Hello  everyone...!

Guys the 12th episode of the novel, Disguised.

Episode12:

                   Things had changed dramatically. After that long talk with Sukruthi, Sandesh had accepted to move on with his fate. He was getting back to normal. Nobody knew the reason for such a change in him, except for Sandesh himself.

                    It was a month after his first visit to the pub. He hadn’t visited that place after that. He was back on his work and was showing much more interest than earlier.

                    One day, he was on his way back home after work, riding his Enfield. And he noticed a friendly face walking on the footpath, moving in the opposite direction. It took a while for him to recall her name. “Oh! Sukruthi”, he thought and stopped suddenly. He moved aside, parking his bike on the road side and jumped onto the footpath, placing himself in front of her. Sukruthi, who was walking keeping her head low, was startled by the sudden blockage in her way. She raised her head and saw Sandesh standing in front of her with a broad smile fixed on his face. She recognised him soon and exclaimed, changing her expression,

“Hey!”

“Hello”

“What’re you doing here?”

“I was returning from office and saw you walking alone. So, thought of stopping by and say you hello”

“Oh! That’s so sweet of you”

“So, where’re you headed?”

“Nowhere. Was just out for a walk”

“I see”

They both didn’t know what else to say. Sandesh was, as always, short on words. And, Sukruthi had never expected someone stopping her for a talk. I mean, who would dare stop a bar dancer and talk to her in such a public place?

So, obviously she was surprised. Sandesh somehow managed to spit out few words, at last.

“Do you mind having a cup of coffee with me?”

“Coffee?”

“Yeah. Why, you don’t drink coffee?”

“I do. But, I’m not used to these things. I just don’t...”

“Please, I insist. I wanted to thank you from a very long time for giving back my life”

“What? I don’t know what you’re talking about”

“I’ll explain everything if you join me over coffee”

“Sure”

“Great. Wait, I’ll get my bike”

“I prefer walking”

“Okay, then. Come along”

                    Sandesh lead her to a nearby Cafe Coffee Day and ordered a cappuccino for each.

“Are you sure you don’t want anything to eat?”

“No, thanks” she replied with a smile. After a minute of silence, Sukruthi asked,

“You come here often?”

“Not much. But, I do visit CCD once in a while.  I love their different flavoured cappuccinos”

“Hmmm. This is my first time here. But, I heard costs here are very high”

“To some extent. But, they provide good quality beverages”

“But, what’s the use of wasting so much money when one can get a coffee for 1/3^rd lesser rate outside?”

“These people have a standard. Even though people say this place is expensive, not a single cafe is under loss”

“Hmmm”

“There’s another wing CCD, Cafe Square. There are only four outlets of Cafe Square all over India, two in Delhi, one in Chennai and one here in Bengaluru, near Malya hospital. Price there is thrice as much as what we pay here. And even it’s also crowded”

“Oh my god! People are crazy”

“It’s just the way they chose to live their lives”

Their conversation was interrupted by a waiter who had emerged with a red tray containing two cappuccino cups. He placed the tray over the table and vanished. The duo started sipping their coffee. The aroma of fresh coffee beans powder mesmerised Sukruthi. That feeling was clearly visible on her face.

                    After few sips Sukruthi remembered their intension of visiting CCD and asked Sandesh,

“So, why’s it you wanted to thank me?”

Sandesh replied still sipping from his cup,

“For saving me. I don’t know what would’ve done if hadn’t met you that day”

“I’m sorry. But, I don’t remember any of my action saving you. As far as I can recall, I just told you my story. Not a thing extra”

“Your story’s what brought me back to my senses”

“I’m not getting any of it”

“I had been through few bad things in life that had pushed me to a state of depression. I had lost the strength to live. I thought I had no cause to live for. But, when I heard your story, I realised that life’s full of shit; not just mine, but of everyone’s. In order to succeed in life, one has to go through all kind of sufferings. Only then that person gains the strength to enjoy his life. Therefore, rather than sitting and crying in a corner we should stand firm and face life. It’s the lesson I learnt from you. So, thank you”

“Wow! I had never thought that my pathogenic story would someday change someone’s life”

“Well, it did”

“Hmmm. So, what’s your story?”

“My story?”

“Yeah. Everyone has got their own story. And I know you do too”

“Well, it’s...”

“Only if you want to share it with me. Otherwise it’s fine”

“No, no. Nothing like that”

“Okay, then. I’m all ears”

Sandesh narrated his entire life history to her right from the day he was born, the day he lost his mother, his struggles in joining Microsoft and at last, about Adhya. They both fell silent once he finished his story. But, soon that silent moment was disturbed by the waiter.

“What else do you want, sir?” he asked. It also meant, “If you’re done with your coffee and still trying to kill time in an air-conditioned room, this is not that place. So, get the hell out of here”. We can’t blame that poor boy. It’s just their company policy. Sandesh looked at his face, giving away a warm smile, understanding his intension behind asking that question. Then he spoke out, clearing his throat,

“Nothing else, thank you. We were about to leave”

Sandesh and Sukruthi came out of the cafe and started walking silently. Realising Sandesh wouldn’t talk now; she let out a deep sigh and filled the next breadth with words.

“That’s quite a story”

“Yeah”

“You still don’t talk to your father?”

“Excuse me?”

She had caught a different end.

“You heard me”

“No, I don’t”

“That’s very bad”

“Bad?”

“Yes. You were depressed after that girl whom you hardly knew left you. Just imagine how much pain it would cause to your father everyday knowing his own part hates him for what he did just for his son”

“What do you mean?”
“When your mother passed away, your father was left with no choice than remarrying. He didn’t do it for himself, he did it for you. No matter how much he cares, you would still miss the warmth of a mother’s love. And he had to work hard for providing you economical support. Then, where would he leave you? So, he brought your aunt home, who would treat you like her own son, unlike any other unknown woman. He gave her his wife’s place only to avoid the poking words of this society. Did you ever think why they didn’t have another child? Certainly they weren’t old or unable to do so physically. But, they were afraid that the love they show you might get divided among the other children. They sacrificed themselves for you, Sandesh. And what did your father get for his ultimate sacrifice? Not even his son’s smiley face. You didn’t get the one you loved. It might be because you never showed love to the ones who loved you immensely”

Sandesh was stunned hearing this. All these years what he had thought, believed and followed blindly were nothing but a lie. He stopped walking and stood idly staring at the ground. He was guilty. Sukruthi came closer to him and held his hand. Tightening her grip, as if to give him strength, she continued,

“Think about it, Sandesh. Parents are lovely creatures. Not everyone is blessed with a boon of looking after them. Keep them happy. Treasure them”

                                           *   *   *   *

                      Shankar entered the house, tired and late from work. He removed his shoes and turned to go towards his room. But, he was stopped mid way by a sight. Savita was sitting on the sofa. Her eyes were moist and her face was unbelievably calm. Her hand was on Sandesh’s head. He was lying on the sofa, keeping his head over Savita’s lap. His eyes were soaked in tears. As they noticed Shankar, Savita’s eyes started leaking swiftly. But, there was still calmness and satisfaction on her face. Sandesh sat up and saw his father’s confused face. He raced towards Shankar and hugged him tightly, sobbing and repeatedly saying,

“I’m sorry, Pappa. I’m very sorry”

Shankar too broke out. He hugged back his son. Tears started rolling down his cheeks and fell down, disappearing between the tight hug.

                                           *   *   *   *