CHAPTER 53
Danveer pressed the button for the calling bell. They didn't hear it ring. Samrat started to bang the door impatiently, "Sumer! Rudra! Open the door!" Nobody responded. Shatabdi suggested that they break the door when the heard a voice "Don't!" An angry boy came out. "We have enough work around here without you breaking the door down." Paro stepped forward. "We mean no harm. We were looking for someone," she explained. She showed him her phone's screensaver. "Oh! That BSD officer! He is inside talking with Ian uncle," he replied.
"Is there anyone else we can talk to?" Paro asked. The boy crossed his arms defiantly and replied that whatever she needed to say, she could discuss with him. Maithili bit her lip to keep from laughing and Samrat rolled his eyes at his exaggerated self importance. "Do boys develop big fat egos when they are twelve?" Shatabdi asked her father-in-law who shook his head. The boy shouted at saying he was 14 not 12.
The door swung open and Paro smiled at the constable she was well acquainted with. "Ma'am, come in. Rudra sir is inside. He just sent me to get all of you," he said ushering them to the sitting room. Paro looked around. It didn't seem as dreary as she had imagined. As Samrat bhaisa had guessed, the walls had been freshly painted. The furniture was old but well-maintained. The some of the window panes looked new as if they had been replaced. The curtains and the cushion covers were faded yet clean. Someone was trying to restore this house to make a home for this boy.
"It's a work in progress but we will get this place back to its former glory," said a bespectacled man as he walked in with Rudra and Sumer. Rudra introduced him to rest of his family. Paro observed how the boy scowled when he was given a book and dismissed. "They aren't very found of studying and need to be forced into it," Ian explained fondly. "Which school are studying in?" Shatadbi enquired as Sumer sat next to her. A shadow crossed his face, "They aren't in school. I am trying to educate them myself at home."
Dilsher and Mohini walked in to a room filled with awkward silence. He wondered what was going on when Ian spoke up. "It's not an issue really, we are a blessed little family and we have such a kind benefactor in General Singh," he said with a brave smile. Paro turned to her husband who nodded in confirmation. "You uncle has been supporting them," he replied.
Ian's face brightened when he realised that she was related to VK Singh. He launched into a tale of how he helped them rent this place when the orphanage turned the boys out and was helping them fix it. Paro felt terrible when she realised that these boys had no where else to go. Ian tried to explain how it wasn't their fault. They couldn't provide for so many children and the older ones who could take care of themselves were packed off. But she couldn't grasp his words. In her eyes they were still children who needed the emotional support and the finacial stability a home provides. "It is not as cruel it seems. Their needs are different from the little ones. Education is no longer free after a certain age and they children need to pick up life skills before they go out into the real world. So I opted to break away from the orphanage and keep watch over these three. We will be fine," he conceded.
The Ranavats quietly sipped on the tea, on of the boys brought. "VK is a good man to set this up. He hardly breathed about it to anyone. Did you know about this?" Dilsher asked Paro. She shook her head. Her uncle was like her husband, kept mum when it comes to things like this. "He is not a good man. He is great man. I am going to be like him when I grow up," said the little fellow who came to gather the tea cups. Ian laughed and revealed, "VK had become a hero to them since they met. They try so hard to impress him ever since he told them about the boy he found here a long time ago."
Rudra's heart stopped for a moment going back to day he was found here. He was anxious what his boss thought about him when he was at his weakest. He could feel his wife and father's eyes on him. "A diamond in the rough, that's how he was reffered to! That boy apparently grew up the greatest soldiers he had the privedge to command. These boys are trying to emulate that young man now" Ian divulged. Rudra bit the inside of his cheeks to keep from smiling. This was high praise indeed.
He turned when he felt a tap on his shoulder. "Sir, I think you need to have a look at this," a constable said. He went out and another constable handed him a pair of binoculars. Rudra peered through them and saw a huge cloud of dust approaching them. He rushed inside and ordered, "Samarat, get the cars and other things inside. Sumer, take these boys and make sure every window is shut!" They stared at him silently wondering what the emergency. Mohini yanked his hand and shouted, "Satyanash! I knew you would drag us into some mischief when you stopped in a deserted house close to the border. If not for the rest of us, atleast think about your young wife! Now terrorists will storm in and kill us all!"
Maithili and Sunheri flew to her side to calm her down. Paro and Shatabdi exchanged worried glances. This was not what was expected. "Don't worry! The BSD check post in minutes away. Usually we have a night patrol every hour to keep an eye on things but I'm sure if we call VK Sir, he will send someone," Ian offered. Dilsher wanted to laugh at the look on his son's face. The fools were acting like chickens with their heads off when BSD's finest was with them.
"Chup! Sabke sab chup!" he shouted. He first turned to their host, "You have 5 BSD personnel here. That's more than the number of soldiers in a routine patrol. If there is an attack, I will handle it." He then turned to his aunt, "And speaking of storms. The kind that is approaching is one you are an expert in my weather-predicting aunt. A sandstorm, which I cannot control." He turned to the rest and said that they will have to wait here till it passes. His cousins then raced around to carry out his orders. Shatabdi woefully called her parents to inform them of the delay.
The winds howled outside and they could hear the gravel hit the house. Shatabdi who lived in the city all her life was worried. "It's just like rain and will be over before you know it," pacified Paro. Ian watched his guests struggle with their phones, "Network must be down. I'll check if the radio is working." He took out an old transistor and turned the knobs. terrible... miles...careful...indoors' random words came through the static. "What rubbish is that?" asked Sumer. "There is terrible fog with limited visibility for miles. Be careful and stay indoors," answered Dilsher whose ears were trained to pick up words better.
Shatabdi got up to join Paro and Maithili in the kitchen where they were heating the food they had brought. The power went out taking her breathe along with it. She wasn't a big fan of the dark. She felt rough hands hold her elbow. It reminded her of Mirza. She gulped in fear. The flashlight was switched on and she heard a raspy voice, "Give this to Paro she must be scared in the dark." She was furious. Why couldn't he use the torch when he approached? Did it occur to him that she might be scared too? She wanted to hit him with the metal appartatus in her hand. This was all his fault. If he had kept on driving, she would be in the parents' house where the inverter would make sure there was light even in the worst storms.
Rudra didn't even notice her annoyance. "I'll go see if I can find some laterns. I only had a couple of flashlights in the jeep," he said walking past her. From the dark corridor she heard him call out, "Stay with Paro until I come." She would stay alright. Until he comes and gets a earful for his insensitive behaviour from her dear friend. She threaded carefully averting her eyes from the eerie shadows which loomed along her way. She switched off the torch when she saw Maithili bent over a choola. "We have to get these boys a proper stove with gas connection," she told her older sister. "That's a good idea," Paro called from what looked like a store room. She quickly followed the voice to check on her friend.
"Hello, lady of the lamp or should I say candles," she teased seeing her carrying a tray filled with lit candles. Her friend blushed, "It's too much isn't it? I just lit one candle per person in case they all get tired of sitting together." It made sense. Besides if there is candle in every corner, there won't be anything to be scared of in a strange place like this. "Paro baisa, are you celebrating someone's birthday?" Maithili laughed from behind. They explained why so many were necessary. "Power maynot be restored till tomorrow. So we have to be cautious. Just keep spare candles close by if someone needs it, they can light it," she advised.
Rudra watched his family eat their meal in silence for the first time in years. They were being very well behaved. It was nice, beautiful even. No one was scolding or teasing or taunting or whining or any of the usual drama that made him avoid the table at home. Or maybe it was the candles that made everything softer and more beautiful to the eye. His eyes fell on Paro, his lovely wife. He groaned. She looked up and brought him another roti. "Are you alright?" she asked her hands lingering over his as she took her time serving him. "It's our first candle lit dinner. Instead of being private, romantic and magical, we are stuck with our crazy family in a derelict building," he complained. She walked away without a word. He should have known she would be angry with his honest remark about their family. This was going to be a long night.
A few minutes later he heard someone clear their throat. He turned to see Paro standing at a distance with a candle stick in her hand. She raised her hand to beckon him. He got up. She pointed to his half eaten meal. He understood that she wanted him to bring his plate along. He followed her to an alcove hiden by a huge bookcase. There was a small table where her plate was placed illuminated by a single candle. He observed that there were a few small mirrors placed scattering the light in different directions. "Jeeja said that we should be frugal with the candles since we don't know when the power will return," she explained. He took a long hard look at her. Mirrors were her friends ever since they first met. She justed needed any excuse to use them.
"Do you like it? Is it private, romantic and magical as you wanted?" she asked earnestly. He saw the enthusiasm with which she had planned this and gave her small peck and took his seat. It was at this juncture that he noticed her face was different. "There is some change in you," he said. She looked up curiously. "You are not the same girl I met in the desert," he clarified. She shook her head at his incomprehension. "I'm glad you don't. That silly girl would believe people easily. Life has taught her to think well before placing her faith in people," she explained. That wasn't the way he wanted her to learn that lesson.
"It's not wisdom that is making your face glow like this," he replied. She got up to serve him more curry and replied it might be because all her dreams had come true and she is extra happy. He pulled her to his lap, "Can we focus on my dreams now?" She looked around frantically as Dilsher's laughter boomed. "They will notice," she said looking through the carvings of the shelf that separated them. "So what? You are having a moment in private with your husband," he argued wrapping his arms around her tightly. Paro tried to wiggle out. This was not the place for this. "Srimatiji, you were the one who planed this private, romantic and magical dinner," he teased moving his finges lightly over her neck. She shivered as his hand reached her shell like ear. She relaxed into his body when they heard a knock. Rudra felt her tense and sighed. Why did Fate have to be so cruel to him? Edited by -Suganthi- - 9 years ago
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