Xossip Ultimate Story Contest 2013

[Expert]

The Dawn

Raunak_3

The car was buzzing through a state highway in rural Orissa on the way to Taptapani. It’s a famous place with a hot spring on hill. Titli was sitting on the back seat of their hired car. Suvodeep, her husband is sitting quiet on front seat. It looks very odd to see such young couple to be seated like that way but she did not oppose while he said her to take some sleep in back seat. He spoke very rarely after they left Berhampur railway station early this morning. Titli also did not utter a word at her own. She also was quiet but her mind was not blank. She was again trying to find the answers of those questions in her mind. Why Suvodeep was forcing me to come to Taptapani? There are so many other nice places in Orissa where we could have gone. She had no answer for her question as well as the answer to her husband’s question ‘why you are not interested to go there? The place is so beautiful. The OTDC Panthanivas is also so good to spend some memorable time in silent nature’. Actually she has the answer but she is not in a position to let him know. It’s a painful secret of her life which she doesn’t want to disclose not even to her husband.

Finally the car started to climb the hill leaving behind the plane land. Suvodeep turned around to check whether she is sleeping or not. Right now he is not looking very serious. Titli was also thinking to break the dead silence just before that and did not leave the scope to die. She smiled sweetly and said ‘can you please come here now’.

Finally they reached the Panthanivas. It’s really a nice place to stay. There are some small cottages beside the hill surrounded by lush green. Once the formalities is over the bell boy escorted them to their cottage. Titli again became speechless. It is the same cottage. Not even the same room, they have kept the decoration as well as all furniture same like six years back. Even the soft aqua color of the wall is also same. A soft sigh came out from her heart unknowingly. Everything is same except the person with whom she came here. That time she came here with Argha and now she is with her husband. She did not get much time to be in her memory. Suvodeep hugged her from behind and asked softly if she liked the room. Somehow she managed to control her feelings and pressed his hand softly to say ‘Yes’ silently.

Titli was not in a mood to leave her husband alone as she was trying hard to avoid remembering her old days. She tried to speak with him occasionally and he also tried the same as he was also not in a mood to make the situation tough for him. Rest of the day passed without anything special. It was just after the sunset. They were sitting side by side on the balcony facing the wood. Slowly the Darkness of evening started to erase the day light. The nature became more silent without the chirping of unknown birds.

Diner was over a bit early as they had nothing much more to do. Suvodeep excused himself and went to bed just after dinner as he was feeling sleepy. Titli was standing near the window looking towards the garden in front of their cottage as she could not sleep. Somehow she could have managed to avoid recalling her memories but some other issues are trying to make her disturbed. There are so many questions in her mind but she doesn’t have any answer. Why Subhodeep is getting so quiet sometimes for last couple of months? Has he sensed anything about me? If he feels so then why he is not saying anything directly to me?
A very soft voice came from her back…Titli…are not you able to sleep?
Titli said ‘Yes’ softly but did not turn around. Suvodeep came beside her and asked the next question keeping his arm on her shoulder…

- What you are thinking Titli?
- Nothing…just…
- What just Titli?
She replied after some time. Can I ask you something Suvo?
- Why not Titli… you can ask whatever is in your mind…
- You have changed a lot…
Suvodeep did not reply instantly. He was thinking how to proceed and finally his answer came very softly just after a small sigh…Yes Titli…I have changed a lot…
- Is there any problem?
- Yes…

- Can I know?
- Obviously you can know…for that reason only I was forcing you to come here…
- What?
- It’s for you Titli…
- Means?
- I want to see you happy in true sense…at the same time I don’t want to keep that with me which is not belong to me…
- I am not able to understand…
- I want you to go for that which you want actually…
- Please be clear…Suvo…

Again there is some silence and finally Suvodeep managed to say…
- Don’t you remember about your last stay here? Please don’t try to be in shell…come out and face the truth…it’s good for both of us…
Titli became speechless. How Suvodeep came to know about my past? Does he know everything? Does he know that I still have contact with Argha? A very strange feeling of fear and shame started to flow through her body. She was trembling like dry banana leaf. Probably she would have been fall down if Suvodeep not hugged her firmly.
Some more time passed without any exchange of word. Now they both are sitting on the bed. A long sigh came out from core of his heart before he started to talk…

- I do love you Titli but that does not mean that you are bound to stay with me…
- I know Suvo…you love me more than you…how can I ignore that…
- At the same time it’s also not fare to kill your heart Titli…
Titli could not speak for some more time. Finally she managed to ask…What should I do Suvo?
- You must go for your love…
- That’s not possible now…it’s too late…
- No Titli…you can figure out everything now also…it’s better late than never…
- I don’t know…Argha…
- What?

- He will accept me or not…after all I am already married and he lives with his parent…
- If he really loves you then he will have to convince his parent…
- I don’t know…
- What sort of relation is there in between you & him now…please don’t take it as insulting…I am just trying to understand…
- It’s ok Suvo. I don’t know how you came to know but already you know something about my dark past…what is the problem if you know some more…
- I came to know from you only…
- I never told you…

- You can remember of those days after our marriage. You were not so free initially…used to think something…I guess there might be something in your life previously but did not pay much attention as I understood that you were trying hard to adjust with me…with your married life…then everything started to come back to normal gradually…nothing wrong I have seen in you after that but again I have sensed something wrong..
- What?
- Some time back you were speaking with someone in your sleep...rest I have managed to figure out from your changed behavior later…
- How can you figure out that I was here previously…

- Probably you have forgotten… You were talking with someone over phone about this place long back…probably she was one of your classmate who was supposed to go for a vacation with her family…you were so excited…later I just tried to match everything to come to a conclusion…again reconfirmed from your negative attitude while asked you to come here…
- I should have disclosed everything to you...
- Might be that would have been better…anyway tell me…

Some more silent moments passed. Titli was thinking how she can describe her current relation with Argha. Finally she started to speak again…
- I don’t know whether it’s serious enough or not but we do speak frequently…
- Did you meet him?
- Yes…twice…
- Just met or…
- No…he asked for but somehow I managed to refuse…
- Why?
- I was confused…I thought about you…
- Then why you agreed to meet him?
- I tried but failed to avoid…
- That means you still have feelings for him…
- I thought that it was over but when he again contacted me…everything came back to me as fresh…
- He was in your mind silently…

- Yes…you can say that…
- So, you can say him now…
- Do you think that that will be easy for me?
- You have to do it for you only…
She asked after a long pause…What you will do?
- On what?
- Your future…you can’t be alone for the rest of your life…
- I don’t know…
- Is there anybody in your life?
- As of now nobody is there apart from you…

After a long pause Titli again started to speak…I am not able to understand you Suvo. He could not understand what exactly Titli said. So, he was looking towards her with question in his eyes.
- Why you are behaving so properly with me Suvo while you should have asked me to leave you…not only that…you are trying to convince me to go for my love when you will get nothing…like you are nothing but my best friend…or something like that…
- I always tried to see you as my friend…you know that…
- Yes…but is that still applicable after knowing all these?
- Yes…I have learnt it from my mother…Titli. She has given me so many lessons…

Finally Titli agreed to accept the path as she had no other choice. Two more days have passed. Suvodeep asked what’s the outcome but Titli could not answer. After a long pause she answered…
- Argha was supposed to call me back but he didn’t…
- You can call him again…might be he tried you but could not reach you for poor network…
- No…I can understand now clearly…
- What?
- He is not interested in me anymore…
- How?
- I tried several times…he is not accepting my call…
- May be, he needs some more time to figure out…
- No Suvo…if he really needs time then he should have told me…

- I think…you should meet her physically once we are back…might be…
- No Suvo…I don’t want to make another mistake…I have nowhere to go now Suvo…I have lost you…there is no way to come back…it’s all my fault…you love me but I couldn’t keep that with me…on the other hand Argha refused me silently…now I can understand clearly that he wants my body…not me…he just played with me..
Suvo was listening quietly. Actually he was thinking something else…
- My life is full of mistakes Suvo…I don’t know how I have done such silly mistakes all my life. I could not tell my parent about my love…Then I tried to make them happy…agreed to be married half heartedly…thought to forget everything of my past…started my new life with you… everything started to settle gradually with your love…care…I was so happy with you…Then my next mistake takes place…I did not refuse Argha instantly…

Titli was murmuring the words from her heart. Suvo was still quiet. He was feeling sorry for her whom he loves like mad…
- Can you please give me some time to think Suvo?
Suvo was sitting there but his mind was in somewhere else. Something entered through his ear but he did not understand. He returned back from his thoughtful state and asked…you said something?

Titli was standing alone on the balcony looking towards the wood next morning. She was looking motionless physically but something like a violent storm was trying to break her soul. Time was passing as usual. Finally she could have managed to come to a conclusion and returned back to the room as she wanted to settle everything right then. He was sitting on the sofa quietly. Titli cleared her throat and said… Suvo…I have something to say you…
- Yes…
- I have made up my mind…
His heart was trying to say something but his throat was choked.
- I need one more favor from you…
- What?

- If not possible frequently, at least once or twice in a month I will come to see you…will you please allow me?
Drops of tear were rolling down from her eyes. She was trying to keep herself firm but not able to. Suvodeep was almost in same state but somehow managed to ask… from where you will come Titli?
- I have decided to stay alone…
- Why?
- I don’t want to go back to my parent…
- Where will you stay?
- I don’t know…may be in girls hostel or as PG…
- Do you think it will be safe to stay alone for a young beautiful girl like you?
- No more option I do have…I don’t want my parent to know right now all these as they will not be able to bear the pain…
- I am not able to understand Titli…
- What?

- If Argha is not there in your life then why you want to leave me?
- How can I stay with you…will that be ok for me…and…
- What and Titli?
- How can we stay together after all these Suvo? Will you be able to accept me like before?
- Why not possible Titli? I don’t bother anymore about your past…
- It’s ok but how can I adjust…
- Please Titli…can’t you forget all those…
- It’s not so easy Suvo…
- At least you can try…
- Why you are forcing me Suvo…knowing everything…
- Past is past Titli…if I can accept you then why you are thinking that you will not be able?
- I don’t want to do another mistake again Suvo…
- Please Titli…I am sure that this will not be another mistake…

Almost a month has passed now after they returned. Everything looks normal from outside but the inner truth is something else. They live in same house. They share same bed like before but they have no relation of husband wife as she wants some more time to understand herself as well as Suvodeep. This was her last request and he accepted gladly as he knows very well that time is the best medicine to settle everything. Also, he was very much sure that she will be able to forget everything gradually considering her effort which was there previously. Her past will not be able to destroy her again as the truth of her past is already known to her.

Finally, that Saturday night came to their life. Diner was over by ten. Titli was busy in kitchen. He was waiting for her return. He is somehow feeling very happy today. It seems to him that something might happen very shortly as he is noticing some changes in Titli for last couple of days. The painful looks of her sweet face is not there anymore.

It was stark dark inside the room. A soft as well as very sweet but heisted feminine voice uttered a word …Suvo…
Someone was definitely waiting for long time to listen this sweet call. He can identify the difference. Yes, he was right, he was not wrong about the mild changes of behavior of his wife. Her voice is itself trying to say something. So, why he should not answer promptly? He looked towards the ceiling in darkness and replied in same way…Yes Titli…
There was no further response from her. Somehow she has managed to call him but she is again in some dilemma. She knows very well that he is waiting very eagerly for her but a strange feeling was not allowing her to move further or say something. Suvodeep was not in a mood to let this opportunity to die. Blood started to flow very fast from his heart. It was not known to him how he crossed that small distance which he didn’t do in last one month.

Titli was sobbing softly in his embrace. A mixed feeling of joy as well as sorrow was there in her mind. The joy is there as she does know now that nothing more she will have to lose. Rather this is the beginning of her new life. The sorrow is there as she has lost some precious time of her life running aimlessly towards the mirage while her true love was dying silently. Suvodeep was not trying to pacify her, rather he let her to cry from her heart.
Some more time passed. It seems to her that it is her first night. She is just waiting for the first kiss from her beloved husband. Nothing is important to her now other than to stay in his warm embrace. Finally her dream got fulfilled. Their lips touched each other. A strange wave of joy started to pass through their body. They don’t know how much more time has passed. She was melting like very soft ice. Her tender body was turning slowly to a mild flame of desire. Slowly that mild desire takes both of them to the world of dream. They don’t know who takes the initiative to move towards the heaven of understanding…happiness…but they both know that this is not the dark of night…this is the dawn of their new life…they have no more fear to lose each other…

He was very close to her. She was resting her head on his arm…embracing him in her arm. No, they were not speaking, rather they were exchanging some unspoken words silently touching softly each other. Some more time passed. Someone asked very softly… can I caress again my sweet angel before we go for the peaceful sleep in happiest night of our life?
The silent answer was obviously ’Yes’ followed by the sweetest three words of this world…I love you…Suvo…
His heart was about to come out once he listened the sweetest and purest expression from her sweetheart…somehow he managed to say after a little pause…Titli…my sweetheart…I love you…
______________________________
Plz visit my threads -
বন্ধুর দিদির মেয়ের সাথে 

মৌ কথা কও 

তিস্তা তুমি যে অপাপবিদ্ধা 

গ ল্প গু চ্ছ

শুধু পাঠক হয়ে না থেকে আপনার মতামত জানান।