Lover of the past! ( Part - 5)

Sushma and Vinay were happily spending their vacation with their near and dear ones. Vinay did not receive any call from Divya during that week. Still he was reminded of her at times and stayed disturbed.

Final day of vacation for Sushma and Vinay arrived. They were feeling little upset to go. But still they have to go on. As Sushma was packing her things, she felt uneasy and fainted again. Vinay was terrified and this time he decided not to listen to Sushma’s stories, but to take her to the doctor.

Everyone in their family was worried. Sushma was taken into doctor’s room for examination. Vinay and few more were waiting in the lobby. He couldn’t digest that Sushma was sick. He wept, but made sure no one noticed. After some time, he was called into the doctor’s room. He appeared puzzled. His heart was pounding out.

After ten minutes, Vinay came out of the room. His family was eagerly waiting to know what happened. He was weeping and now everybody noticed that. Behind him came Sushma and she too was weeping. Vinay slowly looked at them and smiled. Everybody were puzzled.

“I am going to be a ‘Daddy’ soon” , shouted Vinay, laughing out loudly and ran to his mom and hugged her. Everybody turned very happy on hearing this. They blessed Sushma and Vinay.

Back at home, it was a joyous moment of celebration for them. Long awaited good news had come now. For Vinay and Sushma it was a fabulous moment, next to their wedding.

Everyday after that turned very meaningful for them. Vinay tried to spend much more time with Sushma. And Sushma became very very particular about her diet. They were feeling the baby growth and spent their moments talking about the baby.

A couple of months before her due date, Sushma had been sent to Coimbatore. They had a very grand baby shower celebration. To-be grand parents were busy in sorting out the names for the baby.

Vinay was alone back at home, just counting the days to see the baby. He was hardly reminded of Divya in past few months. Also, he did not receive any calls from her either. He decided not to think about her anymore and wanted to concentrate on the baby solely. He started buying various dolls, dresses, cradle etc., for the baby. He allotted a separate room for baby and decorated it with all that he bought. He was just cursing the time to fly off quickly.

It was a Friday morning. Vinay was hurriedly getting ready to office. It was last day before a small vacation. Sushma’s due date was on Wednesday and Vinay will be off to Coimbatore on Saturday itself. He wanted to stay with her during the whole course of wonderful moments.

In the Evening, he started little early from office, though he had ample time to catch the train. As he was waiting in the signal, he saw a friend of him in a car besides his car. He was happy to see him and beckoned him. Buddies having met after a long time went to a coffee shop for a small chit-chat. It was Anoop, Vinay’s room mate. He was a good friend of Divya too. They talked about their job, family and past memories.

“Those are crazy days, which I can never forget”, said Vinay.

“Ya! Our Tyson is also getting married next month. Good to see everybody settling down”, said Anoop.

Vinay wanted to ask him about Divya. But he was bit hesitant. Still he wanted to know about her.

“Anoop, I want to know something. How is Divya?”, asked Vinay.

Anoop froze. He appeared shocked. Vinay couldn’t comprehend his reaction.

“Anoop, what happened?”

Anoop relaxed and continued, “Viany don’t you know anything about Divya?”

“No I don’t”

“She is dead. I am sorry!”

Vinay stayed immobilized. He felt a thunder above his head and quake below his feet. He couldn’t stop the tears rolling down his cheeks.

He regained and continued, “Is that true Anoop?”

“Ya! It was a miserable death. After discontinuing her studies, she went to work in a hospital as nurse in her native town. His parents were compelling her to get married. But she denied. They threatened her. Still she did not agree to them. Then one fine day, her father attempted suicide. He was saved, but got paralyzed. Divya was totally collapsed. Somehow she made up her mind to get married at last. But, before that she wanted to meet you at least once. She lied to her parents and somehow managed to come here. But unfortunately, the train she travelled collided with another train and she died miserably”

Vinay couldn’t say a word. He was word struck. He felt his heart to be very heavy.

“When did this happened Anoop?”

“It was almost ten months ago. Do you remember the Vijayawada accident? Dviya was one of the victims”

Vinay couldn’t withstand anything. He recollected those pictures he saw in the news article. He remembered Divya’s phone calls. He remembered all creepy things that happened. He felt as if he is about to burst out into pieces. But he was disturbed by a phone call from his mom. Sushma had severe pain and had been admitted in the hospital. Also, she was expected to deliver the baby anytime.

Vinay could do absolutely nothing. He could not digest what Anoop said and could not react to the call from his mom. Anoop understood what he was going through. He pacified him and made him to just calm down. Then he told him not to think about Divya anymore and to leave to Coimbatore soon.

Vinay gained strength and drove back to home slowly. His car got stopped in the usual place. He started to sweat profusely. He kept staring at the mobile. After a while, he received a call from an unknown number.

“Hello”, said Vinay. His voice was trembling.

“Dolly, I guess you now know everything”

“D… D… Divya”

“Dolly, I was not interested in marrying anyone. I wanted to meet you once for all and go away somewhere. I have been living with you in my dreams. I could always feel you with in me. Your memories stayed afresh. There could hardly be any moment that I forgot you. I am sure I cannot marry anyone else. So I decided to run away from my home. No one had a clue. I was just hoping to see you and did not think anything beyond that. But, I never thought that my life will stop with all those hopes in my heart and all those dreams in my eyes. I always wanted to live with you. You were annoyed by those mystical things happening at home. It was all me. I tried to live my life with you, at least after my death. I have been longing for your love and care. And I am going to get that back soon Dolly. Yes. I am going to be re-born. I am going to be re-born as your daughter. Now you rush to Sushma. I will be there as a small girl awaiting your love. Love you!”, said Divya and the call ended.

He sat still for few minutes and drove back home. He packed his clothes and rushed to catch the train. He raced through all that happened till now. ‘Divya! I am always there to love you and care for you. I would never let you down. I promise’, said Vinay and promised himself.

After reaching the hospital, he saw Sushma on the bed and lying beside her was a pretty golden baby. Everybody was celebrating the joy. It was a baby girl. Vinay took the baby in his hands, kissed on her cheeks and said ‘Divya!’ into her ears. The baby smiled at him!!!

---------------------------------------- The End ----------------------------------------------

Lover of the past! (Part - 4)

“Hello!”, said Vinay.

“Hi Dolly!”, said Divya.

“C’mon Divya. Stop playing. I really want to meet you and know what you are doing”

“Why suddenly? You never thought about me for past few years and now that you want to meet me?”

“Divya I was searching for you soon you left the town. But nobody knew where you are. My parents grew restless and at a point of time I had no other way than to abide by their words. So try to understand me Divya. I miss you so much”

“Ohh! You married Sushma and you two were living happily. Hardly would you have thought about me and now that you say you miss me”, said Divya and laughed out loudly.

Before Vinay could speak out, the line got cut. He couldn’t digest the fact that she knew about Sushma.

His was building up tension and was sweating profusely. He felt helpless. He wanted to run away to some other planet.

His mobile rang again.

“Hello!”, said Vinay harshly.

“Hi dear! What happened? You sound tensed”, said Sushma humbly.

“Will you just stop pestering me?”

“Why are you so rude?”

“Yes I am. What the hell?”

“Nothing. Bye!”, said Sushma and disconnected the call.

She felt dejected. She had prepared Kesar Bath for him and was waiting to tell him that his shirt is neat and white. She couldn’t wait anymore and so she called him. But she never expected that he would behave frantically.

Vinay came home and saw Sushma standing near the window in drawing room and weeping. He understood its his fault. He felt a pain racing through his heart. ‘Its my fate to face troubles for what I have done. Why should she be punished, being an innocent?’, thought Vinay. He went closer to her and said, “Sushma! I am sorry. I was bit rude. I understand that I had hurt you a lot.”

There was no reaction from her.

“Sushma I love you a lot. Please forgive me”

Still no reaction from her.

Vinay sat in a sofa behind her and closed his eyes to calm down him self.

After few minutes, Sushma came closer to him and kissed him on his cheeks. Vinay opened his eyes and saw Sushma both weeping and smiling. He smiled at her and hugged her.

“I am sorry darling”, said Vinay.

“Don’t be sorry. I love you”, said Sushma and they kissed.

“Dear I have prepared Kesar bath for you”, said Sushma with a twinkling smile.

“Oh really! I will just refresh and come in a minute”, said Vinay and went inside the room.

As Vinay was enjoying the Kesar bath, Sushma surprised him by showing his favourite shirt. It was dazzling clean. Vinay stuck spellbound. Sushma was smiling at him innocently. He felt he had gone mad for her. He left behind the Keasar bath and took Sushma into the bedroom.

Next day morning, Sushma faced the same Dosa mystery. She was little frightened about all these crazy things.

Vinay started receiving calls from Divya everyday. His car would definitely stop somewhere and immediately a call from Divya is expected. Vinay was growing annoyed about this. But he never wanted to share this with Sushma.

At home, Sushma was surprised, or might be little threatened by anonymous happenings. One evening Sushma was preparing evening snacks for Vinay. She was thinking about making some tea for him. Vinay never likes tea. He always loved Divya’s preparation. So, he stopped having tea ever since he lost her from his life. Whenever Sushma prepares tea, he would hardly drink it.

Sushma prepared spinach pakora and was hoping that Vinay would enjoy it. When she was about to make tea, Vinay reached home. She was out of kitchen for a while and was talking with Vinay about his day at office. When she came back to kitchen, she saw tea pot on the stove. She was sure that she didn’t leave a tea pot. But she convinced herself that she might have left it.

Also to her astonishment, Vinay had tea that day. He himself was not sure how that happened. He was reminded of Divya and the way she prepares tea for him. He became nostalgic and had the cup full of tea.

Other day, when Sushma was dusting the attic, she saw a book lying at the corner. It was Vinay’s favourite novel by John Grisham. He treasured it not for the story, but it was gifted by his friend who died in a road accident. He had been searching for this book for a long time. Sushma herself remembered that she looked into the same attic many a times for the book. She is now thrilled to see it lying obviously at a corner.

That evening, Vinay was very much happy to see that book. He saw his friend’s signature in the book and wept. Sushma pacified him.

Two months had gone by with all those web of mysteries around them. But these didn’t bother Sushma much. Vinay and she were married since two years and in a month, they will be celebrating their third anniversary. But, they don’t have a child yet. Though Sushma sounded euphoric all the time, deep in her heart she had a longing for a baby. They were a happy couple and her medical tests also proved that they are normal. But still she couldn’t conceive.

“Sushma! Sushma!”, called Vinay as he was removing his shoes near the door.

“Ya dear! I am here”, said Sushma and came running.

“Hold on! How many times do I have to tell not to run?”

“No… just like that... well, what’s the matter?”

“Here are the train tickets for our trip next month to Coimbatore. My leave request got approved. We can happily relax one whole week there”, said Vinay and smiled at her.

Sushma looked little upset. Her in-laws, parents and all their relatives are in Coimbatore. They will be looking forward to hear good news from her.

The day of the journey arrived. They were all set to move off. As Sushma locked the front door and set out, she felt a total black out and turned unconscious. Vinay panicked. He took her on his lap and soothed her. Soon she was alright. Vinay wanted to cancel the trip and take her to the doctor. But, Sushma convince him that she had loads of work that day and was restless. Vinay got pacified and they were off to Coimbatore.

to be continued..................