Collections – a word for many. Collection of coins, collection of stamps, collection of clothes, shoes, watches….frivolous things that when looked at together, gives us pleasure. Collection of smiles, of joys, of laughter and pleasures. Collection of pain, of tears, of loss and heartbreaks. Collection of all the firsts- first smile, first word, first step, first school day, first meeting, first love, first kiss, first wedding night, first child. Or maybe….maybe collections of all the lasts-last exam, last school day, last goodbye, last working day at office, last day of your daughter as your little girl before her marriage. Doesn't it feel like that life is full of such collections stocked away in little recesses of your minds? As if life is nothing but collection of such innumerable sweet-sour moments collaged together in the unending quilt called time. Let me tell you a tale of collection of different sort….Chalo aaj chuuntey hai ,waqt ki shaq se wo pal jinme jiye humne kai janam, zara dekhe to- kya khoya kya paya!
Ch7:The Collections
Sixteen years ago: 25th December 1993
Mountroad bungalows,Nagpur
"Can you walk a little slower? At this rate we'll reach Eva aunty's place by next Christmas!" dutta threw a glare over his shoulder at little nakkusha who was stomping, rather than walking behind him,pouting at the indignity of being made to walk such long distance. She thought Dutta was being a real meanie. He was rolling his colorful cycle beside him but refused to carry her on it. Since she could not walk as fast as he cycled he was walking too,rolling it beside him. She felt like howling and that worked every time with SriRam uncle or dad. But dutta never gave in to her tears. He would rather later make fun of her for being a girl and crying. She liked being carried around on his cycle. He had fixed a soft little seat on the rod in front, just for her but now he refused her the privilege.
He was so super stubborn. This Christmas vacation he had got a bee in his bonnet that she has to learn to ride a cycle. She had tried it at first enthusiastically. It was fun and easy while he held her seat at the back and ran behind her. As soon as, he had let go of the seat she had tittered precariously and had fallen in a twisted heap on the road, in total lack of dignity. She had refused to try ever again and he had sworn he would never let her sit on his cycle until she tried cycling again. This was the day three of the largest war between the two parties after the friendship had sprung up two years ago on this very day.
"If it so irritates you you should not have come." She threw back at him. He answered without looking back at her,"I am not coming for you or for your aunt." She poked her tongue at his back. Oh! How she wished eva aunty could hear this. Dutta wasn't at all fond of her plump and cheek pinching aunt and he hated her 13yr old son Joy, he thought that cousin Anne was stupidest amongst the female species. But he still never refused to go to Aunty's because Eva aunty made world's yummiest chocolates and she adored dutta. According to her and many other ladies in the church circle, the sun rose and set on him. He was so charming to them all. And every kid was supposed to be like him. See how dutta did this, see how dutta did that.Today was no different. Dutta knew that aunty must have made her special cream filled coojies and chocolates for Christmas and he was going to grab his share of it. Shameless Pig, she thought.
"I won't give you my chocolates this time, like I did last time. Because you are so mean to me."she warned him. Dutta- huh, I get plenty myself. She would definitely give me twice the amount she gives you. I am Dutta Patil, alright? Nakkusha- And greedy duffus that you are, you'll gobble down all the chocolates and want more from me. I won't share mine.Dutta said airly- Fine,Lilliput. Now march .left right left. .left right left..Nakkusha got irritated and threw a pebble at him but missed him by a yard. Dutta chuckled- You throw like a girl, too. Sacredly cat, can't ride cycle, can't walk, can't throw. Nakkusha turned her face away and stomped behind him, she'll show him someday.Yes, she will.
They reached aunty's place. She went through her regular cheek pinching-kissing ritual, asked after the school, praised the Good boy. Dutta smirked at Nakkusha while she fumed. He ate his share of sweets,cookies, cakes. Even managed to snag a piece of hers while she was looking away.When aunty gave them the chaoolates dutta pocketed his thanking her while nakkusha put them in her small side bag. She believed in saving hers and having one each day. They started back home. Her little feet were hurting and she was on the verge of breaking down while Dutta kept walking ahead eating his chocolates happily.
They came across the railway crossing. The signal was on so they waited at the sidelines. Dutta looked at nakkusha's red face. "Kya hua? Your feet hurting?" "No!" Dutta shrugged.It was a goods train and as always it will take ages to pass. So dutta leaned on his cycle comfortably and fished for a chocolate,but he came up empty handed. Damn, he had finished them all? Dutta looked shrewedly at the little poppet getting red in the sun beside him. Dutta called her coaxingly-Naksh, your legs are hurting? She looked away pouting. Dutta- I am sorry. You are so small with tiny feet. I should not have let you walk so long. She sniffed. Dutta sighed- OK. Hop on poppet. I'll carry you on the cycle. She turned beaming a glorious smile at him ready to jump up on the cycle. Dutta- But…Nakkusha narrowed her green eyes at him-But? Dutta- I'll need some of your chocolates in exchange. Nakkusha threw her hands at him peddling his head and back- I knew it. You big bully, you elephant, you ox.Dutta- hey,hey. He held her off easily with his free arm. Dutta- hey, I am just asking for some payment to carry you around. It's hard physical labor. It's your choice walk or share and have cool ride. You pick.
She thought for some time,"Ok. Five chocolates." Dutta- deal. Hop on. She smiled and climbed on the seat sighing with pleasure. An old woman in rags came them,"beta, bhagwaan ke liye kuch de de." They turned their head away. Nakkusha's mom had told her that some of these beggars were child thieves. She was petrified of them, she snuggled into his arms hiding her chubby face in his chest. Dutta grunted- sit straight. The signal is on soon we'll leave. If you sit like that how will I ride. She sat straighter. The woman was now crying about her kids. Nakkusha felt sad for them. The woman kept poking Dutta, who kept shoving her away. The woman felt nakkusha's eyes on her and turned to her. "Baby, tujhe koi rajkumar mille. Badi mastarni bane tu. Kuch de de." Dutta- naksh look away. She obeyed. The old woman continued- Baba, tera bhala ho. Tu bada sahib bane. Doctor bane. Kuch dede baba. Nakkusha turned back to look at the woman. The signal went off and the barriers were raised. Dutta started peddling leaving the old woman calling after them, Nakkusha looked from back at her as the kept going further away. Her eyes misting a little.
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Present day, 24th December 2009
Tuli's indigo room.
Nakkusha- I can't believe you still went out with that airhead. Dutta grinned while checking his emails- she was the hottest girl in the school. Nakkusha- and you were the stud. Dutta chuckled- all thanks to you. I thought after that washroom incidence my reputation would be in smithereens but surprisingly that fact increased my popularity. Boys thought of me as 'The Man' and girls found me irresistible. Nakkusha made a face- go figure. Dutta- you know for a month I was asked only one question by all the guys. Nakkusha- what question? Dutta- nothing important actually. Some locker room stuff. Nakkusha looked suspiciously- What locker room stuff? What did you see in the washroom? Dutta- you won't get it. He got up and pulled out his small bag. Nakkusha looked at it. If she had any doubt in her mind about his short stay it was obliterated by his luggage. It was a small bag, a cabin bag which could barely hold one set of spare clothes and necessities. It made her feel heavy inside but she shoved the feeling away. Nakkusha- What? Try me. Dutta pulled out some monogrammed hotel towels and soap. He entered the bathroom throwing back at her- They asked me about the walls. Nakkusha frowned- walls? What walls? Dutta spoke from inside the bathroom, the door was slightly ajar-About the walls of girls washroom. Nakkusha felt even more confused- Girl's washroom walls?Why? dutta- they just wanted to if they were different than boys' washroom. Nakkusha- and were they? Dutta- oh yeah! Totally. Nakkusha- How? Dutta laughed heartily- Well,they were dull and clean, no reading material. You see, boys' washroom walls has lot of stuff to read while you do it, you know? Some tidbits, interesting songs, poems, and..Nakkusha- and? Dutta- and notifications? Nakkusha- Tudu? You are trying my patience. What notices? Dutta- Notifications. As in which girl was booked by whom. Many decades worth of notifications. Nakkusha was agast as the meaning sank in. she was horrified- you people write girls' name with some guys on the wall. Dutta- not us. It was like a territory marking warning. Male code of honor, not to be breached. If you like a filly, you write her name on the wall with yours. Other guys have to back off, till the first one is turned down thrice by the girl. Then the next fellow could try his luck without the first one objecting. Nakkusha- that's disgusting! Dutta- well, it made sense then. It stopped lot of fistfights. Of course sometimes because of a brother or something you couldn't write the full name then you use abbreviation. We didn't start it. We were handed down the tradition. In fact, do you want to know something about your Mrs.Roy? Nakkusha- What? She was there on the wall, too. When he answered she could almost hear the naughty laughter in his voice- Thrice. First was some Mr.Yusuf. Second, Mr. Anil salve, which we all seriously doubted was that Science teacher. And third..He laughed aloud. Dutta-Third was rev.Brother Jonas. Nakkusha gasped at the name of strict, proper custodian of the school."NO?" dutta- yes. Nakkusha got up and walked to the bag. She opened it and started repacking it carefully. He was careful packer, he used to pack her bag for school every night after homework. But he was not neat about it. His packing meant throwing things together and somehow forcing the bag shut. He had got creases on the shirt he would wear. She finished putting his things together a small cardholder had business cards of many famous researchers and universities. She smiled at his success. A small picture of his family was pushed in the back, and a picture of them together on her 15th birthday was folded and kept in a inner pocket. She stuffed it back in the pouch and put it in. She called room service for ironing the shirt.
Nakkusha- dutta, did you know if any boy claimed me? Dutta- No. No one claimed you. Nakkusha- No one wrote my name? Maybe they used abbreviation. Dutta called back- No one wrote your name, abbreviation or not. Nakkusha was taken aback. "Why?" Dutta- because boys may be stupid but they were not morons to risk it. Nakkusha- what do you mean? Dutta- they knew that you were m…Rest of his words were drowned in the noise of the shower he ahd switched on. Nakkusha's heart thumped at that unfinished word. Nakkusha- what did you say? Couldn't hear you? Duttta repeated it again. Nakkusha couldn't hold her excitement. She entered the bathroom, he was standing behind the shower curtain. She asked again- what did you just say? Dutta- I said..he was shocked as the curtain was pulled back with a snap and Nakkusha stood there gazing at him.Dutta roared- Damn it Naksh! Whats the matter with you? he grabbed a towel infront of him. Nakkusha looked him in the eyes- what did you say? Dutta- I said, are you crazy? Nakkusha- no, about the other thing. Why no one wrote my name? Dutta- because…because they knew you were my friend. Nakkusha- oh, I thought..dutta- what did you think? Nakkusha- I thought you said, that they knew I am yours. Dutta- Right, I mean, you are wrong. Now will you please let me shower in peace. Alone.He stressed the last. She regained her senses and nodded. But before leaving a daredevil instinct made her turn back. Dutta looked at her- what? She gave him a piercing looking and ran her gaze from his feet to his face, slowly sensuously. She looked him in the eye and purred-Nice. Very nice. He gulped and she laughed at his shocked face and walked out of the bathroom closing the door laughing.
As soon as she was gone Dutta leaned against the shower wall, the cold water cascading over his body. He felt sheared by her gaze. She thought she was acting the femme fetale. But he had lived long and in lot of hellholes to have known the best of that breed. Nakkusha couldn't look like them no matter how hard she tried. That look which on other woman looked a invitation of darker, jaded sort on her it looked innocent , 'come hither ' invitation. Her eyes showed the truth of her heart like mirror. When she had looked him up and down, the little innocent thought she was playing it cool. But she didn't have a inkling of how tempting and sweet she looked standing there, her disappointment in his words earlier blatant on her face while she tried, tried hard to look unaffected. He had wanted to drag her to his arms and kiss her disappointment away. How much he wanted to tell her, how he loved her, craved her. And above all he wanted to proclaim to all that she belonged to him. His. His. He bunched his fists and lowered his head as the water in the tap went cold like his heart. The antactic was in his veins now. Nothing else touched him. He was cold as ice. Aching, he thought, this constant aching.
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Sixteen years ago: 25th December 1993
Nakkusha-dutta, please stop.Dutta- why? What happened? They had crossed the railway lines and had gone a few yards when nakkusha asked him to stop the cycle. Dutta-bolna. Kya hua? Why do you want to stop? Nakkusha- please, stop or I'll jump. Dutta braked the cycle and she hopped down and ran back. He looked after her fuming.What was she doing, they were getting late? He saw from amongst the opening in the crowd that she had ran back to the old beggar woman who was sitting at the side of the road now. She was talking to the beggar. Dutta grew worried, the fool, talking to such people. Wait till he tells her dad! She pointed a finger at where he was standing. She then gave the woman something from her bag and then ran back to him. She jumped back on the cycle almost toppling it. Dutta- what were you doing, talking to her? Don't you know they could be child kidnappers or something? Nakkusha- she was not child thief. Dutta- how do you know? You are so careless. He screamed at her as he started peddleing. All the way back he gave her a lecture and scared her with grave consequences for little kids who talked too much. At the gate when nakkusha got down he reminded her again that she should not speak to strange peoples. She nodded agreement. Dutta- Ok. Now give me my share of chocolates. She took out one choacolate and put it on his palm. Dutta- hey, we bargained for five. Where are they? Nakkusha smiled- that's all that is left. I saved it for you. And gave the rest.
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Present day:24th December 2009
Nakkusha and dutta were driving towards the bank. They were already late by 15minutes as nakkusha had insisted that he had to wear ironed shirt for the meeting. Dutta was fuming at her while he drived. The traffic had increased tenfolds since the past 5-6 years, since he had left. He saw how his hometown had changed. Many of the places he remembered as a child were gone and in their place huge sky-kissing cement structures stood. The old cottages of the Australian immigrants and the cafes were all gone. In their place huge condos were built. Many housing societies, malls, Coffee shops were opened. The city had lost its originality. It's salt-pepper taste. Now the roads looked like any other cosmopolitan city in the world with same kind of franchised shops, integrated city homes. Its taste was like any other junk food stuff. The same blandness and staleness. People changed ,yes, you had to accept that, he thought. But can't there be one thing in life that didn't change? A feeling of the old, known and comfortable.
He stopped at the signal. When a old man came near his window asking for alms. He used the same old lines, gave the same old blessings. Nakkusha leaned and gave him a note. The man went away blessing them profusely. Dutta shook his head- Still giving out your stashed money to the beggars. You still fall for these people. Amazing.
Nakkusha said softly- kya karu, dutta? tumahare liye duwayein ikhataa karte-karte mera daman hi nahi bharta.
Dutta turned to her startled. Nakkusha looked at him- I can't stop myself from collecting blessings for you.Someday it'll bring you what you want. He couldn't look away from her eyes,like a deer trapped in the headlights.
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Sixteen years ago:25th December 1993
Dutta shouted- you gave the rest? To whom?Nakkusha- that old lady hadn't eaten since last night, so I gave them to her and some money, too.Dutta slapped his head- you gave her your money, too. You fool. Nakkusha- I made a bargain. Dutta- right! You made a bargain with the beggar. Let's hear that, too. Nakkusha smiled with her happiness shining in her eyes and cheeks flushed- well, she promised that everyday she'll pray that you get whatever you want in life. Always!
................To be continued..
please excuse the typing mistakes...updated in hurry.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
