“Mummy,” Meghana began.

“Now, What…?” Minaxi snapped at her, unable to hide the irritation in her tone.

“Ma, you know Sneha…she brought a cell phone to class today…”

Did you do your homework?”, Minaxi interrupted sharply. .  She didn’t mean to, though. She had just then sunk into the sofa, from sheer exhaustion. She was bone tired after a grueling 12 hours in the bank where she worked.

“Yes Ma…I did it in Shilpa’s house” came the meek reply. A surge of emotions overcame Minaxi.  Why was she being so unfair and venting her frustration on her child? She wondered.  After all why do we always let out steam on the ones we love the most?

Minaxi pulled Meghana close to her and hugged her tightly.  Meghana was a little taken aback by this gesture.  It was not often that her mother held her close.  She put her arms around her mother and looking directly into her eyes asked:

“Mummy, are you tired?” 

“Yes… a little”, Minaxi said, cupping the child’s face in her palms and kissing her forehead..

“May I press your forehead?”

Minaxi’s eyes filled with tears. “Let’s go and sleep”’ she said in a choked voice.

The child instantly fell asleep after snuggling close to her but Minaxi remained awake for a long time thereafter. This was one of those nights when sleep eluded her so absolutely however much she tried, one of those nights which she had to endure; when all those thoughts that she had pushed to the interior of her mind came rushing  to the surface.  Yes, Harsh and she had dreamt of a beautiful nest and when Meghana was born their joy seemed to overflow, until that night when Harsh came back from office with a raging fever. When the fever didn’t subside even after popping in paracetamols for 2 days, they went to the hospital.  “Typhoid,” the doctor informed and started the treatment immediately.  And when his condition did not  improve even after 5 days, the doctors subjected him to a fresh volley of tests and proclaimed that it was jaundice and by the time they detected it was Malaria, it was already too late...  the prognosis was grim. Harsh was sinking. He lay in a semi-comatose state for 15 days, all the while muttering the names of his wife and daughter intermittently…until the words became whispers… and then mere lip movements.. Finally, on a warm Friday morning it was all over…..his wasting body had given up the fight.  Numb with grief Minaxi turned to her parents in law for comfort. But surprisingly, instead of offering help and succour, they let out a tirade against her, blaming her and her stars for their son’s untimely death. They told her that she was jinxed and they did not want to see her ever or even her shadow to fall on their courtyard and thus severed all ties with her.  Her parents who were then in the U.S.A. rushed back.  With their unconditional support Minaxi slowly regained her composure and returned to normal.  Her job with the bank kept her financially independent.  Little Meghana got the undivided attention of her grandparents.

But within two years another calamity struck in the form of a car accident which snatched away her parents. That left her all alone with Meghana. Days and months rolled on.    Meghana was now 10 years old.

                                                *********

   Everyday followed a set routine.  Meghana would come straight from school, open the locked door of her house, have the cold lunch kept on the dining table, change into casual wear, carry her heavy school bag on her shoulder and go to her neighbour Shilpa’s house.

Shilpa was of the same age as Meghana and they were in the same class

Shilpa’s father Naren Gupta worked as an official in the Railways.   Naren Gupta was a tall man, over 6 feet in height with an athletic build. . Sports had taught him the values of discipline, fair play and tolerance. He always carried a spirit of ebullience about him.   A former National Table Tennis player, he now did honorary service by coaching young and talented players in his spare time.  “That’s the least I can do to give back what I have got,” he would often say when friends and relatives chided him for not making hay while the sun shone.   Mr. Gupta had also played hockey and cricket at the State level.  He was an avid sports enthusiast and never failed to extol its virtues whenever he found the opportunity.

Meghana thrived in the warmth and laughter of Shilpa’s family. The afternoons were always eagerly awaited. Shilpa’s mother Kiran made crispy, spicy snacks ( samosas,pakoras, kachoris) and brought platefuls of them  along with fragrant tea for the two girls while they did their homework. As if on cue, the girls would push aside the books and amid mouthfuls of the savory, animatedly begin discussions on wide-ranging topics, from the teacher’s attire to latest movies.  It would go on endlessly until Kiran intervened and accosted them in mock exasperation.  Secretly Kiran loved to overhear their conversations.

Shilpa’s father Mr.Naren Gupta often joined in the conversation and shared jokes and riddles with the children. The only one with whom Meghana could not get along with was Shilpa’s brother Sonu, older to them by 2 years.  In fact Meghana detested Sonu.  He was such a bully.  They were always at loggerheads with each other.  But Sonu was rarely at home due to his various sports engagements -cricket and hockey practices in the afternoon, gym and table tennis in the evening and tuitions in between.  So, there were not many occasions when they bumped into each other. But these few occasions were never pleasant.

 Meghana adored Naren Gupta.  His presence warmed her.   She considered him the most handsome man she had ever known.  She loved the endless chatter, the easy conversations, and the hilarious wisecracks that came from his repertoire.   She often tried to corner his attention to herself.  Once she even dared to call him ‘Papa’ but her voice had gone hoarse and raspy.  She was not sure whether he had heard her, but he had patted her on the shoulder and bustled off.  She wished desperately to possess him.  But she didn’t know how.  As months passed, Meghana’s possessiveness for Naren Gupta increased and soon became an obsession.  She often wished he was her father instead. On Shilpa’s birthday when Naren Gupta brought out a gorgeous triple-layered cake, and gathered Shilpa up in his arms, Meghana was consumed by jealousy, but she restrained herself with great effort.   

.  Meghana returned home in the evenings with a heavy heart. She hated the silence of her empty house.  She wanted to open out her heart to her mother –she had so many things to tell her, but her mother had no time to listen. Her mother was either tired or sleepy.  Actually, her mother seemed to be lost deep in thought….

*********

Minaxi had her share of problems in the office.  She was aware that her 30 year old boss was clearly smitten by her. His eyes followed her everywhere. She tried to shrug him off on several occasions, but he was determined not to be discouraged.  Arun was unmarried.  He had already proposed to her once and she had screamed her refusal.  Today after complimenting her on her angelic looks, he had casually broached the subject again. “Do me a favour,” he had said, “marry me”.  She was flabbergasted. However this time, Minaxi told him she needed time to think.  She knew Arun was a genuine person; not the flirtatious type.  He was unmarried simply because he was too engrossed in his work. Or was it that because he had hopes that she would at some point say ‘yes’ to him?  A few of her well-meaning colleagues who knew both of them  told her that taking the plunge with Arun would be the best thing for her.  “Don’t miss the bus” they advised.

 Minaxi tarried.  It was hard to take a decision. She had to know how Meghana felt about it.  And more than anything, Minaxi feared the impact of the unfavorable stars in her birth chart.

                                                            **********

It was the 1^st of April, the yearly closing for banks.  Minaxi phoned to tell Meghana that she would be very late from office and asked her to stay in Shilpa’s house.  Shilpa’s parents had gone to attend a wedding reception. That left the three kids alone at home. As usual Sonu was ready to target Meghana.

 “Aren’t you going home?” he asked contemptuously, “Or have you made our house your home?”

“I’m staying here” she said defiantly, and then, from somewhere a brainwave came to her and she blurted out,” You see, I’m going to marry your father …” “What! What did you say…?” he said unable to believe what he had heard. She could see that he was completely perplexed.

“I said, I’m going to marry your father”, she repeated nonchalantly. She was enjoying herself now and enjoying the incredible look that had appeared on Sonu’s face.  For a moment she felt strong and powerful like a lioness playing with her prey.  He approached menacingly at her.  “How dare…” he said, “I’ll kill you.” He was seething with rage. Her heart pounded hard. “Would he actually kill her?”  He caught hold of her hand and twisted it behind her back.  She squealed in pain. Panic gripped her. She didn’t want to experiment further.  She said,” Sorry”

“Sorry my foot”, he said spitting venom.  “If you dare utter those words again, I’ll butcher you” he threatened with a vicious look, and strode off to his room.  She knew he had meant it. She had had a close shave.  She now felt deeply ashamed. .  She started sobbing convulsively.  Shilpa who had stood there like a spectator did not quite understand what was going on.  She only knew her brother wanted to kill Meghana.   Shilpa tried to console Meghana and frisked her away to her parent’s bedroom.  Meghana pleaded with her (and to convince her brother also) not to tell her parents about what conspired and Shilpa immediately agreed. But after this incident Meghana did not like going over to Shilpa’s house.

                                                            **********                                       

            Minaxi had got a promotion.  She was posted as a Manager at a branch in Nagpur. Years of hard work had paid their dividend.  She had also got a reply to the unanswered prayer in her mind.  She would not marry Arun. Fate had made the decision.  Preparations were on in full swing for the shifting.

            Meghana was relieved.  Her dark secret would never be out.  And she wouldn’t have to stay in Shilpa’s house henceforth.  They would be moving to far away Nagpur in another two days..  

                                                ********

            After qualifying to be a Chartered Accountant, Meghana took up a job at the bank a year ago. She was now 25 years of age.  Her mother had passed away two years back after battling cancer.

 Today Meghana was at the crossroads.  She was in love with the General Manager of her bank.   She knew it the instant she had laid her eyes on him several months ago, as he came out of his cabin. An irresistible force had drawn her to him like a magnet.  A force difficult to explain.  His eyes had briefly rested on her and then he was gone. He didn’t have an inkling of her existence or what she felt and yet she knew.   She knew he was the man for her. This was no infatuation.  He was 45 and had salt and pepper hair. But that was the least on her mind.     Today she would tell him….or her heart would burst. It had to be him or never…

“Madam, the G.M. will see you now,” Arun’s secretary said. As Meghana opened the door to the cabin, her heart was throbbing so hard, she found it difficult to breathe…….