This is a dedication to Michi and to all those fans who waited patiently to read it update by update scattered in the three threads. So to make reading easier I've compiled it all in one thread, I hope now the ppl who had been asking me to do it since long will be contented. 😊
Index
Page 1 Parts 1 - 9
Page 2 Parts 10 - 17
Page 3 Parts 18 - 25
Page 4 Parts 26 - 33
Page 5 Parts 34 - 41
Page 6 Parts 42 - 48
Page 7 Parts 49 - 56
Page 8 Parts 57 - 64
Page 9 Parts 65 - 71
Page 10 Parts 72 - Epilogue.
Kuch Iss Tarah.
"Prachi" her mother had called her from behind she turned around to see her carrying a small bowl in her hand. Coming closer she dipped a spoon in the mixture and held it out to her "Dahi cheeni hai kehtey hain kisi bhi shubh kaam key liye jaaney sey pehley agar dahi cheeni kha lein to kaam achey sey ho jaata hai" Prachi smiled and opened her mouth tasting the sweet contents. "Acha maa main chalun warna interview key liye late ho jaungi" she checked her file again and briskly ascended the stairs.
The air was warm and promised a sweltering hot day ahead she mentally calculated the time it would take her to reach the office. Standing at the bus stand waiting in queue for the vehicle she was aware of many eyes assessing her, yet she maintained her cool. A black Mercedes with tinted glasses drove by and the people around her silently wished they had owned it. She was instantly reminded of the many cars parked in their garage at one time. How she wished her father were alive she did not mind being thrown in a chawl or being reduced to a common girl after his death but it was the rude awakening of their current financial dilemma that had made her a changed person altogether. Se had never shunned her responsibilities neither did she now, she knew her family depended on her and all her hopes were pinned on this interview. The blaring honks of the bus caused her to snap out of her reverie and she boarded it with a dozen other people.
That was the last straw Milind knew his father wanted him to marry but he just couldn't get himself to marry any woman. Besides he was afraid she may not love his daughter as her own mother would and had thought best to drop the idea. But his father was adamant on the issue and left no stone unturned to harrass every governess he managed to appoint for Preeti. "Main office jaa raha huun or issey bhi saath ley jaa raha huun." He had quickly assembled her bag a clean change of dress, her formula milk, a few toys and diapers. He would take care of her today while he hunted for yet another governess. Sighing he strapped her in the baby seat in his car and drove off to the office.
The ride to the office was a hectic one she had been pushed and shoved mercilessly and she feared her clothes would be spoilt by the big can of edible oil a woman standing next to her carried. The bus had been packed with people and she just wished the ride would end soon hurrying out of it on her stop she checked her watch. She was running late she hoped she made it in time breaking in a trot she reached the office breathless. She was about to swing the glass door when someone crashed into her. Dazed by this sudden encounter she fell flat on the ground her file flew from her hands and landed at someone's feet. She composed herself to find a dark stranger looking down at her she realized they had collided in an attempt to reach the door in a hurry. He was a tall handsome man with rugged features and thick black curls, his burnished skin contrasted with the white of his shirt. He wore a black business suit and was sporting matching sunshades.
What seemed out of place was a sweet little child he held in his left arm, she obviously found the scene to her liking and clapped in amusement. Prachi smiled despite her discomfort, the stranger held out his right palm for her and she gratefully took it. Once on her feet she dusted her clothes and picked up her file, only there were two files one over the other. "Chot to nahin lagi ?" Are you hurt? he had inquired in his sombre voice. Shaking her head in the negative she handed him the other file and patted the child's cheek as she smiled at her."Buhut pyaari bachi hai" She's a very sweet child she had said before she left them both and took the elevator to the tenth floor.
Part 5
Milind had returned home to find Baba waiting up for him, "Baba aap soye nahin?" You'r still awake Baba? he had asked placing Preeti in his lap. "Terey bina na kuch khaya hai na piya hai uper sey tuu meri gurya ko bhi saath ley gaya to kaisey sota main." I haven't eaten or slept in your absence and you took my doll with you too how could I sleep then.he had complained good naturedly while smothering Preeti in his loving embrace "Baba main to aapki wajah sey ley gaya tha warna aap pareshaan ho jaatey." Baba I had taken her away because of you else you'd have been worried. Preeti
was switched on to hyper active mode her nap at the office had infused
fresh energy in her and she happily jumped on the springy couch by her
grandfather. Ramu kaka set the table and called them for dinner Milind
fed Preeti her portion of mashed potatoes and rice coaxing her to take
small spoonfuls as she wriggled in her high chair.
Later
that evening as Milind drove home through the congested Mumbai streets
he could not help but feel happy Preeti looked very much at ease today,
she sat peering out of the car window with thoughful eyes. Milind felt
guilty of not being able to take care of her himself but he was
satisfied with the thought that she would be near him now and that was
all that mattered at the moment.Stopping at a signal he looked about
him in disgust the road was packed with vehicles Preeti now faced him
trying to talk to him about some matter that she found of interest.
Milind had assented to everything she uttered she seemed to have found
a bee resting on the wind shield and pointed to it. In her banter she
had dropped her pacifier as he bent down to retrieve it he noticed a
silver earring wedged in the gear box. Picking it up he examined the
object carefully ... and then he remembered ofcourse it was Prachi's.
Shifting the gears he put the vehicle back in motion his thoughts now
focused on his new assistant, he had met many women in his life but
only a few had left a mark on him. There was something about her that
caught his attention he had seen women far more beautiful, enticing and
alluring than her then why ... why did she look so dissimilar to the
others. A pair of hazel eyes appeared in his mind's vision a tear
rolled down one and it seemed to have caused ripples in the otherwise
still waters of his mind, shaking his head he tried to get rid of the
vision. Later that night as he stood smoking in the marble chipped
balcony of his room those eyes had haunted him again.
It
had nearly been two months that Prachi had joined her new office, she
had initially dreaded facing Milind each day after her interview but it
seemed he hardly remembered the incident. He had Madhu give her a tour
of the premises before she led her to her office it appeared to have
changed overnight. Now besides a crib there were navy blue floor
cushions in floral prints and a larger collection of soft toys, her
desk had been placed directly in front of his line of vision. It had
her own laptop and other stationery, the telephones he explained
required wires and he didn't need Preeti getting all tangled in them so
she didn't have any. The walls now adorned pictures of cartoon
characters a book shelf had been put up in one corner it held various
books on early learning for children.A wardrobe stood in the other
corner supplied with towels, nappies, formula milk and Preeti's change
of clothes , he had taken care to have the blinds exchanged with window
length navy blue floral curtains the room had been changed for the
better she had thought.What was notable though was that the heavy oak
door had been replaced with a glass one.
Milind
usually kept to himself busy with his projects, meetings and research
she would sometimes find him lost in thought puffing on cigarette after
cigarette it seemed he hardly cared about anything else besides work
and Preeti so much so that he often forgot to take meals and it would
be Madhu who would send him a late lunch reminding him that he had yet
to eat. She herself was kept busy with the little cherub, Preeti was a
very intelligent child and it did not take Prachi long to have her
eating out of her hands. The child required love and attention and
Prachi showered that on her to the hilt she was not spoilt but she had
the same stubborn streak as her father, she even sometimes ran her
pudgy fingers through her crop of curls when exasperated or deep in
thought.The only time Milind talked to her was when he wanted her to
work on something for him, today was one of those days as the
inauguration loomed nearer Milind had the entire company on it's
toes.He wanted everything to be perfect and the entire tenth floor
seemed to be in a frenetic bustle almost all the time.
Prachi
had been working on the menu for the big day finalizing the details
with the caterers Preeti had been inactive coming down with flu and
viral fever she had sat in her crib trying to make her teddy read with
her though none understood any of the written words. Prachi had put
Preeti to bed and had walked out of the room to join Madhu for lunch it
seemed Milind would have to be reminded about his later she had left
him wrapped up in deciding the decor for the big day. Collecting Madhu
from her office she reached the cafeteria it buzzed alive with energy
as the staff members joked and laughed aloud.
They
joined a group of women on the far side of the room Prachi knew some of
them and was introduced to the rest. It seemed all that the women had
to discuss was their boss Milind Mishra. "Did you notice his shades the other day?" Yasmin gushed stuffing coleslaw in her mouth. "You'r stuck on shades did you notice his cute butt in the boardroom." this was Reema. Prachi smiled as she ate in silence. "Move off you two he's mine." pitched in Sangeeta "As if" this was Upasana. "Women control your emotions we must not forget that he is off limits especially for you Sangeeta you'r married for God' sake." Sumana
had chimed in while the rest gave her killer looks Sangeeta delivered a
hard kick to her underneath the table and soon both were involved in a
fork fight this was too much for Prachi she doubled over with laughter
at their friendly tiff.
"How about you Prachi don't you have a crush on him?" Sonia had asked "You'r
the only one who gets to watch him up close and personal not like us
who have to get here before nine to catch a glimpse of him each day."
"No I don't have a crush on him we hardly talk " Prachi had clarified "He's a very quiet person besides I'm too busy with Preeti and then the inauguration doesn't leave much time for talk." she had smiled as she answered to the group who would literally give anything to exchange places with her. "Liar!" Upasana burst upon her "Confirmed " Reema quipped "How could you not have a crush on the most handsome, dashing, smart, intelligent, suave......" looking around for support she smacked Sangeeta on the shoulder "I'm out of adjectives here a little help." "Oh ofcourse passionate, divine, romantic, sexy, yumilicious guy on earth." she finished with a broad grin. "when did you discover these attributes in him ?" Sonia asked suspiciously "Ofcourse hun when I day dream about him in my office I discover the undiscovered!" she had winked and the rest had burst out laughing. "You forgot one big attribute Sangeeta..." they turned around to see Sapna holding her tray in her hands."How about a first class pervert and a ruthless murderer, sound interesting don't they?"
Even Madhu had maintained her silence though she had informed Prachi about Sumana, she was a hardworking girl who hailed from a middle class family one of the 6 siblings in her home her father had been unable to pay her college fee. She had joined the company a year back and it was Milind who had advised her to resume studies promising to fund her education. Prachi could not understand the man he seemed to have a generous heart but she had seen the other side of him dark and terrifying. She shivered slightly as she remembered his enraged conversation on the day he interviewed her, she wondered if he did what he did to put up a show to deceive the world.
Part 8
The
ride to her house was a silent one his eyes were focused on the road
ahead as she mulled on the incident in the office.She was slumped on
the seat next to him her hands bunched in her lap, she felt the
oversized expensive Armani hung on her it smelt of burnt tobacco and
Isimiaki, she recognized the perfume as an excellent one and the
combination had a fatal effect on her senses.
Inhaling a deep
lungful of it she tried to commit his smell to her memory. He drove the
car with finesse she wondered if his hands stinged underneath the
bandage he had not winced or gasped with pain once after being severely
burnt it seemed as if he was used to such torments and took them in his
stride. She shuddered as she imagined what could have happened if he
hadn't pulled the dupatta off her, he saw her shudder and turned
slightly to face her.
He wondered how anyone could look
both beautiful and innocent at the same time. She looked small and
fragile covered in his coat,tendrils of her hair blew naughtily on her
flushed cheeks and every so often she'd push them behind her ear with
her slender fingers.Her eyes seemed to be focused on the dashboard her
thoughts wandering. "Tuu theek to hai na?" "Are you alright?"he had asked and she had immediately lifted her eyes to him "Jee" "Yes" she had smiled but it had quickly faded away "I'm sorry meri wajah sey aapka haath jal gaya. Dard ho raha hoga na.""I'm sorry you burnt your hand because of me. It must be paining ?" and he had watched her supple lips move her face depicting unhappiness.
"Yeh chot" "This wound" he laughed a soft hollow laugh "Aadat ho gayi ab to........ nahin dard nahin mujhey." "I'm used to it......no it's not paining." She
had looked at him again his laugh had surprised her but watching him
had made her realize it was far from pleasant. She wondered if she
would ever be able to see him laugh straight from his heart it troubled
her to think that he was an extremely unhappy soul. He had switched on
the radio an old number played on the mellifluous notes reverberating
in the car
"Tujh se naraaz nahin nahin zindagi hairaan huun main o hairaan huun main I'm not mad at you life just surprised
Terey masoom sawalon sey pareshaan huun main ho pareshaan huun main I'm worried by your innocent questions.
Tujh se naraaz nahin nahin zindagi hairaan huun main ho hairaan huun main
Terey masoom sawalon sey pareshaan huun main ho pareshaan huun main
Jeeney key liye socha hi nahin dard sanbhalney hongey.
Never thought I'd have to hold pain close to live.
Jeeney key liye socha hi nahin dard sanbhalney hongey.
Muskuraein to muskuraney key qarz utaarney hongey
If we laugh we'll have to pay back the debt we owe to our laughter.
Muskuraun kabhi to lagta hai jaisey honton pey qarz rakha hai.
If I laugh at times I feel I've placed a debt on my lips.
Tujh se naraaz nahin nahin zindagi hairaan huun main o hairaan huun main.
Prachi
had shifted uncomfortably in her seat he seemed to be completely in
sync with the song but she realized it had aggravated his melancholy
and she understood that it somehow connected to him in some way. She
reached for the button and switched the channel immediately a different
tune floated in the air.He had been pulled out of his thoughts by her
act and found her watching him, her eyes filled with dread but he had
silently averted his eyes back to the road ahead.Lata Mangeshkar's
voice now filled the car
"Aisa sama na hota kuch bhi yahaan na hota
It wouldn't have been like this nothing would've been here
Merey humrahi jo tum na hotey merey humrahi jo tum na hotey.
If you hadn't been my companion
Aisa sama na hota kuch bhi yahaan na hota
Merey humrahi jo tum na hotey merey humrahi jo tum na hotey.
Raahein wohi waadi wohi badla kuch nahin
The valley is the same so are the ways
Phir bhi terey milney sey hai duniya kyun haseen.
Then why does the world look so beautiful after meeting you
Raahein wohi waadi wohi badla kuch nahin
Phir bhi terey milney sey hai duniya kyun haseen.
Kahiin khuwabon main hum gum na hotey
I wouldn't have been lost in dreams if you hadn't been my companion.
Merey humraahi jo tum na hotey."
He
had pulled out a cigarette from it's silver case and lit it puffing it
heavily as the car sped on the roads, she was enjoying the track it was
one of her favourites he saw her smile, snapping her fingers softly she
hummed with the singer.
"Hum tum jo na miltey to na chaata yeh nasha
If you and I wouldn't have met this intoxication wouldn't have shrouded us.
Hota kuch bhi hota yeh na hota jo hua.
Anything would've happened besides what has happened
Hum tum jo na miltey to na chaata yeh nasha
Hota kuch bhi hota yeh na hota jo hua.
Yahaan mil key na dil aisey khotey merey humrahi jo tum na hotey
Hearts wouldn't have met and become lost if you wouldn't have been my companion.
Aisa sama na hota kuch bhi yahaan na hota
Merey humrahi jo tum na hotey merey humrahi jo tum na hotey.
They
eventually reached her house and she had invited him to her humble
abode telling him she'd need to change before she handed him her coat
surprising himself he accepted the offer. Premlata had been pleasantly
astonished to see Prachi accompanied by Milind she welcomed him warmly,
seating him on a wickerchair she herself had gone to the kitchen.
Milind had felt quite at home seated in the lounge on the chair he
rolled his sleeves up and ran a bandaged hand through his matted
hair.It was a simple chawl house consisting of two rooms and a lounge
from where he sat he could see someone sleeping on the bed inside one
of them.
The kitchen was in a corner of the lounge partly
open he could see Prachi's mother cooking someting on the stove
whatever it was it smelt really good he took a sniff of the delicious
aroma wafting through the house.Somehow he had an indistinct feeling of
being at home it had the warmth and caring aura to it which reminded
him of his own chawl house he once resided in.His eyes had caught
Inder's picture hung on the wall and the wreath it bore indicating his
demise.
Premlata had shaken her violently "Prachi utho Prachi" "Prachi wake up" and
she had forced herself to awaken still struggling in her mind looking
around her fearfully she checked to make sure it was a dream. "Phir
wohi sapna ?" "The same dream again?" Premlata
had questioned and she had hugged her mother tightly as her mother
gently stroked her hair. "Prachi bhuul kyun nahin jaati tum us ko.
Zindagi main log aagey barhtey hain Prachi ateet key saaye main nahin
jeetey jo ho gaya usey bhuul jao, bhuul jao." "Prachi why don't you forget it? People move on in life they don't live in the shadows of their past. Forget it." "Kaise bhuul jaun kaisey maa yeh yaadein mujhey jeeney nahin detein or yeh sapna har pal mujhey mera ateet yaad dilata hai." "How do I forget it mom these memories don't let me live and this dream reminds me constantly of my past." she
had whimpered sobbing noiselessly against her mother's
shoulder.Premlata had sighed softly how she wished her daughter would
forget her past and live her life without it haunting her as an
incubus.
Later that night Prachi had looked out of her
bedroom window at the full moon hung like a lantern illuminating the
sky in it's cold silvery shine."Kab aayega merey dil ko chain?" "When will my heart find peace?" she
had questioned it letting it's silvery chords bathe her she wished the
light would reach her soul cleansing it. Standing in his balcony
smoking Milind had watched the same celestial object absentmindedly the
moonlight blanketed the entire premises giving it a magical touch he
studied the flagstones lining the driveway exhaling a cloud of smoke,
what had his life become, why could he not be at peace with himself. He
possessed everything..... everything but peace. "Kab aayega merey dil
ko chain?" he had questioned lifting his face up to the moon hoping to
find his answer etched in it's milky glow. Standing miles apart from
each other their hearts had beat simultaneously and had yearned for the
one important thing in their lives and unknown to them their questions
had reached their final destination waiting to be answered.
Links to the songs
1. http://ww.smashits.com/music/oldies/songs/668/masoom.html#
2. http://ww.smashits.com/music/oldies/songs/4114/zameen-aasman .html#
Part 9
(I)
Part 10
He
had reached home to find the doctor checking Baba's pulse it seemed the
elderly man was suffering from high blood pressure in the morning and
the heat had aggravated it further. He had collapsed on the temple
steps when the driver had hurried to his aid helping him in the car.
Once home he had been taken to his bedroom and Ramu Kaka had called
Milind up before calling the doctor.Milind had sent the driver to fetch
the medicines prescribed by him immediately,sensing him near Baba had
feebly opened his eyes to watch Milind seated by him on his bed.He
stroked his father's hand fondly "Baba aap theek to haina?" Baba are you ok? he had questioned in anguish "Main theek huun Milind tuu chinta mat ker" I'm fine you don't worry.Baba
had replied with an effort "Aap ko kuch ho jaata to Baba kiya zarurat
thi akeley mandir jaaney kii mera intizaar to kiya hota." What if anything would've happened to you why did you go alone couldn't you wait for me?
he had complained, he seriously dreaded anything happening to his
father he was the only family he had besides Preeti. His sole confidant
and the only person who understood him more than himself.
Bringing
his hand to his lips he had kissed it with love and he had felt his
father squeeze his hand tightly. He brushed Milind's heavy hand against
his pallid cheek and gave him a look that he knew so well but had never
really understood the mix of expression before, yet today he did. It
was love, sorrow and fear and the amalgamation of it all had tugged at
his heart. An hour later he rose from his seat beside his father on the
large bed, he had managed to soothe Baba who now lay with his eyes
closed in a troubled but deep slumber under the influence of drugs.
Raking a heavy hand through his hair he checked the air flow of the air
conditioner before he left the room.
He decided to go back
to the office to collect Preeti and return home early, his father
needed him business could wait. Giving explicit instructions to Kaka to
call him when Baba woke up he left for the office. Meandering through
the afternoon traffic he tried to maintain his patience which fast ran
out on the over crowded roads especially on days like these when the
sun chose to shine it's brightest. He had yanked his coat off throwing
it on the backseat when he heard his cell ring putting it to his ear he
heard a female voice ask for his identity.
Part 11
Milind
had scoured the empty corridor in search for her but in vain no one
seemed to be around,he stood stumped the hospital sprawled on an
extensive piece of land,the place was massive how was he going to find
her.Just then a nurse clad in starched white walked past him and he
stopped her to ask "Dr Krishna kahaan hongi?" Where would Dr Krishna be? "Apney cabin main" In her cabin came
the prompt reply. Asking her for directions he had followed her to the
heart of the building the clicking of her heels resonating in the shiny
corridor,pointing to a room she had gestured him to knock and had
walked back the way they had come.
Knocking raptly on the
white ash door he had heard a disgruntled "Come in",stepping inside he
found the doctor poring over X-ray results gauging by her apprehension
he realized the conversation should be a brief one. She had looked up
to see him standing there dissapppointedly trying to pacify a very
restless Preeti in his arms.
"Mujhey Prachi key baarey main puuchna tha... woh kahaan hai?" "I wanted to ask about Prachi where is she?" he had enquired without any preliminaries. "Prachi kon? .....oh inki mummy?" Prachi who? .. oh her mother" she had clarified "Woh to chali gayeen, mujhey laga aap bhi saath hii hongey" She's left I thought you'd be with her. A
sudden wave of panic washed over him,where could she go in such a
battered condition, maybe she went home. He stood musing on her
whereabouts when he saw the doctor hand out something to him, it was
her purse she had forgotten it in her haste, Damn he had thought taking
it from her. As he turned the door knob to leave he heard the doctor
call out to him "Mr Mishra next time you send your family out see to it that they have enough cash to get around."
"Kiya matlab?" What do you mean? he
had asked confused , he soon received his asnswer when she handed him a
gold ring and plain gold chain. "What's this?" he had asked flustered
why was she giving him jewellery and whose was it anyways. "This is
your wife's she didn't have anything to pay for your daughter's medical
treatment so she gave these to the receptionist.Since you've paid all
the bills I think you can return these to her." Taking them from her
hand he had looked at the objects perplexed. Had she really done it?
Given up her valuable posessions for his daughter's treatment. He knew
how deplorable her financial conditions were and these trinkets
would've meant a lot, yet she had parted with them for Preeti.
He
had turned to leave when on a sudden impulse he had turned around
halfway through the doorway "Kiya Prachi ney aapsey kaha tha keh woh
Mrs Mishra hai?" Did Prachi tell you she's Mrs Mishra? Dr Krishna had stared at him strangely "Nahin" No she had replied "Jo couple unhain yahaan chor gaya tha unhon ney bataya tha" The couple who left her here had informed me. and
she had noticed his face lose colour as he shut the door behind him.
Preeti had been highly amused to see Prachi's gold ring she recognised
it immediately trying to pull it from Milind's firm grasp. He had to
find her he just had to and with that sole thought running wild in his
mind his pace had quickened towards the parking lot.
Prachi
had no idea of her next course of action she was far from home and that
too penniless, she watched as people slowly started leaving the park
she realised it would soon be empty. She had to walk her way home
whether she liked it or not. Her mind understood the gravity of the
situation but her body refused to comply, she just couldn't make
herself move.She felt like screaming at the top of her lungs if only
she could just go home ......somehow. Tightening her grip on the hand
rail of the bench she had managed to get up ignoring the sharp pain
that arose every time she moved a muscle she trudged forward.
She
had been about to cross the park gates when she heard a voice call her
from behind turning around she was surprised to see Krithika her
neighbour stand there."Prachi tum yahaan?" Prachi how come you'r here? she
had inquired pleasantly, she obviously was there for her own kids who
scampered around her. She had two of them six year old Karan and three
year old Tina the kids had immediately come to Prachi extremely pleased
to see her there. They were very fond of their Prachi aunty who baby
sat them sometimes when their mother was busy with work. "Aunty chaliye
na ghar humarey saath" Aunty come home with us Tina
had pleaded circling her small arms around Prachi's leg, joined by
Karan "Haan na aunty aap ney humain Jungle Book bhi parh ker sunani
hai, aap ney vaada kiya tha yaad haina aapko" Yes Aunty you have to read Jungle Book to us you promised remember he had smiled cheekily at her.
Prachi
couldn't have felt more relieved she thought she could hitch a ride
home with them. It was then that Krithika had realized that Prachi was
silent moving closer she was horrified to see her wounds. "Prachi kiya
hua tumko?" Prachi what happened to you? she
had asked alarmed gently placing a hand on her sagging shoulder. Prachi
had found it hard to keep her tears at bay but she braved a weak smile
telling her that she had had a simple accident and would be extremely
grateful if Krithika could take her home.The other woman had
immediately assented, stopping a passing auto rickshaw she had quickly
explained the driver their destination cramming in it they had headed
for the chawl.As they rounded the bend Prachi had noticed a black
Kompressor follow their rickshaw, she recognised it as Milind's had he
seen her she had wondered fearfully.
Milind had floored
the engine trying to keep calm, his eyes scanned the roads furtively
hoping to find her walking down one of them. He had been extremely
taken aback with Prachi's gestures for Preeti, she had risked her own
life, received injuries, bore his wrath and had left without a word
that too without any cash on hand. "Sab meri ghalati hai" It's all my fault he
had thought angrily why couldn't he have just let her explain atleast
she wouldn't have fled in that state.Keeping a sharp lookout for her he
had driven around the corner away from the bus stop when he had noticed
her talking to some other woman at the park gates, slowing down his car
he watched as the two kids smiled up at her pulling her hand towards
the doorway. He saw her smile half heartedly and walk with the trio to
an auto rickshaw and then they had gone.
He had been
assuaged to see her head for home and had decided to leave for his own
when he saw her purse adorning his dash board.Aw crap he had thought
now he'd have to return it to her but why, the question had arisen on
his mind's surface countless times throughout the drive to her house.
Why was he fretting for her discomfort after all she was just an
employee. Just an employee, just an employee the words kept echoing in
his mind till his head had started swimming. He followed the rickshaw
to the chawl, he saw the other woman pay the fare and help her out but
before they could advance further he had gotten out of his car and
called out to her.