chapter 28

My father said , Sameep , I know Ma has said you to be patient but I will tell you otherwise you have already wasted lot of time …I know Baba… I replied and smiled … Mayank is waiting for me … I have got to go…Sure… Baba said and smiled …I thought Mayank was also happy and smiling when he watched me in the rear mirror …Why are you staring and smiling at me … I asked …Nothing … nothing Sir… he said smiling …When we reached near her colony … my palpitations accelerated … I wiped my forehead with the handkerchief…Sir … are you nervous … he questioned …No … Mayank … I am not an adolescent now … I replied …But Sir … he said teasing … the situation is same …Don’t know yet , I replied … and I called her … Sanyogita are you ready … Ma has called you … so I didn’t … Yes… I am waiting for you …please come to my place … she said …Ok… I will come but we will go out for lunch somewhere , it is fixed …I saidOk.. we will decide about it later … you please come first … she urged …Before pressing the door bell … she opened the door … as if she was eagerly waiting for me… I was surprised by her haste …Oh! I saw your car arriving from the balcony , she replied …Please have a seat … she requested indicating towards the only sofa in the hall … dark brown coloured with white netted head rest… this is surely not her choice …As if she read my mind … she replied … Sameep this is rented apartment , fully furnished , I just shifted in Pune… Oh! I said … and sat comfortably on the sofa …She came with a glass of water … today she was wearing sky blue colour cotton saree with golden print at the border … the navy blue coloured sleeveless blouse suited it very well and her complexion also , today she had plaited her hair … it reached her waist … the pearl necklace and earrings complimented her simple beauty … Water , she said loudly , I came to the reality and thanked her … I said boldly further … should I talk this or not , I don’t know but you are looking gorgeous today…She was slightly shocked by my compliment but she didn’t show on her face and thanked me … for the appreciation … I was looking here and there to see the traces of her family in the form of photographs or something but there was nothing …Sameep … what are you looking for … she asked …Nothing … I was just observing … I replied …I know you are trying to dig in … she said bitterly …Should I not … I asked adamantly…If I ask you the same question , she asked angrily …Sanyogita my life is open book … you visited my house … there is nothing to hide … but you are hiding everything from me … when you call me your good friend …I saidWhat about your illness … you have a secret hidden , Mr. Sameep …she said in an assertive tone …I replied … I am not here to fight on petty issues … let’s go out for the lunch … I will take you to somewhere special … What’s the occasion … she asked …Do we need occasion for lunch , I enquired… Let’s celebrate our reunion after so many years …You know nothing about these dark years , Sameep … she whispered …I purposely ignored what she said and called Mayank to take out car from the parking area … I said to her … let’s go , Mayank and food both are waiting for us …But .. she uttered …Not no but and nothing … I insisted …Ok… let me get my purse and cell phone , she said …And we stepped out of the house …When we entered the car , I said to Mayank , let’s go to the restaurant outside the city near Khadakwasla dam …Why so far … Sanyogita enquired …I answered smiling … nature therapy …What … she asked …Nothing … when you will see Khadakwasla dam you will revive our old memories in our college near lake Vihangam and you will feel good … I spokeWho said , I am not in good mood … she said irritatingly …No , I mean to say , I corrected my sentence … we will feel good … Mayank asked … shall we proceed Sir …I kept mum …She said … carry on Mayank…I was happy that she was not upset with my decision …Due to my illness , I also haven’t stepped out of the house for long … I will also feel better in fresh air and in the company of nature , that’s why …She interrupted me … why are you giving such a lengthy explanation , no need …I said , Thank God … you are not angry with me … and started laughing …When we reached at the corner of the dam … I asked Mayank to switch off air conditioner in the car and opened the window glasses … when the fresh breeze entered the car… She said … this is really beautiful place, a scenic view … away from the crowd of the city , no pollution ..I laughed and said no guarantee about the crowd but pollution is really less … Can we go out and take a look , she asked …Sure … Mayank , I said … find a place to park … we will halt here for sometime …He parked the car and we went out … on the other side of the road … there were many road side vendors selling tea, pakodas, bhel, corn and many food items.. Sanyogita asked … can we skip our lunch plan …Why ? I shouted …We can sit here , see over there , she was pointing towards one place from where the whole view of backwater of the dam was visible …And what about … I indicated towards the stomach…She answered … pointing towards the roadside vendors … if it is ok for you … Ok… I said … actually I hadn’t eaten outside food for long , so I was not ready actually but today food was not the priority …She hurriedly went towards the bench , she indicated as if she was afraid someone else may grab her place … I followed her and waved to Mayank … he understood … what I said …I will have onion pakoda first , she ordered the lady vendor over there …I was happy at least she has come out of her gloomy mood … but I was hesitating to start the topic …Dr. Archana Pandit Â