RELATIONSHIP
Aarti was sitting in a cafe near her husband's factory. Her eyes kept looking towards the main gate of the factory. She was waiting for her husband to come out of the factory.
Yesterday her close friend Renu had told her that her husband goes to someone's house to give money every first of the month. Renu had tried to talk to Aarti about this many times before but Aarti had so much faith in her husband Devesh that she did not pay any attention to what Renu said. But yesterday when Renu told Aarti that she had seen Devesh going to a woman's house on the first of the last month with her own eyes, Aarti got very upset on hearing this.
Today was the first of the month. According to Renu, Devesh will go to that woman's house today. Aarti had many questions in her mind. Why does Devesh go to that woman's house? What is his relationship with that woman? Why did Devesh not tell her about this secret earlier? The more she thought, the more her anxiety increased.
The condition of the human mind is very strange. If once doubt arises in the mind about someone, then every activity of that person starts appearing suspicious. This was the condition of Aarti's mind at this time. At this time many things of her husband's past seemed very strange to her.
Just then the factory siren rang. The factory was closed. Now in a short while, Devesh was about to leave the factory. So Aarti came out of the cafe and sat in a taxi.
After some time, her husband Devesh's car came out of the factory gate. Devesh was driving the car himself. Aarti asked the taxi driver to drive the taxi after Devesh's car.
Today she wanted to unravel this mystery. After passing through many lanes for two-three kilometers, Devesh's car stopped in front of a house. It seemed to be an old locality where middle-class people lived. Aarti was very surprised that Devesh came here. Just then Devesh rang the doorbell. A young woman came and opened the door. Devesh followed her carrying the suitcase.
Before the door closed, Aarti also came inside. That woman looked at Aarti with questioning eyes. Just then Devesh's eyes fell on Aarti. Devesh was very surprised to see Aarti there. He asked Aarti you and here?
"Yes, I wanted to know why you come every month to give money to this woman. What is your relation with her?" Aarti said looking at Devesh.
Devesh looked at Aarti with angry eyes. He said- 'In your eyes, there is only one relation between a man and a woman, that of love. Aarti, I never even dreamed that your thinking would be so mean.'
Then he grabbed Aarti's arm and dragged her inside and said - 'If you want to know what is the relationship between me and this woman, then come inside and see it with your own eyes.
He dragged Aarti inside. Inside, a man was lying on the bed with a pillow. Aarti was surprised to see that both his legs were amputated. Some children were sitting on the carpet spread on the verandah. They had notebooks and books in their hands.
Devesh looked at Aarti and said in a loud voice, 'This is Dilip, the most promising technician in my factory. Dilip has the biggest hand behind the heights our factory has reached today. Impressed by Dilip's ability, many factory owners lured him with double the salary but Dilip was very loyal to me, so he did not leave my factory.
Seven years ago, Dilip got caught in a machine. His both legs got stuck in the machine and was injured. With great difficulty, Dilip could be taken out of the machine. I immediately admitted Dilip to a private hospital. The doctors tried their best but due to the septicity in his legs, they had to amputate both his legs. The leaders of the workers' union incited Dilip and his wife to file a case against the factory owner and demand a huge sum of money from him as compensation. But Dilip was not ready for this. He said that the accident happened due to his negligence and the owner is not at fault for this.
Since then Dilip is on bed. He cannot do anything. His wife Savita is a graduate and she teaches the children at home but this cannot cover the household expenses. That is why I come to give Dilip his salary on the first of every month.
"Do you want to know anything else?" he asked staring at Aarti.
Aarti's head had bowed down in shame. She was realizing that she had committed an unpardonable crime by distrusting her husband. Now how will she be able to face her husband, this question was flashing in her mind again and again. She was feeling very guilty about herself.
By then Savita had made tea. After giving tea to Devesh and Dilip, she offered a cup to Aarti.
Aarti took the tea cup from her placed it on the table and said to Savita with folded hands, 'I am your boss's wife. I have made a big mistake by suddenly coming here like this. If possible, please forgive me.'
"What are you saying, Madam? I am a woman and I can understand your state of mind. I and Dilip always tell the boss that now somehow the household expenses are being met through coaching, so you should not come with a salary. But the boss is so kind that he does not agree."
Savita sister, do not say this. If you and Dilip Bhaiya refuse to take the salary, then I will understand that you people have not forgiven me from your heart. Aarti spoke in a very emotional voice.
Aarti's words brought great relief to Devesh's heart. Now the atmosphere had become normal to a great extent. And everyone started drinking tea together. Now Aarti was also feeling tension-free. She looked at her husband with pleading eyes. The feeling of repentance was visible in her eyes.
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Suresh Babu Mishra
Date of Birth: 05 July 1956
Place of Birth: Village-Chandokha, Tehsil-Dataganj , District-Badaun (U.P.)
Education: M.A. (Geography & English), B.Ed.
Occupation: Retired Principal, Government Inter College
Father: Late Gulzari Lal Mishra
Mother: Late Rampa Devi Mishra
Wife: Mrs. Santosh Mishra
Daughter: Samta Mishra, Son-in-law-Jayant Pathak
Sons: Saurabh Mishra, Sumit Mishra, Amit Mishra
Daughter-in-law: Swati Mishra, Shalini Mishra, Pratibha Mishra
Granddaughter: Ms. Mani Pathak, Ms. Gauri Mishra, Ms. Vani Mishra
Grandsons: Siddharth Mishra, Admya Mishra, Parth Pathak
Published Works: 1. Cactus Ke Jungle , 2. Sawalon Ke Beech, 3. Sahma Hua Shahar, 4. Lahoo Ka Rang, 5. Thartharati Lau, 6. Balidan Ki Kahaniyan, 7. Aaviskar Ki Kahaniyan, 8. Sakahr Hote Sapne, 9. Sangharh Ka Bigul, 10. Ujale Ki Kiran, 11. Jaanleva Dhuaan, 12. Jameen Se Jude Log, 13. Jinka Yash Faila Ambar Tak, 14. Ravi Ki Lahren
Achievements: 1. Writing and publishing continued since 1984, 2. About 60 stories and 100 articles published in various magazines/newspapers of the country, 3. Akashvani Rampur and Bareilly telecasted stories, talks, plays and metaphors, 4. Doordarshan from Bareilly Broadcast of talks, discussions and interviews.
Awards for Excellence: 1. U.P. Sahitya Bhushan Samman-2018 by U. P. Hindi Sansthan, 2. Mir-Taki-Mir Award-2019 for long-term literary service in Hindi by Rajya Karmchari Sahitya Sansthan, U.P. 3. Shabd Shiromani Samman-2021 by Central Secretariat Hindi Parishad, 4. Sahitya Shri Samman by Akhil Hindi Sahitya Sabha Nashik Maharashtra, 5. Prajatantra Ka Stambh Gaurav Samman by Prajatantra Ka Stambh Dausa, Rajasthan, 6. Kathashree Samman-2018 by Hindi Sahitya Parishad, Prayagraj, 7. Ruhelkhand Ratna Award-2018 by Invertis University, 8. Panchal Ratna Award-2014 by Shri Siddhi Vinayak Group of Institutions, 9. Panchal Sahitya Shiromani Samman by Shabdangan SamaJik Evam Sahityik Sanstha, 10. Second prize in All India Short Story Competition organized by 'Kathadesh' New Delhi, 11. Kathashri Samman-2018 by Hindi Sahitya Vikas Samiti Allahabad.
Social concern: 1. Provincial President - Akhil Bhartiya Sahitya Parishad Braj Prant. 2. Provincial Patron-State Teachers Association (U.P.), 3. President - Sankalp SamaJik Evam Sahityik Sanstha.
Address: A-979, Rajendra Nagar, Bareilly-243122 (U.P.)
Mobile: 9411422735
Email: sureshbabubareilly@gmail.com
About the Translator - Dr. Brajesh Kumar Gupta, known as Mewadev, has been honored by the state of Birland with a special edition postage stamp. He has received the prestigious International Prize De Finibus Terrae - IV edition in memory of Maria Monteduro (Italy) and holds honorary doctorates in literature from both the Institute of the European Roma Studies and Research into Crime Against Humanity and International Law in Belgrade, Serbia, and the Brazil International Council CONIPA and ITMUT Institute.
In 2019, he was awarded the Uttar Pradesh Gaurav Samman for his contributions. Currently, he serves as the 3rd Secretary-General of the World Union of Poets, a position he has held since December 30, 2017, and will continue in until December 31, 2024. Dr. Gupta is also the principal of S. K. Mahavidyalaya in Jaitpur, Mahoba, Uttar Pradesh, India.
An accomplished author and editor, he has written ten books and edited 27 others. He resides in Banda, Uttar Pradesh, India. For more information, visit his website at www.mewadev.com, connect with him on Facebook at facebook.com/brajeshg1, or email him at dr.mewadevrain@gmail.com.
