The Girl – Roma (8/11)
Author
Ketan J Mehta
Preface
“The Girl - Roma” is a simple story written keeping in mind the lines quoted by Leo Tolstoy who said “There is no greatness where there is no simplicity, truth and goodness.”
So the greatness of this story lies in its simplicity. The story of “The Girl - Roma” is the uncommon story of common people like Aqeel, Roma and Karan.
Success is the worst kind of intoxicant. Usually when someone tastes success, he becomes high-headed with arrogance, false pride and overconfidence, but Aqeel is an exception. He is a man from a very modest background but after being separated from his joint family, he rises to a respectable social status due to sheer hard work and consistent endeavour. Aqeel does not become arrogant or proud. On the contrary, his success makes him more modest and amiable than before. His ambition does not turn into greed. Being from an underprivileged background himself, he understands the difficulties and problems of the lower class people and is very considerate and charitable towards them.
Destiny brings Aqeel in contact with Roma, the girl in auto rickshaw, who was so frustrated by her miserable condition that she was on the verge of committing suicide. Aqeel not only assists her financially but morally also, giving her a new hope in life.
But after attaining financial freedom and becoming independent, Roma, instead of being grateful to Aqeel, becomes self-centred. She forgets all her obligations and in order to satisfy the unending hunger to earn more and more money, she moves away from Aqeel.
At this stage, Karan, a happy-go-lucky and jolly type of person, enters Roma’s life. Karan develops a liking for Roma and wants to marry her but Roma is undecided.
How Aqeel, Roma and Karan get entangled in a web of uncontrollable circumstances and how they struggle to get out of it forms the rest of this interesting story.
“The Girl - Roma” takes the reader on a wonderful, emotional journey. It keeps the question “What will happen next?” alive up to the very end.
As the saying goes “The proof of pudding is in eating” similarly, the proof of a book is in reading so, dear readers I will no longer stay between you and “The Girl - Roma” Go ahead and enjoy it.
Introduction of Karan
Karan is a self-made man. He is fair, is “5.10” inches tall, age 40 year old, slightly overweight, average looking man. Karan’s family consists of only two people, Karan and his mother. Karan has no brother or sister he is the only child of his parents.
Karan started his career at the age of 15, in garment industries. While all his friends were going to college he was into business.
He was married to Anjali at the age of 23 years. Due to some minor differences, they were divorced when Karan was only 26. Karan suffered loss in garment business and shifted into property dealing business.
At the age of 34 years, Karan was married to Kunjika. After six months of marriage, Karan realised Kunjika was a character less girl and had divorced her.
At the age of 36, his father expired and at the age of 37 years Karan had gone through Angioplasty. Now technically Karan is a heart patient without any heart attack.
After his angioplasty Karan realises that there is no one to take care of his mother after him and if he happens to die suddenly, there is no legal heir after his death.
Karan is also an internet expert. He is a very shrewd businessman and is well connected politically. There are many cops, officials, politicians in his client list but he has never taken any unreasonable benefits of his influence. Due to good knowledge of internet Karan has been giving paid public services to help political parties. This was the reason why Karan is a famous personality in his area of residence.
Karan likes to speak in a humours way and talks point to point in such a manner that nobody gets offended and people believed in Karan’s word.
Like Aqeel, Karan also helps people but the difference is Karan never helps anyone with money. He helps with his knowledge, influence, or his physical efforts.
Aqeel never minds anyone taunting him but if anyone is sarcastic with Karan, he replies back strongly. On such occasions, he forgets all his politeness and makes the person feel guilty
When Aqeel helps anyone with money he never expects anything in return. If the person, who he has helped, fails to repay him, he never complains but when Karan helps anyone with money and that person fails to return the money or Karan feels that the person has some hidden agenda, he doesn’t leave him and teaches him such a lesson that the defaulter remembers it all his life.
Karan never received any kind of love from any woman who came into his life that is the reason why he is so shrewd. Karan strongly dislikes anyone playing with his emotions. If anyone does so, he pays him or her in the same coin.
There are similarities between Roma and Karan also. Both have had a very struggling life.
Both are hardliners, but there is a difference. Roma hides the truth and Karan speaks the truth on the spot.
Roma is multi-talented to her extent. Karan is also multi-talented, the difference is Karan is a very influential personality.
A person, who speaks politely, respects everyone,
Thanks everyone and apologises at appropriate times,
Is liked and respected by everyone.
