After hearing that I got frozen in the spot I was standing. Subodh knew Shephali was running away with someone how come he didn't do anything.
"Subodh are you at your right mind? Did you hear what I am saying - Shephali ran away with your doctor friend."
"Yes I know it. So calm down and sit here. I will tell you everything."
He again concentrated on the letter he was writing. I just sat there and tried to figure out the whole situation. I was thinking none of them would have happened if only I stopped her yesterday. He finished the letter and turned towards me.
"Listen yesterday I was running late. So I told in home that I will come later. But I had to go out of Kolkata for work. So eventually I couldn't come home. Shephali didn't knew this maybe that's why they came to the station."
"Station did you meet her in station? Where did they go? I still can't believe you didn't stop them?"
"Just listen, I was standing on the platform when I saw a corn seller nearby the waiting room. I just remembered Shephali would have dragged me to him if she was here. I came to buy some, when I saw someone was sitting in the waiting room she was a lady. When I saw clearly I recognised Shephali! I was curious where she was going late at night also in the rail station. Her father and friends live all in Kolkata and why didn't she tell me? I walked in the waiting room and saw her suitcase and bags in her hand. Almost fifty percent were clear to me. After incidents happened in the past two years I am not surprised if she wants to run from me. She was also behaving strangely from the past few days. She was also surprised to see me there. Maybe she thought now everything is over.
"Shiuli !"
"Subodh ! (After a moment of silence) listen I will explain you everything please don't react ....."
Don't react as if , I remembered the moment I first met her. She was looking like a holy white flower. I guess in the end that flower turns out to be so expensive that I couldn't effort it. I already had enough of which I never deserved. I couldn't say out all these words the only thing I could say was
"Whome are you going with? You are not alone right?"
"I am with your Doctor friend, actually he was engaged to before you show up."
Yes ofcourse why am I so upset? I already noticed something was going on between them. A holy expensive flower is always meant for a rich man like him. I was just a mere obstacle in them.
"I see then I have nothing to worry about. By the way there is clouds in the sky rain started already I think. Take this you didn't bought an umbrella right? Don't catch a cold."
I passed my black umbrella to her. I know the man she was going with is far capable to buy something expensive than mine but maybe I did it as a last responsibility towards her.
I came back from the station. I didn't board in the train. But yeah I was right rain has started already. They might not be able to buy an umbrella now. You won't believe boudi I was surprised how I am not angry rather I am feeling happy because they will have to use my umbrella rather than buying a new one.
After listening to Subodh , tears fall from my eyes without my conscience. But he said all that with a smile on his face as if it was some kind of joke, but I know how much pain that bears . I grabbed his shoulder and started to pay his head from behind and just as I wanted he started crying little by little as a child who just lost his mother. I grabbed his shoulders tightly and said
"Be strong Subodh, you gave her enough. She herself is more responsible for her insecurities. She is gone now so forget her, you have your son now you have to be a good father to him right?"
"Yes I know."
"So did you told in your house or not."
"No boudi, that's the last thing I can do for her. If they know the truth she will be insulted again. I can't let that happen even if she is not here."
"So what did you plan to?"
"I will tell them that she is in her father's house for now."
"After that?"
"See, it was the letter I was writing. Remember I used to show that I had there to four different handwritings. No one saw this one. I will tell her father that if he wants to keep his daughter's dignity then keep quiet. I wrote on her behalf she is becoming a saint because she is fed off of this life."
"But that's a complete lie Subodh."
"To me that is much better than excepting the truth. Our son will also know that her mother became a saint. So boudi please do me a favour and don't tell anyone about the truth."
As expected I didn't revealed the truth to anyone
and everything goes in the way it should be. But of course it's not the end of the story. If it was then the ending would have been much better for all of us.
