The Flooded Basement And A Rush Of Memories!

Write Tribe

Either it didn’t rain at all for days, torturing everyone with the heat, or it rained in torrents, like today. She grumbled as she toiled in the basement of her row house. She had been in there since afternoon, trying to swipe off the water and save any items worth saving. It was a tedious job and she was at the end of her patience. She had had to throw away many cartons containing useless stuff.

“And now, what is this?” She muttered to herself as she came across an unopened carton which was already soaking wet. She tore the top open and peeked inside to see some more useless stuff – pens that were not working anymore and should have hit the recycle bin years ago, some bills whose print had faded away to nothing, some old newspapers and a zip-lock bag containing some –

“Greeting cards! Oh my God!” She whispered in awe as she threw away the carton and sat on a stool with the zip-lock bag in hand. She carefully opened it and saw her precious collection of greeting cards – all from her childhood friends and family. She eagerly opened every card and read the contents, feeling delightfully nostalgic.

She gasped when she came across one particular card. It was from him. He had given it to her on her birthday, just after their break-up. She ran a hand over the card, not sure about how to react. Years had passed by, and yet the card seemed to say that nothing really had changed.

They had been in the same college, though not friends.  But as long as she could remember, she always had had a crush on him, like almost every other girl in her college. His brooding personality seemed to attract everyone to him. She used to watch him from far as he would roam on the campus with his girlfriend (whom she hated with all her heart!). She had already accepted that he was out of bounds for her. So she took heart in just admiring him from a distance.

And then one day, she heard the breaking news that was circulating in the college. He and his girlfriend had broken up. The news filled her with hope. She decided to make her presence known to him and to come to his notice. She made it a point to come to his attention as much as possible. She deliberately passed in front of him again and again, ignoring him outwardly but feeling ridiculously hopeful from within. He did take notice of her, he did get attracted to her and within two months of his break-up, they both had become a couple. Her friends warned her again and again that it seemed too soon and may be this was just a rebound relationship for him but she argued with them and refused to see their point of view. He was the first person she had ever loved and would always love, she had decided resolutely.

It took just six months for their affair to end. It slowly started with him missing out on three dates consecutively. Her friends suggested to her that may be he had withdrawn from the relationship. She was devastated even to think about it. She refused to confront him about the relationship. In fact, for a month, they didn’t meet at all, each avoiding the other.

One day, he had finally taken pity on her and seeking her out, he blurted the truth to her that he didn’t want to be in the relationship. It had broken her heart, but she faced it like a matured person and even suggested that they maintain their friendship, for which he readily agreed.

They had broken up a month before her birthday, and on her birthday, she invited him for a dinner party alongwith her friends. He agreed and accepted her invitation.

To say that the dinner was awkward, would have been an understatement. Not only did her friends avoid him blatantly, some of them even passed rude remarks on him. He listened to everything stoically and stayed silent and subdued throughout the dinner.

After they all had food, they left the hotel and stood on the road, saying bye to each other. Her friends refused to leave them alone and resolutely stood beside her, urging her to ‘get rid of him’ quickly. 

Their remarks had hurt her too, for she was still madly in love with him. He hesitated for some time and finally took out a card from his bag.

“Happy birthday.”

She gulped down the lump that had suddenly appeared on her throat. She nodded and accepted the card. She opened it and read. It was simple, just a card that a friend would give to her. Still, it made her emotional and to her dismay, she broke down, right in front of him.

“Please don’t cry, it’s your birthday. I don’t want you to cry on your birthday. I am really sorry about everything.” He said miserably, not knowing how to comfort her.

She wiped her eyes and laughed nervously. “I am sorry for breaking down like this.”

He didn’t say anything, instead he looked at her in concern. “You said you are okay. You obviously lied.”

She replied in a defiant tone. “I am fine. I am allowed to get emotional every now and then.”

There had been a staring contest between the two. Her friends chose the exact moment to come near her and drag her away from him. He waved sadly to her and left.

An approaching car brought her back to the present day. She hastily put the cards inside the zip-lock bag and scrambled to get out of the basement. God help her if her husband saw it. She would never hear the end of it.

She got out exactly the same moment as he stepped out of the car. She had that naughty look on her face that he had learnt to read by now thoroughly.

“And what have you done now?” He asked, folding his hands and leaning on the edge of his car, an amused look on his face.

“Nothing. How come you are early today?” She asked.

“I am not early, sweetheart. I am late. I couldn’t reach office at all due to the heavy water-logging. I had to wait at the junction for hours and just returned with great difficulty. Tell me what are you hiding behind your back.” He said, approaching her with a mischievous look as she looked here and there for rescue.

Within seconds he had reached her and before she could protest, the zip-lock bag was in his hands. 

He opened the bag and whistled, looking at the cards.

“That’s quite a collection.” He said with raised eye-brows. She didn’t reply, silently praying ‘Let him not find the card, please!’.

Unfortunately, the card was the first one inside the bag. As he opened it, the expression on his face changed to something really smug.

“You still have it, even though we had broken up at that time.” He said smirking in amusement.

“Oh, don’t flatter yourself! I have the habit of accumulating all kinds of garbage!” She shot back. Now that he had found his card, he would tease her mercilessly, she knew.

For few seconds, there was a familiar staring contest between the two. And then they started laughing. He had had a bad day, struck in the worst kind of water-logging situation, she had been inside the basement for hours, but nothing mattered now, in the presence of precious memories and never-ending love.

The mission

Write Tribe

“No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep on believing, the dream that you wish will come true.” – Cinderella

The afternoon sun shone hard, making it really difficult for him to continue to walk. But walk he did, for today was hopefully the culmination of his mission of almost a year. If all went well, today would be the last day of his search and he would finally rest after a year’s struggle.

When he approached the row-house on the middle of the lane, he knew it. It was as if his heart was programmed to feel their presence. He knew it without a doubt that this was the home. He walked there slowly with heavy steps. He seemed to be dragging his feet now.

After what felt like ages, he stood in front of the home. The door was closed, but not locked. The windows were open but there were curtains covering them from inside the house. There was a small porch at the front of the house where two simple chairs had been kept. Suddenly feeling weary, he slowly climbed the single stair of the house and sat quietly on the chair. He closed his eyes in relief. This is it. The end of my journey, my mission, my efforts…

He wouldn’t say that it had started just a year ago. It started five years ago, on that fateful day when he left for the war. He had said his usual goodbye, assuring everyone that he would return on the next available holiday. But he hadn’t returned. Instead, he had found himself in the most compromising position that every soldier dreads – he was taken as a prisoner of war.

For the first few days he was barely conscious. Even now, in his sleep, he dreamt about the torture. His left leg, now with a permanent limp, twitched slightly, as if remembering those dreadful and miserable days of torture and grief. He had done the very thing that he hated – he had cried, a lot. The pain had been excruciating and humiliating. He had wished badly for death.

They tortured him for the first few days. When they couldn’t get anything from him, they decided to spare him. He was kept in confinement. It was a luxury, compared to the torture chamber. There were two blankets and two pair of clothes. He was allowed to take bath once in a day and had access to the toilet. He was provided simple and basic meals twice in a day. It was during this time that he developed a sense of gratitude for the simple pleasures of life.

The rest of his stay had been un-remarkable. He was not in a very high position in the army, so obviously, no one from his country’s government took the pains to find out whether he was alive or dead. He assumed that his family would have received news of his supposed death by now. He longed for his family badly. It was like a constant heartache that refused to leave him. He turned the ache into his motivation and inspiration. He kept himself strong by eating the food that was given to him and by doing some basic exercises and yoga every day. His left leg didn’t allow for much exercise, still he managed to keep himself active.

He made it a point to maintain good relations with everyone around him. The jailors, the superiors, the cell-mates and every staff with whom he came in contact… They were rough with him at first, then the roughness slowly turned to wary mistrust, then they started humiliating him and finally, when they realized his true nature, that he indeed didn’t mean them any harm and he just wanted to go back home, they started looking at him with respect and awe. That, in turn, led to a friendship never seen in any part of the world. They joked with him, shared lunch with him, treated him with special dishes on their festivals and slowly became an integral part of his life. In a way, he began to look at them as the family that had replaced his.

 Four years later, from the time he left his family for the war, he was released. There was no breaking news to report, there was no coverage, in fact, no one knew except for himself and the people with whom he had spent the last four years of his life. It was an emotional farewell as almost everyone came to hug him, including those who tortured him. They had felt the most, apologizing to him with folded hands and tears in their eyes. He had hugged them simply, for he was never the one to carry any grudge in his heart. At that moment of time, all that mattered was, he was finally going home.

But he realized that the home that he had been dreaming of, was now just an illusion. His family had moved from there. The neighbors were new and had no idea of who had been staying there and how long. His first reaction was despair, but he allowed it for only the first few minutes. He decided to go to his native place. He decided to move every stone and pillar on the earth to unite with his family.

His visit to the native place was a bit more successful though it didn’t bring immediate results. His family had moved from there too but without leaving any forwarding address. But thankfully, the neighbours were still the same. He stayed at their home for two months, gathering information from all the relatives of his family that the good neighbours knew. And here he realized the importance of a village, for here, the people seemed to make it their business to know everything about every family staying there. Contact numbers were preciously saved in pocket-sized books. Though his family had not provided any number (and here he cursed himself for delaying purchase of a mobile for them), the neighbours had contact numbers of many of his relatives who had visited his native place from time to time.

His first task in the village was to go to his bank and check his account balance. To his relief, he found that his savings were intact and the account had not been closed at all. They wouldn’t know how to close it… he thought fondly about his family. He withdrew some money and purchased a simple mobile phone. After getting a prepaid connection, he started calling every relative whose number was noted in the contact book of his neighbor. The first few calls didn’t yield any results. The relatives expressed shock that he was alive and then regret that his family didn’t know about him.

He had almost lost his hope when he made just another call and the relative mentioned that his family had now moved to the city where he was staying. He didn’t have much details, except the name of the area. He had met them once at a temple in the city, and that’s how he came to know that they had moved there.

After he ended the call, he sat back on the sofa with closed eyes, savoring the victorious sensation. But then he had felt a strange kind of weakness from within. To his utter dismay, he had fallen sick. It seemed to be some sort of a flu that was making rounds in the village. It took him almost three weeks to recover fully.

And finally he had taken a bus to the city where his family now lived. And here he was, sitting outside the house on the chair, wanting to, and yet not wanting to get up and ring the bell. The doubts plagued him like always – would they be alive? But he brushed the concern off. He knew they were alive. He would have felt in his heart if either one of them had left.

He got up slowly from the chair and rang the door-bell. The door opened after few seconds. His mom stood there, first looking at him with narrowed eyes and then with an expression of disbelief, joy and pain. For few seconds, nobody spoke. Then she held his arm and ushered him inside simply saying ‘I have made your favorite lemon-rice today. Go freshen up. I won’t allow you to have lunch without taking a bath.’ Her voice quivered with emotion as she said this.

“Did you remember to make it spicy?” He asked in a low voice, struggling to compose himself.

She just hugged him, not letting go of him for several minutes. Then she looked up at him and smiled. “Of course, I always make it spicy for you. I knew you would come, and you came!” The last three words came out in wonder and awe and he hugged her fiercely.

“Where is father?” He asked her.

She gestured to the verandah at the far end of the house. He walked slowly, taking in his parents’ new house. It was large and airy and felt like his old home.

He saw his father sitting on a chair and gazing out on the verandah. When he heard his footsteps, he turned around and saw him. The same emotions were displayed on his face too – disbelief, joy and pain. His father kept looking at him as he took another chair and sat beside him.

“Did you bring the newspaper? I have not read any paper since five years now.” His father said in a sorrowful tone.

He chuckled, with tears in his eyes. “No, I forgot. But I will bring it everyday, starting from tomorrow. Just like I used to always..”

His father nodded, wiping his eyes. Then he smiled at his son and shook his head. Father and son shared an easy laugh, each rejoicing in the happiness of the other’s company.

“Both of you boys come in and have lunch.” His mother’s strict command came over and they both got up, holding hands. His father noticed his limp and looked at him questioningly. When he shook his head, he accepted and let it go.

His mother had arranged everything on the dining table. She looked at him again in awe. “You are really here.” She said simply.

“Yes, and now I am not going anywhere. I am here to stay.” He said simply.

“Then you better find a wife for yourself or I will bring in a girl of my choice.” He laughed out loud at his mother’s usual threat. It was great to be back home.

Her Secret Admirer

Write Tribe

Sachin saw her enter the meeting-room with a tense expression on her face. He looked down to hide his smile. She waved to him half-heartedly and sat in a chair opposite to him. He saw her link her fingers together and look at the entrance of the room. Her gaze alternated between the entrance and her fingers.

When the all the reporters had assembled in the room, their editor-in-chief entered with an important air, adjusting the lapels of his formal suit and his cuffs while walking towards his chair. “Good afternoon, people.” He muttered and waved off the half-hearted responses coming from the staff.

He leaned back in his chair and looked at all the reporters. “You people know why I have called you here. It is just a general review. As always, I will speak solely from the office’s point of view. So no hard feelings everyone please.”

Some of the reporters shifted in their seats uncomfortably.

The boss glanced at Sachin in amusement. “You seem to be the happiest one in the group today here.” Sachin shrugged his shoulders and smirked. “Arrogant bugger..” The boss said laughingly. “Good work on the coverage of the award function, by the way.” Sachin gave a lazy wave of his hand and said “Thanks.”

“Now, the rest of you…” The boss turned towards the others. “You guys have been working really hard, I know. But you are not giving any meaningful results. Your performance has to be outstanding, notable, commendable… Getting me, people?”

“You, Priya..” The boss said, gesturing to her. Sachin immediately went on alert. “It has been almost a year since you joined us. And I regret to say, that inspite of how promising your first month was, you have not delivered upto our expectations. I am disappointed the most in you. I expect some really good reports from you this month. Understand?”

She gulped and nodded her head. Sachin smiled at her visible embarrassment.

“All right then. I have kept it short this time. Get going, start working. Off to your domains!” The boss dismissed the staff with a smile and sat checking some papers that he had brought.

Sachin lounged on his chair relaxedly, already decided on his next course of action. It pleased him immensely, his job as a reporter. Currently he was covering the political field and for a change, he had covered a major award function two weeks ago. He had met many important people there and had struck a good rapport with them. His aim was to handle the crime section. And he was already working on it.

“Um..Sachin, do you have a minute?” He turned around at the soft voice and saw that it was Priya, standing awkwardly in front of him. He was surprised that she was talking to him. She was usually a very private person and kept to herself most of the times. She did greet him whenever their paths crossed but that was the extent of their conversation.

“Oh.. Hi… Please sit.” He hastily took a chair from the next cubicle and placed it in front of her, motioning her to sit.

“Thanks.” She gave a shy smile and sat down on the chair. Up close, she was even prettier, he thought. A natural beauty, without a hint of any make-up… pretty eyes, soft and curly hair falling in waves around her face, soft voice… All right, we are going off-track here, Sachin thought and shook his head.

“I need a small help. Can you give me some guidelines about how I can progress further in my work? I seem to have reached an impasse. I can’t understand where I am going wrong. The boss always says to spend some time with you and learn from you. Can you just give me some tips?” She asked in a hesitant tone.

Whew boss, way to put me in a soup! He thought in amusement. As it is, he was shyly hiding from her, avoiding to speak to her lest he embarrass himself in front of his crush, and his boss had sent her off to him for ‘guidance’.

“Well, I don’t think I am the right person to guide anyone. All I can say is, you need to let go of all hesitation, shyness or embarrassment when you embark on a reporting project.” Oh, really? His mind sniggered and he ignored it, totally focused on the girl in front of him. “You need to be constantly alert and ahead of everyone. You have to be the first to reach the venue, the first to ask questions, the first to be spotted. I hope I am not preaching..” He said lightly.

“No, no, please go on..” She said immediately and he felt encouraged. He spoke more about the job, taking the chance to watch her expressions range from seriousness to awe.

“And now, after I finish this project, I am hoping to enter the field of crime. Not to commit any, just coverage and exposure.” He finished hastily as she looked at him with something akin to wonder.

“Wow, crime! I would also love to work in that field.” She said.

Oh no, not you.. He thought with a sinking feeling. That was too dangerous. “I don’t think you should go for that field. You would be more comfortable covering Page-3 section, you know.” He blurted out without thinking. The very idea of her handling criminal cases had rattled him badly.

But he seemed to have made a blunder, for he saw the light fade away from her eyes. “Why does everyone keep suggesting that I am more suitable for Page-3?” She asked with indignation, a hurt expression on her face.

“I – I didn’t mean to say it that way.” He said slowly, trying to redeem himself.

She shook her head and got up. “Anyways, thanks for the guidance. I will try to work on the tips that you have given me.” With a nod of her head, she left, making him feel terribly guilty.

An hour later, Priya was sitting with her head in her hand, still not having managed to do anything. It bothered her, this creativity block that she was going through. It was as if her brain had stopped functioning.

She had always been a topper in school and college. She had scored excellent grades in her post-graduate degrees too. Then why was she lagging behind in the office? She couldn’t point out where she was going wrong. She thought about Sachin and frowned. What an arrogant brat! She lay her head down on the table, thinking of what to do ahead. Her phone rang.

She saw that the call was from an unknown number. She answered it.

“Hello?”

“Hello.” Said the voice on the phone. She couldn’t recognize it. “My name is Amit Soni.” She sat up immediately on her chair, her senses on high alert.

“I know you never expected a call from me, as famous as I am, but I’ve been given your name as someone who can help me to manage my PR.”

She couldn’t believe it. The call was from the topmost director of Bollywood, whose movies were currently grossing hundred crores. In sheer disbelief, she forgot to respond.

“Hello? Can you hear me? Isn’t this Priya Menon?” The director said, now sounding irritated.

“H-Hello, yes Sir, I am Priya. H-How can I help you Sir?” She blabbered, her childhood stammer coming back in full force due to excitement and eagerness.

“You must have heard about the new movie that I have directed. It is releasing this Friday.” She held her breath. “I am arranging a premiere show of the movie. Can you come for the same and review it? My movie has got entangled in a controversy, you obviously know this. Come and watch the movie for yourself and write about it. You can also cover the entire premiere. A lot of celebrities are expected. It would be a great opportunity for you.”

She could hardly believe it. Was it a prank-call? It seemed too wonderful to be true. “I am listening Sir.” She said, eager to hear the rest.

“I hope you would find the movie good enough to give a positive feedback. I have called a representative from every major news agency. I hope that you will accept my invitation and attend the premiere.”

“Of course, I will come, Sir! I am honored to get an invite!” She said happily.

“Can you please send your email-Id on my number? I will send the invitation card to you. Please bring a print-out of the same for the function with your office ID and personal ID too.”

“Sure. Thanks a lot, Sir.” She said in a dazed tone.

“I am the one who should thank you. See you at the premiere. Bye.” The call ended. In a daze, she sent her email ID as a message to the number from which she had got the call. Within a minute, her laptop pinged, showing a new mail notification. She opened the mail and saw the invitation for the premiere. Overjoyed, she took a print-out of the same and hurried to the boss’s cabin to show him.

When she approached the cabin, she saw that Sachin was sitting with the boss and they were discussing over some papers.

“Sir, May I?” She asked from the entrance. Her boss looked at her and nodded. She came inside and gave a haughty look towards Sachin. He had the gals to look guilty.

“Sir, I just got this over my mail.” She showed the invite to the boss, aware of Sachin watching her. Eat your heart out, you arrogant boy. She thought with satisfaction.

“I know.” The boss simply said and handed the print-out to her. “Who do you think arranged for Amit Soni to call you? I know him personally and I gave him your number when he asked for a representative from our office to attend the premiere.”

“Oh.” She said, feeling deflated. She saw Sachin look down and hide a smile. It infuriated her.

“This is a good chance for you. Make sure you attend the function and cover it well. Take the best photographer with you and shine in the event.” The boss said, looking at her sternly.

“Ya, right. Thanks for the chance, Sir. I-I won’t mess it up, I assure you.” She managed to say.

“Okay then.” The boss dismissed her and she left the room with a final glance at Sachin.

The boss looked up from the papers and saw her go. He leaned back on his chair and with folded hands, appraised Sachin who was now avoiding his gaze.

“Satisfied? I did act well, didn’t I?” He asked in amusement while Sachin still kept quiet.

The boss laughed heartily. “Look at you! I have never seen you so subdued.” Sachin tried hard to hide his amused smile but failed miserably.

“Okay boy. Off to your seat now. You have already passed on a good coverage event to her, now be prepared to give an outstanding coverage on your next one. Else I will spill the beans to her!” The boss laughed at Sachin’s panicked expression. “I finally have something to make you dance to my tunes.”

Sachin shook his head in amusement and left the cabin.

Kulkarni's Bucket-list

Write Tribe

It was proving to be a sheer torture to simply get up. But get up he did, and looked out of the window of the room. Morning had just set in, the light outside neither too bright nor dim, just about enough to herald the beginning of another day. At fifty years of age, Kulkarni was at the evening of his life. His battle of two years against cancer was at the last stage and he was on the losing side.

At this phase, it didn’t bother him. It had been tough for the first few months, him constantly waging a war against despair, panic and grief. But a death sentence was actually turning out to be a boon, as he realized. For it no longer worried him when he knew that his days on this earth were numbered, and every additional day he woke up seemed to be a bonus. There was no knowing which one would be his last day, so he lived every day to the fullest.

Of course, the grief set in now and then, bringing along with it a fear of the mysterious journey he would embark on soon. The evenings were the worst, for they often made him dull and sad. When sadness came, he embraced it, and surrendered to tears. They always brought relief, the tears. He felt them cleanse his soul and refresh him. Every night he went to sleep with the peace of knowing that nothing really was in his hands now.

Attending to his morning chores was not enjoyable any more, yet he managed to get everything done. He rang up the reception of the hotel and ordered breakfast for him. Yes, of course, he was staying in a hotel, because it was a thing mentioned in his bucket list, the new trend that apparently, terminally-ill people were following. They made a list of things they would like to do before kicking the bucket, and some definitely did it.

This bucket list was the brilliant idea of his son who insisted that Kulkarni should enjoy the last days of his life. They both had prepared the bucket list together, amidst lot of laughter and tears. Oh yes, his son was affected badly. One would think that a man in his thirties, having a family of his own, would have learnt to be strong by now, but no! The boy inside the man had cried pitifully, even more than Kulkarni had. It had tempted Kulkarni badly to long for a second innings. But all tests had been done and there really was no scope. It took a while for his son to accept this, but he seemed to be okay with it now.

Today Kulkarni was supposed to check out from the hotel and return home. He had stayed in the hotel for a week, enjoyed room service, had also attempted the swimming pool. His son regularly took updates from him. And by regularly, it meant hourly. Frankly, more than being humbled, it irritated Kulkarni to no extent. Well, today the torture would be over and he would be at his home, where his son could drop by whenever he wished to check on him.

After having breakfast, Kulkarni packed his meager suitcase and checked-out of the hotel, looking at it lovingly while leaving, for he knew that the chances were few that he would return back. He tipped the staff generously and gave a good feedback about the hotel. By the time his rental car came to pick him up, he was just about ready to hit the bed again. Yes, cancer tired the body and spirit very easily.

An hour later when he had reached home and rested for a while, he took out the bucket list to check the remaining items. He checked the items one by one.

1. Buy that expensive Ipad that I have been lusting after since a while. – Done.

2. Learn the basics of swimming. – Done.

3. Make peace with Shah (His building-member with whom he had had a life-long feud) – Done (with great difficulty, he added in the bracket for his son to check).

4. Watch atleast one season of IPL in a 40-inch Television (Done. Brought the TV, got a connection especially for this!)

5. Stay in a hotel for a week and pamper myself. Done

He came to the last item and did a double-take. Oh God, how could he do this one now? It simply read –

6. Go on a date.

He groaned loudly. Did I actually tell my son that I wished to go on a date? He looked at the picture of his late wife and shrugged guiltily. Sorry, I must not have been on a right state of mind that day. Don’t take it in the wrong way okay.

For a while, he sat miserably, wondering how to get the last item of his list done. Even if I agree to do this, whom would I take on a date with me? Unbidden, the image of Ms.Fernandes came to his mind, startling him. Oh, how did that happen?

Ms.Fernandes lived in his building on the floor below his. She was a widow and had lost her husband about two years ago. Ironical, Kulkarni thought sadly, that Mr.Fernandes died just about the same time when my own death sentence was pronounced! She was in her mid-fifties, having a tall and proud posture. She had a no-nonsense attitude that showed in all the meetings of the society. She had a strict demeanor and didn’t hesitate to show it. So, why would such a person come to my mind as a prospective candidate for a date, he thought in amusement. Because she has always been nice to you, always greeted you whenever you met her, his sub-conscious mind reminded him.

He looked at the bucket-list, he remembered his son’s tear-streaked face and eager expression while preparing the list and decided to complete it at any cost.

Fifteen minutes later, he rang the doorbell at Ms.Fernandes’ house. He tapped his pocket nervously to ensure the presence of the list. She opened the door with a surprised look.

“Oh it’s you Ramesh.” She remarked pleasantly. She always made it a point to address everyone by their first name.

“Umm.. may I come in? I need some help.” Kulkarni said nervously.

“Please do come in!” She made way for him and followed him to her living room. She sat in the sofa in front of him and waited expectantly for him to begin. He nervously cleared his throat.

“Ms.Fernandes, the thing is.. Well, I don’t know how I should say this. Wait a minute.” He took out the bucket list and gave it to her. She raised her eyebrows in amusement but didn’t comment and read the paper.

“I am on a bucket-list.” He said gravely. Her head shot up and he saw her expression change from disbelief to sympathy.

“What is it?”

“Cancer – last stage. Have been fighting since two years now but too tired to make it last anymore. I have no idea of how much time is left, but there is no scope for recovery.”

“I am really, really sorry to hear this. It has come as a shock for me.” She said simply but he was grateful for the sincerity in her tone.

“I get it. I am okay with it. The thing is, my son made this list for me. Told me that I should enjoy my remaining days. Well, I have done everything in the list except the last one which is – to go on a date. I know it sounds ridiculous and silly, but it is my son’s wish. So I want to do it at any cost. I just came to ask you whether..”

“I agree. I will go on a date with you.” She said with a slight smile, taking him aback. Wow, that was really quick and easy!

He gave her a relieved and happy smile. “I can’t tell you how happy you have made me and my son by agreeing to do this. I am really grateful to you. I hope you will take it in the right way. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

“Ramesh, let us cut down on the formalities. I am not embarrassed at all. I am older than you by three whole years.”

Which has made it a lot more embarrassing for me now! Kulkarni thought miserably. He managed to smile at her. A totally uncomfortably silence followed. He suddenly remembered to ask.

“Oh, you know what, I have no idea about what is expected of me for a date. What should I do?”

She bit back a smile at his confused expression. “For starters, bring some flowers. My Allan used to bring me red roses. You can bring yellow.” She said thoughtfully.

Right, yellow roses. “And.. .what else?”

Her strict expression returned. “Should I tell you everything? Did you never take your wife on a date, Ramesh?” She asked firmly while he winced under her stare.

“I took her to movies with my son. We had him early after our marriage, you know. Right after the first year. There really was no occasion for dates.”

“I see.” She nodded thoughtfully. “You should take me out for dinner at some good restaurant. Dress up nicely and wear shoes. I am really particular about the attire.” She finished in her stern tone.

All right teacher, he almost said but just smiled and nodded his head.

“So can we go tonight?” He asked her hopefully. When she raised her eyebrows in speculation, he quickly added. “This is difficult for me, so I want it to be over as soon as possible.”

She shook her head and laughed. “Just the thing that a lady wishes to hear from the person with whom she would be going on a date! All right then, tonight it is. Come here at sharp 7 pm with the flowers, okay.”

He left for his home, not sure about how he was feeling. It was exciting as well as terrifying too. At home, he ordered for some yellow roses from a nearby florist over the phone and lay on his bed. Suddenly a deep feeling of tiredness came over him. Oh no, not today please, let me complete the last item.. he secretly pleaded, to whom, he didn’t know. But it was as if his borrowed time was reminding him of his impending end. He willed with all his heart for the tiredness to pass away. Feeling defeated, he took his medicine and succumbed to sleep.

When he woke up, it was already 5 in the evening. He checked his phone but thankfully his son had not called. He rang up the florist to remind him about the delivery. He was feeling better after taking the medicine. He prepared a cup of coffee and took some biscuits with it. The doorbell rang. The yellow roses had come. He smiled. They were pretty indeed.

What should I wear for my date.. He stood in front of his wardrobe with his hands on his hips, feeling very excited after months of suffering and grief. At this moment, nothing bothered him, neither his terminal disease, nor his impending and inevitable death. Today he was living again just for the moment, a moment of pure happiness. 

Okay, why not? It is not as if I am going to wear this again. He took out his wedding-reception suit complete with the blazer and laid it down on the bed, admiring it. After a warm shower, he stood in front of the mirror, appraising himself. The blazer hung loosely around his shoulders, for he had lost lot of weight in the past two years. He was now totally bald (Thanks for nothing, blasted Chemo!!). But today his face looked bright and clear, without a trace of any tiredness. Not bad, not bad at all.. 

He gave himself one final appraisal and decided that he had done his best after all.

He made a reservation at a fine-dining hotel situated nearby. It was expensive but cozy and the food and service had earned good reviews. Satisfied with himself, he took the bouquet of yellow roses and checked the time. Five minutes were left for 7 p.m.

He remembered to wear his best shoes and left his house.

When she opened the door, she gave him a satisfied nod. “Punctual and well-dressed. I already like my date for the evening.” She smiled mischievously. She was dressed simply in a sober saree. He was touched that she had agreed to do this. He decided to make the evening enjoyable and memorable for her.

“Oh, these are for you.” He handed over the roses which she accepted with a sweet smile. They stared at each other for few uncomfortable seconds.

“Um.. shall we?” He gestured to the door and she took her purse after arranging the roses in a vase.

“I have booked a table for us at the fine-dining hotel. I hope you like it.” He said nervously as he got inside the rental car that he had called for.

“It’s fine. I have dined a few times there with Allan. It’s a good hotel.” She assured him and he gave a relieved sigh.

“You must miss Allan a lot.” He remarked. They were having a comfortable dinner at a table overlooking the busy road outside. The first few minutes had been really awkward but surprisingly, 

Ms.Fernandes initiated the conversation. From hobbies and likes-dislikes, they had moved to family matters and the places they had travelled.

“Oh yes, I miss him and how! When he passed away, I thought I won’t survive for a month without him. The month turned into year, year has turned into two years now… And here I am! Still alive and living life in the best possible way... It is amazing how time heals everything.”

He nodded gravely. “Time heals indeed. When my wife passed away, it was like a part of me died with her. But I couldn’t get any time to grieve properly, for my cancer made its presence felt just within few months of her death. It nullified every thought and emotion. It still does sometimes.”

She looked at him intently and he felt encouraged to go on. “The evenings are the worst. They make me dull, they remind me of my end, they make me question about what lays ahead. They scare me, the evenings.” He said in a low voice and sat back in his chair, his appetite slowly vanishing.

“I wish I could do something to help.” She said in a tone that spoke of sincerity, sorrow and regret.

“Oh but you already did, Ms.Fernandes. By spending an evening with this dying man, you have already spared him the moroseness of one evening. And I hope the memory of today will soothe me for the rest of the evenings that I may see.” He said with a slight smile.

She looked out for few seconds, seemingly lost in thought. He already regretted burdening her with his sorrows and spoiling their date.

“There is this new animation movie running in theatres that I wish to see. How about tomorrow evening? Can we go?” She asked without any hesitation and awkwardness and he was taken aback yet again, by her generous spirit and inner strength. He recovered himself and said with a chuckle. “I would love to, Ms.Fernandes. If I wake up tomorrow and make it till evening, then we are definitely on for our second date.”

“One must never lose hope, Ramesh.” She chided him in a stern voice.

He smiled affectionately at her. “My dear Ms.Fernandes, hope is just the thing that I cannot afford to have.” She brushed off his statement with a wave of her hand but he could see that she was affected by it. He cleared his throat. “So, any etiquette required while taking a lady to a movie?” He saw her laugh and just like that, the sad moment passed away, leaving only the anticipation of spending another day together.

They decided to walk back to the building. Kulkarni was feeling tired by now and started fantasizing about his warm and cozy bed. Ms.Fernandes walked casually beside him, her face not giving away anything.

“I can’t thank you enough for today, Ms.Fernandes.” He said sincerely when they reached her flat.

“It has been a pleasure, Ramesh. See you tomorrow for the movie?” It was both a question, and an affirmation and he felt a huge wave of sadness envelop him. “Sure. Good night.” She accepted his answer with a smile and waved to him as she got inside her flat.

He slowly made it to his flat and immediately sought out his bed the moment he went inside. He reached for his medicine and after popping it, he lay down, still dressed in his blazer suit. Thank you for another day, he said his usual daily affirmation. I hope you let me see tomorrow too. If I make it tomorrow, there will be another item in my bucket-list. Finally blessed sleep took over.

He did wake up the other day, and the first thing he did was – write on the bucket list.

7. Movie with Ms.Fernandes.

He had been living every day. Now he would start living as per every item on his bucket list.

Paralysis of the heart

Write Tribe

“Our fate lives within us; you only have to be brave enough to see.” - Brave

It was as if watching his life flash by in slow-motion. Om could see the truck approaching him at an impossibly high speed. But there was really nothing he could do to avoid his bike from colliding with the truck. He achieved a state of total blank at the time of collision, no thoughts, no feelings, no emotions… Just a state of total blank…

He lay suspended in a limbo, drifting in and out of consciousness. At times he saw and heard people, at other times, there was the feeling of Nothingness. Sometimes he felt the pain and sometimes the need to succumb to the deep sleep that his consciousness seemed to crave. Seconds, minutes, hours, days, ages – there was no awareness of time. Sleep was all that existed in the world.

And then that day he woke up. He looked around and realized that he was in a hospital. He didn’t feel any more pain. In fact, he realized that he couldn’t feel anything at all. He saw his parents gathered around him, their expression, a mixture of relief and grief. He smiled at them weakly and gave a thumbs-up sign. His mother visibly collapsed and sobbed while his father nodded his head and wiped his eyes at the sleeve of his shirt.

The doctor came to meet him. “How are you feeling, Om?”

“I can’t say. I am not feeling anything at all.” He replied with a chuckle.

The doctor’s expression did not give away anything.

“What day is it?” Om asked his parents, suddenly feeling a trace of anxiety, some sort of premonition.

When they told him, he looked at them in disbelief. Four days had passed since the accident, and it seemed that he had been drifting in and out all this while.

“What exactly happened? The last thing I remember is the awful collision.” He said, shuddering at the terrifying memory of the truck looming large in front of him.

“You escaped hitting your head, it seems. Your legs bore the brunt of the accident.” The doctor replied in a firm yet kind voice.

“Nothing irreparable, right?” Om asked with a sinking feeling in his heart.

“We will see. Can you get up?” The doctor asked him. When he nodded, the doctor approached him and held his hand to support him. It was good that the doctor had supported him, for the moment Om kept his legs down, he buckled and almost collapsed but the doctor controlled his fall. He helped him to lie on the bed again.

“Why did that happen?” This time, Om could not hide his panic.

“It pains me to say that your leg muscles were badly squashed in the accident. You cannot walk. For now, this is all that I can say. But the medical field has made enough breakthroughs and I can safely assure you that you can attempt some kind of treatment. There are many options. I can’t assure you that they will work. All I can say is, you are young, you have the benefit of age and good health, you should definitely attempt treatment.”

“Will I be able to walk again?” Om asked in a deadpan voice. His parents had now lost their composure and were crying. He couldn’t feel anything inside. It was as if his heart too were as paralyzed as his legs.

“I have seen cases like you attempt treatment and succeed. I have seen some cases fail too. Every human being responds differently to treatment. I cannot assure you of anything at this stage. All I can say is, if you do not attempt treatment, you are losing whatever chance you ever had of walking.”

Om nodded. Seeing that the doctor was waiting for his decision, he spoke in a low voice. “I need some time to think about this.”

The doctor looked at him as if he wanted to say something but refrained from making any remark. He got up and patted his shoulder. “Don’t give up. Have faith in yourself. That’s all I can say for now. Hope you take the right decision.” He spoke comfortingly to his parents and left the unit.

From that moment on, it could be said that Om operated on a robotic mode. He ate whatever his mother fed him, he took the prescribed medicines. He answered to whatever the doctor asked. He developed a routine for the day. But he never, ever, spoke about the treatment. In fact, he didn’t speak at all unless required. His parents broached the topic of treatment but he never answered them properly. It was as if he had already decided and accepted his fate.

Sometimes Om thought about why he hadn’t cried yet. He didn’t cry when he had to depend on strangers for his basic needs of the day. He didn’t cry at the first sight of his wheelchair. He embraced the humiliating feeling of being wheeled to his home, being lifted by people while getting inside the car and getting out. He accepted the startled glances that the people of his building gave to him when they saw him on the wheelchair.

He lost all idea of time. He had no idea about what day it was. He lounged on his bed and stared at the ceiling most of the times. When sleep came, he succumbed to it eagerly as it brought some respite. Waking up was tough these days as it usually came with the stark realization of his condition. And yet the tears never came.

It was another day and he had carried on his routine when the bell rang. He had strictly forbidden his parents from imposing any visitors on him as he didn’t want to see anybody. He heard his mother sobbing in the hall-room and shook his head. His mother was taking this worse than him. And that’s why he didn’t want any visitors. They seemed to make her cry harder, rather than comfort her.

The door of his room opened and he gasped. There stood Ajinkya, his childhood friend, his best friend, his brother from another mother, the other part of his soul. He couldn’t believe it. Ajinkya was settled abroad and yet, here he was, reaching out to Om at his time of need. Ajinkya had his arm around Om’s mother’s shoulders, comforting her as she sobbed her heart out at seeing him.

“Aunty, can I talk to him alone for some time?” Ajinkya softly asked her and she nodded, wiping her eyes.

“You better make my favourite lunch. I am going to stay for a while.” He said with a slight smile and she smiled back at him. It seemed like her first smile since the day of the accident.

Ajinkya came inside and closed the door softly. As he approached the bed, Om saw his face. There was sorrow in it, but more than that, there was anger, deep-rooted anger that flashed from his eyes. And then Ajinkya did the unbelievable.

As he stood in front of Om, he punched Om on his shoulder really hard with his fist. Om held out a hand at his shoulder to repress the pain. And then the dam broke. Om burst into heavy sobs, his whole thin body shaking with the weight of his grief. Ajinkya sat down on the bed and hugged him. 

Om hugged him back but could not stop sobbing. They sat like that for a long, long while.

“When did you return?” Om withdrew back from the hug and asked in a hollow voice, once his stock of tears was exhausted.

Ajinkya wiped his eyes and said. “What do you think? I came here directly from the airport, you idiot. Did you think that I would do some sightseeing before dropping by to see you?”

Om gestured to his legs. “Gone, man. They are gone forever.” He said with a laugh that bordered on the edge of a sob.

“So it is as I feared. You gave up.” Om shrugged his shoulders at Ajinkya’s comment.

“Come with me, I am taking you to the beach.” Ajinkya got up from the bed.

“Na, I am very comfortable here.” Om said, laughing at his own sad joke. It was as if Ajinkya had brought back everything, his laughter, his tears, emotions and feelings.

“I am not asking you, I am telling you that we are going to the beach. Just climb onto your wheelie and oblige me.”

“Some arrogant fellows never change.” Om said with a chuckle. “Wheelie? That’s quite a cute name for a sinister-looking object, isn’t it?”

“Are you coming or not?” Ajinkya said in an irritated yet amused voice.

“All right…” Om said and began the tedious procedure of getting down from his bed onto his wheelchair. Ajinkya, very subdued now, helped him and wheeled him out of his home and his building. Om’s parents saw him go with wonder and hope in their face.

Almost ten minutes later they were at the beach. It was noon, yet the sun wasn’t harsh. Some people were sitting on the sand and chatting. Some were just strolling. The waves frolicked happily, crashing and foaming in their own beautiful world.

Silently, Ajinkya opened a bag and took out a pair of shoes. He kept them beneath Om’s wheelchair.

Om looked at him sadly.

“I am giving you hope, Om. That some day, you will get to wear these shoes, walk, jog, run, dance… although, you are a terrible dancer, I have to say this.” Ajinkya said with a light smile, trying to turn a serious moment into something lighter and casual.

Om smiled back but his smile didn’t reach his eyes. “I don’t think so.”

“Oh, and why is that? What would you lose if you go for the treatment? If it is a financial issue, then tell me. I will arrange for your treatment totally at my expense. You don’t have to worry about that.”

“Oooh… Mr.Moneybags has suddenly stepped in.” Om said in a mocking tone but he was touched by Ajinkya’s offer. “It is not a financial issue. I know I can’t go through the procedure of building up my hopes, only to have them dashed again. I have accepted my fate and I am okay with it.”

There was finality in his tone that would have stopped any other person from responding back. But Ajinkya was not just another person, he was Om’s soul-mate, equally adamant and determined. He refused to let go of the issue.

“Do you remember the movie Brave that we saw before I left the country? There was this line that captivated both of us. We even remarked that animation movies are the best solely because they give such thought-provoking quotes.” Ajinkya said, looking at Om expectantly.

Om recalled the movie and the quote. When he spoke it out aloud, he was joined by Ajinkya too. “Our fate lives within us; you only have to be brave enough to see.”

There was silence for few minutes. Then Ajinkya spoke softly. “Are you brave enough to see it, Om? Do you see what you are doing? To avoid the risk of heart-break, you are letting go of the chance for recovery and happiness. Don’t do this, Om. Go for the treatment. You owe this to yourself, you owe this to your family and you owe this to me as well. I can’t tell you how painful it is for me to see you so. For my sake, for the sake of your family, please take up some treatment.”

Om gulped. “What if it doesn’t work?” He asked in a low voice laced with sorrow and despair.

“What if it works, man? Do your best and leave it then. You would atleast have the satisfaction of having tried your best. Please agree, please say you will go for the treatment.” Ajinkya pleaded with folded hands which Om immediately caught between his hands and gripped them tightly.

“Will you be with me for the treatment? Atleast stay for the first few days. Until I get used to it.” Om said in a quivering voice and Ajinkya bowed his head in relief.

“Of course, idiot. I am here for two whole months. I will extend if required. You just get onto the road for recovery, my friend. I will be there with you.” He said eagerly.

“You always get your way with me, you stubborn, arrogant brute. I knew when I saw you that it would end up like this.” Om said, laughingly wiping his tears while Ajinkya did the same.

“It’s not the end. It is the beginning of the road to recovery. And we are going to travel together.” Ajinkya draped his hand around Om’s shoulders and smiled.

Om smiled back. All was starting to look well in his world again.

The Solo-trip that wasn't exactly 'Solo'!!!

Write Tribe

She tapped her fingers on the wheel lightly, enjoying the soft music playing in her car and the long drive that she had embarked upon. This was the second day of her week-long solo trip. She still couldn’t believe that she was finally living one of her most avid fantasies – travelling alone without a plan and just going with the flow. Yesterday evening she had picked up a random hotel (albeit a decent looking one) and had stayed there. Today morning, after a sumptuous breakfast, she had checked out and left for the highway again without a plan. It was adventurous, it was thrilling, it was all she had ever wanted to do. The car she had rented was perfect and till now everything was going really smooth.

But it hadn’t come easily for her. She had had a hard time convincing her parents to let her travel alone. Their concern for her safety was valid and really touching, but her wanderlust was like an itch that just begged to be scratched and she could not ignore it any more. After a lot of arguments and pleading, she had finally convinced them (I-will-call-you-every-hour-and-give-updates had really worked like a charm!).

The highway stretched ahead of her endlessly with the occasional drive-in and a few automotive-repair shops. She had been driving for an hour now and enjoyed the monotony of the road ahead. It was mesmerizing to drive, like a video game that one could keep on playing. It was a hot day and the sun was blazing, casting a yellow glare on the world. She decided to stop at the next drive-in to buy food and water.

She drove for almost half-n-hour till she found another drive-in at a small junction that was just off the highway. There were few vehicles parked and she could park hers very comfortably. After refreshing herself, she ordered some French-fries and a bottle of water. She waited at the counter and saw the activity around her. Few tables were occupied by families. There was a relaxed chatter and the atmosphere was homely.

Ten minutes later, she left the drive-in with the parcel in her hand and walked towards her car. She saw that the trunk of the car was slightly open. She frowned, trying to remember whether she had opened it. She was sure that the trunk had been totally ignored by her ever since she rented the car. Shrugging her shoulders, she closed the top and got inside the car. After eating the fries, she started for the rest of her drive.

About twenty minutes later, she heard a soft thump! She felt the first wave of anxiety of her trip. You can’t decide to go flat on me, here, where I can’t see a single shop! She thought in despair and willed for the tire to carry on for some more time till she could find help. To her relief, the car kept moving on. I must have imagined it. She thought, feeling silly.

The second time though, she heard the sound clearly and without a mistake. She halted at one side of the road and got down from the car, checking every tire. As she came to the back of the car, she heard the sound again. It was coming from the trunk. It seemed like someone was making the sound from inside the trunk. In another words, someone wanted her to open the trunk and let them out.

She looked around and found that she was alone on the road. The drive-in seemed too far for anyone to come to help. She felt her palms sweat and her heart palpitate. Her breath came in short gasps. So much for the blasted fantasy of a solo-travel! She jolted at the sound of another thump and wiped her palms on her clothes. Here goes nothing, she thought and with shaking fingers, she opened the top only to find a boy – presumably in his early teens, eagerly straighten up and climb out. He gave her a sheepish smile showing crooked teeth. She heaved a sigh of relief. Surely this kid, with the adorable crooked-teeth smile and the lean frame can’t be dangerous!

She didn’t smile back at him. Instead she glared at the kid for some time before she asked him. “Care to explain?”

He ran his hand at the back of his head before he replied guiltily. “Sorry, I wanted a ride.”

“And you decided that the best way to do that is to get into somebody’s car-trunk?” She asked him incredulously.

“Look, I get it. Can you just drop me a little further where I can get another vehicle? This road is starkly empty. If you leave me here, I don’t know whether I would get any other ride. I promise, at the next junction, I will leave if I get another vehicle.”

Well-played kid, well-played…. She thought drily. She obviously couldn’t leave him here. But she wasn’t going to let him off easily too.

“Get inside. Sit in the front beside me and tell me your story. I will decide what to do about you then.” She said in her strictest voice but soon lost it when the boy again gave his innocent-crooked-teeth smile in relief.

They got inside the car and she took in the small travel-bag that the kid was holding. She started the car and rode in silence for few minutes.

“Spill it. Why are you here?” She said, not taking her eyes off the road ahead.

“My dad operates the drive-in. Business is good, the flow of money is constant. My dad – he constantly wars with me. Nothing that I do is right. He has something to advise me about always. I am really fed up now. I just want to live freely, just the way I want to.” He finished petulantly and she was filled with a mixture of compassion, appreciation and amusement.

“What’s in the bag?”

“The money that I earned through tips… I have been saving since two years. I want to go to the next city. Once I reach there, I intend to work in some hotel and study too. I have enough to take care of my studies for the first year. I guess once I start working I will earn and keep up my studies.”

“Where will you live?”

There was a pause as he thought about it. “I don’t know. I have not thought about it. But I will manage.”

“What about your parents? They will go mad with worry and concern.”

“My mother died about five years ago. I don’t have any siblings. My father – he has always been aloof. He just does his duties and retires at the end of the day. It won’t matter to him whether I am there or not.” There was a slight edge to his tone as he said this. After few seconds, he added. “Of course, I will call up the drive-in after I reach the city and inform him not to worry. That will do, won’t it?” He asked, his confident façade slipping for the first time and a tone of uncertainty shadowing his voice.

“I guess. But it is wrong to run away like this. What if he files a police complaint?” This time she too felt nervous. Would they know that he was in her car?

“I will ring him up as soon as possible. I don’t think he will file a police complaint.” The boy was sounding more and more confused by now. She smiled secretly. She just knew what to say further.

“So you are an only kid. Does your dad have any other relatives around to help him in your absence?”

“No. Just the co-workers and other staff.” The kid said in a really low voice.

She stopped the car. “Have we reached the junction already?” The kid asked in panic.

“No. But I want to ensure – are you having second thoughts?”

The kid didn’t reply but looked in the direction from where they had come. There was a sadness in his gaze and she could detect slight fear in his eyes. For the first time since they had met, he was acting his age and she felt a sense of compassion and responsibility towards him.

“You know, I can drop you back at the drive-in. I really don’t mind driving all the way back. I know it sounds very adventurous – eloping from home, living in a new city, working and studying side-by-side… but it is not easy. What if you don’t get a job immediately there? Do you have enough to sustain yourself?” She asked gently.

The kid stared back at her in confusion. He said after a while. “But I am constantly at logger-heads with my dad here. I am not happy.”

“Why don’t you let me talk to your dad?”

He seemed unsure but nodded his head. With relief, she turned the car the other way round and drove back to the drive-in.

It took her twenty minutes to reach there. All the time, the boy nervously fidgeted in his seat, sometimes adjusting the buttons on his shirt, other times, trying to smooth the crease in his jeans... He hardly sat still for a minute. She smiled in amusement.

As she reached the parking lot, she saw people gathered outside the drive-in. She could easily make out the boy’s dad who looked considerably worried and scared.

“Oh no!” The kid muttered beside her and she laid a comforting hand on his shoulder and shook her head. “Don’t be scared. Come.” She got down from the car and the kid got down from his side.

The moment, his dad saw him, his expression changed from concern and worry to relief and sorrow. His eyes filled up and he shook his head muttering something under his breath.

She put a hand over the kid’s shoulder and ushered him near the entrance where his dad was standing.

“I can explain. He was hiding in the trunk of my car and said he wanted to..” She began slowly but the dad cut her off mid-speech by raising his palm in a stopping gesture. He had eyes only for his son and approached him carefully as if scared that he would run away again. When he stood near his son, he looked at him for a long while, a myriad of expressions floating on his face – grief, sorrow, relief and a slight tinge of anger.

“What did you want?” Asked the dad gruffly.

“I – I just want to live freely, dad, the way you do. I want to live on my own terms, take my own decisions, live my life just the way I want to, without you making me feel wrong about everything I do.” The boy replied in a low voice, not meeting the dad’s gaze.

For a few seconds, nobody spoke and she felt that she should say something but the dad again beat her to it.

“Agreed. But I want a promise from you.”

The kid couldn’t hide his surprise and happiness and eagerly said. “Anything you say, dad!”

“Promise me, that you will never do this again. You almost ran away and gave me the scare of my life. You are my only family now. I have already lost my wife. I can’t lose you too.” The dad’s voice broke at the end and he struggled to compose himself.

The kid rushed forward and hugged his dad with a muffled ‘Sorry!’. With an awkward pat, the dad slowly withdrew himself from the hug and draped his arm around his son. Looking at her, he nodded his head and said. “Thanks a lot. I owe you big time.”

Feeling ridiculously emotional she smiled in acknowledgement, the lump in her throat not allowing her to speak. She ruffled the boy’s hair affectionately and waved good-bye to both dad and son.

After half-n-hour she reached a junction and smiled, thinking about the boy. She slowly approached a shop and asked the shopkeeper. “Which way leads to the next city?” She was geared up for the rest of her adventure.