"Nisha medam", recollected Alok, looking at himself on the glass of his cabin's door. He smiled, as a young female voice flashed into his mind, calling out enthusiastically, "Alok saar!"The professor placed his right hand on his chest and closed his eyes, feeling the heartbeat throbbing within him, as he remembered a young girl twirling in the heavy rains; her pony swang along as she danced crazily. He chuckled to himself and turned back. His student had left already. He hurried towards the white concrete wall marking the boundary of the corridor. Resting his fingers on the wall, his eyes went hither and thither, looking for her.
"Alok sir!", called a female voice." Nisha!", exclaimed he, smiling and turning behind like a young boy thrilled to attack his favorite ice cream. A female faculty, in a blue salwar and a black coat upon it, shrugged, enquiring, "Sir, are you okay?"His smile vanished and he nodded."The Principal is planning to organize a grand welcome ceremony for you and launch the research department as well! He asked you to meet him in his cabin right away. I had gone to discuss the new timetable. He asked me to inform you."
"Thank you, Ishitha ma'am", he thanked her, peeped down again, and headed towards the stairs. Meanwhile, Nisha stood under a neem tree in a corner of the lawn. Alok came running as she smiled and offered a stick file holding around ten sheets neatly packed together. He took it from her and turned the pages."Beta, why did you leave your assignment at home? Luckily, I returned home to get a report and happened to see this. You kept telling me during the vacation that it was due on the reopening day...."
"Mamma! You are so sweet!", exclaimed Alok, hugging her. She massaged his hair and patted his cheek, correlating, "See that's why we parents should never appreciate our children. They tend to become over-confident. I called you responsible this very morning and look at your transformation now. Naughty!"Her son chuckled and nodded. He caught her palm and promised, "Mamma! I will be responsible hereafter. Trust me."She smiled and nodded back.
"Arey yaar! What is this?", commented Mihir, joining them. He wrapped Alok in his arms, advising, "Come on! Don't be such a mamma's boy. You are twenty. Aren't you an adult now? Grow up, young man!"Alok released himself and wrapped his friend in his arms, announcing, "No yaar. I honor her. She is my universe."He turned back at Nisha who was then looking away, at the fountains. He pressed his mom's shoulder. She turned back at him and faked a smile. He continued, "I love my mother. I am here, standing in front of you, only because of this gem. She is the only human I have ever seen in my lifetime. Raising a child as a single mother in our society is indeed an acclaimable achievement."He stood straight and saluted her, at which she shook her head, "Stop it, beta. What are you doing?"
Tears of happiness flooded her eyes as he concluded, "If respecting and loving your mother is called being a mamma's boy, I am glad to be referred with such a touching nickname."Mihir apologized to him while Nisha sobbed. Her son wiped her tears gently while she hit him, remarking, "You are such a bad boy making your mamma cry like this. What a son you are!What a.."She rested her head on his shoulder and sobbed as he concealed his tears.
"Alok, you and your naani are my only universe. Don't you know?", whispered she. He nodded back as she hit him again, warning, "Don't you ever dare give such sentimental talks again. I won't spare you!"They chuckled and she gestured for him to submit his assignment.
As the sun was preparing to set, the following evening, Sandhya, in a green saree with her pallu upon her head, clapped her hands sitting amid a crowd of around fifty ladies at a local temple devoted to Lord Rama. The speakers in the hall sang "Om Jaya Jagdeesh Hare", the popular devotional song, in the background, as the devotees too hummed. They concentrated to the fullest as the elderly woman, sitting in the center, played the tambura and sang to compete with the speakers.
The old wooden door of the hall creaked and intervened them. There was a moment of silence. An elderly woman, of around sixty-five and Sandhya's age, smiled at the crowd. She bowed and apologized, "I am sorry. My family shifted from London yesterday. I am new here. I thought that the bhajans were starting at eight..."
"Oye!", cried the leader lady, in her deep screechy voice."First of all, you come late and then come up with such lame excuses. It's god's matter. Aren't you ashamed of yourself?"She shook her head at which the puzzled leader mocked, "What? So you don't feel guilty?"Sandhya looked around as the other ladies burst out into a great round of laughter. She stood up and requested, "Ji, please don't insult a devotee like this. She too has come to pray just like us. Understand her pure intent rather than screwing her like a strict school teacher scolding her class for being late after the games hour."
"Oh, Sandhya doctor!Ok fine. Excused!", agreed she, gesturing for Usha to join the choir. She took her seat beside Sandhya and smiled at her, introducing herself, "Hello. I am Usha Verma."The ladies shook their hands as the others resumed the prayer."Thank you Ji. Glad to hear you are a doctor!", complimented her. Sandhya smiled back at her and continued her prayer.
Amid the prayer, while Usha yawned, Sandhya whispered, "Usha Ji! Go outside and sleep. She will belt you if you sleep now."Usha nodded, controlling her yawn the second time and maintaining the sync with the prayer. Mantras in Sanskrit began being narrated quickly by everyone around. Usha looked around and grew blank." Kasauti Zindagi Kii!", whispered she, smiling and shrinking her eyes at Sandhya who smiled at her childishness.
"Friend, why are you so silent?", asked Usha, at which Sandhya chuckled again."See, looks like you are a very reserved person. Shall we be friends? You please teach me the mantras sometimes", requested Usha. Sandhya nodded and gave her a tip, "Usha Ji, at least try to do lip singing. Looks like the leader is targetting you today."They chuckled and the leader raised her volume, clapping and gesturing for them to stay quiet.
A black car parked outside the temple. Nisha opened the door and stepped out. It beeped as she pressed the remote. Nisha had left her black and thick her free as it stood on her back, till her hip. She wore a maroon Kurti on black legging pants. She was pretty despite turning forty-seven the last December. As she was about to walk inside the temple that a fair Assamese lady suddenly appeared in front of her and blocked her way.
"Ashita!", exclaimed she, starting at her colleague wearing the 'George Healthcare' badge."What are you doing here?", questioned the startled Nisha.
Ashita dragged her to the middle of the road. The commuters stopped and wondered at them. She frowned at Nisha, announcing, "Everyone! hey! Please listen to me."She pointed at the stunned and innocent Nisha, declaring, "She will be the reason behind my death. Please help me seek justice for myself."
"What nonsense?", yelled Nisha, shrugging at her."Yes, my boss isn't an equal opportunity employer. She refused to allow me to her special project because I am an Assamese. She is so fucking partial!", shouted Ashitha.
"No way! I am not biased. Stop! Guys, ignore her words and carry on with your work. She is bluffing. She didn't fare well enough in the exam conducted to test the interns' eligibility. So, how could it be justice to grant her the opportunity to leave the others behind? You tell me!", clarified Nisha. The crowd nodded and agreed, "Yes, her boss is right."
Her crazy intern opened her handbag and grabbed a knife. The crowd took a step backward, petrified at its sharp edges. Nisha too stepped back and clung to the temple's pillar at the entrance. She placed it on her left hand, declaring, "Stop it, Nisha. I secured a seventy-nine."
"But, eighty was the cutoff. Yes, I know that several candidates were struck at seventy-nine. Better luck next time. Good try, I praise!...", mentioned she.
"Shut up. Not fair! It's just a point and we deserve or at least I deserve the opportunity. Take me in your project or I will die right now", broadcasted she.
"Stop it! You are going crazy now", yelled Nisha, staring at her endangered hand. She shook her head vigorously. Nisha suddenly rushed to Aashitha and caught her hand.
"Leave me...I warn you! Leave my hand!", yelled Aashitha as Nisha attempted to grab the knife and throw it away. Ashitha pushed Nisha who then fell on a navy-blue car that stopped at the right time.
