A Dream Come True
(A short story by Vaman Acharya)
Kavita and her old mother Vanaja lived in a small corner house near railway station Raghavpur town.
Kavita was working as a sales officer in Akash Steel Private Limited, located on the outskirts of Raghavpur. She was not happy with her job. Because she was getting a low package, even though she was an MBA with first class having one year's experience.
The other staff didn't pay much attention towards her due to her peculiar nature of not mingling with others. Kavita never laughs in the company of other colleagues. She prefers to be alone. She was always in a serious mood, though she had a beautiful complexion. Some of the colleagues cut jokes and enjoyed themselves. She warned them not to indulge in such unwanted jokes.
One morning on her way to the office, Kavita saw a newly opened Prabha fancy shop. The location was a busy place on the Mahatma Gandhi road. Out of curiosity she entered the Prabha fancy store. It was seven am and the shop had just opened. A little girl and her mother were already there to pick fancy bangles. After a while, two customers entered the shop. One customer was trying on an earring. Yet another customer was searching for cosmetics and perfumes. The third customer, a foreign lady, also wanted to have an ear ring. Kavita tried on a beautifully decorated fancy necklace and ultimately selected one. She put it on her neck and was happy with that.
First to notice her was the little girl : "Mommy, look at that young woman."
Little girl's mother saw Kavita and said: "Ma'am, I must say, this necklace is fantastic and looks wonderful on you!"
The second customer also came and said, "Ma'am, you look lovely with that beautiful necklace."
The foreign lady was happy to see Kavita and said,
"What wonderful necklace have you selected? I wanted to buy this piece for my lovely granddaughter, who is going to marry next month."
Kavita looked at herself in the mirror. She liked very much what she saw. Smiling, she went to the cash counter and paid for the price of the necklace. As she walked outside saw everything around her. Kids were playing in the garden under the supervision of their parents. Kavita never noticed the green park with colourful flowers before or the scent of the fresh air and the melodious voice of the singing birds. The senior citizens were walking and enjoying themselves in the midst of beautiful nature.
She walked as if she was thinking of a queen wearing a necklace. She passed through the pulling cart selling tea and biscuits. A pretty little girl, who was managing a 'Hot Sips' tea stall, waved the hand towards Kavita.
"Hey good looking young girl! Will you please come and have tea with me?"
Kavita just smiled and conveyed thanks and best wishes to the little girl and continued walking. By the time she reached office, it was eight am. The watchman opened the door and wished her Good Morning Kavita madam. It was the first time he wished Kavita.
The people in the office surrounded her including those who were kidding her and were amazing to look at. The staff at the office, as if seeing her for the first time, flattered her on how lovely she looked. The owner of the industrial unit Prithvi Raj called her out for lunch.
At five pm, when the work was over she decided to take a taxi instead of going home by walking. As soon as she put her hand up three taxis stopped at a time and the drivers were fighting each other to take her first. She took the first one and disappointed the other two.
Thinking about the miraculous day she wondered how life has changed!! Thanks to the new necklace. She reached home and her mother was waiting at the door.
"She was surprised and said,
"Kavita, how beautiful you look!"
"Yes, mom, " said Kavita and continued,
"It's all thanks to my new beautiful diamond studded fancy necklace.
Today, I had the most marvellous and happiest day of my life."
"My beloved daughter, where is your necklace?
Kavita was panicked.
She touched her neck and saw the empty neck. Necklace that changed her life was not there. She didn't remember where it fell. It may have fallen when going inside the taxi without her noticing, a restaurant, where she had lunch with her boss. Or forgot at her office table.
She thought back to the ladies fancy store where she had bought it. She went there and inquired about the cashier at the counter.
She was disappointed to hear him.
How did she put it on the counter?
When she gets her purse out to pay.
And how she forgot the necklace right there on the counter?
Then she walked outside. necklace-less yet glowing! It wasn't the necklace that freed Kavita.
Her mother Vanaja reminded her to get ready for the office as it was already eight am. She got up from the bed and thought it was a dream. She thought, why can't the dream that she had last night come true, while leaving home.
Surprisingly, she saw one Alankar fancy store on the road. She entered the store and enquired about the necklace. The sales girl showed varieties of necklaces. Kavita selected one among them similar to the dream necklace. . After putting it on the necklace, she was happy to look in the mirror. She paid the bill and went to the office happily wearing a necklace. The staff members including chairman were surprised to see the new look of Kavita and welcomed her. She was also happy for the dream to come true.
Good days start in the life of Kavita.
