Matsarya

“I am extremely hungry Mamma;  it was a long day in office”,  Anita, threw her bag on the corner sofa and jumped to bed taking the MacBook from her study table.  “Please no laptop now Ani, have your dinner and take some rest. It's 9:35 PM already”, Sheetal in her mid-50s, softly scold her Ani; and looking at her she dotingly asked,  “Ani, did you meet your Di? She is still waiting for you to do dinner together”.  “Sorry, Mamma. Extremely sorry” Anita walked quickly to the bathroom to get changed. “What you do so long at the office? Didn’t Papa tell you to start going to his firm for last so many months? He is getting old. And at least you can come back home, early”, Sheetal continues the quotidian conversation. And Anita replied, as usual,  “No Mamma. Tell Papa to wait for some more time. Let me master little more of corporate law. This firm is the best for that. And working under Parag Sir is such a privilege to learn so much”.

The 19th century Black Forest cuckoo clock loudly said it’s 10 pm, from the dining hall of the Kapoor’s residence at Vasant Kunj, New Delhi; softly inviting them to come to the dinner table, like every day. “Where is Anu?”, Suresh looked at Sheetal. “Papa, here I come”, Suresh can see his elder daughter’s beautiful face without even turning back. Anu quietly rolling the wheels of her chair, hugged Suresh from the back, “How was the day Papa?”. “Good beta. You know, today I met Justice Bonerjee at his residence with an old case. He was asking about you”, Suresh looked at Anu. “Bonerjee uncle! I still remember the State vs. Nitish Arora case. His judgment was so perfect. Arora was able to get justice”, Anu, Anuradha, with her low yet excitingly shrill voice. “You did so well beta. I was so proud to see your studies, notes, tips, and the way you detailed out everything. You made "Kapoor and Daughters" Law firm to make it to the limelight and making us into the elite category, first-time”. “But Papa, you were the champ within the Trial court that day”, Anuradha continues her excitement. “Hello, hello, hello! If you guys are done we can start the dinner now? I am too hungry” Anita looking at Suresh and Anuradha in a bit agitated voice, “You can talk about your past laurels back in the living room, after the dinner”, and she tried to put a joke. Anuradha looked at Suresh, putting the eyes down took the chair rolling towards her place in the dining table, the reserved one always for her.

It's half past nine and the entire Connaught Place is full of traffic. The bright lights are on in the corridors of Delhi’s top Law firm, "Parag Kher and Associates". Very few people at the cafeteria, but whispers though low,  still mildly audible.  “Prashant you must think something. It's two years and we are waiting”, Anita looked at Prashant in the cafeteria while pouring the freshly brewed coffee in her mug.  “Can you pls make one for me? But what to think yaar? It’s just not moving” Prashant tightens his tie knot, habitually. “Can you please tell Parag Sir to meet Papa once?” , Anita poured the coffee in the second mug. “Didn’t he talk to him already? I can’t tell my father again and again. Please understand my heart”, Prashant shows aggression but politely. “But this way nothing will happen. Di will never get her numb limbs back, she will never get married. And Papa will wait for his elder daughter to get married first, all thru his life. Huh!” Anita’s eyes suddenly filled up with tears, left the cafeteria and walked towards her cubicle. Prashant quietly followed her, closed the glass door and said: “What about that guy, the handicapped guy, your father’s friend’s son, isn’t that getting fixed wit Anu”? “That will not happen. Even if it happens it's not sooner. But that is not ok Prashant. All over my life, I am always behind her in everything. She is beautiful, she is intelligent, she got  a chance in St. Stephens, she went to NLSIU to do law studies, she brought papa’s firm to the limelight. Well, she did everything and I am a complete failure. This is the reason I don’t want to join papa’s firm also. I just don’t want to be under her shadow, all my life”. Anita’s voice was almost discernible, even outside the thick glass walls.

“Mohan, can you please stop by that Dhaba?” Suresh Kapoor asked his driver. The car stopped inside the Karnal Haveli Dhaba at National highway and Suresh walked briskly inside the place.  He did not enter the Dhaba, rather sat down on a chair outside, and start looking at NH1 from far. He comes here quite often, for last 3 years. Rather this place drags him here and he keeps wondering why he let her elder daughter go that day all alone and drive on her own which she normally did ever, and she met that lethal accident. It took 7 months for her to recover completely and when she got up, her limbs got fully paralyzed due to injury in her spinal chord. There is almost no treatment to bring her back to normal. Though doctors are still trying,  it’s very very unlikely. His eyes were suddenly moist and he realized the waiter is asking for some order.

“Papa we all want to go for an outing…it’s more than 3 years we haven’t gone anywhere! Please, Papa!” Anita insisted with her daughterly love to Suresh,  “And you know when I spoke to Prashant and his sister yesterday, they are keen to come too”. Suresh looked at Anuradha and Sheetal since he liked the idea of going out for a couple of days and taking a short break which did not happen for a long time. Work took most of his time. Rather he enforced himself to devote to work as much as he can, after the incident. He recalled, he went to Nahan once in his college days. It's beautiful, and he got sure this will make her Anu’s mind much joyful. He can just see her woebegone face, always, thought she hardly expresses but as a father nothing is hidden to him.  “Ok Beta, let's plan then for the long weekend coming up after Dussehra, just a few weeks from now. And don’t forget to book the Sirmour Retreat, they have the best view.  You all will enjoy”.  Suresh paused and continued, “One thing, Ani, it's better if four of us can go now. It’s will be wise,  not to involve Prashant and his family now since we are not yet a family”.  Suresh walked towards stairs, keeping Anita gloomy. Anuradha came and held her hand for a moment but was surprised to see Anita just jumped out to stairs too.

The dusk was falling rapidly at the Shiwalik mountain range, though it's not even 4 hours past, post meridian. "It’s just beautiful Papa. I just can’t believe. Thank you”, Anuradha ’s excited voice from the balcony of Sirmour Retreat, came into the room and Suresh lovingly said “Please thank Ani for that. It’s all her idea”. The Kapoor family looked joyous after quite sometimes, being all together. The beautiful Shiwalik mountain made their mind, their heart, their soul, very happy, joyous, as all mountains do always. The next morning, with a little rain around Suresh and Sheetal were sitting in the balcony; Anita walking in from the front gate with her tracks on; looked at Sheetal and asked “Mamma, did you see Di? Did she wake up?  I went out almost during sunrise and did not get a chance to meet her”. “Are you sure? The waiter who came to serve tea, told, he saw you took her for a ride in the early morning?" Sheetal worryingly said. "No Mamma. I went alone for a quick jog". Anita said firmly. "Then, she must be in her room and still be sleeping. Let me go and wake her up”, Sheetal hurriedly got up from the chair and Suresh followed her.

Anita slowly walked inside, went towards the balcony next to the cafeteria. She looked beyond, far, around and threw the brake screws taking those out from her track pocket, as far she can. 

The Shiwalik could not make her heart bigger, and "Matsarya" now has another story to tell others.