13-01-2024, 04:04 PM
With a fast beating heart Menaka turned and walked towards the bus stand. It had been years since she had taken a bus ride. Prakash earned well and they had always used their own car or taken a taxi. But with Dara's 20 rupee note in hand , a taxi was out of question.
At last the bus for the railway station came and she pushed her way onto the jam-packed bus. half an hour later
Somehow she managed a seat and half an hour later the call for the station stop came. She got out and went towards the clocktower and started looking for Dara.
There were 3 hours for the departure time but where was Dara ? She didn't even have a mobile phone to call him. 30 minutes had passed and Menaka's anxiety level was rising . After 1 hour she was on the verge of tears - What would she do ? No money , no place to stay. What was Dara upto ?
It was nearly departure time for the train and with unseeing eyes Menaka got up and bumped into a person. She looked up - it was Dara.
Menaka lost her cool and opened her mouth to give Dara a piece of her mind but before that Dara said " Hurry we will miss the train but before that you will have to change ".
He handed her a plastic bag and told her " go to the toilet and change into Nepali attire , you are now a Gurkha's wife and will have to dress accordingly"
'Do we have time, we will miss the train".
Dara said " don't worry I have changed the tickets, we have the time but still hurry up"
She went inside and opened the bag and found a colourful blouse -wise top with a dupatta and long skirt. She changed into the clothes and came out with the salwar kameez in the plastic bag.
Dara took the plastic bag from her and gave her his old army kit -bag to carry.
Menaka had to hurry to keep pace with him. When walking past a beggar woman Dara thrust the bag into her hands before Menaka could say anything.
Just as they reached their compartment the train started to move.
Dara said " Change of plans we are now going to Gorakhpur and cross the border to meet my family. I haven't met them for a long time and my mother has been wanting to see her bahu 's face for quite some time. We can then go a report at Delhi."
"But why did you give away my clothes. I will need them later. "
Dara smiled and said " don't worry my rani , I will take care of the later"
It was a third class apartment and Dara had not got time to make reservations. Luckily , Dara managed to pay the TE and get a berth. He then took out a packet of food fand said let's have dinner and go to sleep early .
It was a tight squeeze on the berth and Dara took full advantage and his hands started working overtime under the chadar he had carried with him. But that was all, there were too many families all around them .
Next day morning they arrived at Gorakhpur and walked towards the tempo stand to cross over to Nepal.
Dara suddenly smiled and ran towards a man sitting at the tempo stand office and hugged him.
"Jagdish you are still here . Had hoped to meet you. Your bhabhi lost her hand bag with ger ID cards. Need your help to cross over"
Jagdish was taken aback, " Bhabhi what bhabhi, when did you marry ? and how did you manage to hook such a young and gorgeous babe"
Menaka started blushing and Dara said " will tell you everything , now start the arrangements . we need to reach home before evening"
Jagdish said " well there has been a crackdown, border security officer are insisting on ID cards . There is one way, show your old ID card from the army and tell them that she is your wife. They are usually lenient with retired Gurkhas. But where is Bhabhi's mangalsutra and sindoor. They will expect to see that."
"Arrey, that's long story , we will arrange them and come back"
Dara took her arm and went towards the market. They went into a jewelry shop and asked the shopowner for mangalsutras. But all the gold ones were so expensive. Dara was in a fix. He whispered to Menaka, lets go for imitation jewelry. No one will be able to make out. Menaka smiled - Fake husband and fake jewelry.
Anyway, they bought a mangalsutra and sindoor and came back to the stand as a married couple.
Everything worked out as planned and they reached Dara's village in Nepal
At last the bus for the railway station came and she pushed her way onto the jam-packed bus. half an hour later
Somehow she managed a seat and half an hour later the call for the station stop came. She got out and went towards the clocktower and started looking for Dara.
There were 3 hours for the departure time but where was Dara ? She didn't even have a mobile phone to call him. 30 minutes had passed and Menaka's anxiety level was rising . After 1 hour she was on the verge of tears - What would she do ? No money , no place to stay. What was Dara upto ?
It was nearly departure time for the train and with unseeing eyes Menaka got up and bumped into a person. She looked up - it was Dara.
Menaka lost her cool and opened her mouth to give Dara a piece of her mind but before that Dara said " Hurry we will miss the train but before that you will have to change ".
He handed her a plastic bag and told her " go to the toilet and change into Nepali attire , you are now a Gurkha's wife and will have to dress accordingly"
'Do we have time, we will miss the train".
Dara said " don't worry I have changed the tickets, we have the time but still hurry up"
She went inside and opened the bag and found a colourful blouse -wise top with a dupatta and long skirt. She changed into the clothes and came out with the salwar kameez in the plastic bag.
Dara took the plastic bag from her and gave her his old army kit -bag to carry.
Menaka had to hurry to keep pace with him. When walking past a beggar woman Dara thrust the bag into her hands before Menaka could say anything.
Just as they reached their compartment the train started to move.
Dara said " Change of plans we are now going to Gorakhpur and cross the border to meet my family. I haven't met them for a long time and my mother has been wanting to see her bahu 's face for quite some time. We can then go a report at Delhi."
"But why did you give away my clothes. I will need them later. "
Dara smiled and said " don't worry my rani , I will take care of the later"
It was a third class apartment and Dara had not got time to make reservations. Luckily , Dara managed to pay the TE and get a berth. He then took out a packet of food fand said let's have dinner and go to sleep early .
It was a tight squeeze on the berth and Dara took full advantage and his hands started working overtime under the chadar he had carried with him. But that was all, there were too many families all around them .
Next day morning they arrived at Gorakhpur and walked towards the tempo stand to cross over to Nepal.
Dara suddenly smiled and ran towards a man sitting at the tempo stand office and hugged him.
"Jagdish you are still here . Had hoped to meet you. Your bhabhi lost her hand bag with ger ID cards. Need your help to cross over"
Jagdish was taken aback, " Bhabhi what bhabhi, when did you marry ? and how did you manage to hook such a young and gorgeous babe"
Menaka started blushing and Dara said " will tell you everything , now start the arrangements . we need to reach home before evening"
Jagdish said " well there has been a crackdown, border security officer are insisting on ID cards . There is one way, show your old ID card from the army and tell them that she is your wife. They are usually lenient with retired Gurkhas. But where is Bhabhi's mangalsutra and sindoor. They will expect to see that."
"Arrey, that's long story , we will arrange them and come back"
Dara took her arm and went towards the market. They went into a jewelry shop and asked the shopowner for mangalsutras. But all the gold ones were so expensive. Dara was in a fix. He whispered to Menaka, lets go for imitation jewelry. No one will be able to make out. Menaka smiled - Fake husband and fake jewelry.
Anyway, they bought a mangalsutra and sindoor and came back to the stand as a married couple.
Everything worked out as planned and they reached Dara's village in Nepal
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