WOWWWW……..U GUYS LIKE TIS STORY NA…..THATS SOO SWEET…KEEP READING U WILL……….LOVE IT…HERE THE THIRD EPISODE..
I reached her hostel and saw her waiting near the hostel gate in a pink
dress and she looked
like a fairy. I said, “You are looking like an angel in this dress”
she smiled and said, “Thanks”
We reached home around 5.15 pm and as soon as my mom saw her she hugged her
and
kissed her on her forehead and said, “Welcome Nethra” and took her inside
the house. Adithi
and My dad were sitting on the sofa watching TV. Nethra and my mom sat on
the sofa as well
and mom said, “I’m Arjun’s mother and you are looking pretty” I introduced
my sister Adithi and
my dad. She said, “Hello” to everyone and somewhat perplexed she asked,
“Arjun said there is
a party but there is nobody else here” My mom said, “It is a small party
for the five of us.
Looking at my dad, my mom said, “I’ll prepare dinner by the time you keep
playing carom with
the kids. Adithi said, “Good idea mom we are four of us and looking at
Nethra she said, “We’ll
be a team and dad & Arjun the other team” Saying this she ran to her room
to get the carom
board. We played around 3 to 4 sets and we (Dad & I) made them win most of
the games. It
was fun.
Nethra and Adithi become friends soon. Adithi took Nethra to her room to
show her teddy bear
collections. Her collection had teddies of all colors and sizes and she had
arranged it neatly like
a showroom display. She really gets excited when she has to show her
collection to someone
who comes home. Along with the teddies she had a play station, toys and an
amazing collection
of photos that would be interesting to watch.
As they left the place my dad said, “Arjun, I have some important business
mails to respond and
will be back in an hour” and left the hall. I went to my room and switched
the system and as I
was browsing, Adithi brought Nethra to my room and said this is Arjun’s
room. She looked all
around and fixed her eyes on the table where I had placed her refused
birthday gift.
She went near the table and looking at me she asked, “Can I take it?”
I said, “Yeah, it’s for you, you need not ask me you can take it”
She took it and said, “I’m sorry I hurt you very badly that day”
I said, “I was hurt, but it’s okay. Please open it and tell me if you like
it”
She opened the wrapper and took out a Peach colored teddy bear; she became
so tensed that
she nervously dropped it on the floor while taking it out of the wrapper.
As soon as the teddy hit
the floor a recorded voice said, “Good day, keep smiling” After hearing
that smiling she hugged
the teddy and said “Thank you. It’s lovely” I felt so happy and said, “You
look beautiful when you
smile”
Dinner was ready and my mom called us to the dining table. Before the
dinner I cut the cake.
Nethra said, “Happy birthday” and gave me a pen as birthday gift. After
dinner Nethra and I
started to her hostel. There is a beautiful park on the way to her hostel.
I asked her, “What is the
in-time deadline in your hostel?”
She said, “9.00 Pm”
I told, “its 8.00 and we still have an hour shall we sit in the park for
some time?”
She said, “Okay”
We sat on a bench in the park and the scene there was beautiful. Children
swinging, running,
playing, making noise etc. As we were watching a child who was running fell
on the ground and
started crying. Nethra stood up to help the
She said, “The boy is blessed. You’re blessed with good parents too”
I said, “All are blessed with good parents”
She said, “No, there are parents who hate their children”
I asked, “Why would parents hate their children? It is strange and I can’t
believe it”
She said, “When the parents hate each other they hate all that came out of
that relationship; it
includes children too”
I asked, “Why would they hate each other?”
She said, “Lot of reasons like ego, money, material, extra marital affairs,
misunderstandings,
lack of love and affection, hatred etc”
I asked, “How do you know all these things?”
She said, “It was and is a part of my daily life”
I said, “I didn’t get you”
She said, “My parents hated each other and kept on fighting all day long
and due to
misunderstanding they are living separately for the past 6 years; after
they got estranged my
mom is our guardian. My sister Mithra and I stay in the hostel. They just
send us money for our
needs that’s it. They call us or visit us very rarely”
Her voice portrayed the pain and grief in her heart. She continued, “As
people say daughters
love their fathers and sons love their mothers, Mithra and I love our dad
very much but my mom
says dad is bad and we should not talk with him. We called him secretly
many a times and
begged him to come and visit us. He didn’t turn up even once till I joined
the college. We hated
him for that but still deep down my heart longs and yearns to see him even
now. He addresses
me as “Neethu” and sometimes in my dream I hear him call me. When I wake up
I find myself
alone and cry sorely without a soul to console me”
She asked me, “Arjun, Do you know what the most shameful thing on earth is?”
Not Knowing what to reply I asked, “What?”
She said, “Meeting your dad in the bus stand, street corners, shopping
malls, restaurants etc.
People give us a weird look and it’s so awkward for loved ones to meet like
that”
I interrupted and as asked, “Why can’t you meet him in the hostel?”
She said, “The hostel’s visitor timings does not suit his work timing and
so he asks us to come
to a common place. You know what, my dad does not know my 10th scores too,
it was 90% and
everyone but my parents congratulated me.
She asked me, “Do you know why I behaved so badly on my birthday?”
I shook my heads and said, “No idea”
Hugging and caressing the teddy she said, “It’s the dark day in my life. I
regret being born on
this earth. I haven’t celebrated even a single birthday in my life. My
parents are too busy
quarrelling with each other that they forget our birthdays. This year on my
birthday, I called my
dad but he forgot it was my birthday and just enquired about my health and
studies and
disconnected the call.
I felt bad that’s why I behaved badly with you. Later I regretted for my
behavior but of no use.
My parents are good people individually but when they are together no one
can be as bad as
them. (Her eyes dampened with tears but she pretended as if she was not
crying and said)
Arjun, after seeing your parents I long for such parents. You are truly
blessed. I am not as
fortunate as you are”
I felt very bad and said, “I’m sorry, don’t feel bad. Shall I do what my
dad does when I’m
depressed?”
She just looked at me without a clue.
I wrapped my arms around her shoulder, pated her softly and said, “It’s
alright, everything’s
gonna be fine soon, cheer up” as soon as I told this she leant on my
shoulders and started to
weep. I continued, “I know it comforts and consoles. It’s alright Nethra,
everything’s gonna be
fine soon. It’s time up. Let’s move”
We started from the park; on the way she said, “I feel so relaxed & light
since I emptied myself
of this burden that had controlled me for so long. Thanks. But I think I
spoiled your day with my
stories”
I said, “You were always aloof and I knew there’s something wrong with you.
That’s why when
everyone in the class hesitated to talk to you, I kept on coming back even
after you insulting me.
I feel happy that you trusted me and let out your frustrations. Life will
be good Nethra, don’t
worry. You can come home anytime you want. Just buzz me, I’ll come and pick
you”
We reached her hostel. She smiled and said, “Thanks a lot. Bye. Thanks
again for this lovely
gift, what shall we christen her?”
I asked, “What name you like?”
She said, “Shall we call her Cuckoo?”
I said, “oh lovely name, good choice. Bye Nethra, bye cuckoo”
She patted cuckoo on her back and the recorded voice said, “Good day keep
smiling” she
smiled, waved her hands and cuckoo’s hands together and said “bye Arjun”
and left the place.
ŕ
She walked lightly like a butterfly but I felt heavy like, like hmmm I
really don’t know what to
compare to this burden to. My heart was so heavy and I realized the mystery
behind her
sadness is her sepa rated parents. Poor little girl she has so much of pain.
On this birthday I learnt a few valuable lessons of life – the value of a
family, the need for love
and people to share it, the importance of understanding, love and affection
of parents and most
important lesson is not to tease people with abnormal nature and
characteristics. Some people
are abnormal due to some medical condition or psychological factors. I took
an oath I’ll never
tease or mock my fellow beings but to treat them with respect and dignity.
As soon as I reached home I went and hugged my dad and told what happened.
As usual my
dad wrapped his arms around my shoulder and said, “It’s alright dear.
Everything will be fine
with her soon” My mom was also there, listening to what I said and she
said, “Poor girl, that’s
why she was sad. Till the vacation is over bring her home daily, she might
feel bored in the
hostel”
The next three weeks she came daily to my home and I could feel the change
and happiness in
her. Adithi, Nethra and I used to play video games, chess, carom, shuttle
cork and watch
movies. We had nice time together. One day we were watching a movie with my
Mom after
lunch and there was a rape scene in the movie and the sound effects made
the screaming of
the girl a terrible one to listen.
Nethra started to shiver and sweat a lot. Adithi screamed, “Mom, look at
Nethra, she is
shivering” My Mom switched off the TV immediately and made her relax and
she asked her to
take rest. Nethra stayed in Adithi’s room and my Mom took care of her. My
Mom did not allow
her to go to the hostel; hence she stayed with us that day.
After this incident Nethra and my mom become very close. She came to my
house without my
help. One day there was a mangal sutra sentiment scene in a movie that we
were watching.
Nethra asked my Mom pointing her mangal sutra, “Aunty, what does this mean
to you?”
My mom thought for a while and said, “I haven’t thought about what it means
to me at all. I can’t
say anything more than this. Okay, what does this mean to you?”
She said, “Precious metal, beads and stones beautifully made and neatly
arranged in a thread
or a metal”
My mom asked, “That’s it”
She said, “Yes aunty, how can a metal bind two hearts? I wonder how people
are clinging on to
a relationship just by a thread. Is yours a love marriage or an arranged
marriage?”
My Mom said, “Let me see if you’ll say the same thing when you have one.
Ours is an arranged
marriage”
She said, “My parent’s marriage is a love marriage. I really can’t figure
out how people with love
marriages break and people in arranged marriages stay together. A stratagem
cannot be
defined as both the marriages work out and breaks out too. I’m not gonna
get married at all. It
doesn’t make any sense to me. Moreover with these kinds of parents and
family situation no
one is there to think about it or put in efforts to organize one. Marriage
is a mirage to me”
My Mom said, “I’ll do it for you. I’ll find a perfect groom for you. Don’t
worry okay, just
concentrate on your studies alone leaving all these thoughts apart. You
know we had
misunderstandings and quarrels too. But after every misunderstanding we
used to talk about it
and took efforts to understand each other. The doctors and psychology
counselors say that it
takes a minimum of three years for a couple to understand each other. We
need to be patient
and have an open mind to accept others with their flaws and imperfection as
we have our own
flaws”
College reopened and we became close friends, I would miss her if she
doesn’t turn up to class
even for a single day. We spent the weekends together studying, playing,
watching movies etc.
Though we’re good friends she doesn’t talk much and is always reserved.
Days went like this we progressed to the second year of the college. One
evening I received a
call from her mobile saying that she had fallen unconscious in the hostel
room and is admitted
in the hospital. I got the details and went to the hospital with my Mother.
The hostel warden told
me that her mobile had only my number in the contacts and that’s why she
called me and I was
shocked to know that she had attempted suicide and her condition is
critical.
About an hour later the doctor called us and said that, “She has swallowed
a heavy dosage of
pills. But she is being treated and is safe now. This might her affect her
intestines; hence she
needs to be under low fat and non-spicy diet for some time. Please come for
review after two
day” We went to her room she was awake and lying on the bed. As soon as she
saw us tears
flooded from her eyes and she turned her face from us.
My mom went near her and asked how she is feeling and if she wants
something to drink or eat.
She said, “No. Just leave me to starve and die” My mom said, “Calm down
Nethra, calm down.
Everything will be alright soon” I was very angry with her and hated her
that moment as she
didn’t tell me what’s troubling her.
I yelled at her asking “why you did this?” Sobbing and with anger she
asked, “Why should I live,
nobody wants me and for whom should I live?” Her response kindled my anger
even more; I
become wild and raised my hands to slap her but I was shaken by my mom’s
voice as she
called out “AARRJJUUNNN” controlling myself, heartlessly I yelled, “For me you
idiot, for me” Astonished,
she and my mother looked at me.
Sternly I continued, “You have become a part of my life. I want you near me
always. I don’t think
of myself or anything else but I think of you and you alone all the time. I
don’t know if I love you
or not. If this is love then I love you. If I say its love you, I don’t
know if I’m seriously in love with
you or not; but one thing for sure is I cannot live without you” Saying
this I left the room unable
to face both of them.
Wil she accept tis !!! Wat would mom think abt tis nw ????….
To be continued …..