Romance The End of Restless Sleep- By Pinuram

[ddey333]

Chapter 7: Perfect harmony.(#1)

Winter knocked on the door and covered the city with her harsh charms. Days turned to
weeks. That small act of insanity hurled our cohesion into void space. Titli used to come
to class as usual. Whenever I tried to look at her, she used to turn her face and talk to
someone else. I observed the pain of severance was burning deep in her heart. I knew
we had chosen the right path. Her pains against me would be a boon for both of us in
turn. At least the breakup wont hurt our lives and hurl us in abyss of doom.

In the meantime, Debadideb informed me that once I complete my course, I would get
some job at his place. I was happy to know that my days were numbered to face Titli’s
tearful eyes.

Weeks turned to months and a new year dawned. The distance between us widened but
no one around us was aware, as most of the fellow students knew nothing of our
previous cohesion. Every evening I used to return in my bike and she used to take taxi to
return home after class. Cold wintery nights brought painful reminiscences flooding in
my mind. Sometimes I dreamt of my beloved mother cuddling me in her lap, sometimes
I dreamt of my beloved grandma and her soothing palm on my head. All my loved ones
standing around my bed anxiously waiting for me to sleep but the cruelty of fate did not
allowed me to sleep peacefully.

The winter gave way for the autumn to step in. The winds were getting warmer day by
day and the humidity in the air of Kolkata was rising again. Cool breeze kept the climate
cool during the nighttime. Along with the humid warm air, there was evident fragrance
of a void. We never exchanged a single word for about hundred days.

That Saturday noon we had an extra class in the centre. That day I was not on bike for
some reason. After the classes were over, I stood at the bus-stand waiting for my bus to
arrive. I noticed that Titli was standing at the bus-stand along with her friends. I was
unable to understand why on that day she was waiting for the bus, she always take taxi.

I kept on smoking my cigarette. She gave few glances at me with the corner of her eyes.

She knew very well that I was watching her intently. Her face was red due to the hot sun
overhead and few strands of her snaky locks were dangling on her cheek.

A bus arrived which was less crowded. Her friends went away and she was still standing.

Rich girl, I laughed at her, always has to board taxi. She gave a piercing glance at me and
then stepped forward to cross the road. A speeding bike came from the opposite
direction and braked just before hitting her. She was taken by surprise and sprained her
left ankle.

Suddenly my grandma whispered in my ears, “Adi, why are you standing here? How can
you watch your love crying in pain in front of you? You are the apple of my eye, Adi. Go
and win her heart, win her father’s heart. Take one step at a time, you have my
blessing.” Her invisible hands pushed me.

I ran towards her and put my arms behind her before she could fall down. She was
frightened as who held her, she looked at my face, a flash of anger sparked through. The
rider got down from the bike and expressed his remorse for being rash. I shouted at him
for driving so rashly.

Titli was unable to stand properly, yet she pushed me away. I looked at her burning
eyes; her gaze was piercing my soul to the core. She was almost in tears due to her pain.

I kneeled down at her feet and gently massaged her ankle to ease her pain.

She hissed at me, “Don’t dare to touch me. I don’t want your help, leave me alone.” She
kicked me to free her ankle but I held her calf tightly and massaged her ankle gently to
ease her pain. She shouted at me, “Leave me alone. I don’t need your help; I can take a
taxi and go home.”

I left her ankle and stood up. She tried to walk but limped badly due to the pain. I put
my hand on the small of her back and supported her. She looked back at me as I
touched her. Her eyes were about to spill the beads of pearl.

I was having an intense pain in my soul after noticing the glistening eyes. “Titli, you are
not able to stand properly, how come you will go home.” I asked her in a very calm
voice. I waved at a taxi to stop. I looked at her and asked whether she would be able to
walk or not.

She gave me a stern gaze and tried to limp towards the taxi. I shook my head, silly girl. I
took her on my lap and carried her to the taxi. She resisted at first but my strong arms
around her, restrained her from doing so.

Once inside, she looked at me with her tearful eyes. Those depicted a painful tale. I took
her left leg on my lap and gently massaged her ankle. She tried to resist at first but I held
her calf tightly. I asked myself as what was happening with me. I was losing myself to
her.

I looked at her with hazy gaze and asked, “Feeling some respite, now?”

She looked at me with tearful eyes and slapped hard across my face. My cheek burnt,
probably I needed that. She sobbed, “Don’t try to show your attitude to me?” She
mocked me, “Feeling some respite now? I am no one to you so why do you care for
me?”

“I am sorry, I don’t know, Titli.” My voice was choked.

She shouted at me, “Why don’t you go away from my life? Why don’t you let me sleep
peacefully?”

I mumbled my apology to her, “I am sorry Titli, please forgive me for what happened.”

She slapped on my other cheek. “Forgive you after ruining my life? No, never.” She kept
on pouring ire vehemently, “You don’t know what I had gone through. I won’t forgive
you in my life time.”

“Ok don’t forgive me, but don’t shed those pearls please?” I tried to touch her cheek.

She bit her lower lips to control her tears as the pearl drops trickled down her cheeks.

Her voice choked, “Forgive an idiot like you is my fate. My dad is going to kill me now.”

She looked outside the window. On the curve of her cheek, I observed large droplets of
tears trickle continuously. I kept on massaging her ankle gently for quiet sometime. I
was unable to stand before her snivelled eyes. After sometime, I said to her, “Parineeta
called me few days after your birthday.”

She wiped her tears and looked at me, “I told her to call you.”

“Why? What happened at your house? Your dad told you something?” I asked her.

She gently nodded her head, “I was very upset on that day. After everyone left, I locked
myself in my room. My father figured out something and he warned me. I had a fight
with him telling him that he was making things up in his wild imagination. My mom
intervened and pacified my dad. She then asked me the reason of my depression. I told
her that I was upset because my best friend was not there.”

I smiled at her, “So did you cried that day?”

She snapped at me, “I will slap you hard. Did you cried? No, I did not, why should I cry
for a coward idiot like you?” We both laughed.

I looked deeply in her eyes, “So we are good friends.” My hand was still on her ankle, I
pinched her calf gently “How are you feeling now, fine?”

She blushed purple and brought her gaze down, her ears turned red, “Will you stop
touching my ankle like that, Adi?”

Hearing my name again on those sweet lips, felt as honey to me. I said, “Ok, I won’t
touch you but don’t be mad at me like that.” The hard ice started melting between us.
She touched my cheek and asked, “Did I hurt you very much?” I pressed her palm on my
cheek and kissed her fingers gently.

She muttered, “You are a very hard nut to crack, Adi. I feel sometimes that you are a
total stranger to me and I do not know who you are, I don’t know why you have come in
my life?”

I said to her, “So you don’t know me? Shall I get down from the taxi then?”

She slapped playfully on my hand, “Don’t tease me. I am truly speaking that you are a
very hazy character.”

I nodded my head, “Ok, so you want to know about me. I am five feet eight inches tall,
few days short of turning twenty-seven and I live in a two room flat at Dumdum. I do a
job at camac street and all my student life I spent in hostels. Most important thing is
that, you have the faith upon me to keep your leg on my lap till now.”

She laughed heartily; her pearly teeth sparkled through those rose petals, “Very
effective description. I will consider your application.”

We reached near her place. I asked her whether she would be able to walk to her house
or not.

She barked at me, “What do you think of yourself? You carried me without my consent
to the taxi and then never left my leg. Now you are asking me whether you can go from
here or not? I am unable to walk.”

“Titli, think again.” I said in a calm voice.

She said, “Don’t worry Adi, dad is not at home only my mother is. Come on.”

She kept her arm on my shoulder as I helped her inside the house. A maidservant came
running on seeing her in that condition. Titli was limping with my arm around her waist.

The maid stood there perplexed for some time and then called for Titli’s mother.

I looked around the drawing room; it seemed that everything was bloating. I helped Titli
to sit on the sofa. I wondered how come she was so friendly with a person like me.

Her mother entered and was frightened to see her with sprained ankle. She gave me an
anxious look. I waved at her and assured her that nothing much has happened. I bowed
down to touch her feet.

She smiled and placed her hand on my head. She asked “You must be Budhaditya,
right?” I nodded at her.

She was an elegant lady, yet her nature and the smile she wore was very much motherly
and down to the earth. I was then able to understand as what made Titli so different
from others.

Her mother sat beside her and asked me, “How did this happen?” Titli told her the
whole story as how the bike rushed how she sprained her ankle and how I brought her
home. She said that she was fine and her pain was dissipating.

She smiled at her and said, “Yes I should not worry much about you. You have now
grown up.”

Titli sat beside her mom with her arms around her neck. Aunt was gently rubbing her
soothing palm over her head. I enjoyed the beautiful canvas of a loving mother caring
her beautiful daughter.

I asked their permission to leave but aunt requested to have lunch with them. She said
to me that I visited their house for the very first time so I should at least have
something. Aunt asked me whether I would like to have some tea or not. I nodded to
express that I would like to have some.

Titli got up from the sofa, smiled at me and said to her mother, “I am going to the
kitchen.”

I observed that her mom’s face was enlightened, “Are you sure? Tell the maid servant
she will prepare.”

Titli paid no heed at her words. She walked away with a slight limp and smile on her lips.
After she left us alone, aunt asked me, “What do you do?”

“I did my graduation in physics from Narendrapur RK Mission College and then I joined
in an electrical consultancy firm. I am planning to change my field after completing this
computer course.” I answered her.

She took a deep breath and said to me “Titli wants to be a teacher after completing her
Masters. She pestered us to get her admitted to that course so as to keep up with the
time.”

I nodded my head, “I know that very well, Auntie. She is intelligent and silly at the same
time.”

She looked at my face and kept quiet for some time. I was unable to fathom as what
was running inside her head. She smiled and asked me, “How do you know all these
about, Titli?”

Very aptly, I answered, “It is evident Auntie, she is doing Masters and also learning the
latest technologies hand in hand. That shows her intelligence.”

I turned away the course of the conversation by asking about her son, Titli’s brother.
She told me that, Arunavo just appeared for higher secondary exams, results were
waiting. He was very naughty and he was not at home.

She said to me, “Next time you visit our house, I am not going to leave you without
having lunch.”

I smiled at her, “Provided you are cooking. I don’t want antacid in my dessert.”

She laughed heartily upon hearing, “Don’t worry, you tell me what do you want in lunch
and I will cook for you.”

I smiled at her and said, “Even if you prepare sukto (a Bengali dish) that will be sweet. I
will relish whatever you prepare. But don’t forget to pass some of your culinary
knowledge to your mirthful daughter.”

She smiled but after few moments her smile vanished, “Sometimes I worry too much
about her future. She is jolly and makes friends so easily.” Motherly concern was
dripping from her voice.

I persuaded her, “Don’t worry auntie. Actually she is very diplomatic and knows her
acquaintances very well. She may have lots of friends but does not rely on people too
easily.”

She smiled and looked directly in my eyes, “Really? I did not know that she was
diplomatic. I think you are very much cognizant with her.”

My face became red as if I was caught red handed. Did I mess up things on the very first
day? I queried myself repeatedly. Was it necessary to tell all those to her mother? I
thought.

Titli entered the room with two cups. Aunt smiled at me and then looked at her
daughter. She teased her, “You don’t prepare tea for us and today you prepared three
cups?”

“Mom, don’t say that. I do cook food sometimes.” She looked at me and said, “Don’t
pay heed to my mom. I do know how to cook and all.”

I teased her, “And after having your food, you do serve antacid as dessert.”

She cried out, “I will slap you now.”

Auntie smiled at her and asked, “How is your ankle?”

She smiled and said, “Much less pain, I can walk now.”

Auntie looked at both of us and answered, “Yes I can see that your pain is gone.” Her
cheeks turned pink, she was unable to look in her mother’s eyes.

After finishing the tea, I asked their permission to leave. I asked Titli to take care of her
ankle. She gestured that she would call me at night. I shook my head and warned her
not to put herself in unwanted tension.

She called at night and was beaming with sparkles in her voice, “What did you told to
mom? She was beaming with praises about you.”

“Really” I exclaimed “I told her that you are a stupid, silly and insane girl.”

She cursed me, “And you are a boring, immature rascal.”

She kept on babbling as how she felt in past months when we were just exchanging fiery
glances at each other. I listened her every words, occasionally saying some single
syllables as she was nonstop babbling. I understood that neither of us would be able to
live apart from each other.

I took a deep breath, filled my lungs with air and said to myself, let’s see what happens
Budhaditya. Hurl yourself forward with open arms embrace the unknown future that is
knocking at your doorstep. You have your grandma’s blessings with you.

Next day evening I found her at the centre. I was astonished to see her there. I asked
her whether her ankle was fine or not. She smiled and replied that she will live with
pain. I gently slapped on the back of her head and teased her. For the whole time, she
sat close to me. Arms brushing over the other; fingers touching at times; sparks flying all
over our arms. Her face was glowing like a full moon, I was happy to her smiling face.

After the class, I observed that she was a total different person altogether. She was
chirping with her friends and laughing. She was in a jubilant mood. I waited for her at a
distance, watching her frolic nature.

Anirban came near me and whispered in my ears, “What happened, dude? Everything
settled?”

I laughed at him and shook my head, “Nothing is settled dude, and the picture is still
hazy.”

“No man.” He pointed at Titli, “She is quiet different today. You are one hell lucky
dude.” I laughed at him.

I looked at my watch; time was running fast so I called Titli and informed her that it was
getting late. She came near me and said that she was not bothered since I was with her.

For the whole of the return journey, she sat on the pillion glued on my back. I felt her
soft warm frame creating tingling sensation all over my body. She kept quiet for the
whole journey, probably flying in a newfound bliss and enjoying the flight.

From the next day, our cohesion grew as usual. Every evening after classes, it was my
pleasure to drop her at her place. Time was passing very fast and I was eagerly waiting
for the final call. Even without saying those words, we knew from the depth of our heart
about our mutual sentiments. I knew that I had to take the step and she was not the
issue. I knew that there would be commotion in her house regarding the matter and I
prepared myself to encounter any kind of forthcoming wrangle.

One night, Debadideb called me to inform that he has looked for a job in Durgapur. I
told him that I was not in the mood to leave Kolkata. He was confused and asked me
whether I was seeing someone or not. I laughed at him. We were never very close with
each other still he was my only cousin brother I could call for something. I told him
nothing about Titli, made some excuse to avoid his queries.

It was last week of March. There was no class on that day so there was no meeting with
Titli also. That night I received a much-unexpected call from a much unexpected person
of whom I was unable to think in thousands of years. It was a female voice on the other
end and that was not of Titli.

“Hello, Budhaditya how are you?” she asked me. I was unable to recognise her voice on
the phone so I asked her as who she was.

I heard her laugh, “You don’t recognise my voice? Happy birthday, Budhaditya.”

I myself forgot my birthday usually grandma used to be at my place on every birthday,
on that day I was alone so I was unable to make that my birthday was on the next day. I
was perplexed that who the hell on the earth could remember my birth day. Only three
persons in my life would celebrate my birthday. Two of them left me for heavenly abode
and the voice was not of my damsel. I asked her, “Sorry, I am unable to recognise you,
Madam.”

“I am the person whom you probably hate most in the world.” I heard her laughing, on
the other end.

I was dumbfounded as if a bolt fell upon me; I was able to assume that the voice was of
Nilanjana Madam. For few moments, I was unable to come to terms that she called me
to wish on my birthday.

I chewed my words, “Madam, I thank you for wishing.” I was unable to say anything.
“Wont you say anything to me? I know you might be very angry upon me. Am I right?”

She kept on saying, “I want to meet you and tell you everything before you judge me.” I
was speechless by her guts that she called me even after knowing everything. As if,
someone poured burning amber on my frame. “So you are not going to forgive us, right?
Good night.”

After she kept the phone, I cursed her for digging out the dark past and pains out of the
grave. I was unable to sleep, I kept on tossing in bed; I was helpless and filled with
severe angst. The lady took away my father from me and she called me to express her
compliments.

It was about midnight and I was tossing in my bed when I received a call from Titli.

“Hello” Titli sounded very excited, “What are you doing?”

“I was about to goto bed.” I answered her.

“You can forget my birthday but I can’t. Happy birthday.” She was in a vibrant mood.

All my grieves were thwarted by her sweet voice. My eyes filled with tears on hearing
her wish. I could not speak for few seconds and then I expressed my thanks to her.

She probably fathomed my ache, “Why are you sounding so gloom? Where are aunt and
uncle?”

I concealed the truth and answered that they were doing fine, I was missing my
grandmother.

“Tomorrow no classes, I want to give you a treat.” She sounded very excited.

I asked her, “You want to give me treat, but it is the other way round, dear.”

She mocked at me, “Come on, Adi, does that matter who gives treat to whom? Pick me
up from my college by five in the evening and then I will tell where to go.”

I laughed, “I will obey every word of yours, don’t worry.”

“Sleep tight and don’t be restless.” she joked and kept the phone. I felt rejuvenated with
a vibrant energy.

Next day, I took off early from my office and reached her college. On the way, I entered
a jewellery shop and bought a pair of rose shaped gold earring for her. I knew her choice
of jewelleries that she likes to wear; most of them were fancy but sophisticated. Seldom
had she worn any gold jewellery, but I thought that that would attract her.

As I reached, I saw her waiting for me along with Parineeta and her friends. She was
looking stunning in a knee length, navy blue skirt and a white frilled shirt. Her lips were
pink and cheeks were rosy. Her well-toned calves covered in black nylon stockings, with
high heels on. Silky hair came down in waves, bouncing below her shoulder. Her
sophisticated and elegant nature was dripping from every pores of her fair skin. I was
unable to make whether it was my birthday or hers. I noticed that Parineeta whispered
something in her ears and she smiled at me. She waved to her friends and then slowly
walked towards me. She held a brown leather file-cover across her chest that added an
extra grace in her looks.

“Hi handsome, come on lets go.” She sat on the pillion, “Drive to the Outram Ghat.
There is an ice-cream parlour.”

I teased her, “Are you going to kill someone in this bewitching attire?”

“Oh!” she mocked me, “Yes definitely, today is very special. My boyfriend is going to
take me out today. Want to meet him?” she tickled my stomach, “Now drive quickly
before my boyfriend goes away.”

I laughed at her, “Silly girl, you are making me wild.”

The time we reached the ice-cream parlour, the sun was already over the west horizon.
The water of River Ganges became red with the fading light of the day. The lights of the
second hoogly bridge were shining dimly. The cold breeze was blowing from the river
igniting the sparks of passion inside me.

We sat on a table on the second floor facing the wide glass window opening to the river.
She sat on my left, embracing my arm tightly by both hands. She rested her head on my
left shoulder and looked to the river through the big glass window. I looked at her face;
her eyes were sleepy, dreaming about some unknown horizon. I felt a deep urge to held
her in my arms and kiss her beautiful lips.

I rubbed my nose on her head, took a deep breath of her sweet feminine fragrance and
whispered in her ears, “Dreaming about someone, Honey.” I lowered my voice and said,
“I want to say something to you.”

She held my left arm tightly, rubbed her cheeks on the round of my shoulder and
whispered, “Don’t say a word, Adi, please. I want to enjoy the excitement that has
inundated me to the core. I feel goose bumps all over my skin by the mere thought of
that precious moment.”

“Ok, as you wish.” I was also floating in bliss along with the beautiful nymph.
She said to me after quiet sometime, “Say something, why are we so quiet.”

I laughed at her, “Once you ask me to keep quiet and then you ask me to talk. Am I a
tape recorder that you can switch-off and switch-on as you wish?”

She gave a veiled angry look at me and said, “Yes you are my tape recorder and now
talk.” She looked around and we noticed that few others were also looking at us. I knew
that she was making everyone to skip a heartbeat by her stunning suave attire.

“Have you been on the boat ever?” I asked her pointing to the boats floating on the
river.

She laughed loudly and then whispered in my ears, “You want to goto the boat? Do you
know what all happens in those boat after sundown?”

I was unaware as what could happen in those boats. For me, people could go for a trip
on the Ganges in those simple boats. I shook my head.

She explained to me in a low voice, “After sundown, prostitutes flock the banks. Cheap
people make out in those boats and couples who want to enjoy cheaply make out in
those boats.”

I was taken aback by her words. She nodded at me, “Don’t look at me like that. I will
show you while returning.”

I took out the small box that contained the earring and placed it on her hand. She
opened the box and looked deeply in my eyes. Her eyes dazzled, “What is this?”

I asked her, “Do you like it? I want to make up for the lost birthday that I was unable to
attend.”

Her face glowed, her eyes glistened and she bit her lower lips, “You are a real stupid
person, Adi. You thought that you need to impress me with some expensive gift, did
you?”

“Nah!” I exclaimed at her, “I never thought in such manner, Titli. I just got that on the
footpath dear.”

She smiled and took out those earrings, “I see that, you know my choice very well.” She
then wore those on her earlobes.

I nodded at her, “I had to, milady. Else I would be in trouble in future.” We both laughed
heartily.

Time flew past like tempest. Before we could soak ourselves in mutual bliss, it was dark
outside. I said to her that we should leave for home. She pleaded me that she wants to
sit for some more time. I persuaded her that I would take her out some day but she was
reluctant. Virtually I had to pull her up from that place because I knew that if she returns
late then there would be a huge storm in her house.

She smiled at me and took out two packets from her bag. I asked her as what it was. She
said pointing to a small packet, “In this I have made a cake for you, I am not sure how it
would be. So I was afraid to give you before.”

I joked at her, “That means if I die then I die alone.”

She suddenly put her fingers on my lips, “Don’t say that.” Her fingers felt like cream
being smeared on my lips. Gently I took her hand and kissed her on the fingers, she
shuddered as my wet tongue traced her middle finger. She moaned, “What are you
doing? Everyone is looking at us. Leave my fingers, scoundrel.” she freed her hand and
scolded me, “Have I gave you the consent yet?” I felt bit ashamed on my sudden
behaviour.

She pointed to the other packet and said, “There is a book, SathKahan by Samaresh
Majumder. I know that you love to read novels. Therefore, I bought that for you. I am
not rich as you, I do not earn. Although I get huge pocket money but I did not want to
buy present for you from those.” Her voice fluttered a bit “I received scholarship from
my dad’s office after higher-secondary exams. I saved that for three years to buy
present for the person who will make me feel like real butterfly.”

I was overwhelmed by her gesture. I forgot that we were in an ice-cream parlour. I
pulled her by her hand, made her to stand between my legs. I threw my arms around
her narrow waist and looked in her eyes. She was smiling and same time her eyelids
were moist. She kept her arms on my shoulder and looked deeply into my eyes, “Don’t
look at me like that, I will melt in your arms.”

That day was probably one of the best evenings that I spend in a long time. That day
probably was the best birthday I ever rejoiced in a long time.