The Wounded Hearts

by Vijay K Kerji

  Chapter 3

  After two days, things settled down, and Punita sensed leniency in her brother’s and her dad’s stern attitude. One afternoon when both were not at home, she made a plan to visit Nita’s home to discuss her problem. She longed to meet someone but meeting Nitin at hospital would hurt his parents. And perhaps, provoke Mohan to take untoward action towards her and Nitin. Before going out to meet Nita, she called her. Nita answered after a couple of rings. “Hi, Punita, where are you now?”

  “I am at my home, and, I wanted to meet you,” Punita said.

  “All right, you can come at any time.”

  Punita’s chest lightened, and she straightened her posture. “I will start from here in next twenty minutes.”

  “Sure, I’ll wait for you.” Nita ended the call.

  Punita walked out of her bedroom and strode to the living room. Her mother was seated on a couch watching a television channel.

  “Mom, I’m going to a nearby shopping mall.”

  “When you’ll be back? Your Dad may arrive soon,” Punita’s mother said.

  “I will come back soon after purchasing my clothes.” Punita walked out of her home.

  She wiped the dust covered on her scooter and drove it to the main street. Amidst heavy traffic and the smoke whch emanated from the vehicles, she reached Nita’s home after ten minutes. Nita opened the door for her and took her to her study room in upstairs.

  Nita sat on a sofa and waved Punita to a seat beside her. “You have gone down since I saw you last in the college previous week.”

  “Yeah, it had been a bad experience for me to see Nitin beaten by Mohan’s men. How is he now?”

  “I met him yesterday, he is recovering fast. In next couple of days, he may be discharged. Why don’t we go and see him?”

  Punita’s brows knitted. “I don’t want to disappoint his parents, and when I spoke to them last, his dad was angry at me.”

  “Oh, in that case, let’s not go there,” Nita said.

  “Can Nitin talk over phone?” Punita asked.

  “No, he still lay on the bed with saline injected in his veins. Perhaps, you may have to wait for another couple of days,” Nita said.

  “I’m worried about our future. Mohan had hurt us by behaving so harsh on us. We want to go somewhere away from bad guys,” Punita said.

  “Where do you go? Do you want to leave your parents?”

  Punita pondered for a minute. She had to be firm in her decision to leave her parents if she wanted Nitin in her life. She loved her parents but she needed Nitin as well, and it was a tricky situation for her.

  “My dad is also not interested in Nitin. I love Nitin and I need to do something before we two are separated permanently.”

  “Have you planned well so that you can go away and settle somewhere with Nitin?”

  “No, not yet, but I need all of your support to achieve my goal. Nitin mentioned our classmate Gopal may help us in such matters,” Punita said.

  “Yeah, I remember he had helped our seniors to get married amidst their parents’ opposition.”

  “What help he offered to them?”

  “Well, he supported them morally during their wedding, and he had few men with him to tackle if someone stops the wedding.”

  Punita sighed in relief. “Oh, it’s great, and I need such man who can help us to come together in need of emergency. Mohan may prevent us from marrying together and I hope Gopal can tackle him with his men.”

  “Yeah, he should, and that is what I heard from my friend who attended the marriage last year.”

  “Do you have his phone number? We can talk to him,” Punita said.

  “Well, I suggest let Nitin get well, and we all go together to meet him.”

  “No, that’s a dangerous move. Mohan is keeping a close watch on me and Nitin. I shouldn’t meet Nitin within our city and manage everything remotely with you help.”

  “Oh, I see but how is it possible?” Nita asked.

  “We can communicate through mobile phones and plan our mission.”

  “Okay, that sounds great.” Nita smiled.

  “So, do you have Gopal’s number? We will contact him now,” Punita said.

  “Well, I can get you from one our seniors who attended the marriage. Do you want it now?”

  “Yeah, it will be better if you can get the number now,” Punita said.

  Nita called her friend and requested Gopal’s number from her. She later gave the number to Punita. Punita called Gopal and he answered her call after a couple of rings.

  “Gopal speaking.”

  “Hi, Gopal, I’m Punita.”

  “Hi, Punita, how are you?”

  “Not so well, I need your help.” Punita crossed her arm.

  “Why? What happened?”

  “Can we meet today at some place? I want to talk to you in person.” She looked at Nita.

  “Is it a confidential matter that you don’t want to tell over phone?”

  “Yeah, you’re right,” Punita said.

  “All right where do you want to meet?”

  “Can we meet at Lumbini Park at four in the evening?”

  “Sure, I can come there,” Gopal said.

  “Okay, I’ll be there with Nita at sharp four.”

  “Sure, see you, bye.” Gopal ended the call.

  Punita’s chest lightened and she sighed in relief. She kept her phone on the table and smiled at Nita. “Gopal has agreed to meet us at Lumbini Park at four.”

  Nita straightened her posture. “Sure, we will go together at four.”