Most of the visitors had left except for idle and curious onlookers. There was utter confusion, smoke and shock

By the time he located his car in the darkness, it was 9 pm. As he got into the vehicle, his mother shrieked from the other side and said” Vinod, come here, I find a young girl lying on the ground near the door. “ She was about five years old and fast asleep. Separated from her guardians, she had strayed in the darkness to this place and fell into slumber.

“Mom, I will leave the child with some policeman. You be here. I will come soon” Vinod said

“No, it is a girl child and it is night time. It is not desirable to leave her with some policeman. The girl looks from a well-to-do family. Let us take her home and leave a message with our area police station that we have brought the child home and give our address and phone number. The missing parents would eventually find their way to us” she said.

The next day morning the little girl started crying when she woke up to the new surroundings. Vinod’s mom had gone to a temple. The child could only reveal her name as Purnima but could not tell precisely the location of her house though she gave the name of her play school. Vinod decided to take the girl to the school when the phone rang. It was from the police station informing that the girl’s mother was coming to Vinod’s house along with a policeman. The girl was tidied up, and given milk and some toys to play with. Vinod was playing with her to keep her in good humour and the little girl took to him instantly.

The bell rang and the girl rushed to open the door. Can you guess who was there with the policeman? You did it right. None else than the teller at the bank in the building where Vinod worked. For a moment both were rendered speechless. It was broken when the girl rushed to the arms of the lady telling her, “ Mommy, uncle is so sweet but did not know how to play even in simple games.”

Both broke into laughter. “I am Vinod. Please come in. Mom should be here anytime from the temple. How did you miss her last evening at the book fair? Lucky that we could find your daughter sleeping last night near our car. Or should I say doubly lucky?” Vinod said smiling.

Meanwhile, his mother came and the policeman was thanked profusely and sent away with some money.

“I have no words to express adequately my gratitude. I am Archana. You did a very wise thing bringing her here and keeping her safe. I see you daily at the bank,” she said with a smile

“Mommy, can we take uncle with us to our home? I like him so much” the girl intervened

“Don’t worry Purnima, I intend to drop you both at your place and meet your daddy,” Vinod said

Her mom’s face fell. She said” My husband was killed at the Kashmir border three years ago. I am living alone with my daughter.”

“Oh, oh. I am extremely sorry,” he replied even as his mother put her arms around Archana and led her to the sofa even as Purnima snuggled in his arms.

When driving them home, he asked with a broad grin on his face,” Should I explain why I said doubly lucky if you have not guessed it already?”

She looked at him and made faces before breaking into a smile. A love was born.

As Vinod pulled up at Archana’s home, the quiet of the morning settled around them. Little Purnima had dozed off in the back seat, still clutching the toy Vinod had given her.

Archana looked at Vinod, her expression was soft yet uncertain. "I can’t thank you enough," she began, her voice halting for a moment, "for everything. If it weren’t for you, I—"

"Please," Vinod interrupted gently, "you don’t need to thank me. I think I’m the one who got lucky here." He flashed her a warm smile, but this time, it wasn’t the casual flirtation he usually showed at the bank. It was much deeper and sincere, and Archana could sense it.

For a moment, their eyes locked. The tension, the brief awkwardness, dissolved. "Lucky, huh?" she teased lightly, trying to break the moment.

Vinod chuckled softly. "Doubly lucky. I found your daughter safe… and I got to finally talk to you and know you."

Archana’s lips twitched into a smile with her eyes sparkling "Well," she replied, "I guess we're both lucky."

Vinod turned to face her and said, “I think this might just be the start of something even luckier.”

With a promise in the air of happier days ahead, they looked at each other for long with a knowing smile before he followed Archana into the house carrying Purnima in his sinewy arms.