Non-erotic Beauty Betrayed.

[Blue Bull]

As soon as she was out, I asked the Principal about her mother.

• About 10 or11 years back Siana’s mother Reshma applied for teachership in their college. Siana was in her womb then. Knowing her a divorcee and seeing her tender age the management was reluctant to appoint her. She looked at me then. God knows, what was in her face I convinced the management to appoint her taking her whole responsibility. I am a widow having no kids. Most probably I saw my daughter in her, who died when she was 8yrs old.
  
• Initially she was with me and gave birth to Siana there. She was very good at her work and was too jovial. She was the most popular teacher in the college. The management was very happy with her and allowed her free lodging and boarding inside the campus and also bear all the expenses of her child.
  
• Since the last two years, I can remember just after your visit to our college I have noticed the change in her. She started being silent gradually. Lost her jovialness, went ill and finally last September just 20 days back she collapsed and lost her speech and failed to recognize others. She developed illusion, delusion as well as hallucination. Now she is in the asylum at Kanke on college management’s expense.
  
• The management is very worried about Siana. She is very reluctant to reside with any of us. Being a girl and alone she may be misguided and misused by any notorious mind. Finally management is thinking of handing her over to the State Welfare Board which I did not want but helpless. So, I seek your help as per your last request.
  

My mind was out. I can realize the gravity of the situation. Siana is in great trouble. I went on pondering a solution. I enquired about her father. But, alas, the principal had no idea as never inquired about Reshma's past life. She only knew that she was a divorcee and destitute.

After analysing lots of alternatives finally I asked Puspita

• Can I adopt her?
  
• Why not? We do not know her father’s whereabouts. Her mother is in asylum, No known relatives of her. We can hand her over to the State Welfare Board and you can adopt her from there legally. But a little complicated and time taking process and God knows how Siana will react to that.
  

I was also helpless. How to help this little damsel in distress.I called my Indian legal counselor for advice. He answered promptly, if the child and management has no problem I can take Siana with me and can produce her on the errand of any legal agency. Though it is not a legal solution but can solve the problem for the time being.

I asked the management for the same through Puspita and they happily accepted the proposal that I will be the safest abode for her in this universe which reminded me of something pushing my memory backward.

I called Siana  and asked her whether she would like to stay with me. She instantly clung to me again and gave a peg on my cheek and nodded her head as her approval. I collected a few pairs of her clothing and bid bye to Puspita and the college and flew to New Delhi and then to Izatnagar, for Malhotra Mansion, my ancestral abode by road.  

It was a long journey of about four and half hours. We drove on NH9,  had our lunch at Ghaziabad and reached Izatanagar by evening via Moradabad and Rampur. It was a quite pleasant climate. We were in the back seat and being tired Siana soon fell asleep, her head on my chest and hand around my waist reminding me something and pushing my memory backwards. 

Being the winter season our Mansion was full of flora and fauna with its natural wild environment. Siana was quite amazed to see the grand palazzo. It was a two story building. Ground floor was used by the Malhotra Foundation and the top floor was for my use which was abandoned by me for a long time. 

She asked me,
 

• Whose mansion is this?
  
• It is your baby. It's your dadaji's and you are going to stay here onwards. I answered.
  
• And Mama? She asked innocently.
  
• Soon she will join you after being released from the hospital. I had nothing to say other than this.
  

Rosy, my housekeeper, motherly to me, was quite astonished to see me. I was not there for years. Her family ran to me and all were very happy to see me. All were very inquisitive to know about Siana and I was about to tell everything about her but I stopped myself and simply answered,

• She is Siana, my daughter and she will stay with me onwards. Will you please arrange a room for her?
  

Rosy was astonished but she was very happy and started caressing her top to bottom with both her hands and finally embraced her murmuring,

• My baby, where have you been for so long?
  

She took her hand and guided her to the top floor. I was not night halted there for decades but everything was quite intact as they were due to Rosy’s  and her family’s caring for me. 

Nothing special in the evening. Siana became mingled with Rosy’s family and was very happy. At the dining table Rosy enquired about her mother and I answered the same as Siana. She also enquired about my staying duration there and I answered maybe a week or more. As soon as I get Siana’s visa I will fly to Chikago. Siana was silent throughout, enjoying her dinner and exploring the interior decoration and luxury of the mansion.

Night came, so was my loneliness. It has been hunting, hunting and hunting me since I left her. Don’t know her whereabouts, whether alive or dead but still her memory haunting me. I opened the cupboard for my mini bar for a sip.. 

“No..” someone screamed. I looked here and there in searching eyes. None other than me was there. “No Siraj, no. You are not alone.” was my internal screaming. Closing the cupboard I sat on the bed pressing my ears tight with both my hands.

Did not know when I was flat on the bed. My eyes were opened feeling someone's hand on my head. It was Siana caressing my hair sitting by my side. She smiled at me, seeing my eyes open.

• Baboojee, do you have a headache? Will I massage your head? Saying so, she started pressing my forehead and temples with her soft little hand.
  

I was about to cry out of bewilderment. I pulled her to my chest, kissed all over her face madly and embarrassed her tight.

• Siana, my baby. Where have you been so long? I missed you a lot. I said.
  
• Me too Baboojee.. She cooed, rubbing her face all over my chest like a kitten and holding me tight, reminding me something and pushing my memory back.
  

Naina, Naina, Naina, why are you hunting me? Why can’t you leave me alone? You are so cruel, merciless. Have pity on me please. I told myself silently.

• Siana, my child. Are you scared? I asked her.
  
• Yes Baboojee, in that room. It is so big and I was alone there. She replied.
  
• Are you feeling alone and scared now? I enquired again.
  
• No Baboojee. I am in my safest adobe with you. She answered innocently and I went back again.
  

Contd.....