Maitri

by Nandita Rani

  Saurabh used to come in the evening on alternate days. Maitri had asked Minal to enquire about his fees from Roshni, but he had refused to take anything citing friendly relations.

  Saurabh was not a man many girls would fall for; his average looks did not set him apart from the crowd. But there was something about him that made him look affable.

  During one of the sittings, hopping on one-leg, when Maitri lost her balance, he held her arms and rescued her from falling. That was the first time when Maitri noticed his features: tiny eyes, sharp nose, not-so-full cheeks, a week’s stubble on face, a thin upper-lip which were then pursed tightly due to the strength used in preventing her fall. The most remarkable thing about his look was his teeth: pearly- white. His teeth made him pass for a dentist more than a physiotherapist.

  “Thank you.” said the blushing Maitri, while her loose hair dangled over her shoulder, almost touching his face.

  “Careful.” He replied without lifting his eyes. “A bad fall at this point can cause more injury”. His voice was concerned.

  Why am I blushing? He is younger than me.

  So what? Which rule book states that a lady can’t fall for a younger man.

  Nooo Maitri…Stop! Not again. I am not letting you do this again.

  Chill! I am just having some fun.

  An internal debate between her heart and her mind had started again.

  “So,what are your hobbies, Saurabh?”, she asked but suddenly regretted doing so. She just wanted to shut her noisy mind up.

  “Sorry?”, Saurabh said, surprised by the question.

  “Nothing! I will ask Minal to get some tea.”

  “No , I will take your leave now.”, said Saurabh, glancing at his watch.

  Just then, Minal entered the room with three cups of tea and a plate of biscuits. She placed the tray on the bed. They picked up their cups and started sipping; each looking in a different direction. The sound of their sips echoed in the silent room, increasing the awkwardness levels.

  “Biscuits?” Minal said pushing the plate toward Saurabh.

  Saurabh indicated a ‘no’ with a smile. No one spoke anything after that.

  Maitri gradually regained walking, although with a limp. She joined school after a month's sabbatical, while her sittings with Saurabh got over.

  One night, when she was about to sleep, her phone vibrated.

  ‘How are you?’ the message said.

  She looked at the number. It looked familiar. Maitri smiled. She picked up her mobile and typed – ‘Much better. How can I ever thank you?’

  She received a smiley in return. She wanted to write more but Saurabh went offline.

  Maitri would often send a ‘hi’ or a good morning message to Saurabh , who would always reciprocate too, but he never wrote anything more. ‘May be it's because of Minal’s friendship with his sister.’- Maitri had no option but to presume.

  It was Maitri’s thirty-fifth birthday. That morning, along with good wishes from her friends and family, Maitri received a birthday wish from Saurabh too. She was elated and quickly replied- ‘Thank you.’

  ‘So, where is the party?’, he wrote.

  ‘No party’, she replied with a sad face.

  ‘How is your leg?’, came the next message.

  ‘Completely fine, doctor.’

  There was no reply for the last message.

  Minal had planned a dinner at a restaurant for the family but her father refused, saying that he wanted to rest at home.

  ‘What will I do among you kids? You three go out and have fun. We will stay at home.’ He said.

  Although Maitri felt awkward at the idea but since Minal insisted and Maitri did not want to upset her, they went for the dinner. Minal had arranged for a cake too.

  When Minal and Siddharth sang the birthday song for Maitri, the restaurant people joined them in the celebration. Maitri cut out a triangular piece and fed them both a bite each. Siddharth playfully smeared some cake on Maitri’s face, and even Maitri did not resist. They were placing an order when a voice interrupted, “Is it your birthday today?’

  “Saurabh?” Maitri spoke surprisingly. He knows it is. Why is he pretending?

  “You did not invite me but I still came.” He spoke with his upper lip turning up a little in a faint smile.

  “Please sit.” Minal offered him a chair.

  “No, thank you, I am with my friends.”, he said, pointing to a table. His friends waved back at them.

  Maitri quickly cut four pieces of cake and requested the waiter to pass it on to his table.

  “How is your leg?” Saurabh asked.

  Why is he asking again?

  “Absolutely fine. Thank you so much.” Maitri smiled.

  “Are you doing the exercises?”, he enquired.

  “Yes, religiously.”, Maitri replied with a grin.

  Meanwhile, their order arrived, they had ordered Chinese food since Maitri loved this cuisine.

  “Chinese? I love Chinese.” Saurabh blurted out looking at their order.

  “Why don’t you join us then?” Minal insisted.

  “Ah! My friends are waiting. But I can have a bite for sure.”, Saurabh said smiling, this time revealing his pearly-white teeth. He scooted a chair up to the table.

  They all spoke about mundane topics; Saurabh intermittently asked Siddharth about his school and friends. He left after a while for his table but not before ordering dessert for them.

  Maitri experienced a mix of emotions that night. She thought of the day when she had met Piyush in a restaurant; the way he had greeted her, whispering in her ears; the way they had touched each other in the mobile hand-off; the way he used to call her ‘princess’- her secret desires would stir awake on hearing that word from his mouth. They did not have much interaction in person but they had gotten close through mobile chats. He used to flatter her with his frilly words. She remembered how on her last birthday, he was the first one to wish her at 12.01 a.m. She missed those days.

  She went into the balcony; the cool breeze touched her face gently, wafting through her hair. She brushed her hair behind her ears with her fingers. She hugged herself, crossing her arms over her bosom; she rubbed her palms against her arms to give herself some warmth. She was humming her favourite song when a distant song coming from the streets caught her attention. The words of the song perfectly suited her state-

  Dil ki tanhai ko aawaz bana lete hain.

  Dard jab had se guzarta to gaa lete hain.

  She wondered if she was going to meet her soul mate ever; if there was a soul mate at all for her; if her parents were thinking of getting her married one day. She knew there would be a financial crisis if she left the house. It was almost16-17 years remaining for Siddharth to become financially independent. She speculated if she will have to wait for the next 17 years to have someone in her life; if her sisters would get married before her; if she will ever have children of her own.

  Almost all her friends were married now; some of their children addressed Maitri as ‘maasi’. Even Koyel was married and gone. Most of the old faces in the school were all replaced by new, young girls. Maitri felt lonely and left-out. She pondered if anyone cared about her life.

  She got back to her room and opened the cupboard, took out her pink dress and rubbed her cheeks against it; a feeble smile crossed her face.

  Maitri somewhere knew deep down that all said and done, her family was her first and the only priority in life, and that she will always stand by her parents irrespective of her personal needs.

  She sat on her bed and fiddled with her mobile. There was an urge in her to talk to someone, but there was no one she could talk to.

  ***

  Chapter 7: Unlucky in love

  “We need to operate on the kidney stone.”, the doctor told Maitri.

  “He had been complaining of having trouble in passing urine, but we assumed it was due to his limited water intake”, Maitri spoke worriedly. “But, he complained of a severe pain this mornin
g.” She continued battling a tear that was ready to flow from her left eye.

  Minal pressed her hand when she noticed Maitri’s breaking voice. Both of them had taken an off from their schools.

  Maitri was still talking to the doctor when her phone began to ring; it was Nishu on the line. Maitri handed the phone to Minal.

  “Hello”

  “I think we will have to admit him today.”

  “No, will tell you if required.”

  “He is inside. Maa is fine. Siddharth is there at home.”

  “Will talk later!”, Minal then hung up.

  Giving her debit card to Minal, Maitri asked her to withdraw some money.

  ‘I will get it, di.”, Minal said refusing to take the card. And she went out to look for an ATM.

  Maitri’s father was immediately admitted. The kidney stone was successfully removed by the doctor in a 90-minute surgery. It was a 6.5-mm stone which was later shown to the family post operation. After the surgery, Minal went to drop her mother and Siddharth home. They both wanted to stay but the hospital did not allow more than two members for one patient to stay in the hospital.

  Maitri composed herself before entering her father's room. At first, she thought that he was sleeping but his eyes fluttered and opened when she neared him. He looked at her, then looked away.

  “Baba”, she spoke faintly.

  Maitri seldom called her father ‘Baba’; it was only when she wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk.

  He did not reply, and kept gazing out of the window.

  “Baba, has the pain lessened?”, she asked in a concerned tone.

  He turned his face towards her and shook his head. “It has risen”.

  Maitri frowned to understand what he meant. She made out he was talking about something else: his real pain.

  She sat on a chair beside his bed and held his hand that had fresh needle marks.

  “What did you sell off this time?”, he said, looking into her eyes.

  She shifted uncomfortably in her chair. He knows about maa's jewellery.

  “Baba, why are you worrying about all that now? We managed.”, Maitri blinked vigorously when she spoke.

  He looked away again but not before giving way to a tear that smudged his pillow.

  “Baba, please speak it out; it will help you. Don’t burden your soul with guilt. Everyone’s life is different.” Maitri moved from the chair to sit beside him, still holding his hand.

  He did not answer but kept looking away.

  She wiped his tears before wiping her own, “You know that we love you, Baba.”

  He pressed his eyes shut.

  She got up to leave. May be he wants to sleep it off. She was gradually trying to slide her hand off when her father held it tightly at once – ‘I am sorry.’ He broke down and began to cry; his voice dwindling into indecipherable mumbles.

  He lifted her hand and kissed it gently, his tears drenching her hand completely.

  Maitri began to cry too. She knew his pain was much beyond her understanding- the pain of not being able to be a good father; pain of not being able to do anything for his children’s future; pain of creating further mess in their lives; pain of not being able to prove that he was not guilty. No operation on this planet could help him get rid of that pain.

  Maitri’s father was discharged from the hospital in two days. Nishu and Soni came home for a week to see him. The family took special care of him, making sure that he took his meals and medicines on time.

  One afternoon, Maitri and Minal were attending to the tuition kids. Minal got up to get herself a glass of water. Her phone lighted up with a message. Maitri glanced and saw a ‘hi’.

  She continued with her work, not paying much heed, when the phone vibrated again. She noticed the profile was of a male; he looked familiar. She picked up Minal’s phone to get a closer look and what she saw shook the ground beneath her. She raised her head, experiencing a hovering shadow; Minal stood there with a glass of water. She snatched her phone away from Maitri’s hand, scowling at her.

  Later that evening, Maitri went to Minal to talk.

  “Minal, I didn’t mean to pry. I was just looking because it was a familiar face.”

  “I didn’t like it!”, Minal said in a firm tone.

  “From when are you..? Is it from the time of my treatment or before?”, Maitri asked.

  Minal did not reply.

  “So you knew him before suggesting his name for attending to me.” Maitri spoke staring at her.

  “Minal, I am talking to you. Did you invite him to the restaurant?”

  Minal did not deny. She stood with her back towards Maitri.

  “Oh! So it was planned.”, Maitri spoke nodding her head slowly.

  The man in the profile was Saurabh. Maitri was hocked beyond words. She revisited those moments –

  ‘Maitri di, he is my friend’s brother.'

  'Why don’t you join us?’

  ‘Oh! Chinese, that is my favourite.’

  – Their mingled voices resonated in her head making sense now.

  She cursed herself for getting carried away this time also.

  “Why did not it strike me before?”, Maitri said more to herself than to Minal. “It was so obvious. You could have told me, you know, Minal”, she slapped her forehead.

  “There was no point, di.”, Minal finally broke her silence. “It has to be you first.” She spoke, looking down.

  “What?” Maitri spoke in disbelief. She turned Minal to her side and repeated, “What did you just say?”

  “Correct me if I am wrong but you are 4 years elder than me; you have to get married before me. And I need to wait.”, Minal yelled.

  “You could have told me about your friendship, damn it.”, Maitri yelled back.

  “And how would that help? You would find someone for yourself overnight, is it?”, Minal turned her back towards Maitri again. “And we are much more than friends.”

  Maitri dashed ahead of her and faced her, “Good for you two. But what is this bitterness for me, Minal?”

  “It’s not bitterness, di. But I don’t see any scope for us right now.”, Minal mellowed down a bit.

  Maitri couldn't control her anger any longer. With tears stinging her eyes, she yelled, “How am I responsible? What do you expect? To forget papa, maa and go ahead with my marriage plans? Tell me, Minal, what would you do? Would you have the courage to go ahead and tell your ailing father that I need to find love in my life so goodbye, that please stop expecting things from me and let me live my life like any other normal girl? Would you have the audacity to do so, tell me?” Maitri screamed at Minal, her eyes remarkably out from their sockets.

  Maitri began to sob.

  “Do you think that I don’t have any desires, any dreams? That I don’t aspire to have a house of my own, a husband, have my children?” She spoke amidst sobs, her voice almost indecipherable.

  She plonked on the bed and soaking her tears in her sleeves, sobbed, “I…I have dreams too, Minal. But I have responsibilities also. Being the eldest in the family brings on a lot of onus on you; I cannot shy away from my duties. You have no idea what hell I go through when I….” She suddenly stopped realizing the irrelevance of her words.

  Minal stood there dumbstruck, trying to find a way how to respond. She turned and got down on her knees near Maitri, placing her hand on her shoulder.

  Maitri wiped her tears and spoke, her voice croaked –“I always pray for the best for all of you. I will pray for a good life for you and Saurabh too.” She touched Minal’s hand gently and got up to leave the room. As she neared the door, she found her mother standing there, her face wet with tears. Maitri walked past her mother and entered her room.

  The next day, Maitri spoke to her parents about Minal and Saurabh and convinced them to let them get engaged. Maitri’s parents agreed since by now, they knew Saurabh and his family well. They feared that they might not get a good family like Saurabh’s if they showed any delay.

&
nbsp; Maitri and her father went to Saurabh’s place the following Sunday. Saurabh’s parents happily accepted the proposal. His mother did show a little reluctance about Minal getting engaged before her elder sister but Maitri’s father assured them of getting Maitri married too as soon as a good proposal was received for her. The engagement was scheduled after one month. The parents agreed to keep it a simple affair.

  Maitri herself broke the news to Minal, hugging her lovingly. “I am so happy for you.”

  All Minal could do was apologize to her in reply.

  They all started preparing for the engagement. Soni and Nishu were informed to book their tickets in advance. Only the closest relatives were invited for the engagement, and a hall was booked by the families for the event.

  On the engagement day, Minal wore a peach colour saree with golden border. She looked pretty in her simple ensemble, keeping the jewelry and makeup to a minimum. Saurabh wore a light green colour shirt paired with black pants. The couple looked happy in each other’s company.

  As they exchanged rings, Maitri stood beside her father, holding his hand. They were overwhelmed with emotions. It was the first big event in the Verma house. The relatives gathered around the couple and showered their blessings upon them, congratulating the parents of the couple.

  Maitri too climbed the stage to congratulate them. As soon as she climbed down the stage, her mobile vibrated in her hand. She glanced at it and found a ‘congratulations’ message but something was amiss. It was from Saurabh’s number. She frowned, then raised her head to find Saurabh seeking blessings from an elderly couple on the stage.

  She instinctively typed – ‘Who are you?’

  But there was no reply.

  ***

  Chapter 8: Don't go Baba

  They all returned from the hall very late at night. Maitri went into her room and shivered to think who she was talking to assuming him as Saurabh. She wanted to verify Saurabh’s number from Minal but decided to wait till the things settled down a bit. Later, she found out that the numbers were different; it didn't belong to Saurabh. She blocked the number immediately.