Kulanand waived to Parvati, PSRTC Night Bus to Ludhiana had got full at Haldwani bus stand itself, sitting with her Aunt whose husband eked living as Mithaishop owner in Ludhiana Parvati was going to spend next two months with her , early morning breeze through the open bus window woke her up, the vulnerability on the face of young man staring at her at Sirhind Bus stand was fascinating, he smiled foolishly at her it was refreshing Parvati perked up! than suddenly sense of déjà vu stuck her! No…Not again!!
(Parvati going to school down Mall Road Painting by Joshita Rawat)
She could recall permanent burdened expression on Kulanand’s face.. poor but proudy..Kulanand!, how he wished Parvati’s mother would have been alive today, after taking early retirement from Kumaon regiment the life as Physical instructor with ‘St Paul’s senior secondary school, Nainital’ was satisfying, add to that Parvati getting education in same school but Parvati was also aware how touchy his father was about his Brahmanical origins, she had already caused him great pain but she was relieved everything was over with his classmate..societal gap was too huge.
Young man had taken seat next to her Aunt, old lady started chatting him up, Young man was little shy to open up but Parvati could gather that he was looking for some job in Ludhiana, name was Rakesh,parents were at Sirhind’s Refugee colony,She was surprised by her sense of relief when Aunt offered job alongwith shelter to the guy in the Mithaishop. Parvati soon opened up with Rakesh, she had never seen such..such boy, he was too unreal,too vulnerable, he needed protection. …she was afraid of the feelings churning inside her.
Only women Rakesh had known closely was his mother but Parvati had done magic for him, life seemed good, the hard work at Mithaishop did not seem too hard..Rakesh was always eager to come back home to his English lessons taken by Parvati, he never went out with other guys..but always listened to their hushed conversations and saw winks for the nights spent out, there had been instances of hostility initially but everything mellowed later on.Than the world came crashing around Rakesh,Parvati was going back.
Sleepless besides Aunt Parvati stood up, Rakesh had not come back yet, he had been sullen and hostile since yesterday . knocking on the door…..standing there was Rakesh and than he fell, as Parvati stooped to support , the nauseating smell came ..Rakesh was drunk senseless, he was gibberishing something in English.Parvati went back next day.
After spending few days listlessely in Ludhiana, Rakesh moved back to Sirhind, tried picking up threads as ‘Saree Salesman’ on his fathers line best he could manage was picking up fights with buyers soon he married a neighbourhood girl, money was coming slowly as ever, part of it was spent on boozing he also became famous for his English discourses after booze sessions,Chironji lal passed away same year.
Rakesh yearned for sunshine again nights had become too long and dark,Than he moved to Haldwani as a wandering saree salesman.
She could recall permanent burdened expression on Kulanand’s face.. poor but proudy..Kulanand!, how he wished Parvati’s mother would have been alive today, after taking early retirement from Kumaon regiment the life as Physical instructor with ‘St Paul’s senior secondary school, Nainital’ was satisfying, add to that Parvati getting education in same school but Parvati was also aware how touchy his father was about his Brahmanical origins, she had already caused him great pain but she was relieved everything was over with his classmate..societal gap was too huge.
Young man had taken seat next to her Aunt, old lady started chatting him up, Young man was little shy to open up but Parvati could gather that he was looking for some job in Ludhiana, name was Rakesh,parents were at Sirhind’s Refugee colony,She was surprised by her sense of relief when Aunt offered job alongwith shelter to the guy in the Mithaishop. Parvati soon opened up with Rakesh, she had never seen such..such boy, he was too unreal,too vulnerable, he needed protection. …she was afraid of the feelings churning inside her.
Only women Rakesh had known closely was his mother but Parvati had done magic for him, life seemed good, the hard work at Mithaishop did not seem too hard..Rakesh was always eager to come back home to his English lessons taken by Parvati, he never went out with other guys..but always listened to their hushed conversations and saw winks for the nights spent out, there had been instances of hostility initially but everything mellowed later on.Than the world came crashing around Rakesh,Parvati was going back.
Sleepless besides Aunt Parvati stood up, Rakesh had not come back yet, he had been sullen and hostile since yesterday . knocking on the door…..standing there was Rakesh and than he fell, as Parvati stooped to support , the nauseating smell came ..Rakesh was drunk senseless, he was gibberishing something in English.Parvati went back next day.
After spending few days listlessely in Ludhiana, Rakesh moved back to Sirhind, tried picking up threads as ‘Saree Salesman’ on his fathers line best he could manage was picking up fights with buyers soon he married a neighbourhood girl, money was coming slowly as ever, part of it was spent on boozing he also became famous for his English discourses after booze sessions,Chironji lal passed away same year.
Rakesh yearned for sunshine again nights had become too long and dark,Than he moved to Haldwani as a wandering saree salesman.
(Purely a work of fiction any resemblence to persons living or dead is incidental)
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