The Cryptic Clue

by Jisha Rajesh

“Otherwise, what will you do?” she challenged him as her pain waned away.

  “You will be punished till you start smiling again.” He pulled her hands apart and pinned them down on the bed and tickled her with kisses making her laugh.

  “I love you a lot Sandy,” Muskan said as she felt an overwhelming feeling of gratitude towards the man who was able to shower his barren wife with such intense love.

  “I love you too baby,” he said as he brushed his lips on her neck while his hands pulled down the zipper on her night gown.

  “Let me go Sandy,” she said pretending to push him away even though she wanted him to get even closer, “I have to make breakfast for you.”

  ‘Then what are we paying Gangu bai for?” Sandeep said as his kisses became immensely passionate “She will make breakfast for me while you make love to me.”

  “Sandy, you are such a devil!”she said as she broke into giggles and their tinkling sound filled the room.

  “Yes I am,” he said as he sank deeper into her, “and I am going to gobble you up.”

  The couple who was absolutely lost in each other was interrupted by a knock at the door.

  “Yes?” Muskan gasped from beneath him.

  “You have a guest, Madam,” Gangu bai informed from behind the door and turned quickly towards the kitchen as the milk boiling over the stove, which was threatening to spill over anytime, beckoned her urgently back to her post of duty.

  “Who has dropped in so early?” Sandeep raised his head for a while and then looked down quizzically at her.

  “I know who it could be,” Muskan flashed a knowing smile as she got up from the bed and pulled a robe over her gown. “Now get ready you have to attend to your office as well.”

  She closed the door of the bedroom behind her as she watched him crawl into the closet like an indolent snail. She peeped at the parlor to have a look at her early morning guest as she descended the stairs. A bright smile spread its wings on her lips as she saw a girl in her early twenties waiting down there.

  ‘It’s Mehak!’ Her eyes twinkled.

  Mehak was a relative of one of her subordinates. She had befriended Mehak through her at her house warming party a few years ago. She was studying in her tenth standard at that time and was a student of outstanding brilliance. She was impressed by the little girl’s innocent nature, optimistic attitude and polite demeanor. She immediately cradled Mehak in her affectionate heart when she came to know that she was a motherless child. Tragedy struck Mehak again when her father passed away a few years later, leaving the naïve girl to perish all alone in the wicked world. She was still a student at that time and, as there was no other source of income for her after her father’s death, she was forced to quit studies and take up the job of a salesgirl at a local textile shop. When Muskan came to know about Mehak’s plight through her subordinate, she instantly made her quit the job and got her admitted back to college. She made her mind to sponsor her studies when no other relative of Mehak was ready to take the responsibility of a girl child whom they all considered nothing but a burden. All others around her thought that Muskan has lost her mind and that’s why she was making an investment that would yield her nothing. But she knew very well why she was doing all this for a girl she barely knew. In a way, she was fulfilling her desire of being a mother by taking care of a motherless child.

  “Good morning, Mac.” Muskan flashed one of her brightest smiles as her eyes glowed with affection for the girl.

  “Good morning, Muskan di.” Mehak instantly jumped to her feet and smiled back as she saw Muskan.

  “Sit down sweetie,” Muskan’s smile widened and the sparkle in her eyes doubled as she placed a hand on Mehak’s shoulder and made her sit again.

  “Gangu bai,” Muskan called out as she settled down on the sofa beside Mehak, “bring us some coffee please.”

  “No, didi,” Mehak said, “I am fine.”

  “Do you think I am going to let you run away without having even a cup of coffee with me?” Muskan glared at her for a moment and then burst out of laughing as she saw Mehak’s face turning pale out of fear of offending her.

  “Your wish, my command,” Mehak smiled as she realized that Muskan was only pulling her leg.

  “When are you going on the trip with your friends?” Muskan asked.

  “I am not going with them.” Mehak said with downcast eyes.

  “May I ask you why?” Muskan crossed her hands over her chest and took to her usual role of a stern mother.

  “Just don’t feel like going, that’s all...” Mehak tried to smile but instantly dragged her eyes away as she found Muskan scrutinizing her closely with her keen eyes.

  “I see,” Muskan sighed as she drew a conclusion after watching the girl for some time.

  “I came here to hand you this,” Mehak rummaged in her pocket with her petite fingers and pulled out a cheque, “I got my scholarship yesterday.”

  “So?” A deep frown took form on Muskan’s face.

  “Take this, didi,” she said as she held out the cheque to Muskan, “You have paid for my fees last month, isn’t it? This is all I have to repay your debt.”

  “If you really wish to clear my debt then pay for the love that I have felt for you right here,” Muskan said placing a hand on her chest, “pay me for caring for you like my own kin and also pay for the affection I have been showering blindly upon you for all these years. Can you?”

  “I can’t afford to repay your debt even in my lives to come,” Mehak kept her head low as she gulped down a lump.

  “Then don’t try to do what you can’t,” Muskan’s eyes pierced through her, “finish your coffee and hang out with your friends.”

  “But I really don’t want to go on that boring tour.” Mehak carefully avoided looking into Muskan’s eyes.

  “I better understand young lady, why that tour seems so boring to you.” Muskan said with a knowing smile.

  She moved close to Mehak and held her hand that was holding the cheque.

  “Keep them with you and enjoy with your friends.”

  “Oh, didi!” Mehak hugged her and burst out crying.

  “My poor baby,” Muskan said as she cuddled her in her arms and whispered into her ears. “Do you know that our Julie had a baby this morning.”

  “Really, didi?!” Mehak said as she wiped her tears, “Take me to her.”

  Muskan fed Julie with her usual quota of a bowl of milk while Mehak became busy playing with the newborn kitten. Muskan raised her eyes to look at Mehak while absent mindedly patting Julie’s head who was voraciously gulping the milk down her throat.

  ‘If I were lucky enough to have a daughter within the first year of my marriage,’ Muskan thought as her gaze slid down Mehak’s tall, slender frame, ‘she would have been a grown-up girl by now, just like Mehak.’

  She smiled at her own whimsical thoughts and shook her head.

  “Oh I forgot to tell you,” Mehak slapped her head, “I got a job through campus recruitment and they have asked me to join by next week.”

  “Congratulations dear,” Muskan was on cloud nine as she hugged her, “Well, that calls for a grand celebration. I am going to throw a party for you next Saturday. We haven’t had a party at our place for the last few months and I promise that this one is going to be a blast.”

  “Thank you so much, didi,” Mehak said as she got up, “I have to go now. My friends will be waiting for me.”

  “So, the tour is on?” Muskan smiled.

  “Yes, it is.” Mehak smiled sheepishly andran out of the door.

  Muskan kept looking at her till she vanished out of sight. She felt her soul fill up with a divine fragrance that made her forget her regrets and agonies in life. She always felt so after spending some quality time with her darling Mehak. She knew the girl did justice to her name ‘Mehak’, which meant fragrance.

  Muskan smiled as she walked back to the kitchen to attend to her household duties.

  ‘She is the one who spreads the fragrance of
love and affection in my life.’ Muskan smiled at Gangu bai as she thought, ‘Yes! She is the one who makes me feel that I am no more a barren. I am a mother too.’

  Ayana’s eyes filled up as she read the story. She knew that the girl Mehak in the story was nobody else but herself. And the male protagonist Sandeep is Mr Kumar who has always loved her with utmost sincerity in spite of her inability to conceive. She closed the manuscript and pressed it tightly against her chest as a torrential rain of tears made its way down her cheeks. Now she knew how dearly her Godmother loved her. She made her love for Ayana immortal through the printed words that will always remind everyone of the bond they shared. Her love, expressed through the story, made Ayana mourn her loss more deeply.

  “Please come back,” she said as she turned her tear-filled eyes to their picture placed on her desk even though she knew for sure that it won’t happen ever.

  * *

  It was already noon and Ayana was in no mood to cook. She was lost in the manuscript till hunger pangs finally reminded her of the time. She turned to gaze towards the kitchen but her eyes bounced back again and glued themselves on the story that she held in hands. Shanaya’s stories used to cast some mystic spell on Ayana since her school days and her father used to keep her novels locked safely when it was time for Ayana’s term end examinations. He feared that Ayana will be drawn towards her books instead of studying and will fail miserably in the examinations.

  She was in a dilemma now. Her mind was eager to devour the manuscript while her body craved for a sumptuous lunch. Her hungry mind and famished body fought a long battle with each other and she finally found out a solution. She jumped out of the couch and grabbed her phone. She dialed the number of the nearby Chinese restaurant and ordered food that was delivered to her at lightningspeed. She hadn’t eaten much since Shanaya’s death and had even lost some weight, which made her look frail and pale. After she had started reading Shanaya’s story, she felt a tremendous wave of energy swell within her and tear apart the veil of melancholy that was choking her. She felt electrified and lively, as if Shanaya was making her presence felt around her, cuddling Ayana in her arms and consoling her as she used to do always. Since her childhood, Ayana used to take shelter in Shanaya’s books whenever things went wrong in her life. After befriending her, it was Shanaya herself who used to console and guide Ayana through the dark phases of her life.

  After having her lunch she turned back to the manuscript. Ayana carried the manuscript to the balcony as she yearned for some warmth from the sun. But to her dismay, the Sun was still within the arrest of the clouds and was not willing to grant Ayana her request. As it was cold outside, Ayana marched back to the couch where the blanket lay stretched, waiting to seduce her into its warm embrace. Ayana immediately jumped on the couch and crawled under it. But things didn’t go the way Ayana had assumed. A heavy lunch and the warm comfort of the blanket acted as catalyst to usher her slowly into the custody of sleep. Ayana gazed at the manuscript lying on her lap but the words seem to fade away. Finally, she put it aside and turned her attention towards the sleep that was blessing her after a long time.

  It was already 6 o’clock in the evening when she woke up. Twilight painted the sky dark and the stars had already arrived for a night long duty. Her neck was soar as she had slept insensibly on the couch and sprained her neck in the bargain. She washed her face and prepared herself a cup of coffee. She took the manuscript and the coffee to her bedroom and cuddled upon her bed out of the fear of drifting to unconscious sleep again and getting the rest of her body parts damaged as well. She took a sip from her coffee and placed it on the table by her side as she turned to the next chapter.

  Chapter – 2 - The NEWS

  Muskan’s bungalow glittered beautifully with lights and was scented with the lucrative aroma oozing out of the various delicacies that seduced every taste bud. Muskan, clad in a violet saree with a golden embroidered border, was busy running a final check on the arrangements along with attending to her guests as they started pouring in. She was throwing a party for her beloved Mehak and she wanted it to stand out as the best ever held in the society. But much to her surprise, the girl herself was missing. She had tried calling Mehak on her phone several times but it was switched off. As the hands of the clock ticked by, Muskan’s anxiety also soared.

  “Where were you?” Muskan nearly jumped on her as soon as she saw Mehak step on the lawn.

  “Sorry didi,” Mehak said as she held her ears apologetically, “I was stuck in traffic.”

  “Oh, that’s okay,” Muskan heaved a sigh of relief, “I really got worried for you. But that’s quite natural for me as the city is not safe for young girls like you. Anyway, let me introduce you to my friends.”

  She pulled Mehak by her hand, incessantly talking as she exhaled out the tension that was building upon her mind regarding Mehak’s wellbeing. She took her to a group of four ladies who were in their mid-forties. They were all dressed up in sparkling designer sarees and were embellished with extravagant make-up and expensive accessories.

  “Hi ladies, what’s up?” Muskan said as she hugged them all one by one.

  “We were catching up with the latest sizzling gossip,” one of them said and the whole gang burst into a roar of laughter.

  “Well,” Muskan said as she hid a contemptuous smile, “Meet my best friend Mehak. This party is for her. She has bagged a well-paid job in an MNC.”

  Their faces became painted with contempt as they knew that Mehak was the orphan girl who was thriving on Muskan’s mercy. But they quickly pasted a pretentious smile over and greeted her warmly.

  “And Mehak,” Muskan said as she looked at her before turning to face her friends again, “this is Mrs Anamika Kapoor, Mrs Malvika Basu, Mrs Sejal Damle and Mrs Rajlaxmi Menon. They are my friends.”

  “I am so pleased to meet you lovely ladies,” Mehak said with a polite smile.

  “By the way, the party is really awesome,” Mrs Kapoor complimented.

  “I will throw another party like this when my Mehak gets married,” Muskan said as she lovingly ran a hand on Mehak’s forehead.

  “We are waiting for it, Muskan,” MrsBasu said.

  “You won’t have to wait for long, Malvika,” Muskan smiled back.

  “Didi, you are embarrassing me,” Mehak whispered in her ears propelling Muskan to burst out laughing.

  “Carry on ladies,” Muskan said as she bade them a momentary farewell and took Mehak with her to introduce her to the other guests.

  “I have named their group as NEWS,” Muskan toned down her voice to a low whisper when they were alone.

  “Why, didi?” Mehak asked amused by the unique nomenclature, “Is it because they spread news in their friends circle?”

  “Not news, sweetie,” Muskan’s face burnt with fury and contempt, “they spin rumors to blacken the reputation of innocent people.”

  “Then why do you call them ‘news’ didi?” Mehak’s turned her curious eyes to her.

  “Because they represent the four directions—North, East, West and South,” Muskan flashed a naughty smile.

  “What?”

  “Yes,” Muskan had another bout of laughter as her eyes fell on Mehak’s bewildered face, “Mrs Kapoor is a North Indian while Mrs Basu, who hails from Kolkata, represents the east. Then there is Mrs Damle, a Gujrati, who is a representative of the west, and finally Mrs Menon, who is a South Indian. And hence, the gang of these ladies is called NEWS.”

  Mehak burst out laughing as she understood the reason behind the funny name and Muskan joined in.

  * *

  “Why is Muskan in a hurry to get the girl married?” Mrs Kapoor asked Mrs Basu staring at them from the corner of her eyes, as she sipped orange juice. “She seems to be quite young for a marriage.”

  “People are in a hurry to get the girls married only when they are trapped in a situation,” Mrs Basu said as she quietly drowned the liquid down her throat. “There could be only one reason for the hurry.” />
  “What?”

  “Mehak is having an affair with Muskan’s husband.”

  “What?”

  “Don’t tell anyone,” Mrs Basu warned.

  “Okay,” Mrs Kapoor gulped down to calm her excitedly pumping heart.

  “Hey Sejal,” Mrs Basu called out as she saw her passing by them, “where are you going?”

  “To the washroom.”

  “I was holding on for a long time,” Mrs Basu said as she put her glass down, “let me give you company.

  Mrs Damle applied a fresh coat of lipstick on her already sodden lips and looked admiringly at her image in the mirror of the washroom. Mrs Basu stealthily slipped towards her and cornered her.

  “What?” Mrs Damle asked as she couldn’t reign her curiosity on seeing her friend’s anxious face.

  “Anamika was telling me that Mehak is having an affair with Sandeep and that’s why Muskan is in a hurry to get her married off,” she said in a low whisper expecting her buddy to get shocked, “Have you heard anything about it?”

  “That’s an old news Malvika,” Mrs Damle shrugged, “I have even heard that Mehak is pregnant with his child.”

  “What?!” Mrs Basu who was trying to shock her friend received an even stronger shock.

  “Yes, but remember,” she said in an urgent tone, “it’s a secret between you and me. Don’t let the cat out of the bag. Do you understand?”

  “I swear I won’t,” Mrs Basu, who had still not recovered from the shock, promised.

  Mrs Damle stepped out of the washroom triumphantly while Mrs Basu took time to cool her jittered nerves down and chose to remain in the washroom till then. Mrs Damle stepped into the lawn where a buffet was arranged. Her gaze fell on Mrs Menon who was relishing various cuisines. She decided to knock her down by passing on the furtive piece of information that she held in her creative mind.

  “Hi, Rajlaxmi,” Mrs Damle said as she smiled to her she and settled down on the chair near her.

  “The food is so delicious,” Mrs Menon, an ardent foodie, said as she dug her canines into a spicy piece of chicken tandoori, “you must also try.”