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.
A feel good story. Brought smiles , reading it. Thank you
ReplyDeleteChitra
Pleasant story to start the day!
ReplyDeleteJanardhan N
Beautiful story! Doubly and more lucky!
ReplyDeleteA very good story . Enjoyed it .
ReplyDeleteA very good story . Enjoyed it
ReplyDeletePartha sir, you are a romantic at heart, aren't you?
ReplyDeleteHeartwarming story. Liked it. But, tipping a police officer happens only in countries like India. If you don't tip, he will be standing there forever.
ReplyDeleteMy very close friend fell in love and married a divorcee with a son. They have now been blessed with a daughter. Brought memories of their love story. Good things happen to those who are patient. Regards - Mahesh
ReplyDeleteNice feel good story with the unmissable KP stamp!
ReplyDeleteEnyd Blyton, good ending, enjoyed reading
ReplyDeleteSweetness woven all around the story. Not even the faintest sign of anything jarring anywhere.
ReplyDeleteYour imagination is unparellel. Beautifully narrated with positivity and romantic too ! best regards,
ReplyDeleteHow come all these lotharios have sinewy arms?
ReplyDeleteAh... Love story, that's why! Without the sinew, the story might have a different ending!
A feel good story. Loved the narration
ReplyDeleteAll is well that ends well.
The story is lighthearted and smooth, and the author is truly a romantic ! He excels in this genre and is likely to resonate well with today's youth.
ReplyDeleteVery well narrated story. It has happened in real life also. Thank you sir.🙏
ReplyDeleteA delightful story that will leave readers feeling happy and hopeful. It's also a reminder that sometimes, the most unexpected events can lead to the most beautiful outcomes, is it not?
ReplyDeleteVery good story. The purpose of the story is to settle Archana and Poornima who lost their husband and father in the early stage of life with a good human being named Vinod. PKR
ReplyDeleteTook me back to the Mills&Boon days 😍
ReplyDeleteHappy happy story very well narrated....Sandhya
ReplyDeleteReminds me of M&B books. :)
ReplyDeleteOne less reason for bachelors to use ATMs (jj)
ReplyDeleteThe Mills and Boons coming alive through this one, the narration is so meticulate with details and the romance so articulately brought out!
ReplyDelete