Dutta frowned, why is Ayi calling him out when she left no stone unturned that he gets close to Naku….Ji Ayi Sahib, Dutta threw the cover and picked up his clothes….
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Ayi Sahib waited patiently for Dutta to turn around, he was standing stiffly looking away, refusing to meet the eyes of the family members…
Ayi Sahib looked towards Ramakanth, he stood holding the pot containing Damodar's ashes, as a dutiful servant he brought it as per his late master's desire....he knew Dutta would never have allowed him to enter the gates of the Patil Niwas but upon arrival he called up Ayi Sahib and placed before her his plea…Ayi Sahib with the understanding of a mother, asked him to enter and meet Dutta…
Indicating to Ramakanth to have patience, Ayi Sahib went upto Dutta, dekh beta he is only carrying out wishes of a dead man, atleast accept the casket from him….
I am sure you do not mean it….Dutta looked at his mother….Ayi Sahib lowered her eyes, Damodar was responsible for her husband's death…..
Dutta turned towards Ramakanth…..I admire your loyalty and sorry for the trouble you have undertaken but then under no circumstances I can accept the 'asthi' as I have already immersed the ashes of my father in the sea…
Ramakanth looked briefly puzzled and then realized Dutta was meaning 'Sriram' Damodar's brother and Ayi Sahib's husband….
Bhau, as you said I am only a servant carrying out my orders, I am asked to hand over this letter to you too, kum se kum yeh toh par lijiye….let part of my order be fulfilled …
Dutta accepted the letter…On top of the envelope his name was written as Dutta Sriram Patil but it looked as if a 'D' has been overwritten with a 'S'….Dutta opened the letter….read it and then looked up….you have done you duty Ramakanth, I cannot accept this either as I am not his son I have no right over his property…Dutta tore the letter up…
Ayi Sahib please guide me as what I should do…my master left me orders saying to take his ashes and copy of his will, the original is with the lawyer I understand, to Bhau…I have no further instructions, yesterday before he died as you left the village these were the last instructions I received…
Seeing her son once again going back to his shell, Ayi Sahib looked at Nakusha helplessly…Nakusha hesitated a bit and then went forward to stand before Ramakanth…You know me, I am Bhau's wife, his 'ardhangini'…meaning his equal half, if you will hand over the ashes to me, I promise you I will ensure they get immersed in the river with proper rituals….
Ramakanth's eyes watered…..Of course Bahu, I will become free of my promise….Nakusha extended her hands, Ramakath came forward….
Nakusha, a voice thundered…..Naku looked towards her husband, he was looking murderous with his cold and still eyes….
Sahab he is dead, he can do no harm but if his soul gets some peace with a small act of mine then why not…
Who says I want him to get peace, definitely not after what we have faced….
Sahab it has to be either you or me, Nakusha pleaded….atleast for his sake, Nakusha pointed at Ramakanth, you help so many people in meeting with their promises, just think you are helping this gentleman in meeting his….
Nakusha don't come in between this is different….
Kya hai Sahab, just an earthern pot and ashes….it can belong to anybody…even an unknown person….I have seen so many people coming to you with peculiar requests, you do not know all of them…do you? Just take this as another whim of an unknown man….
Dutta turned his face away….Nakusha extended her hands once again….
No you will not touch the remains of a sinner like him with your innocent hands, Dutta came forward, standing before Ramakanth he extended his hands, not as a son, but as a Bhau if you wish you can hand over the remains to me…
I am asked to hand over the remains to Dutta Sriram Patil, Ramakanth replied, son or Bhau makes no difference to me…..Ramakanth placed the earthen casket on his hands….
Bajirao send for the Pandit, he should meet you at the sea as Dutta immerses the ashes, kisi ka bhi ho, when he is doing it we should follow all rituals, Ayi Sahib instructed …..
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Kalavati watched Dutta leaving to immerse the ashes with Baji and others..they say blood is thicker than water indeed…Kalavati commented as the cars drove out of the house….
Kishore nodded his head, tumhe dikhayee nehi parta kya Kala how reluctant he was ….
Woh toh dikhawa hai Kishore, he cannot show his ungratefulness to my mother, after all she has been a bit too kind towards him, more than us….
Kishore raised his hands, hey bhagwan when will you give her some sense he thought…why is she refusing to see the obvious…..
Kalavati watched Nakusha talking with the servants and then going up with them to clean Dutta's room…she clenched her jaws, yesterday night Dutta spent his night in his wife's room….kya ras lila kar rahi hai yeh dono…Radha used to go to meet Krishna, here Krishna is coming to meet Radha….hai hai jamana hi palat giya…then she smiled….
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Dutta wrapped his bare torso with the white cotton shawl and watched the waves as they wetted his feet, the end of his dhoti, the casket danced away…Bhau fold your hands and take your blessings, the Pandit said, Dutta pretended not to hear him…Baji quickly did what the Pandit asked…Dutta stood watching the horizon, he thought strange, when he was embarking on a new phase of life, he was feeling some sense of real happiness with his wife, his father once again had to intervene…but one good thing he is dead, so he could do no harm….
Bhau…Bhau…Baji was calling out…chal ghar chal…everything is over and done with here…Dutta lowered his eyes to see the casket has vanished…the priest, picked up water in his palm and sprinkled on them reciting
Om dyauh shaanti Antariksham shaanti
Prithivee shaanti Aapah shaanti
Oshadhayah shaanti Vanaspatayah shaanti
Vishvedevaah shaanti Brahma shaanti
Sarvam shaanti Shaantireva shaanti
Saamaa shaantiredhih Om Shanti Shanti Shanti
Meaning:
May peace radiate there in the whole sky as well as in the vast ethereal space everywhere. May peace reign all over this earth, in water and in all herbs, trees and creepers. May peace flow over the whole universe. May peace be in the Supreme Being Brahman. And may there always exist in all peace and peace alone.
Om peace, peace and peace to us and all beings!
Dutta got into the car, Bajirao started the vehicle, Ramakanth stood next to the window with his hand folded…Bhau, Malik has seen that we are taken care off, I am going back to the village but will wait to hear from you..the Sarpanch knows me….
Dutta nodded his head….Baji drove off….they reached Patil Niwas in silence, as they waited for the gates to be opened, Baji spoke…Bhau I must confess I am impressed with Ramakant, Damodar has chosen well, it is rare to see such loyalty today, especially when he knew most probably on reaching here the hope of getting you perform the last rites was also dim….I appreciate his loyalty to his late master…
Hmmm and Damodar also knew that there is one lady who can never say no to anyone, he may have conveyed the same to Ramakanth….
Ha Bhau I agree lekin phirbhi….
Dutta got down, did not wait for Baji to finish…
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Naku handed over the glass of water silently, Dutta accepted it absentmindedly taking a sip and then he turned to notice Naku standing, he looked at her, her eyes were tired, yesterday night she did not have much sleep, he stared at her remembering the night, Naku was curling her toes already, Dutta noticed, she was feeling shy or nervous, yes he has studied whenever she is at unease she curls her toes….catching her eyes he raised his brow…Naku lowered her eyes and bit her lips…
Bhau…oh Naku tu bhi idhar hai, Kalavati came forward, oh Lata puch rahi thi mujhse if she should shift your things to Bhau's room but then I said since Bhau is now mourning his father's death it is not auspicious to start your new life….matlab waise bhi during mourning period pati patni alag sowe toh hi achha hai…specially when it is one's parent …matlab jab mera sasur ki mauth huwa tha kishore and I also ….
I do not believe in such customs aur jab mai use apna pitah mana hi nehi toh mourning kis baath ki…Dutta looked angrily towards his sister…
Abh…Bhau tu gussa math ho, jo maine theek samjha ….Naku tu hi bol Lata ko …mai kya janu…tum dono ki beech ki baath hai koi apshagun na ho jaye…Kalavati left….
Nakusha looked at Dutta, who was standing with his hand folded across his chest, with his face turned…she kept her hand on his arm….Dutta looked at her….
Please….. she whispered….
Snatching himself free, Dutta stomped away leaving Naku standing alone….
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Arjun
