Chapter 15:
Scene 1:
Location: local road, Mumbai.
Sanskar was driving his car. He saw traffic stuck so decided to take some other way. He went on a lonely road when he saw a lady sitting there. She was about 60 to 70 years old. He stopped the carand got down.
Sanskar: Man ji! Is there any problem? Why are you sitting here?
Lady: I forgot my way. I came here to someone’s house and I was going back when I forgot. And there is no one who could help me. There is no rikshaw here. (Sanskar was stunned because it was not a main road.)
Sanskar: Man ji! Come with me. I will drop you to main road. There is no Rikshaw.
Lady: no no, it’s fine!
Sanskar: you are wearing precious jewellery. Anybody could take advantage. So please!
Lady: (shows him her bangles) these bangles? Hahaha….. These are not real. (Sanskar smiled on Lady’s lie)
Sanskar: robbers would not ask you if these are real or not.
Lady: you are right but……
Sanskar: it’s fine, if you don’t want to come, then…..
Lady: ok! I believe you.
Sanskar: come! (he leads her to his car and opens the back-seat door) sit here! (Lady thanks him and they reach main road. It was empty and no traffic was seen. After some time, he went to her.) Man ji! There is no Rikshaw. Tell me the address and I will drop you to your home. (the lady sits in the car again and he starts driving)
Lady: you are a very good man. What’s your name?
Sanskar: Sanskar Maheshwari!
Lady: oh Saskar! Very pretty name. (For the first time in his life, he heard his name like that with so much deteriorating) my elder daughter-in-law has born a son. (Sanskar was bewildered because he had no idea that lady would say such thing after asking his name)
Sanskar: (forcefully smiling) congratulations!
Lady: (whole heartedly) thanks! We were trying to keep a name. I said that it’s their right but they didn’t listen. I said that I will tell them after some time. Should I give your name?
Sanskar: (confused) yes, of course! You can.
Lady: (sighs heavily) thank God! This problem solved. (she got busy in cleaning the lenses of her spectacles) what is your age?
Sanskar: thirty years.
Lady: are you married?
Sanskar: (he was stunned and wanted to avoid that.)On which road, should I take you? Right one or the left one?
Lady: aaamm….. I don’t know! (Sanskar felt like he would bang his head on nearby wall)
Sanskar: what? Then how you came here?
Lady: I come here with neighbour’s children or Sara. She was busy today so I came here with Ram.
Sanskar: Ram?
Lady: the son of Shankari. Mashallah she is a very good lady. Last year, her husband……
Sanskar: Man ji! How would I drop you? (he drove back to the place and asked her) did you took any turn?
Lady: (confused) no! (Sanskar was relaxed as there were some streets there.)
Sanskar: tell me your husband’s name or any other senior member of your family so that I could find your house.
Lady: my husband is no more but I have two sons. I am living with my daughter, Sara. People call me Rosy. (Sanskar asked in every house for her but nobody knew these names. So he came back.)
Sanskar: there are three more streets. May be there! (in next hour, he had asked in every house of that area. He was hell irritated now. He felt like he was paying for his deeds) Man ji! Nobody knows you here. Are you sure about this area? When I asked you about the turn, you said yes. Then it’s impossible!
Lady: I said yes but tell me what is turn? (Sanskar calmed himself)
Sanskar: I wanted to ask you that did you came from any other road?
Lady: of course, I was sitting here because I was tired of walking and I also forgot the way back.
Sanskar: oh! (after two hours, he was in some backward village. He drove till there using Rosy’s guidance) now tell me where is your house?
Lady: house no 152.
Sanskar: offo! Tell the name of street.
Lady: I don’t remember. (his heart fell in his tummy listening this) but that street has renewed sewage system. The municipality workers provided us with new lids on gutters. And there is house of Imran’s mother. Poor woman! The leg of her husband was broken last week.
Sanskar: Man ji! Should I ask people that tell me the name of street which has two new gutter lids and with Imran’s mother house at the start? (he was hell irritated now. It was clear that with these explanations, he could not find her house at least that day)
Rosy: you did not tell are you married or not? (Sanskar wanted to die by jumping in water nearby. Only to avoid this question, he agreed to drop her to house but it seemed like it was not his escape. He thought for a while and wanted to say yes but this would only exaggerate her investigation, so he decided to say no which turned out to be his most horrible mistake.)
Sanskar: no, I am not married.
Rosy: any engagement?
Sanskar: no!
Rosy: Thank God! (Sanskar could not understand why did she said like this so he kept his focus on driving) why didn’t you married yet?
Sanskar: no proper reason. Actually, I was so much busy that I never got to think about all this.
Lady: what do you do?
Sanskar: I do job in bank. (he told her his rank and thought that she wouldn’t understand)
Rosy: (calmly) this is officer na!
Sanskar: (amused) yes!
Rosy: oh! What is your qualification?
Sanskar: I have studied sixteen classes.
Rosy: sixteen classes? Have you done MBA or MA economics? (Sanskar was stunned and he automatically turned back)
Sanskar: do you know what is MBA or MA economics?
Rosy: why wouldn’t I know? My elder son did MA economics and then went to America for MBA. He also does bank job but in England. His son is born for which I went to his house. (Sanskar sighed and continued his driving) so?
Sanskar: so………
Rosy: you didn’t tell anything.
Sanskar: (confused) about what? (he didn’t remember any question which he didn’t answered)
Rosy: about your qualification!
Sanskar: I have done MBA.
Rosy: are your parents alive?
Sanskar: yes!
Rosy: so you live with them?
Sanskar: no, I share flat with my friend.
Rosy: why?
Sanskar: because the bank in which I do my job is here and my parents live in Mumbai.
Rosy: how many siblings?
Sanskar: five!
Rosy: how many sisters and brothers?
Sanskar: one sister and four brothers.
Rosy: how many are married?
Sanskar: all of them.
Rosy: are you the youngest?
Sanskar: no, one brother is younger than me. (Sanskar was getting irritated because she was investigating about everything and her questions kept rising with every passing minute. He was now regretting his “social work”)
Rosy: is he married?
Sanskar: yes!
Rosy: then why you haven’t married? Matter of love? (earth slipped under his feet)
Sanskar: Man ji! Kindly try to remember your address. (Rosy remembered and told him but he can’t understand because he didn’t know much about this place. He asked from a traffic constable and headed towards the destination)
Rosy: so, you didn’t tell me that you were involved in love with someone. (Sanskar’s face fell on her question)
Sanskar: no Man ji! There is nothing like that.
Rosy: Thank God! (he was not able to understand once again so focused on driving)
Sanskar: do you have phone in your house?
Rosy: yes!
Sanskar: tell me the number.
Rosy: I do not remember. (Sanskar was slowly shifting in his depression)
Sanskar: Man ji! What would you have told to Rikshaw driver?
Rosy: the same things which I have told you. (Sanskar wanted to drop her right there and drive away)
Sanskar: did you ever went to your house using this technique?
Rosy: no, this is the first situation. (Sanskar gave her an irritating look through rear view mirror) do you smoke? (He was stunned as well as confused)
Sanskar: no!
Rosy: any other drugs?
Sanskar: why are you asking this?
Rosy: no proper reason. How could I keep quiet for so long.
Sanskar: how do you find me in this matter? What do you think? Do I look like I am using any drugs?
Rosy: no! that’s why I am asking. So, don’t you…….
Sanskar: no!
Rosy: do you have any girlfriend? (Sanskar felt like he heard wrong)
Sanskar: what? What are you asking?
Rosy: I am asking that do you have any girlfriend!
Sanskar: (laughing) do you know what is girlfriend?
Rosy: (angrily) why? How would I not knowing it when I have two sons. When I sent them to study abroad, my husband told them that they should not be having any girlfriend. They called here once in a month. (Sanskar smiled widely) every time, I asked them to swear on God that they didn’t have any girlfriend. Till the two of them were not married, they always swear first of all that they are not having any girlfriend. They paid greetings after that only. (proudly) they both are very obedient. They never made any girlfriend.
Sanskar: did you married them with your choice of girls?
Rosy: no, they married with their own choice in England only. (Sanskar laughed out loudly) what happened?
Sanskar: nothing. Are your daughters-in-law English?
Rosy: no. they were Indian and working with my sons. But why did you laugh?
Sanskar: nothing!
Rosy: so you didn’t tell me that you have girlfriend or……
Sanskar: (cuts her) no Man! I don’t have any girlfriend.
Rosy: thank God! (he was not able to understand her once again) do you have your own house here?
Sanskar: no, I have an apartment on rent.
Rosy: and servants?
Sanskar: not in routine but for household works, yes, I have.
Rosy: and this car will be surely yours.
Sanskar: yes! (he searched for house for some time and after that, he came back.)
Rosy: did you found……
Sanskar no! and this is night so there is no use. We should go to police station and report there. Your daughter or neighbours would surely report in police station for you and they will take you back.
Rosy: (sadly) tch, tch! Sara will be so much worried. (Sanskar wanted to tell her that he was more worried than her daughter but kept quiet.)
Scene 2:
Location: police station
They reached police station and after reporting and giving them his number, he turned to leave and Rosy stood up to go with him)
Sanskar: sit here. You will remain here.
Inspector: take her with him. If someone comes to take her, I will inform you on phone.
Sanskar: but I want to hand over her to you.
Inspector: but we can’t keep her like this. and if some days’ pass……
Rosy: (cuts him) no no beta! How could I live with these men? I will go with you.
Sanskar: but I…… live alone! (he then remembered Lakshya’s house and sighed) ok fine! Come with me. (he called Lakshya and told him his situation.)
Lakshya: Ragini went to her village and I am at hospital. But don’t worry! I am reaching there in some time and will take her to my house. And is she a young woman that you are fearing? There will be no problem. You are worrying for a stupid reason.
Sanskar: no yar! I was saying that because I thought of her comfort. She will feel awkward.
Lakshya: she will not feel awkward. And ask her if you are not satisfied. We could keep her in Rajput house with their family.
Sanskar: ok, come early. Then we will think over it. (cuts the call)