FF: Shades Of Love last part pg 91 dt 28.12.15 - Page 22

Shade 11

Straightening my legs on the table I deposited a cushion behind my back to make myself comfortable. Opening the laptop I skimmed through the latest mails. The response from the dealers was encouraging. I had to wait for them to get the machines arranged before planning to go to Pune. Thinking of Pune reminded me that supriya would accompany me and nakusha too. I shook my head. Supriya was good company but nakusha ,she was something else. The way she was glaring at me through her veil when AS declared that she would have to go with supriya , gosh she could burn me alive. As though I had suggested AS to send her with supriya.

Since the visit to the temple I was trying not just trying I was actually being sweet to her. When she dropped the vegetable on my t shirt I didn't complain but she remained hostile with me. If she thought that it would please me to have her with me during the trip then she was mistaken. I was going there for work and was definitely better off without both these girls especially nakusha. When standing her here in this house for sometime was difficult for me then God only could imagine how my 2 days trip would be.

This nakusha would drive me crazy just as she had in the morning.

One more time I had been nice to her by offering her lift but what did I get? Crude words and insult! When she broke her slipper even then like a true gentleman I waited for her but she preferred to walk bare feet rather than travel with me.

I seriously had no idea why she treated me like that because trust me I didn't deserve it.

At that point I decided not to talk to her and avoid her as though she was invisible to my eyes. I was glad that I stuck to my decision and ignored her completely while attending to her heels. Though I could feel her gaze on myself but I didn't budge.

So did she.

In spite of getting hurt she was still showing me attitude by not letting me extract glass pieces from her heels. You know I was so furious to see her bleeding. Just because of her stubbornness she had ended up hurting herself and she didn't seem to be guilty about it. Stupid woman!

However her face sorry her eyes were worth watching when I mentioned about vaccination. She was petrified and I didn't feel sorry for her. For once she had made me happy.

" bhau, should I get you soup before dinner."

I looked up and smiled at her. " no thanks Mausi I will just have dinner. And since I am all alone today so please don't trouble yourself to cook sabzi and daal. Instead I will go for an egg sandwich and a glass of orange juice."

She shot me a confused look. Agreed sandwich and juice are generally not considered as dinner items but then it's okay.

" I hope we have eggs at home."

She nodded her head. " great then."

I focused my attention on the latest researches related to heart transplant. I was chewing my sandwich while reading the article when power went off and the hall fell into darkness.

I cursed loudly. Yes I could do so because AS was not at home.

The MLA of PV had thrown a birthday party for his son and AS was invited. She saw this as a good opportunity to speak with the politician regarding funding of the hospital. And since it was a party even if the birthday boy was only a year old, Supriya madam could still not hold herself back and persuaded AS to take her. I grinned. She was still a child.

" mausi mausi." She didn't reply.

Had she left after work? Perhaps.

But dude how would I spend the whole night in the dark? I didn't even know where they kept candles and emergency lights.

Keeping the laptop aside I got up and made my way to the backside of the house where the fuse box was placed. The torch in my mobile was not that helpful as I stumbled on the dining chair and then a statue in the hall before reaching the fuse box. Thankfully I didn't break anything.

With the mobile in one hand it was difficult to examine the fuse box with just the other hand. I was even then trying when I heard footsteps behind me.

" Who's there?" A female voice called out.

I furrowed by brows. What was nakusha doing here, shouldn't she be resting?

I shrugged. Whatever.

I didn't care to turn around and replied " it's me."

" who thief?"

I gritted my teeth." shut up nakusha."

The emergency light that she was carrying illuminated the area and probably that helped her in recognising me and not my voice. She took some slow steps and finally managed to reach by my side. She stood without saying anything. When the silence between us stretched for long, I gave my ego and asked reluctantly," what brought you here?"

" I came to fix the fuse."

" then don't bother, I'll do it." With that she turned around to leave.

" nakusha do you think it's possible to work with a cellphone's torch?" She huffed and placed the emergency light on a stool.

" Uff nakusha I thought you were intelligent but you disappointed me. Should I hold the light or fix the fuse? I can't do both." She let out an audible sigh.

" though if you can't stand then I can call mausi here. She'll hold the light instead." She didn't move and immediately raised the light for me.

" aayi only sent me here."

I squinted my eyes, the sharp light was piercing through my eyes. Couldn't she even hold the light properly or as always she was attempting to annoy me?

I lowered the light and turned to look at her. For reasons oblivious to me, I froze. In the yellow light , her green eyes looked like emeralds. Sharp and shiny. And so so beautiful.

" Sahab."

" huh?"

She shifted her gaze indicating toward the fuse box.
God dutta what were you doing?

Embarrassed, I quickly averted my gaze. The next few minutes I concentrated on the fuse and without embarrassing myself further I thankfully fixed the fuse and the power was back. Switching off the emergency light she began taking baby steps toward the door.
I shook my head. What was the need for her to come when she could barely take a step without wincing. A part of me wanted to be chivalrous and lend her a hand but the other part of me knew her better. So I opted for the Middle path. I chose to walk closely behind her. Just in case she needed help. My eyes were fixed on her bandaged feet and wondered how she had made it here in the dark without tripping.

Just then she tripped.

"Aah."

She cried but I didn't let her fall. How could I ?

She clung to my neck as My arms wrapped around her petite waist and she peered up at me in surprise with her mouth hung open.

I turned wide eyed.

She was not the only one surprised. So was I. In fact I was shocked!

While losing her balance her dupatta had slipped down her face. And I couldn't believe who was I holding in my arms.

She read my eyes and immediately straightened herself creating some distance between us. I narrowed my gaze and moved closer. In response she started limping back till her back touched the wall. Her face paled and her eyes scattered the floor.

" so nakusha you were the one who banged into me and later threw my shades in the pit. You were the one who misbehaved with me."

She pursed her lips and lifted her lashes. I could see the same fury rising in her eyes.

" Sahab you collided with me and broke my eggs." Her tone was clipped.

I flared my nostrils. " I don't believe , you are still mourning over those silly eggs."

She met my intense gaze and replied calmly," given a chance I wouldn't even touch those silly eggs. But I bought them and cooked egg curry only for you."

I scowled. " so you are trying to say that it was all my fault?"
She looked away and didn't answer. She always did that when she had nothing to say.

" if you were that innocent then why were you hiding your face from me?"

Her face creased and she parted her lips to speak but stopped. Instead she attempted to walk away. I slammed my palm hard against the wall blocking her. She raised an eye brow and glared at me then moved the other side when I blocked her again with my other arm.

She was cornered.

I brought my face down and whispered. " scared?"

She attempted to look back confident but the way she was breathing I knew she was far from confident.

" why should I be scared of you? You don't bite."

I chuckled and slipped down my arms. However my eyes dropped at her thin pink lips and stayed there for a few seconds. She followed my gaze and I saw color rising to her cheeks.

" you know nakusha I have begin to like that smart mouth of yours."

Her jaws tightened and she turned more Crimson. Was she blushing or furious I couldn't guess correctly. Nevertheless I was proud that my words affected her. Deeply.

Now that she was no longer cornered she started to trod and lifted the dupatta over her head.

" by the way you're hot."

She at once turned around. " what rubbish!" She spat.

Nodding my head I took a lazy step toward her. " I am serious. You're quite hot."

Her eyes were now spitting fire. " Sahab."

I lightly placed my hand over her forehead and she flinched.

" hmm. You have high fever." And now she was looking at me confused as though I was talking in some unknown language.
I grinned reading her mind and peered down at her. " I was talking about your body temperature. What were you thinking?"

She swallow hard, maybe her temper or disappointment. And then without throwing me a second look began approaching the door.

" nakusha remind me first thing in the morning to arrange that injection for you. You definitely need it ."

" and don't you worry I shall handle you with care." I couldn't stop myself from laughing.

******************************************

Strolling in my small balcony while sipping the hot coffee I allowed my gaze to travel around. It stopped far away at nakusha who was sleeping on the floor with just a thin sheet covering her. This woman was actually mad. In spite of having high fever she was sleeping on the floor and that too all out in the open. The night temperature was dropping and it would get colder as the night progressed. Surely she didn't care about anybody around her but at least she could care about her health.

" dutta Ji." I glanced over my shoulder.

" hey Supriya you are back. How was the party?"

" good. I had a nice time." I nodded.

" dutta Ji my cellphone charger isn't working. Can I borrow yours?"

" sure. It's there on the bedside table."

" thank you."

" supriya your friend, is she crazy or what?" She furrowed her brows in confusion. I turned my head and gestured toward nakusha.

" earlier in the day she hurt her feet. Refused to get bandaged and then vaccinated. Now she is down with high fever and look at her what is she doing? Sleeping outside on the floor. For god's sake she is not homeless." Clearly embarrassed she turned her back to her.

" actually nakku' father is drunkard gambler who often fights with mausi. When nakku intervenes he abuses and beats them both. So she prefers to sleep out."

" if that's the case then at least she can sleep on a cot with a blanket or something."

Supriya lowered her head. " no she is supposed to sleep on the floor."

" what nonsense! These are just lame excuses. All she cares is to cover her face which is so stupid."

Again Supriya seemed uncomfortable and coiled the edge of her dupatta around her finger.

" Dutta Ji these are not excuses. She covers her face not out of choice but compulsion."

Keeping the coffee mug aside I crossed my arms before my chest. This was getting interesting. Tilting my head I asked, " what kind of compulsion."

She kept her head downcast and didn't meet my brooding gaze.

I growled. " God Supriya I hate this kind of silence."

She shivered and raised her head.

" nakku is a widow. A child widow."

My eyebrows drew together and I gaped at her in shock.

" nakku was eight when she got married. However till the age of twelve she stayed with her parents. Unfortunately a day after she went to her in laws place, her husband died. He was playing in the park and a venomous snake bit him. Poor nakku was abused and blamed for his death."

I fumed. " why was she held responsible? It wasn't her fault."

Supriya smiled bitterly. " sadly our society is still quite regressive. It's easy to blame someone innocent and helpless. She was considered unlucky for the family. And from that day her life was made a living hell for her."

" what was the need for her to stay there couldn't her parents bring her back?"

" nakku was just a responsibility for them and according to them they had effectively discharged their responsibility."

" my foot."

" after torturing her for months, one fine day she was thrown out of the house. Mausi had no other option but to take her with them."

" thank god."

" oh please Dutta Ji don't thank god. If you'll know the kind of restrictions that are imposed on nakku you'll be surprised and won't believe that God has been kind to her. She has to wear plain clothes, eat bland food, sleep on the floor, can't be part of any kind of festival or celebration and most importantly not show her face to anyone because she is regarded 'mahnoos ' ( inauspicious)"

" what kind of a life is this?"

" a life where she can't smile where she can't be happy and a life which should be devoted to God but ironically she is not worthy to enter a place of worship and touch anything that is related to God."

" bloody double standards! Why doesn't she remarry and get rid of this nonsense?"

Supriya laughed. " Dutta Ji are you Kidding me? Do you think any guy in PV would like to marry a widow and that too a child widow?"

" why what's wrong with that?"

She rolled her eyes and threw her hands up in the air.

" okay I get it. Tell me why doesn't AS do something about this?" Supriya averted her gaze but didn't say anything against my mother. I shook my head in disbelief.

" on one hand AS is working for the welfare of PV and wants it to move forward but on the other hand she herself is still so orthodox and backward."

Supriya walked till the edge of the balcony and gazed at nakusha. " if today nakku is bitter I don't blame her. You may find her crazy but in my eyes she is a loner. She has no one to call her own."

" why she has a mother."

Supriya shook her head and I could see the pain in her eyes. " she has a mother but I have never seen them sharing a sweet mother daughter moment. Either nakku silently listens to mausi or she argues with her. They don't seem to agree on anything."

" she has you. And you're close to her."

Supriya smiled through her tears. " she's close to me."

" it's the same thing."

" no there's a difference. I confide in her but she doesn't. She has built a strong walk around herself and sometimes even I fail to get through it."

" Dutta Ji , nakku deserves happiness. She deserves love."

thanks for reading

Rose

Shade 12

Last night had been a night of revelations. Not only did I get to see the face behind the veil but also came to know the reason of wearing that veil. Trust me both the revelations left me speechless. I shook my head in disbelief.

How could some parts of our country still be so backward? How could they treat human beings like animals? Disgusting!

" Dutta how is your work progressing?" AS who was sitting across the dining table interrupted my thoughts.

" the machines will be arranged soon and I have spoken with some of my colleagues. They seem interested in working here but.."

" but what?"

" I doubt they would like to settle here in the future."

AS took a sip of her tea and asked," if they can work then why can't they live here?"

" I don't think they would be comfortable here. They wouldn't like to be part of this kind of a society."

" what do you mean by this kind of a society?" She looked upset. But that didn't bother me.

I made myself comfortable in the chair and replied calmly," I mean that people here are quite conservative and old fashioned. Basically they are hypocrites."

AS dropped her spoon on the plate and glared at me. Hearing something against her PV was unbearable for her but I couldn't stop myself from showing her the mirror.

" do you have any idea What you are saying?" Her lips pressed in a hard line.

" of course I know what I am saying. On one hand they worship Kali maa , Parvati maa and various other goddesses and on the other hand they treat widows and child widows as slaves. Isn't this hypocrisy?"

AS inhaled sharply. " Dutta they are ill fated. The truth might be bitter but it can't be ignored."

" but why are they blamed for someone else's death? why should they be made to suffer if their spouse died at an early age? And I can't use the word spouse when they are kids who don't even know the meaning of marriage."

" they may be young but their parents are not. They know what they are doing with their children."

" exactly my point how can these people who claim to be matured play with the lives of their children?"

AS clenched her jaw but didn't say anything. And what would she when she had nothing in her defense. She tore her eyes from me and stared at the breakfast plate before her. However what I said next made her immediately raise her head.

" I am sure when a man or a boy loses his wife at an early age he is not cursed nor is he expected to hide his face from people around."

Now AS was very furious, her eyes blazing. " so nakusha is feeding you with all this rubbish."

I met her intense gaze and held it. " no she didn't tell me anything. She hardly speaks with me. Yesterday while coming back home I saw a girl who had her face covered, I thought it was nakusha. But she was someone else. She told me that she was a child widow and also how poorly she was treated by everyone here." It wasn't a complete lie. I did spot a nakusha look alike on the road.

" AS I didn't intend to upset you but it's really sad that such practices are prevalent in PV and you have done nothing about them."

Hearing this she pushed back her plate and stood up. " what am I supposed to do? I don't encourage child marriage neither I can change the fact that it's a male dominant society. Some things have to be accepted as they are." Seeing her on her feet even I stood up but wasn't convinced with her argument.

" don't you feel it's high time that these regressive and conservative practices be dropped."

" what I feel Dutta you are here to treat your patients. What happens outside the hospital shouldn't be of any concern to you. Remember you have been called to treat people and not change them."

" I intend to do both." I muttered under my breath.

" what, you said something?" I shook my head and saw her leaving the table, still somewhat irritated.

" bhau what should I get you for breakfast?" I sat down again and relaxed myself.

" an omelette would be great." Mausi shot me an apologetic look. " sorry bhau there are no more eggs. But I'll ask nakusha to go and fetch them right away."

I waved my hand in the air. " it's alright don't trouble her. I forgot I had egg sandwich last night so I'll have poha and a chilled glass of butter milk." After this heated conversation it was essential to have something cool. As soon as mausi went to the kitchen Supriya came in.

" here Dutta Ji, the chemist gave this packet for you."

" oh good. Thanks."

" by the way AS seemed annoyed. I wished her morning but she didn't reply and left home." I shrugged while examining the packet. " maybe today she got up on the wrong side of the bed. Anyway come with me. I need your help."

" but where? And your breakfast?"

" it can wait."

**********************************************

Both supriya and I shared a look. She rolled her eyes seeing nakusha outside her hut pealing the peas.

" nakku you are supposed to rest and not work." She peered up at us in surprise. She looked pale and weak.

" Tayi I am tired of sleeping and resting. Besides this is not exerting." Her gaze traveled from me to supriya and she lifted her dupatta to cover her face.

" Tayi what are you doing here?"

" we came here to see you."

" Tayi I am fine." She lowered her head and went back to what she was doing. As expected she was ignoring me but it didn't bother me.

I crouched before her and lend my hand. " nakusha give me your hand."

She was taken aback and gaped at me. " relax I am not asking your hand for a dance. I need to check your pulse."

" sahab I said I am fine."

" I am the doctor. Let me decide." She didn't give me her hand.

" c'mon nakku stop being stubborn." Supriya insisted. Looking away she extended her hand.

I held it. She squirmed.

" hmm you still have fever." I opened the packet and took out the injection.

Her eyes turned wide. " what's this?" This time I ignored her question. " Tayi?" She glanced up at supriya for support but thankfully she was on my side.

" please stop him."

Please! For the first time I heard this word from her mouth.

Supriya crossed her arms before her chest. " no nakku it's important for you."

I peered at nakusha. " ready? Don't tell me you are scared of this needle." Her gaze narrowed. She gulped the lump down her throat then extended her arm. Holding her hand I smiled though I shouldn't have. She held her breath and squeezed her eyes shut.

" aah." She tried to pull her hand back.

" God nakku the injection has not even touched your skin." She opened one eye and glanced at me. Rightly the injection was still in my hand and I hadn't proceeded to vaccinate her.

Supriya opened the packet again and took out the medicines. " nakku did you take something to bring down the fever?" She didn't meet Supriya's probing gaze. " um yeah ... No."

Supriya shook her head. " why am I not surprised? Now you will have these pills in front of me." She went inside maybe to get water.

And I found Nakusha's green eyed looking at me. I glanced back at her.

" I won't hurt you. I promise."

It took her a moment to grasp my words and then slowly she stuck out her arm. This time when I took her hand she didn't move. However she was still peering at me.

" I know I am quite good looking but I didn't know that you find me so handsome that you can't take your eyes off me." She at once stiffened and averted her gaze.

" nakusha you have a lizard in your house?"

" where ?" She asked in surprise.

" there on the wall."

She scanned the walls. " where is it? I can't see."

I left her hand and said," I am done." Her eyes darted from her arm to me. I smiled.

" even last night I told you that I would handle you with care. I am a man of my word."

Supriya came out with a glass of water and nudged nakusha. She swallowed the pills with water.

" thanks." She whispered.

Now that thanks was directed to me or Supriya or both I didn't know. Standing up I glanced at her feet. The bandage was dirty and soiled. Her eyes followed my gaze.

" I will change the bandage." She said hurriedly. Tilting my head I eyed her suspiciously.

" I also know how to keep my word."

I nodded.

Supriya sat down next to her. " don't worry Dutta Ji I will see to it that she takes care of herself."