Entering the room she threw her purse on bed and peered through the window parting the curtain only a little bit.Dark coloured ,heavy ,impenetrable curtain on the window of the cornor room at the ground floor of house at the back stared at her with a stern ,grim look.A sigh escaped her lips ans she slumped on the bed.She was feeling very tired and depressed today.Looking at her colleague's mutilated body after the accident she was flooded with the horrid memories of the day ten years back.No,the memories had never left her but with the passage of time the crushing pain turned into dull ache.today the wound as if was bleeding afresh.
She was a lively ,bubbly sweet natured girl.Life was simple and fun.Parents,books and friends completed her world .Things changed the day she entered Madhavi's drawing room.Madhvi has recently joined their college and quickly assimilated into her group. It was Madhvi's birth day.All decked for a party the girls entered the room laughing ,full of mirth. Her eyes fell on the picture on the corner table and refused to leave.She instantly felt connected to the boy .He was looking dashing in his uniform.All other girls also started ohh and ahhing on him but she felt as if that naughty smile on his lips was for her only. He was Madhvi's elder brother.She never experienced such turmoil inside. She was flabbergasted by her own condition.How can it happen.Can a mere photograph has such magical impact.It's not real .It happens only in fairy tales...................so many thoughts collided with each other .but the feelings inside her were too strong to let any reason stand on their way.She went on with her routine in a normal way but nothing was same after that.Her world has changed.Colourful dreams have entered to paint her world rosy.Her rides with him on his bullet motorbike were so vivid that she could count every jolt and bump.she remembered every curve and stretch of road.Sometimes the intensity of feelings frightened her.
She tried to reason with herself but the feelings refused to go away.Rather they became stronger with each passing day.She never let any one know about her feelings .In fact there was nothing to tell.Who could believe that such strong bond can be felt even without meeting the person.Slowly and very cautiously she became Madhvi's best friend.Without asking too much questions she knew all there was to know about him.so much so that she could have told his reactions and views about anything.Yet she has not met him .He was posted some where near border and was not due home for another six months.
And then the six months were over.Madhvi was excited about her brother's arrival.Anticipation of meeting him in person has set her heart racing but never for a minute she had any doubt about his feelings towards her.She as if knew that their fates were entwined.She wanted to rush to Madhvi's house the moment he arrived but she waited patiently .Madhvi's parents have arranged a small get together on their son's arrival and of course whole of their group was invited.She felt if not in a gathering he will see through her immediately .for the first time she wanted to meet him midst the crowd of other guests.
The evening arrived.She put on her peacock blue skirt with black embroidered top.She knew the sparkling neckline of that top sits prettily on her ,accentuating the delicacy of her collar bones.Standing on her heels she looked into the mirror and smiled satisfactorily.Her long glistening tresses were cascading below her waist.The tiny locket,the intricate anklets and sparkling danglers were complimenting her persona.She took out the neatly wrapped gift packet from the almirah.She was eagerly waiting to see his reaction.The packet contained two cds with his most favourite songs,from his childhood to this point.She has got them recorded in chronological order.She was sure the effort can not escape his attention.
She was humming while driving .That tightening in the pit of stomach had to be pushed in the back of mind.She reached the intersection where five lanes converge.she saw the red light and was to put her foot on brake when she caught a glimpse of the bike approaching from left side ,about to cross the main junction.It was he .With a sudden rush of emotion and confusion she pressed her foot but the car as if flew with a jerk and hit the bike with a force .He landed on the other side of crossing legs under screeching wheels of a vehicle from opposite direction.Her car also landed there throwing her nearby.She lost all consciousness as her head banged on road.
Even before she fully recovered her parents left the city.She never came to know how the things were managed that no action was taken against her.She was devastated.was this the way their destinies were to be entwined?That strong pull she felt ...........was that a warning?so many questions assaulted her.She withdrew into her shell.She was sinking into a deep pit of numbness but her urge to know what occured there after saved her.She dared not talk about it but then one day she willed herself to broach the topic with her mother.
Ma,did he.....?
No ,He is alive but both his legs had to be amputed above the knees.
Silent tears rolled down her eyes.
How she longed to be on his side.Not only because she was responsible for his this condition but she still felt that pull towards him .yet she knew she can now never go near him.she could not face Madhvi and her family.
Years passed and she gathered courage to be back in the city.She has joined a firm there and deliberately hired this small room .The land lady was surprised by her choice of the small back room while the front sunny rooms were also available.but her quiet subdued persona led her to believe that she prefers solitude.
Now every day she lives for those hours of night when the curtains of his room are drawn .The whole room is wrapped in the darkness except the glow of lamp on the table where he sits on his chair checking the sheets and preparing notes for next day lecture.His coaching classes of science subjects for the students of 9th to 12th standard are quite a success.Students tell that when the doors of lecture room are thrown open sir is already seated on his chair with a big covered table in front of him.
She sits near the window, her room utterly dark and caresses that curly crop of hair bent on the table with her glances.Though darkness prevails on both the sides,she dares not throw open the curtains of her window fully.She does not know but he is not completely unaware of that shadow lurking behind the window of the first floor of saxena aunty's house.even after he switches off his table lamp and Badri Kaka helps him to his bed ,he can sense two eyes fixed on his window.
something deep down in him tells that the eyes belong to that lovely face landed beside him on that fateful day
can the curtains be thrown open.....................will the shadows ever emerge out of darkness............................
STORY WRITTEN IN DEC.2009,LUCKNOW
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