- 43 -
It was a day of the second week of April. The morning breeze was blowing gently. Alok and Rani were sitting on the swing in the lawn and enjoying their morning tea. Saurabh’s call came, “Papa, we landed in Delhi last night. We’re staying in Hyatt Regency. Please come to meet us.”
Alok was surprised to learn that Saurabh was in Delhi. He asked, “Oh, you’re in India! And want to go back without coming to Patiala after travelling so far?”
Saurabh hesitated a little and replied, “Papa, …. actually, as a matter of fact, … your granddaughter is still very young . .. We don't want that some strange questions crop up in her mind on seeing ‘that lady’ in the house, that’s why we ….”
Saurabh was still speaking when Alok disconnected in anger. His inner turbulence showed up on his face. His face turned red and features distorted with anger and hatred. Saurabh called again but Alok declined the call. His anxiety did not remain hidden from Rani. She said, “You should’ve listened to Saurabh.”
“What else is left there to listen?”
Rani said firmly, “If he calls again, then listen him.”
Even as Rani was speaking, the call came again. Alok switched on the phone and asked in a harsh voice, “Yes, speak up ….”
“Papa, as you had told me that ‘this lady’ and you were friends in childhood and that now when you met again, she left her long-time husband and started living with you. Have you ever tried to find out what her intentions might have been?”
On hearing this, Alok got furious, but trying to keep his composure, replied, “First of all, Rani didn’t leave her husband; rather it was he who pressed for a divorce. Rani had requested him to let our friendship continue, but he didn’t like that. Secondly, even I didn't want our friendship to create a rift in her marital relationship. But the circumstances were such, which can’t be explained over the phone, that her husband left no option but a divorce. In the circumstances, I had no objection in accepting Rani; rather I considered it my duty to do so. Don’t forget that you, too, had married as per convenience of the circumstances. The basis of tying the nuptial knot in your case was less of love and dedication, and more of the demands of the career. We didn’t not make any such ‘commercial’ agreement for accepting each other.”
Upon hearing Alok’s blunt and frank reply, Saurabh hung up. Alok turned towards Rani and said, “Have you noticed the attitude of today's generation? They think, they’ve the right to say anything, but when shown the mirror, they can’t tolerate it.”
After talking to Saurabh, Alok felt as if someone had shattered the sacred peace of the morning with burning embers!
…..
It was about ten days later that Alok, after having breakfast, as per his daily routine, was sitting in the library room reading Osho’s book, ‘Mein Mrityu Sikhata Hoon’ (I Teach Death). At that time, two-three elderly persons of the locality were also sitting there reading newspapers. The postman rang the doorbell and handed over a registered letter to Alok. The letter had come from a lawyer in Delhi. He opened the envelope and saw that Saurabh had sent a legal notice through a lawyer. In this, he had asked for his share in the immovable property. It was mentioned that if a satisfactory reply was not received within fifteen days of the receipt of this notice, legal proceedings would be initiated. On reading it, Alok got furious. His emotions were in turmoil. He put the book face down and came inside. He saw Rani busy in kitchen. Seeing her busy, he took an about turn. Rani noticed it and asked, “Alok Ji, did you need something?”
“No, nothing in particular.”
As Alok turned towards Rani to reply, she noticed lines of worry and drops of sweat on his face and forehead. She left her work midway and came to Alok and, wiping the sweat on his forehead with the corner of her saree, said, “What’s the matter? You look so worried and perturbed?”
“Get free from the kitchen, then we’ll discuss.”
“You go to the bedroom, I’m coming in five minutes.”
Instead of going straight to the bedroom, Alok went to the library room. He closed the book and kept it in the bookshelf and came back.
Within minutes, Rani finished her work and came to the room. She sat beside Alok who was in half lying position.
Caressing his forehead and face, she asked, “What did happen suddenly? Why are you so upset?”
Alok took out the letter from his pocket and placed it in her hand. She saw the letter typed on the letter head of Advocate S.K. Asthana. After reading it, she asked, “Are you perturbed because of this notice?”
“No Rani, I’m not worried because of the notice but the reason behind my worry is Saurabh’s thought process and conduct. He didn’t think it proper to meet us even after coming to Delhi; he went to his in-laws instead. I tolerated and ignored that. But he could stoop so low to the extent of asking for a share in my house while I’m alive, is beyond all limits. I had never even dreamt that Saurabh would turn out to be like this! I, too, have passed through similar phases of age. I, too, had father but never ever dared to act even remotely like this before him. Is this the reward I get for upbringing by Rashmi and me?”
Alok was full of hatred and reproach towards Saurabh. His heart cried over the intensity of Saurabh's lowly conduct.
“Don’t worry, Alok Ji. Will we take the house with us in the next world? Ultimately, it has to go to Saurabh and his children.”
Rani’s words of consolation did not pacify him in the least. On the contrary, he got more agitated. He said, “I hadn’t thought about this matter till now, but after receiving this notice, I’ve decided that I’ll not give even a penny to Saurabh.”
Rani saw that Alok was behaving contrary to his temperament. He was very tense. She got up and brought a glass of water from the kitchen. Handing it over to Alok, she said, “Don’t worry so much. There must be a solution to this also.”
“Rani, you don’t know how I bought this house! After selling the house in Bathinda, the money I got was spent on Saurabh’s medical studies and Purnima’s marriage. After he settled down in Australia, Saurabh never sent a penny nor I’ve ever asked for any money. Yes, he sponsored my and Rashmi’s trip when his daughter was born. This house has been bought with my own hard earned money and savings, and loan from bank, some instalments of which are yet to be paid.”
“As you’ve explained, we’ll consult a good lawyer and send reply. You don’t need to worry. Look in the library. If no one is there, lock the room. Let’s have lunch and then take some rest. You often say that there’s no night which doesn’t end up in morning. Likewise there can’t be any problem which doesn’t have a solution.”
*****
THE END
