chapter 29

Chapter 2A new lifeShe climbed the step and waited for her eyes to adjust to the darkness inside. Contrary to what she had feared, the office was a simple mud hut. There were two rooms that she could see, and an entrance on the side to another room.She knocked and she heard a man say, “Andar aa jao.”The male voice made her heart flip. But before she could understand why, a lady came out – a middle-aged village woman. “What, behn? What do you want?”“Ganga?” she asked hesitantly.“Come in,” the lady invited her in. As Anu followed her, she glanced at the man. His back was turned to her as he poured through a file. She was startled at the striking resemblance to another back she had first seen years ago before knowing the man. The voice… had that also been like Chintan’s?Magnetically she was drawn to him when the lady laid a hand on her and directed her through a door on the side, which lead to a spacious room where an old lady with short hair, wearing a cotton sari and sporting a prominent bindi was writing busily.The lady looked up. “Ah! You must be the girl Reema sent…?”Anu nodded and took the proffered seat, her back to the door. Ganga put the papers away. “Anuradha Thakur, right? Reema told me that you were keen to document our work.” Anu frowned at the inaccuracy of the statement, but Ganga swept on. “It will be a pleasure to have all this recorded. I want it done in this village, and another one nearby. There are some fantastic things happening there.”Anu panicked. “Reema told me only about this place.”“Yes, yes,” said the lady, not used to being interrupted. “The village is very close by and there are just a handful of women. Maybe a day-long trip would do.” She peered at Anu over her glasses. “I believe you have no commitments back home.”Anu flushed angrily. But the lady just stomped on. “Anyway, a day extra cannot hurt. Your work in Rampur is good. But a template will make it more effective. We can work on it this afternoon or evening,” she said.Anu nodded. Ganga looked up at someone who entered the room, blocking the light from the only window there. “I will wait in the car,” the man said, his voice making Anu turn. But his face was in the shadow and she turned away as her mind compared his silhouette with Chintan’s. She became cross with herself. Why would he be here, in this dry land in the middle of nowhere in Madhya Pradesh, leaving his green farm in the cool Himachal?“Two minutes, darling. I am almost done with her,” Ganga called out after him, putting all doubts to rest.Ganga got up, and collecting some papers, smiled at Anu. “When I am back, we will discuss this further. Meanwhile, freshen up. Ramdulari will take you to Jamna behn’s house, where you will be staying till your work gets done.” She turned to Ramdulari, “Tell babu to put this in his bag.” She put an arm around Anu. “Hope you find it worthwhile.” Jamna behn welcomed Anu warmly, and put her at ease. She lived alone and was glad to have Anu for company.The house was a mud structure with a courtyard, a backyard with some animals, a kitchen and two small rooms. The bath and the toilet were separate but functional and clean. Relieved, Anu washed up and had the hot rotis and dal the lady served, before resting for a while.