- 21 -
On 4th July, around 6 pm, Alok called Rani and asked, “My dear Rani, what about tomorrow's programme, does it remain as planned or there’s any change?”
“No change from my side.”
“Then I’ll reach the hotel around twelve o’clock, and if you want, I can pick you up from your residence.”
“Alok, you need not pick me. I’ll reach around twelve.”
“So, it’s final. Bye.”
……
5th July
As per her habit, Rani got up at five in the morning. She switched off the AC. When she opened the bedroom door opening into the backyard, she saw that it was raining for the first time in the month of Sawan (Beginning month of monsoon season as per Hindu calendar). The sky was covered with dark clouds. Therefore, it was semi-dark. When she opened the mesh-door and came out under the projection, her body and mind were filled with freshness and vivacity by the drizzle and cool wind. Within minutes, the suffocation of the closed room vanished. She stayed there for a few minutes and enjoyed the weather. Then coming inside, she picked up her mobile. There was a message from Alok, ‘Happy Birthday and Congratulations.’ Seeing the congratulatory message on her birthday for the first time in the sixty years of her life, her heart swelled with joy, her mind started dancing with waves of happiness, and her face glowed with radiance. Ramesh was still sleeping. She replied ‘Thank you so much for your warm wishes. …. Don’t take brunch, have only a light breakfast before coming.’ Then she picked up a chair and came into the Veranda. She started enjoying the drizzle and cool breeze. A frog hopping somewhere behind the plants was also welcoming the rain with its croaking sound. She saw that the trees and plants which were looking withered till yesterday bearing the loo and dry winds, had suddenly started blooming and looking fresh with the touch of the first raindrops. An aromatic smell was rising from the wet soil of the lawn. She felt that the glowing greenery was providing coolness to her eyes. The view of the blooming flowers thrilled her. She felt that the poet must have written the following lines published in yesterday’s newspaper after observing or imagining such a scene:
Chhum chhum bundain nachateen, badal chhedain saaz
Hariyali rachane lagi, mahakavya phir aaj.
(Dancing raindrops, clouds playing music,
Greenery is composing today again an epic.)
After a while, it stopped raining. The clouds began to scatter. With the clearing of the sky, the Sun came out and started shining. The raindrops on the grass in the lawn, started shining like pearls as the sun-rays fell on them. Rani kept watching this unique scene for a few moments and then came inside and got busy in bathing etc.
For the breakfast, she baked paranthas stuffed with finely grated cauliflower and crushed peas, roasted without ghee or oil and added some fenugreek and also made some milk-toasts. Even Ramesh who rarely praised Rani’s cooking, could not help praise the same today, “Paranthas are very tasty, and the milk-toast, any special occasion ….?”
“I’ve made milk-toast to welcome the first rain of the season. You probably found the paranthas tastier probably because the cabbage and peas were of mountainous area.”
How she could tell him the reality that for the first time in her life, her day has begun with someone’s congratulatory message on her birthday, and that the day is going to be celebrated in a very special manner. Special breakfast was just the beginning. Actually she said, “When we like some eatable, the word ‘tasty’ spontaneously comes on our tongue. When children like something, they say ‘yummy, oh so yummy’. Pinky used to say ‘yummy’ even after drinking plain water. Children’s world is unique.”
“That’s right.”
After breakfast, Ramesh took the Tiffin and went to his office.
Rani calculated in her mind that it would take at the most fifteen minutes to reach the hotel. Thus, she still had a lot of time. She planned to bake paranthas half an hour before going to the hotel. To pass the time, she started reading ‘Aapka Bunty’ which she had been reading for many days. She got up at 11:30, baked six paranthas and after packing them, started getting ready. She left for the hotel at quarter past twelve.
…….
After checking in at the hotel, Alok initially thought of waiting for Rani in the lobby, but then changed his mind and called Rani to tell her the room number, and went there. As soon as Rani pressed the doorbell, Alok opened the door and giving her a bouquet of fresh and fragrant flowers, said, “Welcome and a very happy birthday to my dear friend.”
Rani came inside with the bouquet in her hand. Alok closed the door. Rani placed the bouquet properly on the table.
Alok held Rani’s face in both of his palms and looked into her eyes and again said, “May this birthday prove to be a milestone in your life! From today, may the treasure of happiness always remain open for you!”
“Alok, birthday wishes for the first time in my life, and that too, from you! I’m unable to find words to express my joy! Just understand that I shall always remember this wonderful day and never ever forget it.”
“Let’s first sweeten our mouths by completing the ritual of cutting the cake.”
Saying so, Alok took out the cake from the fridge, put it on the table and sent a message on the intercom to send the service boy. The cake was of the shape of heart. On one side, it was written on a vertical strip of chocolate, ‘Lots of best wishes to dear Rani on her 60th birthday - Alok.’
“It’s a beautiful cake.”
“On the birthday of beautiful Rani, the cake should have been as beautiful as herself.”
After this, Rani took a photo of the cake on her mobile. In the meantime, service boy arrived. Alok had already instructed him about what to do. He put up a candle on the candle stand on the side of the cake and lit it. He said to Rani that she shouldn’t extinguish it because he wanted that just as the burning candle removes darkness and spreads light, similarly, there shouldn’t be any darkness in her life but only light, there shouldn’t be any sorrow but only lot of happiness!
Alok turned on the camera of his mobile and gave it to the service boy. Rani cut the cake. Clapping merrily, Alok said, “I’ll not say that you live for thousands of years with fifty thousand days in a year but I’ll say, as long as you breathe, stay healthy and be happy!”
The service boy kept clicking the camera. Rani extended her hand to put a slice of the cake in Alok’s mouth, but he took the piece from her hand and put in her mouth first. She took a small bite and put the rest in his mouth. He kept some part of the cake in a plate and gave the rest to the service boy alongwith tip. After the service boy left, Alok opened the cupboard and took out a packet. Extending it towards Rani, he said, “A small gift on your birthday.”
She immediately opened it. Seeing a very beautiful diamond studded ring, she extended it towards Alok. He thought that she was returning it, so, he asked, “Don’t you like it?”
“I feel blessed to have received this matchless gift. Put it on my finger with yourself,” saying this, she extended her hand.
“Oh, I see! Seeing your serious expression, I became almost breathless. I must say one thing. In our life, sequence of the events has turned topsy-turvy. You had accepted me as your own in the childhood itself. I’ve already accepted you as my own when you appeared before me as a bride. Now you want me to perform the ritual of putting the ring on your finger, a symbol of engagement!”
“When our whole life has turned topsy-turvy, Alok, how does it matter if the rituals are performed out of turn? Now put the ring on my finger. The service boy has gone, so, you take a selfie. Don’t feel bad, I’ll not say ‘thank you’ for this wonderful gift.”
“Had you have said ‘thank you’, I would’ve felt hurt. Thanks sounds formal. People say hollow ‘thanks’ without feeling any gratitude. I’m very happy that you’ve accepted my gift without any such formality.”
Alok put the ring on her finger and kissed the hand. He took a selfie.
Then he asked, “What’ve you brought for eating? I’m feeling hungry. After your message, I didn’t eat anything, just took the morning tea.”
“I was also eager to meet you that I didn’t feel like eating anything alone. I’ve brought stuffed Paranthas of cauliflower, peas and fenugreek. Curd and butter maybe ordered, if you so want. For a sweet dish, I’ve brought milk-toasts.”
“Milk-toasts …. wow! You’ve reminded me of the university mess. I feel like eating the milk-toasts first.”
“Sure. Go ahead. Eat those first,” saying this, she placed the milk-toasts in a plate before Alok.
After eating a milk toast and putting another piece in Rani’s mouth, he said, “Wow, so delicious! There’s no need to order anything else now. The material for tea and coffee is available here. We’ll take it later. Now I can’t allow any third person to come between us.”
“As you please.”
The paranthas were still quite hot, as they were packed very well. After eating, Alok said, “The Paranthas were really tasty, I enjoyed a lot. It’s said that ‘when you’re hungry, even chickpeas taste like almonds’, and here I had almonds in the true sense of the word. Today, I feel like taking a nap. I want to feel the sensation of being with you in a calm and peaceful state.”
Having said so, he switched off all the lights, spread the blanket and both lay down. When Rani woke up, Alok was still in deep sleep; his breathing was going on a steady pace. She did not think it appropriate to wake him up. He woke up after about an hour, looked at the clock. It was already five. Rani, sitting on the sofa, was engrossed in reading the newspaper with her specs on. Alok said jokingly, “Rani, you’re looking like a principal ma’am! How long have it been since you woke up?”
Rani kept the newspaper aside, took off her glasses and said, “It has been almost an hour. You were in deep sleep. I didn't like to disturb you.”
“I had the pleasure of a deep sleep during day after a long time. My body and mind are fully relaxed now.”
Getting up from the bed, he pulled aside the curtains. The weather outside was very pleasant. The sky was overcast. Because of the clouds, the evening seemed to have descended earlier. After freshening up, he said, “Rani, let’s go to the lawn and enjoy our tea there.”
“Not in the lawn, order something here only. There’s the risk of being seen by some acquaintance.”
“You’re right. Now what would you like to eat?”
“My choice is not different from yours, order whatever you feel like.”
Alok called the room service on intercom and ordered idli-sambhar and paneer cutlets, and sat next to Rani. Both remained silent for some time. Silence has its own language, especially between the lovers. Transmission of feelings and emotions continues without utterance of a single word. Finally, Rani broke the silence, “Alok, may I ask you something?”
“Yes, do ask.”
“What was it in me that attracted you?”
“Just before I kissed you for the first time, in the evening when I was entering the house, you were probably standing in the entrance of your house and humming something. I was mesmerised by your melodious voice. I kept standing in the entrance of our house listening till you continued humming. I’ve always liked melodious voice, especially of girls.”
“But you never asked me to sing?”
“I never got the chance. But today I definitely want to hear something.”
Rani pondered over what to sing. She kept thinking for a few moments. Alok waited expectantly. Finally Rani started singing:
“Tum aa gaye ho, noor aa gaya hai
Nahin to Chiragon se lau ja rahi thi
Jeene ki tumse vazah mil gai hai
Badi bevajah zindagi ja rahi thi.
Tum aa gaye ho…
Kahan se chale kahan ke liye
Ye khabar nahin thi magar,
Koi bhi sira jahan ja mila vahin tum miloge,
Ki hum tak tumhari dua aa rahi thi
Tum aa gaye ho...
Din duba nahin raat dubi nahin
Jaane kaisa hai safar,
Khwabon ke diye, aankhon mein liye
Vahin aa rahe the,
Jahan se tumhari sada aa rahi thi
Tum aa gaye ho..”
(You’ve come, the light has come
Otherwise the flame was leaving the lamps
Because of you, I’ve found a reason to live
Life was going by without any reason.
You’ve come…..
From where did I start, and to where
I had no clue but
Wherever I reached, you met me there
That your wishes were reaching me
You’ve come…..
The day hasn’t set, the night hasn’t set
What kind of journey is this
With the lamps of dreams in my eyes
I was coming there
From where you were calling
You have come…)
As soon as Rani finished, Alok praised profusely. He said, “What a wonderful song you’ve chosen! You’ve laid bare your inner self. I enjoyed it thoroughly.”
Rani was overwhelmed. Just then, the doorbell rang. Alok opened the door. Service boy placed the ordered items on the table and asked, “Anything else, Sir?”
‘Nothing. Thanks.’
Service boy closed the door and left.
After the supper, Rani said, “Alok, on this happy occasion, you also sing something for me.”
“I’ve neither a good voice nor I can sing in melody, still I’ll definitely fulfil your wish:
Ek pyaar ka nagma hai, mauzon ki ravaani hai
Zindagi aur kuchh bhi nahin, teri meri kahani hai.
(It’s a song of love, it’s the flow of waves
Life’s nothing but story of you and me.)
“That’s all. And if you want to listen more, I would like to tell you a story from the university times.”
“University times? It must be very interesting. Do tell me.”
Spreading himself on the sofa, Alok began, “In matriculation, we had a teacher named Chugh Sir. Later when I was in the final year of MA, around Dusshera, he stayed with me in my hostel-room for a month. He had come to submit his PhD thesis. He was not married, but was engaged. He treated me more as a friend. The weather was very pleasant in those days; neither hot nor cold during day. One remains lost in pleasant dreams in younger days, my position was similar in those days. It felt pleasant to stroll outside at night. After dinner, we often used to sit in the lawn of Guru Gobind Singh Bhawan. There used to be lot of fragrance of flowers all around. The mild fragrance of roses, intoxicating odour of jasmine, strong stimulating redolence of tuberose, mild-sweet smell arising from the dew-drenched grass used to add magical effect to the beauty of night. In such mesmerising surroundings, we used to discuss till late night all kind of topics, ranging from literature to personal matters. The day Chugh Sir received a letter from his fiancée, he would get so lost in talking about her as if she were physically present before his eyes. Sometimes he would narrate interesting experiences from his student life. One day in the evening, we were cycling in the university. I was riding the cycle and he was sitting behind me. Ahead of us were three-four girls riding cycles, full of energy of youth, oblivious of the passers, talking loudly among themselves and engrossed in laughter and fun. Suddenly Chugh Sir asked, ‘Alok, which quality of a girl do you like the most?’ I said, ‘Sir, first you tell me your choice.’ He told me that he liked the girls with thick and long hair. I asked, ‘My would-be Bhabhi must be having very long hair?’ He answered ‘yes’. Actually, one of the girls going ahead of us had such long hair that those were reaching below the seat of her cycle. Then I said, ‘Sir, the voice of the girl should be like that of a girl, I mean, it should be melodious.’ When we passed by those girls, the girl whom Sir had pointed out, had a boyish and heavy voice. I said, ‘Sir, you heard the voice of the girl of your choice! But Bhabhi Ji must have a sweet voice, isn’t it?’ He said, ‘Your Bhabhi has long-thick hair as well as a melodious voice.’
Alok continued, “Now you can well understand why and how I got attracted to you.”
“Very nice. Alok, your art of narration is amazing.”
While they were talking, Alok looked at the clock. He said, “Rani, it’s already seven; you should leave now.”
Rani mischievously said, “Fed up already? Can’t you tolerate me anymore?”
“Wow, what a reaction! I’m ready to ‘tolerate’ you for a lifetime,” he said emphasising the word ‘tolerate’. He continued, “Rani, to tell you the truth, when you’re in such a mood, it seems as if you’ve just crossed the threshold of youth, and age has stopped at that point of time. The enthusiasm of that period of age is reflected in every movement of your body and voice. It’s said and often observed that physical beauty starts waning with the advancing age, but you’re an exception. Perhaps this was the reason that, even after so many years, I recognised you at the first glance at the wedding ceremony.”
Who does not like being praised, especially by the one with whom one is in love? The person being praised feels as if he were in heaven! Rani, who was already elated, was filled with joy. Overwhelmed by the praise, Rani could not say anything and remained silent. She picked up her purse and started to leave. Seeing her moving towards the door, Alok picked up the bouquet and asked, “This bouquet …..?”
“I can’t take it to my house. Firstly, Ramesh Ji will notice it leading to lot of questioning and hot discussion. Secondly, you should also have something of mine, right?”
“Your being cautious is absolutely right. …. It’s not just ‘something’ of you, but the whole of you live in my heart. Well, if the bouquet remains with me, the mild fragrance of the flowers will keep fresh the fragrance of your memories.”
Rani swelled with joy. She asked, “You’ll leave tomorrow morning, right?”
“I’ll stay till my hotel rent entitles me to, I mean, I’ll check out around twelve. Anyway, what’s the point of returning early?”
“Should I bring breakfast?”
“The Breakfast is complimentary. But if you could come before I check out, please do. It’ll my pleasure.”
And they closed the room and came downstairs. While waiting for the car, Alok lightly pressed Rani’s hand and said, “Always be happy.”
******
