The Second Chances upd Epilogue pg63 on 22thFeb - Page 2

Ch1: First of many Firsts

Eighteen years ago: 22nd December 1991, 8AM

Southeastern railway bungalows, Mountroad ,Nagpur

Dutta was brushing his teeth still rubbing the Sunday morning sleep off his eyes. He hated mornings but then winter vacation has started today so he 15days of respite for all his exploration without ma-da ever finding out. Cabby the caterpillar was ready to cut out of his sleep in the cocoon, too. Hummer, the tailor birdie has finished warming up its eggs and last week he had had the privilege of being introduced to little hun and bun the two sole survivors of the 4eggs that had been laid. Manny the mongoose was getting stronger after his tussle with the stray dog Chin last month. All in all, Dutta thought his Christmas vacations were looking up to be great. And best of all, his friends were perfectly safe as he had stowed them away in their next door bungalow's thick foliage ridden overgrown garden. Dutta prayed every night that that bungalow should always be empty and no one should be allotted that quarter. That garden and the bungalow was his playground, his phantom hideout, since ma was so keen on her garden she pruned the bushes,kept the grounds clinically clean and only boring ornamental plants were allowed in her gardens. He preferred the wildness, things growing on their own as nature wanted them to.

He walked upto the glass window to look at his kingdom beyond the mortared boundary which he crossed in one hop these days. Ma's complain was working he thought, but this time he'll be adamant about the chocolate flavor rather than mangoes. And he would definitely insist on the chocos instead of plain cereals. Vinay had got a free transformer shinny sticker sheet with the large pack. Dutta wondered if they would stop giving them out before its time for their next month's grocery shopping. Maybe he should have a talk with da instead ma would just scold him for his concern. She was a girl and hence never understood how important it was to have all the best of the hero stuff with him. Da will know he read the comics with him sometimes. He liked Megatron like him.

As he stood in front of the glass moving his brush to and fro his mouth least bothering about the foam falling on his PJs, he got the biggest shock of his long 10year old life. There were PEOPLE next door. The knee length grass was almost gone and the guava branches were being cut off by Dashrath kaka. Dutta thought he was dreaming he rubbed his eyes but the ghoul stayed on. Ten thousand blistering barnacles, was there no justice in the worl?. He had prayed last night too, right? Stated out his wish list to Krishna right? Then how was this happening, has the lord gone on vacation or something as its Christ time. Maybe he should have said the school prayer for Jesus instead. These Gods and prayers are so confusing? What is a little guy to do? Janmashtami-Krishna, diwali-Lakshmi, Christmas-Jesus. They were too many to keep track of any way.

He ran to the dining room where da was reading his paper as ma put his omlette in front of him. Dutta-'Wha ba hay..ba.augaug?' Ma-'chee, Dutta how many times do I have to say no talking with paste in your mouth and what is this, again you got foam on this shirt? I am just fed up of your sloppy habits.' Dutta rolled his eyes in exasperation as da looked up and went back to the paper shaking his head. 'Shakuntala, it's morning cut the guy some slack'. She turned on da,'of course, like father like son. 13 years and I have yet to see you ever put your socks in the right place instead of our bed .You just like sleeping with your socks more than with me.' Da grinned and winked at Dutta who ran to clean up.

He rushed back and screamed,'Da who are people next door? They are cutting my forest. We have to call forest department and get them arrested. Cutting tress is illegal or something.' Da looked at him amused.'well is it, now tarzan? Maybe they are just building up a tree house for your Jane.' Dutta,'yuck. Worse. Augh. Grils are prissy like ma. I don't want them. One is enuff. Da come..' he pulled his dad by his arm,'we have to get manny,bun,hun,hummer and others before they kill them.' Da,'son just a curiosity. Who are these people?' Dutta,'ma frins! Gotta go gotta go..comma cooman' Mr patil smiled at his son's unintentional lapse to his kiddie habbit of mixing up his speech when excited or worried. Shakuntala smiled at their only son's concern for his waifs and strays. He was great child if she said so for being the mother. He was far too intelligent for a ten year old, had passed the MENSA test playfully but they couldn't send him to boarding school for it was heartbreaking. Always obeyed them, though with bad grace. He was universally adored in neighborhood and school and was apple of her and her husband SriRam's eyes. She blushed and shook her head as SriRam winked and blew a kiss to her before being dragged out by Dutta.

SriRam heard chaos as he opened the gate to his new neighbor's home. A child was crying out loudly enough to wake the dead and Mr. and Mrs.Winget and Dashrat were shouting,' get it. It's running to that hole.Kill it'. Dutta- NOOOO. He got away from his dad and ran in that direction, 'lehim go he is hut. Hez kid and scad.' SriRam rushed after him.'Dutta wait.'

He reached the scene to see Dutta trying to get his hand in the hole of the wall trying to cajole something out of it, while Wingets saw him with astonishment. Dutta,'here buddy it's ok. It's just me. Come on manny.' A little cajoling latter a small furry head peeked, smelling him out and ran up to his shoulder. A small mongoose. Dutta turned to others,'he is a little thing. You guys scared him. Ooh no!' He rushed to pick a leaf from a heap and turned to see the cocoon under it. 'Da cabby is gone!' He ran to the wild berry tree and saw a nest lying on the ground. He picked it up and smelled i , examining it closely, while manny just hung on his back squeaking, 'hummer and babies are gone too! But at least the kiddies can fly some now, by the look of the nest.' Dutta frowned as he saw the dent on the nest side.'da I wanted them to grow up some more. They have weak wings till 2week, you know. But I guess they'll be Ok.'

Mr.winget,'this is your son,patil. He is smart like Indiana jones or something.' SriRam,'yeah, ben. its his latest obsession, wild life. Had to buy him a load of books on birds and animals. So hows the clean up coming. Busy for you huh, Christmas two days away.' Ben nodded and looked at Dutta saying,'every thing is fine now that your son has got the scariest thing hanging by his neck. Sorry beta. We were not expecting a wild mongoose here.' Dutta looked sullenly at his nest.mrs. winget,'yeah, Nakusha got scared while exploring the ground and screamed. We all panicked.She is very small, you see.' Dutta looked up interested,'Nakusha, is that your dog?' They all laughed and Mrs.Winget said,'no that's our little doll. Nakusha? Come out honey see. It's your new friend.'

Dutta looked at the direction aunty was looking, behind her, her head down. A small chubby hand gripped her saree tight. A pigtail came out with pink satin bows then a ballet pump fitted feet .Lastly, a small round face poked out. Dutta saw in silence as he came across a real angel for the first time. Can eyes really be that green? She was looking with those huge eyes at manny in apprehension. Dutta's anger returned, so manny would have been dead because of this pest today. Girls were stupid. Oh she is so gonna pay for this, he smiled devilishly.

Two days later, mr Benjamin winget and his wife mrs. Francesca winget invited the whole railway colony for their first Christmas party in the city. Dutta had learnt in the past few days that uncle ben was dad's friend and was a DTI in railway like his da. And he liked uncle, aunty was ok, just like ma. Well all girls were the same anyways. But uncle had interesting collection of maps of the world he had heard da say. He was eager to see that. When he entered with his parents he spotted the little pest with a bevy of equally annoying pests, most dressed in flouncy pinks or reds or blues. Oh,yeah- Dutta thought'payback time'. He was called by his friends to see the tree and the gifts under it. The pest came and chirped to him-'see that's my Barbie in that minny mouse packet.' Dutta-barbies are so lame. And whats this you have no teeth. Nakusha looked at him hurt- tootfaily took them.ma said so. Dutta-oh you are stupid too. There are no fairies only dark monsters who eat little girls like you who bother helpless animals. Nakusha's eyes watered and screamed Maaa. His friends laughed at her and back slapped him. Dutta felt proud of himself.'wanna have some fun?' he asked them. And as usual they all nodded following his lead. Dutta was always the leader, even though he was not the oldest. He was the smartest and strongest and a natural leader. He looked around cautiously and picked up the Barbie packet.

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Present day:

'Naksh'.

She threw her posy at him anger flowing down her eyes with the tears. It hit him on his broad chest and he caught it instinctively. 'How dare you came back?' she ran to him and slapped him across his cheeks. 'You coward, you cheat. You left me. When I needed you the most, you ran away. How dare you come back now? What have come back for now, huh? Wanted to see if I managed to catch the curve balls life threw me. I don't want you now, Dutta. I hate you. I can see my life destroyed alone without you looking at my destruction with false pity. Go away.'

'Naksh. Please, don't cry? I.. I am sorry.' he held her shoulders looking at her beautiful face filled with misery. Looking at her after so long, broke his heart again. He had lost her, forever. He can never have her. His one nemesis, his one failing in life, one weakness of mighty Dr.Dutta Patil, his love and world, Naksh. She sobbed and fell on his chest. Her hands going around his torso gripping him to her, she cried loudly each cry wounding his soul anew. He tentatively put his arm around her to hold her, closing his eyes he held her to him. A masochistic steak of his, wanting this punishment inflicted to his heart. One more feeling, one more touch to be stowed away in those regions of his barren heart to cherish for the rest of his cold dark life without her.

Dutta- please don't cry. Naksh, I don't understand. Why are you still here? You are not supposed to be here now. What happened? Why didn't you leave?

Nakusha tightened her arms around him, her rock- Oh Dutta. Everything is over. All is finished. He..he left me. He never came for the wedding. He never wanted to marry me. D'.dani'Daniel left me at the altar.

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Eighteen years ago: 25th December 1991

Nakusha had stopped crying after lot of cajoling from her mom and other aunty, Shakuntala aunty. She was very nice and smelt of roses like mom smelt of lavender. She was mumma of that boy. Mom put her on the couch and gave her the Minnie mouse packet. 'Open it,honey. See what Santa brought you this Christmas. You have been mumma's angel this year.' She kissed her wet cheeks and gave her the packet.

Nakusha smiled and excitedly opened the packet, taking care not to rip the beautiful paper. She'll use it to decorate her barbie's room in the doll house. As she took off the paper, her new friends sonal and maya slid closer to her, ohhing and ahhhing. She smiled as she opened the lid and was horrified to see the contents. 'NOOO! My doll! Daddy! Somebody killed my Barbie!' her parents and others rushed to see what happened. She showed the pieces of the broken doll. Someone had torn the limbs of the doll and had twisted its neck. The pretty face was scribbled and disfigured with black and blue marker. Ben- Who could have done this? I checked the doll before the guy packed it.

Henna- uncle, I know who did it? They all looked at her. As she took her finger out of her mouth she pointed it at stairs. Nakusha stopped crying, turning to see who was that monster who killed her baby and hiccupped. Her eyes grew wide as she saw that vile boy standing there. He looked at her and hung his head. SriRam- yaha aao, Dutta. He came forward slowly dragging his steps. 'Did you do this?' He brust out- yeah, so? She tried to kill my manny.

SriRam-DUTTA! How could you do this to a little girl? Its disgressful! You are grounded for your vacations. Nakusha beta. I am so sorry honey. Come here. He went and knelt before her and wiped her face and kissed her forehead, while Dutta hung his head sullenly. Ben- it's ok SriRam. He is a kid. SriRam ' but he has to learn to control his temper and respect and protect those who are weaker to him. He sighed deeply- Dutta, come with me. We need to talk.

He grabed him and took him out. Everyone started talking forgetting the incidence. Nakusha went to the window and peeped out. SriRam was sitting on the bench right outside with Dutta. Dutta- I hate her da. She took my forest. And because of them hummer and cabby flew away. SriRam- tell me would you have kept them prisoner always. He shook his head- I would have let them go. But after saying goodbye.

SriRam- hmm.Fair enough. But son, you don't always get to say goodbye to the people you love and that cannot be helped. The forest was never yours to begin with. You were just a visitor there. But this is her home now and you are the visitor again. Visitors should always respect the hospitality offered. You insulted that hospitality today. Dutta you are older than her and much, much stronger .You should protect her not harm her. She is like a little sister to you and a gentleman and a hero always protects the weak. Right? Dutta nodded- I promise da. I'll look after her always.

Nakusha was too young to understand that conversation but one thing she understood and loved. Now she had her own prince to protect her and she liked it. Dutta came in with his father and walked upto her. Dutta- I am sorry. I hurt your doll. He picked up the pieces.' I'll fix it by New Years I promise. Friends?'. He offered her his hand. Nakusha gave him her toothless grin-friends! he leaned in and gave her, her first kiss in her six years of life-a sweet tentative touch of soft lips on her chubby pink cheek. It came and went in blink. But that touch was imprinted on her forever.

What these little angels didn't notice was that above on their head, on the banister a lady was trying to remove the torn mistletoe and throw it away.

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Present day

Dutta was fuming as uncle Ben recounted everything to him. The rat Daniel had left a voice mail on his cousin's phone saying that he was not ready to settle down. He wanted to climb the Mt.Annapurna and had been training for it for past six months. And if ever he did settle down it would not be with Nakusha. She was too straitlaced almost frigid and she didn't know to party. He wanted to have some life now. He was sorry he wasted her time and their parents money and all but he was going through what his shrink said was a selfish phase. Please, uncle-aunty, mommy 'daady, Nakusha. Try to understand him. He was just doing what he felt was right.

Dutta heard the voice mail again, as his eyes were fixed on Nakusha who was sitting like a stone after she had been crying in his arms for two hours now. He had taken her inside the church where everyone was mourning like they had dressed for funeral instead of a wedding. After he had heard everything he had made arrangements to discard of the non-reception, settled everything and sent D's parents home. He had driven Ben, Fanny and Nakusha home. As soon as he had entered, he had calmed them all-Ben, Fanny, Daniel's parents. There was something in his face, a calmness that calmed everyone around him. He was the voice of strength and practicality which reduced the panic in the elders faces. But it didn't calm Nakusha. She had been trying to hold them all together putting on a brave front but as soon as he came and took over she let the dam burst over and ravaged her throat crying in his arms. Her misery and pain was palpable to watch. But somehow, to all of them it looked right that if she broke down then it should be in the arms of this man. Sometimes even her parents could not reach her but this man did always, every time. Even if they stay apart, something bonded them to each other. Or else how can anyone explain that the man who had left India and every ties with this place for the rest of his life, whom no one had heard of for the past 5years, was suddenly back here, in this city, and at this moment when she needed him the most.

Dutta- Nakusha, I will ask you one question. I'll ask all of you one question. What is more painful for you- to be left at the altar today unmarried or being left after marriage at the hospital after you had given birth to your first baby? If he could leave his parents couldn't he desert his child tomorrow? What if his 'selfish phase' started after the marriage?

nice start ..... update soon

Originally posted by: lizdarcy

Excellent start! I must admit though, i found Nakusha's full name funny. 😃

getting interesting .... so nakku was marrying someone else not dutta.....