SS~Dutta~a trilogy~ thread 1. Follow the Heart. continued on thread 2 - Page 33

Originally posted by: tamanna1391

hi tammy, 😊 good to hear from you..hope prep going ok? best wishes from me always..

wow nakku at dutta's house tnes fabhe trio sce
thanks for appreciating and commenting on the update.. much love,as ever yours hammie.

Originally posted by: Nakusha

Hi hammiee hi naku😊... good to see you

Mein AA gai...😊.buhat din wait karaya...loved the ud

yes i can see like always you are on my thread.. you know i never keep to the rules..😆iam easy.. chilled..😆

The joy ride continued...dutta took naku to his village...she was a spectacle...its seeing dutta with a beautiful girl

yes that is the main thing dutta ke saath lardki..

Dutta s luv for beauty...naku thinking too deeply...he is a artist ...her beauty inspire him...when the point will reach to relationship...she should think about it...she is thinking like a marriage proposal...don't blame her😆 well she can think.. nice and natural thought.😛

Meeting with damodar...cooking food...dutta talking about his mom...too good...he sketching at different moments...she got his culinary approval...he liked naku too...

good cook has to be a boon.. waise personally i hate cooking..😆 but love to eat .. my fav food is punjabi and lebanese food.. my not like food is Italian.mexican.. sorry going off on a tangent.

How it moves ahead waiting for...pls ud soon😊

working on update currently will post when done,

as always u r amazingg hammiee😊
and you naku, are hamaaazzing.. as always.. thanks for a lovely comment and the catchy image..much love,as ever yours hammie.

Originally posted by: -daya-

Hiya Hammie, hope all is well on your end :) hi daya😊..yep fine

Have finally made my way to your UD

So without delay shall we get right to it? this sounds like a critical analysis from a serious writer😛

Out of my hands: Part 7

Wow, Dutta is so completely taken by Naku's beauty. It's like every second he is thinking about it! Meanwhile Nakusha is nervous about the looks she's getting from the folks in his home place. Of course, reasonably, she ponders what they all must be thinking. And though he tries to put her mind at ease, it's a hard feat to accomplish since no matter what you do there will always be people waiting to know...to speculate...and naturally you get awkward in that moment...

so true..

LOL DP's not sparing and moment to praise her beauty. He's obsessed. Really, shouldn't this be a scary thought? :P

for who? is it scary??

Nakusha's discomfort from getting attention from men speak much about her especially her morals. But it's good that she also notes like others Dutta's taken to her beauty as well...the superficial element...

yes she seems reasonable.. and does try to tease his thinking..

His explanation and then suggestion that beauty can go on forever through art was interesting. I tend to agree with that part, you can portray a lot in artwork. But regardless that she inspires his work, I think the man is suffering from tunnel-vision and I hope she can change that. More to her than beauty...

dutta with tunnel vision, why thanks for pointing that out.. in the original story he did have horse blinders on about certain issues..

ROFL haha I see she's recognized his obsessed-stalkerish tendencies finally :P

i dont think he is a stalker.. just deeply impressed by a face that stands out in the environment he lives in... but you as a reader are entitled yo your opinion..

"tu bolna Nakusha.. main sun raha hoon.. pata tu chale tera dahmak mein kya chal raha hai? he urges.

^ This line reminded me of that scene in LTL in his room...where he's asking her to explain as to why she rejected his proposal...and it well worked with the situation here where she questions if he only sees what catches the eye...

i know daya nostalgia.. my thinking is limited to LTL 1.. such an impact it has left on me.. and mind you i watch it every night too!

I think I'd find him very frustrating to work with...with the views he has...I'd probably be sitting there arguing LOL and I absolutely love that Naku is pointing out how unrealistic and superficial his thinking is...

no comments.. only respect.

" I choose summer than autumn.. I warm to sunny skies rather than grey ones, I like the pulsating beat of the heart , rather than the hoary breath of dying..."

^ I just recently wrote something on the view of autumn/fall I think your Dutta needs to read it...but I can't share it yet...as for Dutta he's a stubborn mule I just hope Nakusha can do something about it eventually!

really? i must have missed it.. but shall i say i am inspired by all the fantastic ideas of all writers on the laagi forum.. blessed we are for sure..😃

So she meets his father, I found this scene very pleasant. His questioning the reason behind her name, her explaining matter-of-factly why she got it, and him dismissing such nonsense by stating what daughter's mean for them...

yes it was a sweet scene with a message.

Damodar's concern for Naku's image is touching and rather true too. And then baam he asks if there is more to Dutta's relationship than work...gosh he works fast huh...and Dutta is pleased about the approval. Haha their union is now pre-approved??

ummmhh.. he's only thinking as a dad..

Ohhh this is too good...already testing the possible future DIL's cooking skills! And Dutta's taking the opportunity to sketch her in the act...

may be so ,but dutta has his own agenda..

There is a tiny bit of domesticity to this scene...even though it's not your typical scene...I rather enjoyed it. And their shared moment after was quite something. Almost as though a lot happened in that moment when on surface nothing at all...

loved this comment daya.. coming from you.. something is happening inside me.. i dont need to tell you.. for you know me well.. soft centre.😆

So she passed the cooking test and even earned herself a nickname :P Well, now that she's welcomed into his home by both father and son...let's see how long before she's taking up residence in his heart ..

you know i warm to people who cook.. and you... ummh my lips are sealed..

Thanks for the wonderful UD. Enjoyed it a lot. Do continue soon.

Take care, Hammie! Cheers!!!

cheers? over a glass of waterrr.. tu rehene de.. thanks for taking the time to read and comment.. much love,as ever hammie.

Originally posted by: eternity_of_luv

lovely update hammie...

hi ranju.. brilliant to see you mate..😊
so glad you found it interesting to read.. much love and many thanks hammie.

Originally posted by: dilse14

hi hamlet hi dilse 😊
wonderful udenjoyed the whole atmosphere at dutta's homeloving dad, home & darwing😊ud soon
thanks for reading and then enjoying the lovely update..hey love your image..said it before. 😃
much love ,as ever yours hammie.

Originally posted by: stranger2rose

hi rosie ,good to see you😊
hi hammie what a homely update ! but before that we have some clash of views between tasha. what really amazes me in this story is that dutta is so beauty conscious 😆i mean beauty lover maybe its because he is an artist and wishes everything to be eye pleasing and perfect ..he is a dreamer whereas nakku is the more practical one.
yes you understood the crux of the matter..

so he takes her home to meet his father. i loved the father son scene where damodar comes straight to the point and asks him if he is interested in marrying her 😳 good to see her passing both the look test and the cooking test 😉i am repeating myself but this dutta is crazy about her..sketching her even when she is cooking 😆 damodar calling her nakku was sweet ..great to see things moving in the right direction and thanks for not including seema in this update.

pata hai i am actually seeing seema the asli wali every night.. kafi hero giri dekha rehe hai..
thanks for commenting and appreciating rosie.. much love as ever yours hammie

Originally posted by: jedy25

hi hamlet helllooo jedy... got your reminder tooo so dekh le hammie showed up😛...
superb ud...sasur is happy of dutta's choice...nothing formal from their end...liking is there...let see how it evolves...pls ud soon😊
oyeee tum log unke saaddi kara ke he choro ge.. thanks for commenting much love as ever yours hammie.

Originally posted by: twinkle-star

hi twinkie... look this is such an awesome comment... the images you have posted are just brilliant... its not just my opinion ..others members on this thread seem to think so.. its such a treat...
awww such a mind blowing update dear...enjoyed it sooo much....awww lovely descriptions & wonderful job hammie lion......such a sweet treat to all of us...sweeetest hammie lion...thank you sooo much dear...

so dutta chooha[ mouse].. here.. doing a dance.
aww dutta pours out his heart on a sketch paper & captures naku's beauty on his artistic way.....awww he is completely fallen by naku's green doe eyes & her external beauty...aww dutta wants to feel Naku's beautiful face by his hands....hahaha as usual Baaji pulling dutta's legs....baaji is right....Dutta should try see beyond the face value...aww dutta too accepts that naku is a good girl with good personality.....haha loved baaji's nautanki soo much....naughty friend...Dutta just wants to create naku's sculpture....haha loved Baaji's mirror talk.....baaji's competition with naku....haha baaji is so cute...aww loved the way you put Dutta-baaji's deepness of friendship.....awee dutta loved Naku's cooking item...naku unknowingly express his affection towards him...naku's green eyes have made quite an impact on Dutta...awee naku looks Her sketches & her mouth drops...and now dutta wants to experiment her beauty with another medium ...aww they working together..loved the descriptions hammie lion..wowwieee.its soo great...errr seema ma'am agaya...ewww she hurts naku...awww loved Dutta's possessiveness over his personal creations ..naku seems hurt by Seema's rudeness..awee loved the way of dutta's consolation ...awee dutta sharing his past with naku....aww I guess their relationship become little stronger .....awww loved the jeep ride.....& your lovely update hammie lion...enjoyed it soo much....really great....hats off to you.....thank you thank you thank you my sweeetest hammie lion....sweeetie pie lion..🤗.baby will come back soo with the next comment...big teddy hugs from
love this image from LTL 1..

these two are great BW IMAGES... woww..








great images of etching...








i loved these images of the leaner dutta..





baji rao patil.. dutta ke jaan !








iam starving... love roly ploy roti



superbbb!





thank you twinky ⭐️👏 for a fantastic ..comment words and images both are such a source of encouragement for me.. much love ,as ever yours hammie..

Mishal Raheja

as Dutta

Out of my hands

Part 8

Naku sure did hear his question, but rather than answer it forthwith, it is more the sound of her condensed name " Naku" from his mouth in his guttural voice .. that makes her heart skip a beat. She gulps and puts, although pleasing to the heart, such emotions on the back boiler.

Dutta on the other hand, concludes that albeit easier for his father to call her Naku. But for him within the faculty, it's nothing short of being weighed down by a certain self-consciousness. After all how many other pupils does he or for that matter did he ever call by their edited names.. none.. then why her? ye babaa bhi na , ju maan mein aaye bol deta hai, can't see the fragility of the situation.

Naku by now faces the verity of silence between them. It articulates, dances on unseen sound waves and makes their hearts hear loud and clear. This then is a similar situation, he drives in silence but she knows what bogs him down.

"DP, haan I loved your home.. babaa mein ap ke Aye nazar ayen, that's how you see it too don't you? meri Aye bolte hai ke jis baache ke maa guzar jaye tu who baacha toot jata hai.. pun aap ke saath aisa nehin, babaa ne ap ko Aye bhi bun ke pala hai...and DP with regards to my name, you can call me whatever you are comfortable with.. incidentally some people do call me Naku as well, meri dostien"

"Naku main teri dost nehin.. as it is, tera ustad hoon! surely you can see the difference? one has to maintan protocol! he peers into her eyes challengingly, till she huddles back into the door side of her seat..he sees with swift eye and with a stretch of his arm across her ,which nearly startles her, he snaps the car door on lock!

Silence again descends almost like a comforting canopy upon the two, bar the mechanical sound of the jeep and the dulcet whistles of the breeze as the vehicle cuts through the air..

Turning the steering wheel, he replies after some thought ,to what she had expressed about being his father doing a dual role,"jis Aye na mujhe bara kiya hai.. Aye Sahib, un se bhi milwaya ga thujhe, kisi roz .. pun abhi kam hain mera pass, deadlines we both have to meet..but yes I am pleased with myself Naku, that as a pair.. umm, working paired team, we got positive results in terms of work" after second thought, he adds , "of course there was the socially pleasant as well, you made babba happy.. khana buniya.. shukariye.

Like every pleasant journey that terminates too soon, this one too ends as her fishing village arrives. It was like before, exchange of thank you and my pleasure gazes and then the same retracing of his tyres on the sand and then he drives away from her. But it was hard to ignore that lantern in hand, her mother stood on the door of their humble dwelling.. through his rear mirror he could see her mother's curious eyes follow the departure of his jeep. Dutta hopes, she is not up for stiff reprimand. Perhaps he should have bothered to go in and explain the situation. However on second thought, he is glad he didn't. What would he say ?that he took her home to meet his father? her mother would have thought what for? no! good he didn't, it was too complicated, she would never accept his story.. uske khubsorat beti.. uppar se main..no not right.. he leaves it that.. and zooms home! jahan Baji hai.. Naku's mention of her cronies, makes him think warmly of his chum, Baji.. his undisputed must have in his life person! The urge to communicate with Baji is enormous and his foot slams on the accelerator to bridge the gap between him and his confidante.

~~~~~~~~

Baji barely turns in when Dutta shows up in his door way and peers in... his arms stretched across the doorposts..

"Bajirao! mera kamre mein ah.. abhi ! is the command.. with a moan and a whinge, Baji pulls up his breeches and makes himself decent. What's up with this displaced person? sounds meter ghuma hoya hai .. he called him "Bajirao".. ekdum formal mode mein hai. koi tu lotcha hai? Baji shoves his feet into his slippers and shuffles out of his room feeling his tousled hair..

"Bhau kya ho tum! ek bechain rooh! itne raat ko, neend mein utha diya".. protests Baji..

Dutta sits on his turquoise settee and points to his single settee , Baji gets the message and pushes back a yawn into his mouth sits down expectantly..

Dutta leans forward, and rubs his palms then pokes his fingertips against each other and shares,

" Naku ko aaj main ghar le ke gaye.. babaa ko aache lage"

Baji jumped up,"ooh teri! you did what? Bhau slow down..ye kya lothcha ho raha hai? bati itne dor phoonch gaye! babaa ko bhi pasand ah gaye? honestly this is what you call fast track!

"shudduup! zayeeda uchal maat, it was purely a business trip, I made sketches of her cooking"

"cooking? ye kya kitchari pak rehe hai.?.ghar lejah ke lardki ko cooking test bhi de diya? something smells very , delicious! appetizing indeed.. so lagata hai mamala serious hai?

" haan Baji it is serious. I have a task to finish and hand it over to Seema ma'am otherwise she'll be breathing down my neck! and you know how I detest when she is on my case"

Baji very nearly thumps his head as he is not the least bit surprised to glean that Dutta fails to grasp what he was insinuating. Baji has to wheedle him back to the way, baat paki hoti hain in local terms.

"Kam ko goli maar Bhau! you were born with a paint brush in one hand and a ball of clay in the other! I meant if you take a pretty chick home to meet babaa, tu us mein koi khas baat tu hoge na Bhau?

"haina khas baat thi uske sketches banana thi muhje, that's why I said business tha.."

"and what of the cooking? woh bhi teri idea nehin tha I suppose? asks an irate Baji.

"of course not! you know me and food.. two morsels at the most, never have the time for it! it was babba who was hungry, tu she being the sweet lardki.. offered her services"

"sweeettt ? haila! Bhau! you look so sweet calling her a sweet girl! guffaws Baji and hurriedly chips in

" Bhau usetu kab bole ga sweet girl? bole de.. fatafat!

"kya bolon Baji? she is my subject.. don't want to stigmatize our platonic relationship.. Dutta confesses

"tell me Bhau had she not been your subject.. nor in your faculty, would you tell her then ke tu use pasand karta hai?

Dutta gives his friend a dirty look and says, nehin!!!

"Thujhe shakal se main itna chechoora dekhta hoon? Baji, I respect her.. you know I went to drop her, it was babaa's order.. but I daren't go into her house, I felt uneasy.. so just dropped her outside her place and drove off? but I did catch her mother , literally standing vigil I sincerely feel she doesn't get rebuked by her mother"

Baji nodded his head, "good you didn't get to meet her mother, you never know how she would react? she might have stopped her coming to the studio.."

Dutta furrows his brows and roars, "then I would definitely go to her place , and have a stiff word to the extent of manually taking Naku back to the studio"

Baji screws his nose up and asks, "and in what capacity would you do that? as someone who likes her or as her tutor?

"bakwas maat kar Baji! as her art tutor .. not as her ashaiq .. replies Dutta resolutely

"dekh Bhau.. I can see what she means to you.. pity you cannot see it?

"she can't see it either, Baji whatever you are suggesting? Dutta adds tersely.

But then only Baji is the one can help Dutta outside the box

"dekh Bhau , main ye bol raha hai that better get round to saying something to her, before uske baat kahanien aur chale?

This time Dutta does not reply promptly, instead he muses how he would react in the wake of what Baji broaches? He doesn't have answer, both for himself and his friend.. Suddenly, boredom takes over him, due to lack of a good enough reason.. Baji can see, this is time that Dutta needs on his own.. he has to work out what is it he wants? Baji knows what his preference for his mate is, as some who understands Bhau at such close quarters .But he can only advocate and imply ..but ultimately it's Dutta who needs to arrive at a conclusion, about Nauksha. Her beauty has made quite an impression on Bhau.. and from his references about her too Baji concludes, that Bhau likes her but now it appears to him that it's not easy as pie and that perhaps ,he'd best back off and exert some degree of patience and wait upon some positive results..

~~~~~~~~~

"Ye koi waqat hai ghar ana ka Naku?aur woh bhi kisi aadmi se lift le kar? log kiya bolon ge Naku?

"Aye, ustad hai mere woh , logon ke kuch parwa nehin , Bappa janta hai main kya kerne jati hai art college.. thujhe sab pata hai Aye ,phir bhi tu phoochte hai.. complains Naku.

Babi does realize her daughter contributes to the running and up keep of the family, but Babi has certain fears.. of Naku entering into a relationship .. as much as she feels Naku needs overhauling ..her heart says ,it's far to early .. her daughter may be pretty but her destiny leaves a lot to be desired for. As her mother she does need to advise her daughter on this issue.

"Naku aagar woh sirf ustad rehe tu thek hai, tu jante haina apne zindagi ke bare mein..

Naku hates her mother's constant ill reminders, it's like her whole life is now sacrificed on the basis of some curse. This is the first time in her life... when she has developed a likeness for someone.. it's the value he gives her ,the praise and the acknowledgement of her femininity that she understands he showers upon her that attracts her to him. She wants to be emancipated, free to fly.. so her soul can also have the good fortune, to sense ,feel and then accept love.. which was far from what she had in her life. Now when by some stroke of fate, an opportunity has arisen.. it would be reckless on her part to ignore it and not recognize it's true value. She walks toward's Bappa's idol, that sits graced in the wall mounted mandir..and prays before it.. Bappa you know I have told Aye only what she needs to know.. my life both past and present lie before you.. create ways for me so I can find what you have willed for me...

"bas ,jaldi apna korse khatam kar aur ghar beith! har waqat dar laga rehte hai ke woh kabhi bhi ah jaya"

"Aye, woh ah bhi jaye tu main chup nehin rehe ge, apne haq ke liya lare ge, tu kyun chinta kerti hai? Bappa haina , sab aacha kera ga..art school mein main apna kam tu pura kare ge main" says Naku firmly.

~~~~~~~~~

This morning Dutta seems to focus largely on his work. Her carbon sketches of her , now pinned to the soft board are the draft section of his eventual creations.. a few students sought audience with him but they can tell he is fully occupied with work.. However he does allow them into his studio when he catches on that Naku leads them into his studio and before his very eyes he watches as she shows them the carbon sketches..

"guess who this is ?she teases a few of them nudge and lean to her ear as he hears them say. One giggles

"nazar ah raha hai ke ye tum honausha.. pun tum reality mein sketch se zayeeda pretty ho " one of them says loud enough for Dutta to hear..and Dutta with a raised eyebrow meets Naku's green eyes .. with a "I told you your looks are stunning".. but Naku blushes ignores his intense eyes and replies to her peers,

"the credit of these carbon sketches goes entirely to the creator.. our tutor.. his hands have Bappa's blessing.. in as much ,that whatever he touches vibrates with life." there were some cheers and Dutta stubble face turn to rosy flushes, as he realizes this pupil rowdiness needs to be checked. He strolls to Naku and leans sideways with a quiet word

"ab tera bashan khatam ho gaye ho tu kam karien? She nods once and gently pushes her friends to the door with a gentle word "you'd best leave now, we have to work". Dutta sides his narrowed eyes and observes them as they leave..ensuring they have left.

He instructs Naku to get busy with the preparation of the plaster of paris.. while he sets himself upon the metal support structure. He had to make three of them.. chopping, kneading and cooking roti.. a look into the motions of an Indian woman in her catering area.

She watches his wide palms extend to the fullest as he carries the stiff wire frame. With an inclined back his nimble fingers bend, squash and exert pressure to form the desired shape of a head, shoulders, and upper torso.. his stubble face reddens as he exerts pressure to get the desired shape.. once the first image is fashioned .. he puts it to the side and then starts on the other..

Once or twice he hears a few clangs and bangs as Naku mixes the plaster.. Dutta pauses and turns to look at her," gussa kis cheez ka hai thujhe? of course she smiles up nervously and denies but he persists..

"teri Aye na kuch bola thujhe? this time she gives in and replies,

"Aye hai, tu sawal jawab tu kare ge..ye bhi ke log kya bolen ge? pun maina bol diya kam finish ho jaye tu phir.. Dutta pulls back his head and stares at her,"tu phir kya?. he growls

Naku straightens up from the huge mixing basin, folds her elbow to shift her strand of hair, leaves a smear on her cheek ..and replies,"who meri aye bole, once I finish this work here at the art school, I need to sit at home, although I daren't ask her, how will the home run.?. it needs money coming in ,even it means me working.. "

Some of his keenness fizzles out and he echo's her statement but with some understanding,

"so you will leave after this assignment is finished? thek hai.. yahan tune kerna bhi kya hai? ghar beitha.. I am sure your Aye is worried about your marriage too?"

She has to veer him away from personalized discussion, "is this mix enough or do you need more.?

He was decent enough to catch the hint and strolls over to her and glances down at the basin..and comments..

"that's fine, if I need more, which I doubt I will, main khud ker loon ga", then with a slight crank of his neck his eye rests on her cheek marked by a white knuckle blotch of plaster of paris .."how come you manage to smear your face with one thing or the other? actually..ye ju latien hain teri..unhe kabu mein rakha kar.. ummh.. when you are doing hands on work! he moans..

This time he will not be getting too close, he decides. Now he will observe from far. She waits.. will he wipe the smear off hercheek.. but no go as DP shows imposed restraint. Hence ,she then moves to the sink and gives her peach complexioned face a splash of a handy scoop. However in a way she is relieved that the subject of her marriage was brushed under the carpet, and knowing DP, he will not force more out of her.. as he is a man of his own creations, currently, being carried forward by the beauty of her face.. she just needs to grab his appreciations, his approvals, his admirations of herself.. her life is devoid of them. She huddles herself to one side and unconsciously folds her tiny body between her arms. Dutta does notice her action and wonders what insecurity does she exhibit.. but opts to stay silent.. main kuch nehin poochon ga Naku.. you'll speak when you are ready..

He muses and potters away with his work of preparing the third stiff wire.. as he shapes this one, the fine wire snaps due to undue tension he puts on it and there is aloud yelp! from him .. she reels around and sees his mouth plastered on top of his left hand!

Naku runs towards him and tugs at his hand from under his mouth.. he pulls back his and folds it against his chest, and raises his voice, "kya hai? choor! main koi baacha nehin!.. she ignores him and with some degree of force unfolds his arm and examines the top of his hand.. which clearly exhibits a perforation in his skin and oozing of blood confirms the injury!

She gets hold of the end of her chunni and is ready to tear it when he gently puts his right hand on hers..

"itna filmi honi ke koi zaroorat nehin, I have a band aid box here Naku" and stalks off with his right thumb pressed on his injury.. he calls to her with a slight backward twist of his head.

"come here and get it out of the cupboard.. can't you see my hands are occupied.." she does and then swabs his wound,"uff kafi deep cut hai" she says almost hurting.. by the look on her face

He doubles his chin and looks down at the incline of her head over his wound.. she gently sticks the plaster on top of his hand.

"your hand will have a scar probably DP.."she says regretfully and he contracts his eyes and says dryly

"haan.. ye daag mujhe zindagi bhar yaad dilye ga ke maine tere sculpture buniya tha.." he could tell she is not amused as she bites her lower lip.. and he stiffens back his head ..

"look Naku ,dealing with creative resources, tools and components, is an everyday occupation with me.. normally I evade injuries.. aaj mera dhayan pata nehin kadher tha? like one says, divided concentration.. so got nabbed..".

Naku has nothing else to say except just a simple nod.. Dutta looks at her and given what she had mentioned earlier , he suggests,

"tera aaj ka kam khatam ho gaya hai..so I would advise that you best go home.. in daylight hours, so you can regain your Aye's confidence.."

Naku is touched by his thought and she does collect her belongings and asks to be dismissed..

After she leaves, Dutta feels a twinge of regret, but listens to reason.. had to let her go what reason does he have for her to stay back? it is not easy for him to verbalize what he feels as Baji had suggested but by jove it's hardwork, harder than chipping off a rock!.. Now complimenting her beauty in what comes out of his hands is a different thing.. even to drizzle a look of admiration here and then is incidental too.. but to convey some strange emotion ..that which makes him miss her simple company.. that which makes him recall her in the folds of his memory.. that which makes him anxious that he may lose her? that which made him carry out an uncalled for silly query about her marriage.. what has got into him? he cannot act in such an odd manner.. it's too idle, lazy and idyllic a sentiment. He palms his face with his left hand and smarts with a pain that shot up straight to his very heart.. he lowers his hand gazes at it with a smile as he recalls her rather romantic gesture of very nearly ripping the end of her chunni..what did she have in mind? surely not to bandage his hand? he chuckles.. bewakoof lardki, silly girl! has she not heard of band aid? but why does he still stare at this band aid on his hand? is it because she put it..?

Baji barges in and Dutta abruptly snaps out of his reverie..

"Bhau! ghar nehin jana hai? seems you are lost again in some zone? hain haat ko kiya kiya tune? god forbid! you didn't get violent did you? ok who did you land a left hook on Bhau?...hailaaa! nooo not that poor girl Nakusha? jabbers Baji.. and Dutta forms a tight fist and yanks it at Baji ..

"give it a rest Baji my head hurts.. Baji gives Dutta a wide eyed look and says pensively, "humm headache that stems from a heart ache Bhau.. " he teases.. Dutta hauls himself to his feet and shakes his head..

"chal, let's go home Baji.. dil hai to eat together today".

~~~~~~~~

Sitting at the table beside Aye Sahib, Baji , his sisters and their husbands.. is a homely familial sight. Dutta is never short of attention.. perchance, of his creations. But today Aye Sahib, has an appropriate query for him which is no surprise for him in fact he understands, it's an expectation! this family has of him.. Aye Sahib places her hand on his arm that rests on the table,"Dutta tere art school ka kam kab khatam hoga? dekh ab tu Patil Nivas bhi buna khatam ho gaya hai.. hum chate hain tu yahan bhi apna studio buniya, jehan tu is ghar ke liya apna hatoon se kam kar saki" his sisters beam at their mother's thoughts

"haan Bhau, let's see what gems you can deliver in our home" Aye Sahib is clear on what she wants

" mujhe tu rama aur sita ke bare ke painting chaiye..aur.."

Dutta puts a check on their exuberance,"aur Aye Sahib, main soochon ga, woh buniya ga apne hatoon se, ju mahsoos karoon ga, .. he looks at Kala and explains, "you understand don't you Tai? it's the creative drive, it has to felt , the spirit needs to take heed of what is missing in the character of our house.. only then can I deliver.." and then he stands up to leave ,but a caring Aye Sahib asks him about the band aid plaster on his hand..

"ye haat ke uppar plaster kis lye Dutta ?koi

He looks at Baji and rolls his eyes. heavens.. one more explanation to give about my stupid carelessness.. he pulled his lips right down to his stubble chin and curtly replies,

"kuch nehin Aye Sahib.. woh wire daba raha tha sculpture ke liye tu lag gaye.. koi fikar ke baat nehin,thek hai mera haat"

That night he folds his left hand close to his chest.. and lowers his lids and catches sight of the plaster she put atop his left had and feels it gently with his right hand .. and closes his eyes.. she stands before him in his studio with her green eyes twinkle and a small quiver plays on her pink lips.. she accuses him,

Aap ka dhaiyaan kadher tha DP? batao?..he gulps and tightly very tightly closes his eyes to dispel her stunning face..

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As he suspects, much to his dismay Naku does not turn up today. well it was expected . He looks around and soon enough reckons to fall back on doing what he does best create out of his hands that which is his great strength.In the past too in his weakest and darkest turns of life, it was his gift from the gods , that rejunenated his parched spirits. So now too, he mounts the first armature he prepared yesterday on a high wooden base.. and carries back to it the bucket of plaster Naku had mixed yesterday. Gazing down at it he can see her face in it, a loose strand of hair frames her face. A hint of a pout of her bottom lip a tad to the side, and her eyes big bold and wide eyes, khubsorrat.. exclusive! Dutta's stubble face flushes a little and he forces his face away from the bucket, he is seeing her in all.. and then inclines his broad back to lower his wide hands into the cold gooey plaster.. slippery, oily, smooth like her skin, he imagines as he feels the consistency and suitability of the resource he means to breathe life into.

With clumsy yet directive scoops, he shifts the burden of his hands and pats as he begins to layer the head area then the slightly titled neck.. his slender fingers dip and cup more plaster in his palms and with a sweep on either sides of her neck he covers both sides of her shoulder.. one slightly forward compared to the other. More levelled strokes of thick plaster of paris in deep concentration he coats the fine wire skeleton of her arms upper and lower, complete with seams at the end which become her hands!

He wipes his cheek to shift an irritating trail of sweat that makes way all the way from his furrowed brow. So far so good! he steps back slightly to make sense of this rudimentary human torse.. he studies his work and discerns he needs to perch the torso on a pair of kneed up thighs.. after all this was a sculpture of Naku chopping veg.. thus is the vision within his mind. He does cast his eyes on the first of carbon graphic drafts of Naku involved in meal making, to joggle his memory.

Within a given passage of drying time, comes the hour that the cast material turns solid. and now his excited eyes turn to the array of tools on his side table.. yes now to respire life into this form.. he mumbles, to himself as he slowly revolves around the three dimensional armature covered with plaster of paris.. "thujhe apna samne lena hai Naku.. ankhien bechein hain dekhne ko, Naku.."

Thus he starts to carve with the point chisel.. gradually, he removes the fundamental bulk of plaster of paris.. carefully ,with his lips pressed in.. he selects the size of the points he uses.. smaller point when it comes to her fingers.. working at her facial features. busily he carves out the primary bulk.. right from her head to her kneed up legs.

After this first stage he grasps the next tool the tooth chisel or rake used to get the geometric reduction to the mass .. this tool also affords Dutta to make a selection of fine or more teeth at it's end to scrap of the plaster.. thus determining thicker of thinner at places.. her neck he carves as he feels its softness while he brushes off the chiselled plaster.. he aims for smoothness on both its sides as it would be inclined..

Finally his slender fingers now grab the flat straight chisel .. with keen eyes he aims to finish off the sculpture.. he pulls off his shirt.. in excitement.. his bulky biceps twitch as he rasps the flat straight chisel, gives final abrasive and sanding down gestures , carefully ,painstakingly.. as he eventually beholds his first sculpture of Naku.. sitting inclined and chopping vegetables.. he chisels her fingers more so the knuckles of her left hand that grip the sheave of vegetables.. Dutta, notes carefully and with a fine point chisel gently digs in delicate groves to give it authenticity.. Dutta puts his tools down.. rubs his hands and gazes his sculpture .. the first out of three sculptures of an Indian woman in a life like scenario..

He takes a step back, strolls over to the wash basin and splashes his face with cold water and further decides to refresh the back of his neck with cold water too.. finally he levels up and combs back his hairline with moist fingers and finally sounds out a heave of fulfilment..

He pulls a high stool and gazes at his creation and speaks out.. "out of my hands I compliment you Naku, your simplicity, your god given beauty.. kash tu bhi apne aap se robarru hoti Naku.. tu meri mehnat par char chand lag jate.. " ...to be continued Hamlet53~ 26.9.14

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