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12072011
© Vinay Vaidya.
It was her birth-day. I just remembered, because
during those college days we friends often talked
about almost every-one’s birth-date. And since then
almost every year, on that day I just silently waited
for the day and sometimes mentally wished her a
very happy birth-day. I didn't know where she was,
what would she be doing, most probably she would
have been married off, having children and living the
life of an average (Indian) house-wife. Today I was
determined to call her up, and wish her for the first
time in my life, a very happy birth-day. She was busy
as usual and had least idea that I was going to greet
her.
"Hello !"
She was on line.
"Hello, .... How are you?
"I'm fine,...! How are you?"
"Me too, just wanted to say Good morning and a very
happy birth-day !!"
"Oh.....!"
For a moment she stopped and said, :
"Thank you, Thank you very much."
We talked about usual things, about her job, her family,
and the rest. She asked me, if I would like to attend a
small get-together at her home in the evening. She knew
I hardly attend any such social functions..
"Oh sure, I will be just very happy to be with you there."
"I will be waiting,....."
"bye,...."
"bye,...."
In the evening when I reached her home, there were no
guest or visitors. She, her daughter and son-in law, were
the only three.
She welcomed me in the same way as, when she had left
me on the last occasion. She hugged me softly and kissed
on the cheek very delicately. This time I too responded her
almost in the same way. Her son-in-law and her daughter
just watched us a bit amused and surprised, and folded their
hands in the traditional 'namaste' way.
"Ravindra is away, and shall return tomorrow morning."
She kind of informed me. She in fact had never celebrated
her birth-day till date. It was for her daughter's dream that
her birth-day should be celebrate this time, the son-in-law
too had joined her. She had agreed.
The meals were ready, her daughter and and the son-in-law
wished her a "Happy birth-day to Mom", And we started.
The dinner was prepared by her daughter, and she just
enjoyed.
"I think I want to write a book."
She started the conversation.
"Yes."
She had been a professor in a local reputed College and
had been teaching there Microbiology. But she had also had
a deep interest in art, literature, and music. As usual after
some twenty years of living a happily married house-wife's
life, she started feeling a 'vacuum', which was getting even
bigger and bigger.
She no more wanted to continue 'working' and had decided
to retire in the coming days. She had travelled the length and
the breadth of India, and had lived in Europe and States for
a short while.
"And I am going to write the book in collaboration with you."
She chuckled.
"Seriously ?"
"Yes."
Said she the next moment.
"Could you live with us ?"
She asked.
Yes, She had already an accomodation on the up-staires.
"See, You need to be lookd-after. You live all alone, cook
and do all other home-tasks yourself, and no-one is there
to take your care in case you fall ill,....!"
We were sitting on the sofa side by side.
She took my hand in hers, and kept caressing it.
The scent in her hair and her body was filling my nostrils.
A bit flowery, but somewhat tangy too.
"O.K., shall talk about it,...."
I assured her.
I soon returned.
In the next few days I tried to see if it was possible and
appropriate to move to her place.
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