chapter 39

While traveling back to home … Sanyogita was looking outside the closed window … she was avoiding my gaze … I was sure …Sanyogita , I called her … with all my love … she looked at me … we will prove best parents to Suparna, don’t worry…Oh!... Sameep … she said and moved near me and rested her head on my shoulders … with full confidence and assurance … that I will never leave her and Suparna … I felt very relieved with her action … at least she has started trusting me … all other things can be sorted out … I assured myself …Ma and Baba were eagerly waiting for us in the living room … but after observing … Sanyogita’s face … they kept mum … Ma said … Sanyogita … you look tired … go and rest for some time …She denied and said … No … Ma … I will freshen up and come to help you in the kitchen … so my mind will be engaged …Very good … Ma replied …As they began cooking … I went to my room … with some intention and closed the door behind me … I opened my old phone diary which consisted of land line numbers … of few of my old friends … it was a remote possibility in the era of mobile phones that land line number will be in use and will get connected … but still I have decided to try … I dialled almost twenty to twenty five numbers but all of them were either not functioning or allotted to someone else … Oh! God … I uttered … at least … I should be able to connect someone … an idea struck my mind … I opened my laptop and signed into my facebook account which has become defunct long ago … as I have created the account, long ago to search Sanyogita but never used that account again … when Sanyogita couldn’t be found on it … There is one more thing I can do … I can call the college office and ask for the phone number of someone … I was searching on the facebook desperately each and every friend of mine … and I laughed at myself … when most of them were not found on it … all are like me … I said aloud … techno afraid and techno  illiterate… But I was sure one person should be there … I typed his name and he was there …  Babya our Baban Sheth … the human encyclopaedia and the telephone directory …I hastily opened his profile and I was relieved to see his mobile number over there … I was sure … he will be very upset with me … as I  haven’t been in touch with our gang since I have left Indore … the only reason was Sanyogita but I have cut the contact with everyone … I gathered my courage and called him … the phone rang for two or three seconds … there was no reply … I was doubtful whether he will pick my phone or not … the same happened … he didn’t pick my phone … I was cursing myself for not been in touch with anyone so long … Ma was calling lunch is ready … Sanyogita is rolling phulkas … she is saying call Sameep … he loves the hot phulkas in his plate …Yes … Ma… coming … I shouted and at the same I heard my phone was ringing … his name flashed on the screen … Baban Malwiya … I grabbed the phone and picked his call … Hello ! Babya … I said in a guilty tone …He replied … Majanu Sheth … Batalaeye … Kaisi yad aayi garib ki … itne salo se to muh phula ke baithe the aap …Sorry yar … I said again in a voice full of guilt …What happened … he asked in a tone full of concern …I said … nothing … but I wished to know about Sumangal … I spoke in a single breath … Kya … Babya shouted … what happened … why are you asking about him … why are you scratching the old wounds again … have you gone mad … No … No … not like that … it’s a long story … Babya … Tell me … he interrupted … Ma is calling for lunch … I said … Ok … he replied …I will call you in the evening when I am alone … I replied …You got married … he asked surprisingly …No … I said in an assertive tone … you know me very well …That’s why I asked you … he said Sanyogita is with me … I uttered …Oh! My god … what are you telling … Babya shouted … such a good news … how come this miracle happened … In the evening … in the evening … Ma is here … I repeated …Ok… he said … and the call was cut … Ma was standing in the door … what are you doing … Sanyogita is waiting for you …I hurriedly stepped outside the room …Sanyogita came instantly out of the kitchen and served me two hot phulkas with panner subji …Oh! Today is something special … I said …Nothing … she replied … I asked … Paneer and all …Nothing … she turned her face … What happened … I asked … you also come with me for the lunch …She went into the kitchen and said … I have to roll the phulkas …I went behind her … turned her by shoulders … she was crying bitterly …Why are you crying dear … you must be hungry … let’s eat together … I said … and started stretching her by hand … Sameep … today is Suparana’s birthday … she said and hugged me tight crying ….Dr. Archana Pandit