Palak was sitting on lawn with her neighbour friends. Sharda said, “It’s good that Karan is cooperating with you.” Palak said, “I luv Karan so much! So I don’t care that he’s…” Soon Radha came taking sweets with her. Sheela asked, “Hey Radha, where were you?” Radha said happily, “Have the sweets firstly!” Sharda asked, “Sweets? For what?” Radha sat down & said, “I had gone to my home. Remember, I had told you that seven years have passed since my sister’s wedding still she didn’t have a good news.” Seema said, “Yes, we do!” Radha said, “Listen, there is a Santoshi Mata temple near from here. It is said that whoever climbs all the 94 steps of the temple on his knees gets his wishes come true.” Palak guessed, “You mean…” Radha said, “Exactly! My sister climbed those steps five months ago & see, today she got a good news!” Sharda said, “Wow! It’s really a good news!” Soon Pinky said from door, “Didi, Sameer Bhaiyya is on line!”
Palak was drying her hairs in her bedroom. She was thinking about the conversation with Radha. She was remembering her words, “It is said that whoever climbs all the 94 steps of the temple on his knees gets his wishes come true.” She looked at Karan who was sleeping near her. She remembered all the incidents with Karan. The first night, the party, doctor’s advice, the hotel…! She wiped out her eyes & decided something.
It was hot afternoon. Palak was standing at the foot of that Santoshi Mata temple. She looked at the temple a while, then said, “You know everything well. I don’t need to repeat anything. I have heard from people that no one has been disappointed at your door. I have also come to your door with a great hope.” She sat on the first step on her knees & said, “I’m coming to you!” & started climbing steps. People who had come to temple were looking at her. Palak was continuously looking at the temple. Her neighbour Ramukaka saw her climbing steps. He immediately call Palak’s home from a PCO & informed Johnny. Johnny called kids & Karan. Soham asked, “What happened, Johnny?” Johnny said, “Didi hasn’t gone to her office. She’s at the Santoshi Mata temple.” Deepak asked, “Why?” Johnny said, “To climb all the steps on her knees.” Everyone shocked. Johnny said, “Let’s go kids, we gotta go.” Everyone moved to go. Karan was looking at Johnny. Johnny said, “We need you too!”
Palak had covered half of the steps. She was sweating & her knees were bleeding. Still she was moving ahead. In some time, Johnny, Karan & kids reached there. Palak kept her right knee in the temple & fell down there. Johnny, Karan & kids were climbing steps rapidly. Palak looked at the idol & enjoined her hands. Soon Karan reached there & held Palak. Palak looked at him with lot of luv. She smiled. Karan asked, “What happened Palak ji?” Looking at knees, he continued, “Why did you climb steps on knees? Walking would take lesser time!” Palak’s smile slowly disappeared. She hugged Karan & started crying. Johnny, among with kids kept looking.
Palak closed her diary & looked out of the window. Karan was playing with ‘those’ 17-18 years old kids. Palak kept looking at him with all her love & said to herself, “He is exactly the same today as before. Not even changed a bit. But I’ve changed a lot! My heart, which had been compromising with him for so long, may have fully understood him today. Just some memories, I don’t know good or bad, but they are! Come & go, just like a gust of wind. But whenever they come, they refresh my mind, like they’re doing now…”
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