chapter 18

He told me in the morning , madam called twice to ask about you?Have you slept well, have you had your breakfast , she was asking … Sir, she is very good friend of yours … I think… She cares for you a lot… He added … she said , she will come till lunch time and will bring your favourite subji …I was quite happy to listen what he was speaking … Sumangal … I called him … don’t you remember … on that day also … when I returned back from hospital , I still had weakness due to fever … next day she brought tiffin for me … she had prepared it by her own hands only for me … after the lectures … she handed it and told me to have my lunch in the hostel , followed by complete rest … she brought the tiffin next few days till I recovered … I know she is very good cook also … I misjudged her at that time also … I assumed , being a studious girl , she might not have any interest in cooking on the contrary she proved me wrong by bringing me various cuisines which were necessary for my health and to recover from the weakness … in addition to this , she prepared notes for me for the days I missed my classes… She appears very strict and rationalist from her appearance but it is not so … she is very kind hearted and caring … Sameep , how are you feeling today … my mother asked entering the room…  I replied … now I am better … ‘how are you ?’She appeared as if shocked by my question…I am also fine beta , she replied in a quavering voice … she was folding hands to the statue of Krishna in one corner of the room … thank you God , she whispered … at least he recognized me…‘Ma … why are you saying so’… I said loudly … ‘why I wouldn’t recognize you?’Nothing beta, she said , you don’t think too much … get up , be ready … I will prepare breakfast for you today with my own hands … thank you God … she was saying again and again … Sameep I will prepare Halwa and Puri today … go … have your bath … I nodded… He asked , ‘Sir May I?’ No, I replied … ‘I can manage…’My father was watching all this standing in the door with eyes full of tears …I said , ‘Baba you must be hungry.. I will be at the table within fifteen minutes …’He turned back wiping his tears … My mother went hurriedly outside … While eating , I complimented my mother … Ma … nobody in the world can prepare so delicious and tasty Halwa and Puri … please bring one more hot puri for me… she got up while she was eating …My father said … you haven’t changed at all… My mother replied … let it be… after so many days … he has recognized us and eating well… I can eat afterwards … she moved towards the kitchen Ma, I called … Yes… beta … she replied from the kitchen…I want one more hot cup of ginger tea …Sure … I will prepare … she said and arrived in almost two minutes … with hot cup of tea and a plate full of puris …Sameep … my father called …Yes Baba… I replied … He said caringly … Sameep eat carefully otherwise you will have acidity …No Baba … I am very hungry today … and you know I like Halwa and Puri , please don’t take too much tension … nothing will happen …I observed … both of them ,my father and mother were awestruck with my words … He was standing near the telephone , smiling Sir , he called … Madam is saying … Sanyogita Madam … please keep some space in your stomach for lunch … she will bring your favourite menu…Oh! I exclaimed … today I will have feast …My father said , ‘After so many days … again this house is filled with some happiness.. God please keep this intact…’Baba , why are you worrying about me … I uttered …Mr. Mayank , I called him loudly … He was shocked to listen me calling him by name …Sir … Sir … You recognized me… I am very happy today … I will call doctor … Sir is fine today … Oh my God … what a magic … He was speaking continuously …I said to Mayank , ‘Take a pause …’‘No Sir, I am very happy for you … I will call doctor first …’ , He replied …I questioned , ‘Why are you calling doctor ? Nothing happened to me…’‘Sir … I mean to say that … ‘, He was hesitating …‘Yes.. speak up … ‘Mr. Sameep … you are always doubtful about others… bad habit … I heard Sanyogita’s voice…Oh! You came too early … I said‘Why , I can’t?’ , she asked instantly …‘No , just now Mayank said , you will arrive till lunch time and you are here …’She replied , ‘You are always in hurry Sameep and you always listen half … ‘‘What , am I crazy ?’, I replied her …‘Aunty invited me for breakfast , halwa , puri is my favourite also, have you forgotten …’ , she asked …No, I mean to say , enjoy your breakfast first … it’s very much tasty …I said …How could I forget , you like Halwa and Puri , I murmured … I remember that day crystal clear … you came with me to my village after our first semester exam … during the vacation you were not going to Bhopal as you wished to use the holidays for the preparation of prelims … I asked you whether you will come to my village and you agreed … your friend , that Smita was also with us … how could I forget that journey … we were sitting together … how many times … I gathered my courage to ask you … to ask you whether you will be my partner for my whole life as now you are my study partner … but I was dumb … I was afraid … that you will reject me and my proposal … and I will lose my good friend … and over all I was also worried whether you will like my parents , my village , rural life … my mind was hovering with questions … you were sitting near the window … enjoying the scenery and from your continuous chattering about the scenic beauty outside … I understood you were extreme nature lover … you loved rural background … half of my tension was relieved … afterwards I decided , I will ask you about us when we will return from my village to Indore … on that day my mother has prepared Halwa , Puri and you relished on it … how could I forget … I said aloud …Sameep , I am very happy for you … Sanyogita said in a loud voice from the dining table …You have such lovely parents with you … she added … I heard she whispered further … you are back …‘Did you say something ?‘, I questioned …‘Nothing … ‘ , she said …Dr. Archana PanditÂ