chapter 15

Mita called her parents and told them every detail of the video calls with Amma and Appa.In next few days, with both family’s consent, Papa and Appa decided to meet in Bangalore. The date was fixed.Mita called her father,“Papa, please leave on time, don’t forget to take your medicines, charge your phone. Also, it will be too cold in Bangalore, so carry warm clothes.”“Yes beta. Don’t give me too many instructions like your mom, and you know that...” Papa.“I know I know. So only I am telling you all these things. Papa, Jay’s parents are very much disciplined. So, we should take care of time and all other stuff please,” Mita.“Don’t worry beta, I will make sure he leaves on time,” Mom.“Mumma, why aren’t you joining him?” Mita.“What will I do there? Even Amma is not coming right? First, let them meet. We will meet later,” Mom.“hmmm…ok then bye, take care,” Mita. -------------------------------------------------------------“I hope this meeting goes well,” Mita.“Don’t worry all will be good, I just called Appa and he has boarded the train. He will reach there early in the morning by 5:30 am” Jay held her hand.“Ohh that’s so early. Papa’s train will reach by 7 – 7:30 am. Appa will have to wait” Mita.“That’s Ok. He will stay in a nearby guest house, right? It’s the same place where they are supposed to meet. I have sent an address to Papa so that he can go and freshen up there only,” Jay.“hmm..ok” Mita.---------------------------------------Next Morning at Bangalore Station:Appa’s train reached Bangalore at sharp 5:30 am. He got down from the train. It was raining heavily. It was July month and Appa was aware of Bangalore weather, he had kept an umbrella with him. He reached the Exit gate and called for an autorickshaw. He was shivering due to windy rain; his teeth were chattering.After reaching the guest house, he took a hot shower and ordered a cup of tea. He felt better after having tea. Then he looked at his watch, it was 6:30 am.“Mita’s father will reach by 7:30, better to have breakfast with him, till then I will take some rest,” He messaged Jay about his arrival in Bangalore, laid down on bed and closed his eyes.After some time, someone knocked on the door.Appa immediately got up, checked the time, “Ohh it is 8 am, must be Mita’s father,” he opened the door.The housekeeping guy was standing in front of him, “Sir, you had told me to come to take breakfast order”.“mmm… not now. I will call you after some time,” Appa.“Sure sir,” the guy left.“Mita’s father should reach by now…looks like the train got delayed.” He waited till 9 am still Mita’s father had not reached. Finally, he dialed papa’s phone.“The number you have dialed is switched off.”Now it was 9:30 am but still no updates about Papa.“I must call Jay now, but it must be early morning there. I will message him, once he wakes up, he will call me.”------------------------------------------Here Mita couldn’t sleep the whole night. She checked the time, it was 4:45 am.“Better to have coffee” She came out of her room and saw that Jay was sleeping on the sofa. She slowly entered the kitchen, took a vessel to make coffee.Jay woke up to his mobile message tone. He noticed that the kitchen light was on. He got up and walk towards kitchen taking phone in his hand,“Mita, you got up so early??”“I could not sleep Jay, the whole night I was thinking about Papa and Appa’s meeting,” Mita added one more cup of milk for coffee after seeing Jay.“hmmm…so was I.” he opened Appa’s message.“What happened Jay?” Mita noticed that Jay looked worried.“Mita, you said papa will reach by 7 am right?” Jay.“Yeah, that’s the time of Rani Chenamma Express, sometimes half an hour plus minus..” Mita.“Mita, Papa still not reached, and his phone is switched off” Jay.“Whatt??” Mita was shocked to hear that. She immediately took her phone and dialed Papa’s number.“The number you have dialed is switched off.”“Ohhhffo..I had told him to charge his phone. Let me check with Mom” she was about to dial Mom’s number but Jay stopped her.“Wait, don’t call her. She will be worried. Let me talk to Appa first.”Jay called Appa, “Hello..”“Yes Jay, were you able to connect to Mita’s father? He has still not reached. It is almost 10 am now.”“No Appa, his number is switched off,” Jay. Mita was feeling restless.“So how can we contact him now?” Appa. That’s when someone again knocked on his door.Appa opened the door. He saw a man wearing a sweater, a monkey cap, a bag in one hand and an umbrella in the other hand..and a big big smile on his face..“Hi..Good morning…I am Mita’s father…”To be continued....