The suitor

Usha was a young divorcee. Her marriage, a short lived one, was a failure .It was her mistake to fall headlong in love with a stranger and hurry into a marriage without verifying his antecedents. It soon came out that the man had a criminal past of various misdeeds financial and moral and had cases against him. The wise thing she did was to obtain a divorce promptly. She had no parents except a brother living abroad with practically no contact except an occasional email. But she had a very good friend in her college mate Ranjitha who was happily married with a nice husband and two kids. She was Usha’s friend, philosopher and guide and whose advice the latter took on all important matters.
Ranjitha has been pressing her friend to move on with life by getting married to some suitable person. Once bitten Usha was doubly shy and was putting off the talk of marriage. She would not just listen. Two years had gone since she got separated. She was already 29.The previous Sunday when she had gone to Ranjitha’s house for lunch, both her friend and her husband persuaded her successfully in her agreeing to marry if the right person came along.
It was a month or two later Ranjitha had telephoned on a Sunday that she would be sending her brother’s friend at 4pm to her house. She would discuss details later. Meanwhile she could just meet him and size him up. If her first impression of him was favourable, they could proceed further in the matter. It was not a date but just an occasion to meet and know each other. She also added that he did not want to meet her at a restaurant and was particular about the homely atmosphere. Usha was not very enthusiastic but nevertheless dressed herself well in a good salwar suit.It was nearing 4.30pm and the man had not shown up.Fastitdious about punctuality, she was put out at the delay. It was then she heard the loud knock on the door with a stick instead of the bell. Annoyed a bit, she opened the door to find a tall handsome man with curly hair standing with dark glasses and a white stick in his hand. As she was thinking that someone had come to a wrong house, he asked in a soft voice looking at the door whether it was Miss Usha’s house. When she answered in affirmative, he introduced himself as friend of Ranjithas and her brother. She wondered how Ranjitha and her brother could send a blind man to her. There must be some mistake somewhere but that can wait she decided. She held his hand when he tapped the ground with his cane and led him to a sofa in the drawing hall.
Once seated he kept the cane gingerly by his side and asked “Did not Ranjitha tell you about me? Are you shocked?”
“No, she had mentioned about you and your friendship with her brother but had not mentioned about your handicap. Pray, do not worry about that. My dad went blind due to glaucoma in his old age. What will you like to have?” she asked. Looking at close quarters, he looked very charming, dusky with strong sinews and broad shoulders. But for the dark glasses, he would have been an attractive proposition, she thought. Her thoughts were broken when he said “I would like a cup of strong coffee if it is not inconvenient please”
She excused herself saying she would be soon with coffee. Newspapers/magazines or TV would be no diversion for him. She turned the music system to a soft rendering of flute .As she was making coffee she was very upset with Ranjitha for embarrassing her by sending a blind man as prospective match. She wanted to give her a bit of her mind after this man left.
He was vacantly staring at the wall when she brought the tray with coffee and biscuits. She took his hand and gave the coffee cup carefully. By holding the cup wrongly, he dropped the cup and spilt the hot coffee on his dress .Usha hurriedly brought a towel and wiped his hands and the dress. She felt pity for him. She said “I am sorry.I should have been careful and given you a mug.”
He smiled mischievously and said “It gives me great pleasure to be pampered by a young lady and am happy I dropped the cup.”There after they talked pleasantries for a few minutes when she learnt that he played several musical instruments and was part of a renowned troupe..He was in comfortable financial position with a big apartment at a posh locality. The young man finally asked her whether she knew the purpose of his visit.
Usha said “Yes, Ranjitha had mentioned that we could get to know each other before deciding further course of action.” She thought he may not probe further. But he persisted with a question “What have you decided? I have no idea how you look like. Ranjitha has told that you are very charming. I am not sanguine about the outcome as I am sure I would not have made a good impression. I may be a burden on you.”
She replied, “Please do not talk on those lines. I need time to think and cannot tell you anything now.” He replied “I understand and can wait.”
As he took leave, Usha clasped his hand and took him to the gate carefully. When he neared the gate, he laughed loudly throwing the stick and the glasses away at the bewildered Usha.
He said “You have won the test. I just wanted to see how you react to a physically handicapped person. You were gentle, polite and never betrayed your disappointment as I was watching you all the time thro the glasses. I like you immensely. Will you marry me? Please do not take me amiss for the little drama. Did you ever think Ranjitha would send a blind man to you?”
Kpartha12@hotmail.com

A rare act of compassion

Arumugam and Alamelu were shattered and shell shocked to speak coherently. It was all over in a matter of six hours. They had lost their only son Velu aged 8 years as a victim to the rash driving by the reckless drunken lorry driver. The boy was playing marbles along with other children on the only main road connecting the small town with other towns and villages. It can be neither called a town nor a village but had the disadvantages of both. There was hardly any traffic except the occasional bus once in two hours. A few lorries carrying bricks or sand also plied. The drivers invariably slowed down their vehicles at this spot that had a few tea shops, a cycle repair shop, one dealing with fertilizers and a few other petty shops selling groceries, tailor shops etc.They generally had tea and snacks at this place. The boys played generally without fear.

But this driver obviously new to the area under the influence of alcohol did not slow down the truck and ran over Velu. The boy did not die instantaneously as is common but was bleeding profusely. There was no hospital worth the name. There was a small room close to the road going under the name of Public Health Centre. It was manned by a midwife who was generally absent. The room was locked. The driver after hitting the boy drove away in panic without stopping. The nearest hospital was about thirty kilometers away. There was no vehicle to carry the boy. Frantic attempts were made to get some truck that belonged to village. They had all gone out. After losing an hour they found a tractor willing to go.Arumugam with the boy on the lap and his wife beside took the boy to the hospital. The vehicle was slow and noisy. The boy showed a sign of wanting water. There was none. They did not want to lose time in search of water. The bleeding continued unabated and the boy was becoming paler and would not respond to questions.

When they finally reached the hospital it was late. The district hospital was further away by twenty kilometers. Seeing the condition of the boy the doctors decided that they had no time to lose and battled hard with whatever equipments they had and did all their best to revive the boy. When he did not respond, they decided to withdraw the life support. When the doctors suggested to the grieving couple about donation of the healthy organs to the needy, the kind and generous couple agreed to donate the organs free to whomever they are useful despite their grief. They rushed to the district hospital in an ambulance for successful harvesting.

The days that followed were spent in sorrow and misery. None could console the couple for the loss of a child born after many years in answer to their prayers. They reflected on the happy days with the boy and wondered why the God who listened to their prayers decided to take his life. They could not comprehend the mysterious ways of God and wept inconsolably whoever came to them with words of sympathy. They rightly felt that the long time the boy lay in the road for want of a vehicle and the absence of a hospital nearby all conspired against the boy in his fight for life. With such thoughts recurring in their minds, they cursed their fate .It was on one such day a swanky big car stopped a little away from their small house. A middle aged man clad in white dhoti and long khurta in khaddar along with his wife possibly followed by two or three others came towards Arumugam.The doctor who tried his best to save the life of the boy was also there.

The doctor said, “He is a very big industrialist whose only son is of your son’s age got the kidneys of your son. The boy needed urgent transplantation and time was running out. The organs donated by you helped save the boy.He has come with his wife to thank you personally.” The industrialist and his wife wiped their eyes. He said with folded hands “We do not know how to console you in this hour of grief. Having passed through the torment of almost losing our son, we know the pangs of loss. We were ready to spend even crores of rupees to save our boy. We did not get the right type of kidneys till your sons came. We wish to as a token of our love and affection offer you any amount that you wish. We know this is a poor recompense for the irreparable and great loss of yours. The length of one’s life is all in God’s hands. Please fill the first digit as you please” and handed over a blank cheque containing seven zeroes with the first digit unfilled.

Arumugam did not touch the cheque or look at the amount. He said “We do not need any money. We have enough for ourselves. My son lost his life as there is neither hospital nearby nor a vehicle to carry the boy. He died because of delay in giving prompt medical attention. If you can build a hospital to cater to the people in the nearby villages with ambulance at call, we would be beholden to you. The children walk five kilometers to their school. If you build a school, we would be grateful.”

The rich man and his wife fell at the feet of Arumugam and said “I may be rich in wealth. But you are richer than me in your kindness and compassion for others, even when passing through the darkest hour of your life. I promise your wishes would be fulfilled very soon and the institutions will carry your son’s name.”
Kpartha12@hotmail.com

It is mom above all

It was a Friday evening. Raja wished to spend two days in Pondicherry. He wanted to savour leisurely the beauty of the sea beach with the waves crashing against the rocks, the tree lined boulevards, the Manaakkula Vinayagar temple and of course the Ashram for meditation and spiritual inspiration. He could never make it all these two years as his aged mom living in a village about 200 miles away insisted on his visiting her whenever he had two days holidays. But this long weekend he was determined to visit Pondicherry. He did not inform her about his trip to Pondy. There was a tinge of guilt however when he thought of his old mother eagerly waiting for him. He was her only son and she was living with his married sister. She was always afraid of death taking her life away anytime and pleaded with the boy not to miss visiting her. But then old people are always like that he consoled himself as he proceeded in his car towards the seaside resort.
After driving for about an hour, he stopped at a way side hotel for his breakfast. As he came out of the hotel after eating, he saw a funeral procession approaching. He waited for it to pass before taking out his car. He saw a young boy of 12 with firepot in his hand walking bare bodied in front of the procession. He could see the grim and sad face of the boy with a few elders walking closely behind him. Someone by his side told Raja, that he knew the boy and that he had lost his mother all on a sudden. She was young in her early Forties with no apparent health problemsRaja saw the man taking out his handkerchief and wiping his eyes. He added as if reading Raja's thoughts “We never know when Yama would take our lives. He does not give advance notice. We should never put off doing things we intend to do for old people to a later date but do them immediately.”He then asked him “Sir, are you proceeding to Pondicherry? The road is very good right through.”
“No, I am turning back to go to a village near Vellore” answered Raja as he saw in his mind’s eye the smiling face of his mom awaiting him. Pondicherry would have to wait.
Kpartha12@hotmail.com
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On the brink of death

It was hot and sultry inside her room on the 7th floor. It was unbearable and Kalyani wanted to be in open air amidst cool breeze. The irony was that she had been harbouring thoughts of putting an end to her life since two days. She climbed the stairs to the top terrace just two floors above. Cool wind blew across her face and she stood inhaling it feeling some relief from the oppressive thoughts. She looked down at the road, the moving cars and the home returning people looked tiny like ants moving on the wall into a crevice. She hated all people after the bitter experience in the last few days. She found everyone wicked, greedy and lustful. She had run away from her home in a village after her parents insisted on her getting married to a farmer owning lands. A B.Sc. in computer science she longed to work in a city. She hated the village houses reeking the smell of cow dung, long lines of stacked gunny bags with grains, the bullock carts, the agricultural implements and the lack of sophistication in village life. He was just 10th passed. She just would not agree to be tied to this guy and came away to the city where her good friend lived.
Kalyani sent applications to several companies, and met people concerned but all she could get was foolish grins, lewd remarks, jobs are scarce and existing employees were themselves given pink slips. Her friend suggested that since Kalyani had very good looks and a beautiful figure, she could try modelling.When she went to a studio, the guy seemed pleased with her and took several pictures of her. He complimented her on her photogenic face and fine body and promised her a very bright future. But Kalyani was not amused at the guy repeatedly touching her cheeks, shoulders and having his hands on her constantly longer than needed under the pretext of adjusting. She however kept quiet. The photographer gave her Rs500 and asked her to come the next day for another photographic session. He suggested obliquely that she should be a little daring and accommodative if she were to succeed in her career and if she were compliant she could see lot of money. When she asked whether she should come in salwar khameez or sari, he shocked her saying with his lewd smile that the next day’s session would be sans clothes. Her dreams of a modeling career crashed with that and she never went back to that wretched place. She had exhausted the money in the next few days and wondered how long she could strain her friend’s hospitality. She got only regret letters with wishes for better luck .She could not even dream of going back to the village where tongues would be wagging about the girl “who ran away”. She was also determined that she would not live by letting her soul die and leading a life of shame.
It was with such melancholy thoughts that she was contemplating to put an end to her misery by one jump from the top floor. Though the thoughts of her mother and her affectionate younger brother tormented her, there was no going back on her decision. She was not afraid of the height nor did the fear of death deter her. In another five minutes, she thought her story would become history. She was now sitting on the ledge and as final prayers reciting her favourite sloka praying for happiness and long life!
“Kalyani? What are you doing here sitting alone dangerously on the ledge? Come away here” inquired her friend very softly. When Kalyani turned her head and replied “Yes, Amudha.It was very hot down there. The breeze is cool here.”
“I know that but people don’t sit in precarious positions to enjoy the breeze. You shouldn’t be doing what you are contemplating. I have promised you that I can take care of you till you get a job, may be even in six months. Why then this rash step when hardly three weeks had passed since you came? Remember life is precious and should not be lost by thoughtless action in a despondent mood” She brought down Kalyani safely from the ledge and sat by her side clasping her arms affectionately.Kalyani was silent for a long while after she heard her buddy’s impassioned plea. Taking advantage of her wavering, Amudha pulled her up telling “I am famished. Come along. Let us eat a masala dosa in the opposite hotel after you have a wash.”
When Amudha opened the door of her room, she found to her surprise an envelope addressed to Kalyani on the floor slid through the door.It was not there a short while ago. Kalyani grabbed it and tore it open in a hurry. Tears flowed from her eyes as she read the line loudly “Dear Madam, We are pleased to offer you a position in our………….” Amudha hugged her letting out a hysterical cry of joy and telling “Let us celebrate on two counts. You were brought back from the verge of death and you have a nice job. The celebration will be on your depleted account today.”
Suicide is a permanent solution to temporary problems that get resolved in due course

Indirect answer

Jana watched Naresh smiling at her in the photo hanging on the wall as she lay in the bed. Tears trickled from her eyes. She loved him dearly in the three years of her married life. She was just 28 and needed him with her very much. But fate had been cruel to her. A reckless truck driver had smashed all her hopes of a happy life one evening when he dashed against Naresh’s car from behind. It was a lonely life for her without Naresh. The photo was on the wall above the dressing table showing him in his casual kurta with his broad smile. They were a loving couple and each one anticipated the other’s wishes. They were planning to have a child when the cruel destiny took him away from her forever.
Life would have been unbearable but for Sanjeev, his colleague and buddy, who had been very protective and supportive in the months that followed the tragedy. He got her a job in Naresh’s office, had the financial matters settled and spent a lot of time daily in lifting her from her moods of melancholy. Though a bachelor, he behaved with her as a gentleman and never took advantage of her leaning on him totally. He took her often to malls or on different errands that she could not avoid. It was one Sunday evening. He had not seen her for a week as he was away on tour. There were also no calls from her. He dropped in at her place unannounced. The house was dark with no lights on in the front side. The door was slightly open. He heard some sound from the kitchen. When he went there, he saw the maid cleaning the vessels. She told him that Jana was in bedroom and had not taken food since morning. He told her to get the supper and that he would ensure that she took it. When he went to the bed room, he saw her curled up in a sofa with unkempt hair and crumpled dress. Evidently, she had been crying. He saw the photo of Naresh removed from the wall and lying by her side. He took it and hung it on the peg. He coughed twice to announce his presence. When she did not get up, he gently touched her shoulder and nudged it. She woke up with a start and muttered her apologies. He sat by her side and pushed the hair from her face backwards. He gently caressed her arm and asked in a sharp tone” What is all this foolishness of remaining hungry all through the day? I have asked the maid to bring your supper and I will see to it that you finish it before my eyes.” When she protested saying that she was not hungry, he silenced her saying he will have none of such nonsense. When the supper was brought, he himself fed her initially making her eat. He kept on nudging her to eat when she slowed down. He asked her to wash her face, change the dress and come for a drive. After strolling down the sandy beach, they sat down on a bench. There were not many in the beach as it was past 8pm.
After some pleasantries, he remonstrated with her gently telling ” Naresh is not going to come back. There is no point in hurting yourself like this. True you are unlucky to miss him. But you will have to move along with your life”. She sobbed and told him “True I miss Naresh. More than that, this lonely atmosphere is killing me. I cannot enter the house with none to look forward to. It is scary to be alone sometimes.” When they walked back to the car, Sanjeev put his arm around her shoulder and said, “I was hesitant to talk to you about this so soon after the tragedy. I think you need a male company. This just cannot go on. I like you immensely. If you too are attached to me, we can get married. I can wait for your answer as long as you wish to take. I will not talk about this again till you broach upon it yourself”
As she lay in the bed recalling the incident in the evening, kindly face of Sanjeev, his immense help to her during her dark days and how he had always been decent to her, she knew that she was drawn to him. Still the memories of Naresh were fresh in her mind that she refused to think along romantic lines towards Sanjeev. .But she knew, she had to move away from Naresh and get a new life for her. The warmth of Sanjeev’s hand on her shoulder and his gentle caressing her in the afternoon and feeding her the supper made her yearn for him. He had also expressed his love for her and willingness to marry her. She was in two minds. After tossing in the bed restlessly, she prayed to God to show her the way. She looked at Naresh’s photo hanging on the wall for a long time and muttered “Naresh, please suggest me a way. I know in your abundant love you would wish me to marry Sanjeev.Please leave some clue that you really wish it so.”
The sun light broke into her room as she woke up a bit late. She instantly looked at the wall. The photo was missing. She searched for it and found it lying on the dresser with face downwards. She was startled and jumped with joy telling ”How sweet of you Naresh in giving the answer to my query. I can never forget you and you will always be in my heart ever.” She rang up Sanjeev and asked him to come home immediately telling she had an important matter to discuss. When he came soon thereafter and found her standing at the door wreathed in broad smile in a fine dress, he knew the answer. He pulled her into his arms sighing in happiness “I knew you would marry me.” He however forgot to mention about his asking the maid on his way back the previous evening to remove the photo of Naresh, after Jana slept, from the wall for hanging it elsewhere.
Kpartha12@hotmail.com

A lucky intervention

I was warned about the traffic jams with the fly over coming up and was advised to leave sufficiently early. I had come to the railway station ninety minutes ahead of the departure time and found a vacant bench on the platform under a fan. I was to present a paper on parenting at a conference the second day. I was in charge of destitute and orphan section of a well-known institution in the city. As a temporary measure I was also looking after the adoption center. With so much time to while away, I took out the draft of my speech and skimmed through for changes if need be. I felt I heard some one sob or the sound of a hiccup. I turned around and saw in the adjacent bench a middle-aged woman obese with a big sticker on her forehead and chewing paan. She wore gaudy clothes and had cheap glittering tinsel around her neck and hands. There was a young girl of thirteen by her side in a salwar suit made of good cloth. She was petite in structure, slim, beautiful, and had long hair. Her mannerisms, the way she wiped her face, the movement of her hands and the costly slippers she wore showed that she came from a decent family. It was evident she was crying and the sob came from her. One look at her showed she did not belong to the class of the fat woman. I could notice from the corner of my eyes this girl was furtively looking at me. There was a pleading look in her eyes. I decided to investigate. I am myself a big built woman with a stentorian voice and the bearing of one accustomed to get things done her way.
I went to the woman and asked where she was bound for. She looked at me and mumbled something that was not audible. When I persisted with the query, she turned her head the other side. I asked her loudly “Where are you going? Who is this girl? Is she your daughter?” She replied defiantly in a mix of Hindi and Urdu “Why should I tell you? How does it bother you?” and asked the girl to get up and follow her. I held the girl’s hand and asked her in Tamil ’Do you know her? Is she related to you? You don’t seem to belong to her class.” Meanwhile two rough looking men appeared from nowhere on the scene and the middle aged woman said something to them in a language that was not intelligible. The men with glowering eyes advanced towards me to release the girl from my grip. I raised my voice and shouted, “Stay away. If you touch the girl, I will call the police.” Already the other passengers and a few porters started collecting around us. The woman suddenly came near the girl and nudged her and said ”Are you mute. Why don’t you speak out? Tell that woman who you are.” The trembling girl started talking in Tamil when the woman gave her a slap. The sobbing girl in smattering Hindi said possibly as tutored to her in advance “She is my aunt and I am going to Mumbai with her.” I asked the girl “You are a Tamil girl. Why do you have to speak in Hindi to me? Does she not know Tamil?” Even as the girl faintly nodded her head in affirmative, the two men wrenched her away from my hands and started dragging her. I shouted at the top of my voice? “These men and woman are kidnapping that young girl. Save her immediately from their clutches.” Several young men chased them. The men left the girl and fled. The woman was caught and the girl rescued.
The interrogation of the woman and questioning of the girl brought out a sad and heart rending tale. The girl’s father an alcoholic was married to a second wife when the first one died. This girl was disliked by the stepmother from day one and made to stop school and work as a domestic at the home all day long. Underfed and overworked, she was mercilessly beaten. When the father broached about marrying this girl to a boy from his first wife side, she decided to drive away this girl. Having herself come from shady background, she had no difficulty in finding someone willing to buy the girl. She sold the girl for a paltry few thousands with the intention to tell the alcoholic that the girl had eloped with a neighborhood boy. The girl was taken under false promises of a better life in another town as a help to an aged lady with handsome remuneration. It was while she was being taken, this lucky intervention took place.
I had another thirty minutes to board the train. I did not know what to do with this girl. I did not want her left in police station. I was not willing to trust anyone. I thought for a moment the relative priorities of reading my paper at the conference or securing for the hapless girl a safe haven. It took a trice for me to decide to cancel the journey. I told the girl to accompany me and that she would be safe with me. I told a few decent looking men in the crowd about me and about my intention to have her taken in my destitute home. There was a sense of satisfaction and appreciation from one and all. When I turned to look at the girl, she smiled at me and clasped my fingers. All my maternal instincts swelled in my heart even as I wondered how many such girls would be fortunate to meet with such fortuitous circumstances. There is a lesson in this story that all persons should be alert and watchful in railway stations and bus stands of such happenings.

Dirty trick

I saw her for the first first time in the Chairman’s office when I went to his office to attend a meeting. She stood out amidst the many women working there. Tall at 5’.5” with a glowing skin, a silken hair, well aligned sparkling teeth and in an elegant salwar suit, she stole my heart at the first sight. When Mrs. Agnes introduced her as Ranjana from a reputed B school and the new technical assistant to Chairman, my jaw fell down in admiration. She made a shy smile at me and accepted my hand for a handshake when I proffered it. I made it a regular habit to drop in at Mrs. Agnes office thereafter on some pretext to cultivate Ranjana.I could discern from her shy looks and smiling eyes that she also had fallen for me. We soon became fast friends and things began to change from mere friendship to passionate lovers. We decided that we were made for each other and wished to marry soon.
I knew she was from a very affluent family while I was from a family of modest circumstances though I had a string of academic achievements and marked for a quick rise in official rungs. She dropped the oblique hint about her parents’ cool response to her expression of love for me. It appeared that thereafter whenever she wanted an evening out with me, they maneuvered some work or reason making her cancel her date with me. She stood steadfast in her decision to marry only me and this infuriated her parents who indulged often in emotional blackmail. Her meetings outside office practically came to an end. We could only exchange information during lunchtime at my cabin. She was not willing to antagonize them by marrying me without their blessings. She was insistent on their approval. She assured that she would talk to them again telling them that she would remain unmarried if they were not to concede.
I was in my room that evening listening to some old Hindi songs in my bedroom at the first floor thinking of Ranjana and how she would convince her parents. All of a sudden to my great surprise Ranjana barged into the room. It was the first time she visited my place. Without uttering one word she gave me a big hug and started smothering me with kisses. When I struggled to get free of her embrace, she laughed hysterically and would not leave me and held me in tight clasp. I was flustered with happiness at the thought that she must have won over her parents. Even before I could ask her the reason for happiness, the phone in the hall on the ground floor rang. I wrenched myself away and rushed to answer the call. "Hello Rohit here.” I said. It was Ranjana’s dad on the other side. ”Rohit, I am unable to talk. Please come home immediately. This is an emergency,” he said in a choked voice. I asked him “Uncle, why what happened? Is everything ok? Tell me. Does Ranjana know?” He replied, “It is only about her. She has a left a note early in the morning that she is giving up her life, as we did not agree to her marrying you. She had asked us not to search for her as she would have drowned in the sea within a hour. We have alerted the police and they are all fishing out the sea and its shore to trace her body. Aunt is devastated. She is crying hoarse that she should have allowed her to marry you. It is too late now. Please rush at once.”
Shocked, I looked at my watch. It was 6.30pm and it was already dark.She could have killed herself by this time. Suddenly a fear ran through my spine. Who is this woman at the first floor? It was unlike Ranjana to have hugged me that tightly and kissed me non-stop.She had never done that. I was hesitant to go up. I thought of her hysterical laughter and that made me panic. There was none around. Should I run away I was pondering when I heard her loud voice”Rohit, what are you doing so long at the ground floor. I am waiting for you to tell you how I have solved this intractable problem. I know you wouldn’t approve of it. Come here. I will explain.” I was fear struck and stood statue like at the bottom of the staircase. When I heard her coming out and again with her hysterical laughter, I turned deadly pale ready to run out. ”Have you seen a ghost? Why are you terror stricken? “She asked.
Convinced it was her ghost, I began to tremble when she ran down the stairs and warmly hugged me. “Don’t worry I am no ghost. I am your Ranjana hale and hearty. Pinch me hard. I played a trick on my parents. I am sure it will work. I have left a note that I am committing suicide by drowning. I think this will bring them round. Who was that on the phone and why are you ashen?” Recovering somewhat from the fear, I asked her to show some evidence that she was real and not an apparition. She laughed hysterically again and said she can kiss me more to prove her being alive. I knew now that Ranjana was mine for ever having won over her mother by this subterfuge. “I think hundred kisses not one more or one less would convince me that you are in blood and flesh” I told her as I closed my arms around her.