Mishal Raheja
as
Dutta
In
Blue Blood
Part 1
With
partly moistened eyes, Shakuntala devi considered her two children Kala and Baji silently going
through their breakfast. Impatiently she looked at the unoccupied seat over to
her left and wondered if he had woken up? her silent questionings were answered
as she heard the sound of his decisive
hard heel digging gait across the
marble floor. All eyes turned and witnessed a tall smart athletic built Dutta
in a black regular fit pair of trousers secured with black pure leather belt
around his defined well-proportioned waist. Whilst he walked he smoothed a
stubborn crease on his black tucked in shirt with a faint flick of his slender
forefinger. Baji looked across the dining table and whistled, with a wink at
his older sister Kala,
"kya
baat hai! the wind will be whistling through
multiple holes on all the targets boards
on the range! I should be there to listen to music pop! bang! whizz! and rata tat of the firing! shall I come too
Dutta?
"nehin! go about your real estate business and leave
me be at the range! growled Dutta! and
Baji muttered under his breath
"dunno
what this Dutta's problem is? his mother chastised her youngest born
"
Baji.. manners please, he's older then you are!
you call Kala, Tai.. then Dutta too you should call Bhau.. Baji sniggered and looked across to Kala and
replied baffled, as he cocked his eyebrows in Dutta's direction
"Bhau?
what for ,Aye Sahib? he's not that much older than me ,besides from which
angle does he look like a Bhau to you? if it was in my power I would call him
shri kill joy! he continued to guffaw!
Dutta palmed his well contoured stubble and replied clearly displeased.
"my
name is Dutta and I am not a Bhau ,only Dutta! Kala spoke up in his defence as
she glared at Baji
"
Baji grow up will you?stop winding him up! come Dutta sit on Aye's left, you know she won't break fast
till you don't eat first! just a second ,I'll get your sandwiches, from the
kitchen" Dutta sat , silently he had a sip of his orange juice with glazed
eyes, and then slowly turned to his
foster mother
"
Aye Sahib, how many times have I said.. you start ,you don't have to wait upon
me, you're on medication too, you worry
to much for me unnecessarily "and he pushed his mother's plate to her. Kala
caringly set his sandwiches on
the table under his nose with an order
"
eat them now! but Baji stretched his arm across the table and tried to pick at
his sandwiches. Before she knew it Dutta pushed his plate towards Baji, before every one's eyes
"here
take them . I 'eve had juice besides, I'd better be on my way" he said
tersely as he glanced at his Armani
chain bracelet watch. Before Baji
confessed for his jest Dutta stood up ,turned around and smartly and
stiffly walked across the marble floor
out the hall. Baji discomforted, ran
after Dutta to appease him with apologetic words. Aye Sahib dabbed her mouth
and turned to Kala in confidence
"Kala,
who can tell that all all three of you are not blood related.. we mean that Dutta is not our blood.We made a concerted effort that he should be
incorporated within my family. Kala I was the one who forced your babaa to
adopt a male infant.. now we feel
responsible for him. Kala , keep in mind that Dutta never finds out about this
truth.. we feel it's pointless, as he was one without parents.. dead or alive..
he never knew them" confessed Aye
Sahib. Kala nodded reflectively and replied
"Aye
Sahib, he'll never find out, about what his back ground. You are indeed an
exemplary mother, never differentiated between us three. in fact do you recall
Aye Sahib, it was I that fell in love with him!
he was my brother well before this joker Baji, but I do look out for his
welfare, tell me Aye Sahib does he seem withdrawn to you? see Baji too teased
him, about his solemn side", recalled Kala. Aye Sahib justified herself
over the table before Kala
"look
Kala, we meted out the same treatment to Dutta as we did
to all three of you. He was given choice
of profession too. Never influenced him to take over your babba's land
holdings.. directed it over to Baji, who
is irresponsible and not really cut out to handle landholdings.. Kala , we
accepted with a smile when he showed inclination towards joining the
security services. Always supported him, but yes Kala we wouldn't deny that
Dutta does remain enclosed within himself.. from the very beginning he was a
restrained infant, toddler, an adolescent, and remains so now.. reminiscences
Aye Sahib..
"but
Aye Sahib now Dutta is beyond teen years, in fact past twenties nearly on the threshold of thirty..
he seems set in his ways. Apart from
Baji and me he hardly interacts with any way.. Aye Sahib I worry about
him, you'd better think about getting him married off now", suggested
Kala. Aye Sahib still mused about Dutta
and pressed upon her
"look
Kala we made him Dutta shri Ram Patil from Dutta.. gave him our namesake ,but
he's still lost in a zone of his own " said Aye Sahib helplessly
"for
the attachment of our family name to his Aye Sahib, he gives tremendous value.
We are his only family, but there is a certain unspoken disquiet within him which
he conceals .. I fear it , confessed Kala..
~~~~~~~~
With
the wind just blow drying his side parted mop of jet black hair. He fixed his
lion like gaze through his ray bans on the long road ahead of the dual carriage
way.. his ear piece rang and he replied
"haan
Dutta! yes! it is I alpha, what other Dutta do you know in the services? looks
like you have lots of spare time on your hands ,that you're checking up on me!
yesss! am on my way, what's the emergency, early in the morning? yes I am
bloody awake not like you going to bed in the early hours of the morning! The
person at the other end must have cracked a joke ,as with some difficulty ,Dutta
smiled, indicated and veered off the dual carriage way through to the security
services fancy black glass encased
structural edifice. The two uniformed guards saluted and Dutta lowered the gear
of his black open top jeep , nodded and parked before the reception.
"
Dutta the boss wants to see you right away." informed the receptionist. Dutta slipped off his rays bans and dropped them in
his breast pocket and soon after reported for duty
"seems
there's a lot of scum in your area son.. dirty guys ,throwing their weight
around, asking rich boys for money! or else". informed his boss, Bhaskar
.whom all the boys called Babloo on the side
"
true say ,sir! where there are rich targets , there'll be scavengers too. Such worms are crawling out of the wood works of
Patil Vadi .. which one do you have in mind? asked Dutta as he felt the stubble under the side of his nose.
"
it's the devious mota jhingar!, he's crawled
on to the land now! has to be squashed! shouted his boss
"
ahh! that fat shrimp!! why whose he
crawling about on now? asked Dutta with an amused blink of his narrowed eyes
"
Dutta , you know the man, it's your dad's buddy Nana Tavde, he contacted me this
morning, so I thought that about it, and passed it over to you! deal with it young lion!
and teach that damn! mota jhingar ! a right lesson! so deal with it right away! you know Nana Tavde
is a patron of this institution , donates
a considerable amount of cash! so his problem cannot be way laid!
~~~~~~~
Dutta
drove into Nana's lavish mansion in the suburban's.
The body guards knew him well, as he was considered virtual family. Inside the
house, with a kiss and a hug Nana scaled
his eyes tenderly over Dutta as though he were his own son.
"how
are you my son? I knew you would come promptly! , and he turned around and
yelled , "will someone get some refreshments? Dutta raised his palm
politely and declined
"no,
Tavde babaa, on duty I don't take anything. So if you please, tell me what the
issue is? I can deal with it as soon as possible. Tavde put his hand on Dutta's shoulder and
both men walked through a sunlight glass tunnel towards the garden.
"Dutta
basically I am under the constant threat of extortionists who clearly eye my wealth.. and as they so to speak offer me protection against others of their kind , I
should grant them a regular income in
return for them safeguarding my interests", Nana squeezed Dutta's arm as a
matter of urgency and continued
"it's
Seema I fear for ,these guys don't stop at anything.. every moment I am
terrified what if she is kidnapped and held to ransom , what would become of me
? I'll be devastated! emphasized Nana much anxious. Dutta felt his father's friend's shoulder and
replied with an expressionless countenance
"
nothing will happen to Seema , I'll see
to it! Dutta said with some conviction. But
Nana clarified
"Dutta
I am thinking more on the lines of having a person who'll shadow her, I cannot
take chances.. am thinking about hiring
a body guard." Dutta nodded and advised
"
sure, you can advertise and I can vet
the guy, check his references.. you leave it with me" and he showed he was
ready to leave. Nana , had wanted Dutta
to offer his services as he knew Seema and that who knows something would come
about of it? reflected Tavde.. still no harm in Dutta picking
Seema from her college..
"yeah
that's fine but before you leave, do me a favour Dutta .. pick Seema up from
her college." Dutta had no choice but to obey his father's friend..
~~~~~~~~
Not
entirely over the moon he drove like a manic and finally parked before the
college, feeling not like a guy, employed by security services but more like
a chauffeur! Disdainfully he twitched
his jaw as his eyes shifted under his ray bans.. girls! girls , in hordes
dressed in bright colourful clothes, with shoulder bags bursting at the
seams!
Finally
he saw her too, coming out flanked
by giddy laughing friends. Dutta flared
his nostrils as they noticed him waiting
in his jeep. They nudged Seema and then all laughed again. He mused ,she 'd better act swiftly and sit
beside him, enough of making a cheap spectacle of himself before these
frisky fillies!
"well
well! must be my lucky day! that the kill joy himself has turned up! what is
the meaning of this? she smiled with a deliberate pout and banged the door shut
of his jeep. Dutta turned and glared at her, in the passenger seat
"
had to come.. it was Tavde babaa's order", he moaned and she turned to him
sideways
"thought
so Dutta, otherwise you wouldn't be here in your right mind" acknowledged
Seema
"haan!
Seema you're right, I have nothing else
to do other than pick you up from your college! after all, who am I ?
plain and simple Dutta, a nonentity! one
who acts upon others behest! because Dutta
has nothing to say to himself ..nothing at all.. so it's good others can tell
him what directions to take in his life!, he grumbled, as he put his jeep in
gear and drove off
"oohh
Dutta , my babaa sometimes goes over the top! forgive me.. it's probably
because of my personal security you are going through his unpleasant
ordeal" confessed Seema ,
Dutta
felt, guilt ridden and he mumbled apologetically, as he cleared his throat
"
I didn't mean it that way Seema" ,but she turned on him
"Dutta!
don't know you from today, have known you since ages.. growing up amongst you
all and children who played with me in your house.. you stood out amongst the
lot.. yes I used to watch you Dutta.. even as an adolescent, when others
grabbed your toys off you.. you'd let go off them easily.. never resisted ,
never fought back!.. I wanted to scream then, don't let people walk all over
you! but your face always was blank! I despair in you.." Seema ranted and
then finally stopped.. Dutta parted his
lips , a sigh escaped from his mouth and he turned his face the other way then
on the road.. he twitched his jaw, creased his brow, but replied in his
guttural voice
"
Dutta didn't fight for things. Because Dutta
had no possessions, then! and it's the same now.. Seema, I am free from desires! and wanting of any sort and kind! people can take from me, nothing is mine own, can't be ! won't be! came onto this planet and it's circus of
people! only with one possession my name .. Dutta ! the people who created me! abandoned me! unpossessed me! so I have it in my blood, no desire to own anything!
"
not even somebody?? asked Seema cautiously, vexed Dutta continued
"yes!
people too! they were two people who
owned me.. then disowned me! funny isn't
it? Seema retorted
"
ooh stop it! you're not the first..ummh, and certainly not the last, lots of
children lose their parents due to a variety of reasons!, she argued
"
you forget ,I didn't lose my parents in some freak turn of events, they
forsook me! like some piece of scum! I actually feel
worthless, a result of some breach of nature! , he roared , as he pressed his
foot on the accelerator.. Seema was most
upset and continued to blame herself.
"this
rant of yours is all because of me isn't
that right?
"haan
it's because of you! hate it if I get bogged down with people issues! want to
be distant.. he grumbled
"you
don't say Dutta! I'd never have guessed! she teased and he turned his neck towards
her as he pulled up the hand brake
"
don't guess! just get out! and he put his jeep in gear, slowly amassed speed
and vroomed off!
Seema
watched him drive off! smiled and mused.. you maybe horrid , nasty and everything unpleasant, but one thing is for sure ,you never lie Dutta..
always tell it how it is! but I
will always love you..
~~~~~~
Aye
Sahib stood before Bappa's statue and frowned then moved away and called for Kala
"
this is so out of order! I am sick of
telling Baji about the puja flowers day
in and day out,but!
"he
is spoilt rotten! Aye Sahib, he needs
stiff words, too much money brashness oozes out of him, complained Kala..
"yes,
and that Dutta my good son, compared
to Baji is totally opposite, serious ,focussed.. moaned
Aye Sahib
"Aye
Sahib, take my advice, never compare the two before themselves, it'll set them
apart.. they'll compete for your favour,
and that shouldn't really happen.. for you
know the reason why? said Kala in a hushed voice. Aye Sahib nodded and then
picked up the phone and dialled.
"
Dutta, my puja flowers need to be replenished.. someone mentioned a corner florist.. before she finished ,
Dutta replied
"will
be done Aye Sahib! and he cut the call. Aye Sahib turned to Kala,
"before
I could finish he hung up Kala.. I tell you by each passing day I feel, him
going away from me.. will you have a word with him Kala? insisted her mother..
Kala wrapped her arm around her mother and walked her to her bedroom and
settled her for night.
~~~~~~~~
He festered inside , but Aye's job somehow
didn't feel burdensome to him, it seemed
more like an honour to be picked for it.
Dutta twitched his jaw in consternation, as he realized that Baji once again , probably never heard Aye
Sahib's demand for flowers, and was elsewhere occupied up to no good.. Dutta
braced his neck and mused.. eyeee Dutta! don't you forget, it's Baji's wild
ways that change the direction of his foster mothers eyes on him. However, he won't let him off
lightly.. being older than his brother.. it was his right over Baji to reprimand him in his wrong doings..
his mobile could hear Baji's phone ring
finally Dutta growled
"where
the hell are you? Aye Sahib just rang me
to get the flowers for puja! tell me you idiot, do you even bother to hear what
errands she gives you? such an offhand mind set you have? Baji once a while honour her and earn her
blessings! roared Dutta
"
why should I Dutta? you're there to do
her odd jobs and amass her blessings.. while I make hay while the sun
shines! Baji retorted and Dutta yelled even more
"
just show me your face, I'll wipe that comeuppance off your face.. stupid
imbecile! bellowed Dutta
"easy
Dutta , save the hype for lynching the
bad guys! heeeyee! remember I am
your brother, the baby of the family!
teased Baji and Dutta nodded his head with a wee slant to his mouth
"
more like the brat of the family! pain
in my neck! by the way you never mentioned where you ?
"
Dutta ,I despair in you! at the holdings , and I mean land not some innocent young missy ! honestly you are such
a big wind up that hands of your life's clock are stilled, jammed! you don't
tick or tock Dutta! get a life learn to love! a missy! you'll start to smile!
"will
you bloody tell me where can I get flowers? tell me on the double! yelled Dutta
"
first say please! then I'll tell you! sniggered Baji and Dutta just revved his
engine and concluded, Baji was in his
usual pathetic playful phases ! He would
drive around in his black open top
security services jeep and check around if
any kiosks selling garlands were open..
~~~~~~~
Grey rain clouds swarmed the dusky skies like
an angry army of militants. Before the arrival of the rain, the whistling ,
boisterious gales rocked his jeep in mid driving, whilst he lowered the gear and carefully went around the narrow lanes and gulleys of small
old town Patil Vadi closer to his own home.. he braked as his jeep rocked even
in second gear! It was blustery.Seemed he was being pushed a certain way. Then the
heavens opened with a sudden torrential down pour. At the press of a button, Dutta's first reaction unfurled the black tarpaulin top over his black jeep .The
wipers swished across the wind screen and he suddenly he looked ahead.. Something
moved! a figure! a petite girl in a sage green fitted shirt and white
churridar. She dashed out of what looked like a self- contained kiosk with a
green and white awing held up by two bamboo poles. The petite girl was bare foot.. Dutta peered through the windscreen, and pulled his
hand brake up and switched off the engine. As luck had it, he identified a florist
shop! before he could blink the girl speedily
dived at the large metal jugs
that held fresh flowers, outside her flower shop under the awning.
Dutta firmed his mouth, it was obvious the sudden downpour brought her out in a
rush. How stupid, he mused , the flowers were being watered by the rain. But he also saw the sheer force
of the weighty downpour bent the stalks and petals of the bunches.The awing
shook dangerously by the accompanied gales. The girl swiftly stood under the shaky awing and the splatter
of countless raindrops on the roadside splattered both her delicate small toes
and her churridar pyjama. She needed help , mused Dutta as he watched her from
the dry vantage point of his jeep. Before
he knew it right before his eyes! one of the poles gave way and she
screamed as the other too shook and was about to crash on her head along with
the awing which displayed the name of her
flower shop.. Gul Bahar.. she
lurched her body to one side and twisted her elbow to protect her face and shut
her eyes!.. a strong palm gripped it..and she slowly opened her green eyes ,her
face sprayed and beaded by rain drops.. a uniformed man , inclined over her and
she felt his arm behind her lower back.. holding her up from falling
backwards.. Dutta glared into green eyes ,as he held the pole of the falling
awing in one hand.. he stretched
sideways and stood the pole till it steadied . Embarrassed the girl looked up
at his neatly contoured stubble face ,with deep set stern eyes and firm mouth..
He propped her back on her feet .. and
slowly carried two jugs one in each hand and asked her..
"where
do you want them? it seemed a command and she pointed towards the tiny door to
her shop cum kiosk door.. Dutta went inside ,it was a lovely florist shop, complete with small
potted plants, bunches ,posies and
baskets of loose marigolds and lotus flowers in a small plastic pond of water..
the fragrance of narcissus, carnations, roses was sweet and lingered. He rested
the large metal jugs in a corner and stepped outside the shop.. She stood semi drenched her hair stuck to her
long neck and creamy smooth cheeks.. he looked past her and walked towards the
two jugs left. She turned to lift one of them and he towered over her, bent and
brushed his palm over her palm decisively again
"
I'll take those too, you get inside before you catch your death! before she resisted he carried the jugs
inside and she followed him silently. Once his assistance finished he brushed
his hands and crossed his arms around his chest and looked across at her,as she
dabbed her hair with her white chunni
"your
Gul Bahar would have become gul khizaan had I not turned up"..
she shyly giggled at his straight faced words.. and then he continued
"my
mother wanted puja flowers.. any chance of getting them? she snapped out of her
reverie.. and nodded her head robustly
"why
not Sahib.. will pack some for you right away.." and she disappeared
behind the shop floor and emerged with a shallow twig platter , filled with
marigolds..
"there
you go Sahib.. and yes it's true had you not turned up my fresh flowers would
have wilted and withered.. Dutta bowed his head..
"
I can see it's your livelihood and if
it's in my power, I ensure people's livelihoods continue" he turned to
leave and collided with another young girl on her way in... she yelled
"oh
sorry officer! can I help you? Dutta
sided his face and retorted
"
the owner of the flower shop, has
already done so.. " he replied curtly and then remarked
"she
needed help! and I happened to be around!.. and with that he left the small florist shop, sat in his jeep; shut the
door and drove off.. Dutta glanced at the shallow woven platter of flowers, and
then looked aross at the wipers that rubbed against the dry windscreen!.. he
hadn't noticed the rain had stopped and everything around him, for the moment
looked clean and fresh!
~~~~~~~~
"wow
dashing! smashing! crashing! who was that uniformed hunk? asked Roops as she spun
Naku around.. who stared at her
best friend wide eyed
"don't
know? but he was god sent Roops.. disclosed
Naku. Roops quizzed further
"you
mean he didn't say who he was ? you didn't ask his name? Naku why are you away
with the fairies! teased Roops. Naku firmed her mouth and said harshly
"Roops
he was brisk ,to the point and not a pointless chat man..replied Naku, and Roops responded
"so
I suppose you didn't tell him your name
either? Naku shook her head and replied
"
no.. the need never arose.. he never
asked" Roops rolled her eyes and thumped her head , shrugged her shoulders
"you
are hopeless Naku.. such a handsome man
and you let him slip .." Naku pottered about and with a giggle replied
"I
don't see him as a catch.. if he's destined for me, the gods will make it
happen
"so
you are interested? asked Roops
playfully. In return she got slapped on her shoulder
"tidy
up the shop Roops.. focus on work, if we
are lucky we might get customers ,rent is due too.. she said gloomily..
~~~~~~~~
Dutta
balanced the shallow wicker platter with yellow marigolds on his palm and
entered the sectioned off area of the
hall where Bappa's pearly white
statue stood upon it's altar. He
expected his mother to be there, but found Kala Tai lightening the ornate metal
diva stands surrounding the family's
domestic deity. Kala reeled around as she heard those decisive
heeled footsteps.
"Dutta
you brought the flowers? well ,well.. at least you are consistent in your
ways.. that Baji..
but tell me where did you find a phool wala at this time and in this
weather? it was torrential rains a while
ago" asked Kala as she gently took the platter from her darling Dutta.
"
not phool wala Tai, phool wali thi.. she had her own little shop tucked away in
the corner square not far from our house" he mumbled
"really
a woman? that's unusual! must be running
the shop for someone
"
as far I could see there was no man around, especially in the stormy weather.
She was salvaging her outdoor
flowers. seemed at her wits end swarmed
by winds and rain. Tai I gave her a hand" reported Dutta
"you
did right Dutta , expected gallantry and
chivalry from you in the situation! you
did right! praised Kala
"
seemingly she was small and looked vulnerable, but I reckon she must have some
drive within herself to be running the flower shop on her own.. humm
,impressive" , confessed Dutta spontaneously.
Lovingly half amused Kala noticed her uniformed brother blushed and stared at
the floor. Kala loved his face, his usual hard countenance appeared relaxed.
She had to empower him
"
she's left some mark on you Dutta! what's her shop called?
"
Gul Bahar .. replied Dutta nonchalantly. But Kala continued with her
interrogation
"
Gul Bahar , nice name for a flower shop, but tell me what was the girl like?
age? was she pretty? Dutta shook his
head and growled
"pardon? what kind of questions are you asking me Tai..
I helped her, didn't go around checking her details.. honestly Tai.. may I
remind you, it's Dutta you are talking
to, not that Baji!
"
did someone mention my good name? well your wait is over, his lordship is here!
announced Baji with a bow...
" will
someone tell me about this girl too? called Aye Sahib. Dutta rolled his eyes
and walked off to the sanctuary of his room...to be continued ~ Hamlet53~ 24. 7.15
~~~~~~
Edited by Hamlet53 - 8 years ago
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