chapter 23

What happened? I asked … I corrected myself … Ma has become old … so she behaves in such manner … she likes lots of people in the home … that’s why , she is insisting you to stay … If you don’t want , you don’t need to explain , I will tell Mayank after the coffee and he will drop you … don’t worry …Sanyogita was smiling in the cheeks … I observed …Why are you smiling now , what happened , have I said something wrong ? I asked hesitatingly …‘Nothing’, she said smiling … you are giving detailed explanation, so I am laughing …  by the way there is no one at home who will wait for me or care for me … I am a free bird now … So, I can do whatever I wish … actually , I didn’t wish to trouble aunty , so I refused to stay … but now , I have decided to stay for dinner and also for coffee which is due from you…I was so happy with what she said … not just about her staying for the dinner … but about her loneliness and no one is there to care for her … I was ashamed of myself for thinking like a sadist but I was happy … that she spoke here mind out … soon she will open up her mind … I was sure …That’s great idea , I replied , I will cook for the dinner also instead of bothering Ma …Yes, that’s great , she said …Sameep , she said further … can I ask you something … please give true reply … My heart beats were speeding with her words … Sameep… what happened to you… I mean , the illness, you are suffering from… now you are ok… that’s great but aunty and uncle looks really worried … I replied her in a teasing tone … that long story … I will narrate may be after few days …Why few days… why not now … she insisted …Sanyogita , I said in a heavy voice … I can you revert you the same question … not about illness but about your past and present …She suddenly got up from the chair and hurried towards the door with empty mugs of coffee and turning back , she said , I will back in a moment , I will keep the coffee mugs in the sink … and I will be back…‘What’s she is hiding … ‘, I asked myself …Can we go for a walk today, Sanyogita asked … me Don’t you want to study … today … what happened … I questioned her …I want to study but I am fumbled … I want to tell you something …. She said …What? What’s that now… I aksed …I can’t tell  you here … she said while we were sitting under the Banyan tree solving problems in prelims paper … lot of students are here … and already we are attracting lot of attention , I don’t want more …Ok, I replied , when we go to Lake Vihangam in the evening … you can tell me , what happened exactly and why are you confused …No, I can’t wait till evening … she replied hurriedly Now I also started having doubts in my mind… what exactly she wants to say … has she understood my feelings for her … is she upset with me … does she wish to break our friendship … lot of questions were pouring in my mind …She interrupted … Sameep … can we go somewhere … where we can talk silently …Sure … I replied … outside campus , near the corner … next to that bus stop … there is one sugarcane juice vendor… we can walk till there and you can tell whatever is in your mind … we will drink juice and we will return …Sanyogita was irritated with my answer … here I am serious about something and always you are thinking of eating this and drinking that… Ok, ok… you can tell whatever you wish… that is first priority and juice is second one …We kept our books in the library , where we everyday used to sit for the studies in girls reading room and boys reading room respectively…She was completely silent till the college gate … unable to bear that silence … I started humming songs from Hindi movies …She was furious with me… she said angrily … here I need to talk something serious and this boy is so casual … God save me…she uttered …I also replied furiously … You are keeping mum , not uttering a single word … I am also worried but I can’t bear this pressure so I am singing the songs … is that problematic for you … then I will leave …Sorry … she said aloud … boys and girls around us started looking at us weirdly …Hurry up! I said harshly … I can’t bear this silence …I am also surprised by his behaviour … she said …Whose behaviour … I asked her… speak up … don’t maintain the suspense too long… I have a doubt about him… she said again…Sanyogita … about whom … you are talking … I said furiously … speak up clearly … so that I can understand something … exactly what had happened …I found a letter yesterday… she said …Whose letter ? where did you find it… why are you so serious about it …is it addressed to you … I bombarded her with questions …Sanyogita disclosed at last … Sameep it’s love letter … What? I shouted …Who has given it you … I asked …I don’t know … she replied …Have you gone mad … the sender must have mentioned his name in that … I added No… Sameep … Its anonymous … and for your kind information … I have received three letters till date …I shrieked , what … and why are you telling me now…Sameep … in the beginning, I did not take it seriously …. But now it is becoming serious … How did you receive the letters? I asked They are kept in my books … she answered …What … I mean to say who, where ,when keeps the letter … is it possible …I said …Sameep … I also don’t know … that’s what I am telling you …Do you have a doubt about someone … you just mentioned … I statedYes, she replied … I have a doubt about him …Dr. Arhcana Pandit