Chapter 47

~47~

"Hello..."

Anu entered the academy to see a dusky young girl clutching her bag.

"Uh... actually Mr. Samar asked me to come today..."

"Oh you must be the new assistant... Pooja's mom... he said your name was..."

"Kalpana..."

"Yes... Kalpana... welcome..."

"Thank you... And you are..."

"I am Mr. Samar's mother... Anupama..."

She smiled.

"Sorry I should have recognized you... the picture..."

"That's OK... by the way did you have breakfast?"

"Huh?"

She sighed.

"Samar told me everything. Here I brought something for you."

She shook her head.

"No no... it's ok... I had..."

Anu simply opened the tiffin and tore a piece of parata and placed it near her mouth.

"Open up..."

"No.. it's..."

Anu quickly stuffed the piece in her mouth.

"I brought up a really stubborn daughter who was a picky eater. Fed her just the same. Here... the next one..."

Kalpana stood still as she fed her every bit of the parata, her eyes welling up. As she finished it, Anu looked at her.

"How is it?"

The tears streamed uncontrollably. She turned away from her. Anu said nothing, just placed her hand on her shoulder.

"Sorry... thank you... you... uh... my mother used to feed me like this..."

She gathered herself and looked at Anu.

"Sorry..."

"Hey... it's ok... you look so young... how old are you?"

"24."

"24? And Pooja is 5 meaning....?"

Kalpana looked up hesitating.

"I won't ask you to share if you don't want to... it's just that you are the same age as Samar... and... you know... when you look at children Pooja's age... you would..."

She nodded.

"I... uh... I don't think you will like me if you know the truth... many people don't..."

Anu took her hand in hers and squeezed it.

"It won't make any difference to me..."

She took in a deep breath.

"I ran away from home when I was 18 and married my boyfriend against both our family's wishes. We came to Gujarat from Maharashtra to escape from them. We found a rented home from the money we stole... and we were happy, he found a job in a roadside shop.. but... Two months... two months later... one night he came home and laid on the bed saying he was tired. He never got up again. The postmortem report said he suffered a heart attack."

Anu had tears in her eyes.

"I wrote to his parents but they replied that their son died the day he left with me. I was pregnant with Pooja... and did odd jobs for food... and finally got a job as a... vessel washer in a hotel... the last 3 years I worked there... it was difficult but... it paid to for so roof over us and for her schooling and this class fees... they stopped me suddenly... and..."

Anu pulled her into a hug.

"You have a job here... don't you go out anywhere else..."

Kalpana held her tight.

"Thank you... thank you for being kind... it's been so long... first it was your son... now you... I don't know if I can ever repay you for your kindness... uh can I request you something?"

"Anything..."

"My mother used to call me Kalpi... It's so long since I heard..."

"Kalpi... Kalpi..."

Anu placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Kalpi... will you listen to me if I say something?"

"Yes..."

"You said you left home at 18..."

"Yes..."

"So you didn't complete your studies."

She pulled back and looked at her.

"Uh... yes... are you?"

"Yes... all my life I have regretted leaving my education after marriage... now I am successful... thanks to Anuj... the man who supported me and taught me... but still I regret it... maybe someday I will complete that degree of mine... you... you are young, have a whole life ahead of you... get into a college... what was your dream as a child?"

"I wanted to be a women and childrens's nurse... but..."

"Awesome... I will ask Samar... we can search for nursing colleges and you can apply... go for it... It's good for you and Pooja too..."

"But... but.."

"You can still work here part-time... that can pay for your stomach, roof, her schooling and classes as you said before..."

"But the college fees..."

"Oh... we can offer you a loan..."

"No... no..."

"Kalpi... you will be paying back with your salary and once you start earning, you can pay us back everything."

Kalpi looked uncertain. 

"Kalpi... think about it... you know you have it in you to work and study... you can do it..."

She took her bag and turned to leave as the sound of a car hitting its breaks filled the room.

"Samar should be here in sometime. I have to leave now. Hope you would take the right decision...oh I still love you, Kalpi..."

She left her to ponder over her thoughts.

***

"Aarav..."

"Uh... Coach had a meeting... so I said I would come... he... uh"

"He didn't agree and you had to literally steal the car keys when he was in the conference room."

Aarav smiled.

"You know..."

"Of course... shall we go...?"

As they reached the office and he stopped the car, she turned to him

"Thanks for the ride and the hockey stories..."

"My pleasure, Bhabhi..."

"You know you should do it often..."

"Do what?"

"Steal the keys..."

"You don't want Coach to drive you?"

"Oh he hardly concentrates on the road... you are a better driver and companion..."

He gave a chuckle and got down to see a frowning Anuj.

"Bhabhi... here he is... save me please..."

"Save who, kid... I am going to kill you if you dare steal my princess again..."

"Try it..."

"Anu?"

"What?"

"You are on his side?"

"Of course... his stories are far better than your poetries..."

She gave Aarav a hi-fi and Anuj pouted.

"Ok bye..."

He left and the pair giggled at him.

"Ok Bhabhi... you have the task of pacifying Coach..."

"Ah, that's easy..."

"Everything has become easy since you came..."

"Aarav?"

"Mukku smiles a lot more, Coach is so relaxed, back to being the fun loving carefree guy and GK... I never knew he could take naps in the afternoons... he is much more fit than before... it's so easy to be happy now... all because of you..."

"Me? I... didn't..."

"You did... your presence has made it all different... and I see now that Mukku's devotion was not wrong..."

She felt her eyes fill and she nodded.

"Thank you..."

"Mmmm... Bhabhi... I have a practice session I need to attend and then lunch with Mukku as always... I will take your leave now..."

As he turned to leave, she stopped him.

"Aarav..."

"Yes, Bhabhi..."

"Don't worry, things will turn out okay..."

"Thank you..."

***