Non-erotic The Scarface I Hated by Trambak

[Ramesh_Rocky]

Chapter-14

So, just a few days back I was feeling wretched, about my own pitiful existence of 23 years. How life had been unfair to me and how I was persecuted by fate and married off to a scarface against my wishes. Then, in a short time, I came across Imran, Sumitra and now, Kiana. These three were personification of suffering. My challenges, when I introspected seemed like a picnic.

Inexplicably, I had become an integral part of these three. Their miseries were now mine and life had suddenly transformed me to a wife and a sister. But, what could I be to Kiana? Could I be a daughter? Or would I be a friend and a stakeholder in her wrecked life?

Losing husband at 29 to some mysterious accident; bringing up a child and then forcing herself to abandon him. To me, she appeared to be the one abandoned, by life itself. Still, when I looked at her determination, her resolve and her tenacity, I was greatly impressed. She was fighting against a system, submerged in unfair practices. And the government, who was responsible and capable of correcting the wrong, turned a blind eye.

Was she fighting a losing battle? But battles are often lost in the mind. Kiana had refused to lose so easily because she refused to give up. She may have lost a few battles but she was winning a war.

What was I supposed to do? I thought for a long time. Each time I was near some solution, it got muddled. At last, I simply put my arms around Kiana and caressed her forehead. Sleep came and the night along with its extraordinary stories ended with the sunrise.

I came out of the room. This morning, the village looked positively cheerful. And the sweet smell of flowers made me feel like staying here for a few more days.

But, I had a job to do. A job to undo some wrongs. A job to provide some relief, howsoever minimal, to people who had suffered.

Kiana was preparing tea for me. I said without a preamble, "Maa, this is the plan. You come with me for a week and you can return if you feel uncomfortable. I will drop you back."

Kiana looked at me for a long time in a peculiar way and then said, "Yes and no. No, to your dropping me back and yes, to my coming with you. Only for a week, mind you" And so it was decided.

The return train was about 5 hours away. Meanwhile, Kiana arranged a lot of things. Several small little details were worked out. Someone would stay at her house for the period she was out and the menfolk of the village were given instructions if the vendors arrived. The men appeared all at sea and had it not been for Kiana's assurances they would have physically prevented her from departing.

When we finally left, the whole village was around and I felt kind of guilty for snatching their precious Kinudidi away. They were worried sick that she might not return. Today, she finally introduced me as her daughter in law which further demoralised them. So, they judged, that she was going to her son and he may not allow her to come back. The look of worry on their simple faces confirmed the enormous role that she played in their life. She was a part of them and they depended on her. But she would return, I had no doubts about it.

The move to the station was an affair that I won't forget for a long time. A team of 4 fleet-footed boys were dispatched to the railway station to ensure that the train doesn't leave if we got delayed. I tried to reason with them the futility of this action, but they were insistent. Many followed our rickshaw for the full distance. If they had their way, they would follow us all the way, I assumed. Well, all good things come to an end and we reached the station in one piece and well on time. The disappointment on the faces of the scout team that had reached earlier was obvious. We had robbed them of the singular opportunity to stop the train.

The train was still about 15 minutes away and the entire company of boys, girls, adults and olds continuously kept looking at the far end of the railway track (where it met the sky) as if the train would arrive by some providence, simply by looking. Kiana was continuously scolding the boys and was apprehensive lest they run on the railway track and get run over. Fortunately, the number of trains on the route were so few that such a happening was remote.

Finally, the big mass of steel and noise, called 'the train' arrived and we were deposited on the seats with such fanfare that made rest of the passenger's scowl. With great difficulty, Kiana could make the boys detrain. As the train moved out, the boys and girls ran along with the train and Kiana kept shouting at them, scared sick. Finally, the platform ended and the train picked up speed. The boys were defeated.