[ddey333]

While returning, Parineeta was exceptionally quiet. I looked at her snivelled eyes. Her

eyes were red. She was on the verge of crying. Nilanjana ma’am patted her shoulder.
Her soothing touch melted her cramping soul. She threw her arms around her neck and
broke down in tears.

I looked over my shoulder and said, “Don’t cry, Parineeta. I will live. May be she was not
for me. I loved my mom she left me. I loved my grandma she also left me. I loved Titli
and thought that she would stay, but she also left.”

I looked at Nilanjana ma’am, her eyes were glistening, she spoke in a choked voice, “A
friend is still there somewhere, Budhaditya.”

I gave her a failed smile, “Sure ma’am. But what happened inside?”

She nodded her head, “Let’s not discuss as what happened. Are you coming with me to
Dhanbad or shall I drop you at your place?”

I nodded my head to express that I would like to retire in my broken nest. She dropped
me at my place. I looked at her face, the contours depicted that she drank the venom
and kept inside her heart. Probably she would never spit that out. I could make out the
failure, I could make out the painful eyes that she was bleeding inside.

The road ahead was void and dark. Time and again her lifeless smile was coming in front
of my dried up eyes. I was able to hear her soul shattering wail, “I will not live without
you, Adi.”

[ddey333]

Chapter 17: Void eyes.


I tried to get out of the city but it chained me with her. Leaving the City of Joy was not
my fate. In the meantime, I changed my job.

Nilanjana ma’am and Dad asked me to shift to Dhanbad and look after their business. I
politely declined their request by saying that business was not my cup of tea. I did not
want to lose my pride that was the only thing I had left. I fathomed that they were very
much hurt on my decision but I was firm on my stand. It was a routine for me to visit
Dhanbad every weekend. Nilanjana ma’am asked me whether I had any inclination on
Parineeta. I laughed her away saying that I am not going to fall in love with anyone
again. I told her that all my loved ones move away from me. She returned a pale smile

and asked not to forget them. I assured that they were the only persons left in this
whole world for me.

After that eventless soul shattering evening, Parineeta and I kept in touch on the phone
only. We never met, as I did not want any more complexity in my life. She did find her
love at last. After completing her studies, she got married that year December.

Reminiscences faded with passing time. Titli never contacted me. I could easily
understand how her stern father manipulated her. I could imagine that he at first tried
to scold and pressurise Titli, failing upon he manipulated her by giving excuse of his
health. I knew that her hands were tied and there was no looking back to those
colourful days.

Ten months had passed. Every day from that day, I counted the days Titli was to get
married. I wanted to stay away from Kolkata on that very eventful day.

Monsoon arrived. It was raining again. With the rain, my old memoirs came to life. Two
years back on one such rainy night I met Titli. I was in Chennai for an office trip. I was in
my hotel room watching tv after dinner. My cell phone rang, it was Parineeta.

I teased her, “Hello sexy raven how are you doing? You should be in bed and not call me
in this rainy night.”

Her voice was unnaturally calm, “Where are you? I was trying to call you for long time. I
even called Nilanjana ma’am. She told me that you are out of station.”

Her voice made me serious, “Why what happened?”

She said to me, “Talk to her.” then she handed the phone to some lady.

I heard a female voice wailing, “Budhaditya where are you? Help me.”

[ddey333]

The lady was crying on the other end. I was unable to recognise her voice.

I asked her again, “Sorry madam, I am unable to recognise you.”

She sobbed out, “I am Titli’s mother. Can you come to hospital?”

I was stunned to hear her voice on the phone. I became stiff as a stone effigy. My face
became white, bloodless as if someone sucked all my blood. My breathing stopped as I

heard that she was calling me from hospital. I clenched my teeth to prepare myself to
hear the soul shattering news. I was not in a mood to ask the details, as I was able to
fathom that my damsel kept her word.

I pulled up all my strength and said to her, “I am coming.”

I informed my senior that I had to return to Kolkata for some inevitable reasons.

I received a call from Nilanjana ma’am, “Did Parineeta called you? Are you on the way?”

“Yes I am on my way.” I answered.

I asked her as how she knew. She answered that Parineeta was trying my cell phone but
was unable to reach me due to some reason. She called her and informed about Titli.
She asked her to give me a call.

I asked her, “What has happened to Titli?”

She answered me, “You just come to hospital. I am on the way. Your dad will arrive
tomorrow along with Bappa.”

I raced to the airport but the next flight to Kolkata was after four hours. The time was
not passing. I kept on looking at my watch; even the second hand betrayed me. It was
moving at a painfully slow pace.

After eight infinite harrowing hours, I reached Kolkata. It was about four in the morning.
It was pouring cats and dogs. Nilanjana ma’am informed that she would reach within
few hours.

I walked to the reception of the hospital and saw Parineeta and Aurnavo waiting for me
anxiously. She ran towards me and broke down. I looked at her husband and asked him
as what happened. He said nothing and looked towards Aurnavo. He was also mum. My
anguish was killing me.

Aurnavo had tears in his eye. He sobbed, “Mom is waiting for you. Come.”

[ddey333]

He took me upstairs to the ICU. I noticed that auntie was sitting on a couch with pale
face. She gave me a blank stare. I felt those eyes were trying to tell me something but
was not able to find words to describe. I kneeled in front of her and took her hand in
mine.

She broke down, “I want my Titli back, Budhaditya.”

I looked at Parineeta and asked her, “For god’s sake, would someone care to tell me as
what has happened.”

She sobbed in pain, “Titli’s wedding is day after tomorrow.” I gave her a confused look.
She continued, “She tried to commit suicide by jumping from balcony. Her head is
smashed. She is in operation theatre right now. Her maternal uncle is also here. He and
his team of doctors are trying to put her cranium together.”

I felt that I was hit by a thunder in that stormy night. My blood started boiling after
hearing that. I clenched my jaws and gave a stern gaze at auntie. Tears were flowing
down her cheeks but those tears meant nothing to me. I was only concerned about Titli
that time. I was unable to find words as what to say. At last, my damsel kept her words
as she promised me. I could only hear her wail from the horizon, “I will not live without
you, Adi.”

I grinded my jaws and spoke to aunt, “Why have you called me now? Now you are
satisfied to find Titli in there.”

She shook her head, “No Budhaditya, no. I was helpless that time. My brothers and her
father pressurised her and manipulated her.”

“What are you doing here?” I heard her father asking me in stern voice.

I looked up and clenched my jaws to confront him. Aunt patted my shoulder, requested
me to keep quiet.

He shouted at us, “It is due to him that my daughter is in that condition.”

I was unable to control myself anymore. However, aunt’s tearful eyes made me go
weak. I gave him a stern gaze and said, “I know you are her father and you have done a
lot for Titli. The result is in front of you. Why are we fighting like this? Our altercation is
not going to bring her back.”

[ddey333]

He shouted at me, “Get out from here.”

“Mr. Bannerjee, before accusing someone you should look as what you did.” I heard
Nilanjana ma’am roar. She walked towards us along with a gentleman in tuck and said to
her father, “That day you insulted me.” She pointed to Aunt, “Her tearful pleading eyes
deterred me to retort back. I kept quiet as the time was yours and venue was yours. But
today neither of that is in your favour.” She pointed to the gentleman, “Today I have
come prepared. That’s my friend, he is SP. Women’s cell is just a phone call away. If
something happens to Anoushka then I ensure you that I will bring you down. So it will
be better if you keep your mouth shut.”

He shook his head, “No. I did not mean to harm Titli. I always wanted to give her a
beautiful life.”

Aunt groaned at her husband, “Your prestige and your society values have done a lot for
my daughter. Due to your snobbish nature, my daughter is on deathbed. I have kept
quiet for long.” She then pointed at me, “You are standing here in one piece that is also
because of him. He took you to hospital when you had second attack. He changed your
snobbish daughter to a fine lady. I have called him. Don’t you dare to say anything to
him.”

Words were flying from all sides like arrows, hitting each other, piercing ones souls
shattering peaceful environment of the hospital.

Aurnavo screamed in grief, “For heaven’s sake, please stop fighting. Didi is dying over
there and you all are still fighting like cats and dogs.” He pointed to his mother and said,
“You cared for dad’s health and kept quiet. You did not spoke for Didi.” Then he pointed
to uncle and said, “You cared about your pride and values and did not took care what
Didi wanted.” Then he looked at me and said, “I was too young to scream my voice out,
all I wanted to have a playful life. Even I kept quiet and spoke nothing that day. Tell me
who cared about my Didi?”

I lost my vocabulary as what to say to Aurnavo. I was able to fathom the writhing pain of
a brother’s heart. Aunt then pacified uncle to keep quiet. There was pin drop silence in
the hall. Only breathing sounds and soft wails of aunt and Parineeta could be heard.

A passing second seemed like a decade. We all waited anxiously in front of the
operation theatre for some news of Titli.

[ddey333]

Looks more like 80s movie climax where everyone is waiting outside operation theatre.

The time line of this story is 1998 to 1999 approximately. Pinuram wrote it at 2013. 
When I first time read it, I was astonished. How he knew the story of my own life, my past, my pleasures, my pains!!! 
This is an amazing story of two people falling in love and promised to not live without each other, come what may.

[ddey333]

The time line of this story is 1998 to 1999 approximately. Pinuram wrote it at 2013. 
When I first time read it, I was astonished. How he knew the story of my own life, my past, my pleasures, my pains!!! 
This is an amazing story of two people falling in love and promised to not live without each other, come what may.

Don't remember now, how many times I literally smiled and cried during reading it 
An exceptional creation of Pinuram.
Last year december, after many many requests of mine he started the bengali version of it, also dedicated the story to my name. 
But after February this year he went into hiding again and stopped moving any further.

[ddey333]

Do you have similar real life experience?

Yes , almost the same .

[ddey333]

After few hours, Titli’s maternal uncle came out of the operation theatre. We all looked
at him anxiously. He looked at us and shook his head, “We tried our level best, but she is

slipping away. Next seventy-two hours is critical for her. If she regains consciousness by
then, then it is ok, else she will slip into coma.”

Aunt wailed out, “NO..... She can’t leave me like that.” I took her in my arms to console
her, but she was inconsolable. I tried hard to persuade her that everything would be ok.

He then looked at me and asked, “Are you Adi?”

Only one person in this earth can call this name and she was in OT. I was utterly
surprised to hear that name from a person whom I did not know at all. I nodded my
head.

He shook his head and gave me a painful look, “Titli muttered your name before slipping
away.”

I was unable to control my tears and all the dams inside me broke. My eyes welled up; I
tried hard to control those tears to tickle down. However, those drops betrayed me at
last. He shook me by my shoulder and said to me, “We are taking her in ICU. You can see
her then.”

I asked Nilanjana ma’am and Parineeta to go home as there was nothing much to be
done there. I told to Aurnavo to take uncle to home. I told them that if there were any
news I would give them a call. They asked me as what I would do. I told them that until
Titli opens her eyes, I would sit over there.

[ddey333]

I went inside in the ICU to look her. Her head and face was covered in bandage. Lot of

blood drained out of her body. She became like a skeleton in last ten months. I looked at
her bruised face. The glow was gone. I took her hand in mine. Her fingers felt like a
bunch of tiny match sticks. Gently I caressed each fingers. She lay there motionless on
the bed. Only faint heartbeat could be heard. I pressed her fingers on my lips trying to
pass the warmth of my soul to her. However my damsel lay there quiet, unmoved. My
warmth was not enough to generate even a slight ripple. I looked at Aunt. She was
caressing her daughter’s head and face with her soothing palm and muttering
something in her ears. Those words of a mother’s painful heart never reached Titli.

People came and people go. Both of us sat there in the waiting hall outside the ICU.
Nothing could move us from there. I was only praying to almighty, “You have taken
everything from me. I did not complain to you ever. This is the last chance for me. If you
take her away from me then I will surely die.”


Time to time her maternal uncle and doctors came to us informing about her health. On
the first day, the doctors informed us that she was not showing any signs of
improvement. I forgot to breathe when I heard that news. From the second day, she
showed signs of improvement and we felt relieved. Still then, she was unconscious.

After sixty harrowing infinite hours of restlessness, her maternal uncle came to us. All of
her family and my family were present there.

He looked at us and said in a painful voice, “Titli is awake now. But I am sorry to inform
you that she has lost her memory and have acute aphasia, means loss of speech.”

On hearing that, Aunt fainted and slumped over there. Parineeta took her in her arms
and helped her to sit down. I gave a blank gaze to my dad and Nilanjana ma’am. I was
unable to come to terms and what her uncle just said. I asked him again that was he
sure as what he was saying. He nodded his head and wiped his eyes.

He shook me by my shoulder and said, “She is my niece. I did my best to bring her back.”

I entered the room and looked at Titli. Her eyes were glassy bereft of any expression.
She gave a void look to all of us. First at me then at aunt then to her uncle. Her eyes
queried as who we are, what were we doing there. Aunt sat beside her bed and touched
her hand. She looked at her suspiciously and pulled her hand away. She then cowered at
one side of the bed. I let out a deep exhale of pain. My skinny damsel was frightened to
find several known unknown faces around her.

Aunt wailed at her, “Look at me please. Talk to me, Titli. I am your mother.”
She gave a blank look at her as if asking who you are.

Aunt pointed to uncle and said, “He is your father, don’t you remember anything?”

She shook her head gently. She opened her bruised lips to say something, instead of
words, mute hush came out of her throat. Her eyes welled up in sheer pain. She looked
at me as if asking as who I was. I could not answer her mute query.

Aunt pulled me by my hand and said to Titli, “This is Adi, you remember him?”

[ddey333]

She shook her head again. Her blank gaze haunted me. I was unable to stand before
those glassy eyes. I stepped back and walked out of the room silently. My head was

spinning. I slumped down on a chair. I cursed myself not to stand beside her. I cursed
myself for her ails.

Nilanjana ma’am came and sat beside me. She asked me, “What are you going to do?”

Every pair of eyes was looking at me for some answer. I looked at her father’s face. He
was unable to speak. At last, he broke down in front of me. My soul was not within me,
yet I felt that I should console him. I hugged him but I had not vocabulary left to console
a writhing father’s heart.

After a long time, I felt my grandma’s soothing palm on my shoulder. She whispered in
my ears, “Adi your love is writhing in pain and you are watching her. You are the apple
of my eye. Go and help her. How can you lose her?”

I pulled up all my strength and answered them in a stern voice, “I am going to take her
with me. I am dictating my decision. This time no more mistakes.”

[ddey333]

Chapter 18: Sapling re-sown. (#1)


Aunt and I never left her side. Her parents had a hard time to call off the wedding.
Nilanjana ma’am and dad assured them that they would together handle the situation. I
cared not to get involved in that matter. For me the main concern was Titli’s wellbeing.

There was huge opposition from her parents on my decision. Dad gave me an option
that he would take Titli to Dhanbad. He told me that I would not be able to take proper
care of her. I assured dad that I would not let her slip into oblivion again. I was adamant
on my stand and told them I don’t care as what the society or the people would talk
about.

Nilanjana ma’am came to my rescue. She dictated to everyone, “Titli has bridged the
gap of twelve years between a father and son and brought them together. I will bring
the heaven and hell together to bring her back.” She turned towards me and said, “Give
me the word that you will bring happiness in her eyes.”

I looked at her and said, “I have lost her once and I don’t have enough courage left to
lose her again.”

She said to me, “One condition she can stay with you. You two have a registry
marriage.”


“No.” I answered her, “I don’t want to impose anything on her barren heart right now.
Titli has to be in a position to give her consent. Currently she is not in a position to give
that. I will wait until she is ready. I will re-sow the seeds again and wait for the sapling to
grow, even if that takes a life time for us.”
Aunt shook her head and sobbed at me, “Promise me that you will take care of her.”

I gave a painful smile, “Ask for my soul, I can give that. But not Titli, not this time.”

[ddey333]

After ten days, Titli was able to stand up on her feet. Her uncle prescribed some
medicines and told me to keep in touch with him. He referred a speech therapist and a
psychiatrist. I gave a pale smile in return.

Titli became very pale and skinny. She looked like a skeleton dbangd in a pale skin. Her
collarbones and cheekbones were visible. The moonshine from her face was gone. Her
eyes were filled up with void queries. She hankered for answers that were haunting her.
She was unable to speak but her beautiful big eyes expressed what she wants. She was
trying to cope with the relations dictated to her. I saw distrust in her eyes that she was
feeling uneasy. I knew that it would be an uphill task to bring back her lost composure.

I requested Nilanjana ma’am and Dad to return to Dhanbad. Ma’am requested me to
keep the car. I obliged her request. She repeatedly reminded me that I should call her
every day to inform her about Titli’s health and improvement. I nodded my head to
assure that I would abide her every word.

Parting was quiet tearful. Nilanjana Ma’am kissed Titli’s forehead and bid her goodbye.
She gently nodded her head.

Before returning Bappa asked me, “Hey Buddhubabu, why Titli auntie is so gloom? Is
she angry upon you?”

I smiled at her and said, “No dear, she is not well now. She will definitely speak to you.”

He shook his head and gave me a naughty smile, “I know. She is angry with you. Tickle
on her belly, she will burst out in laughter and she will talk to you again.”

I asked him, “Who told you that?”

He looked at his mother and said in a puerile voice, “When Mama gets angry then she

does not speak with Dada. Then Dada hugs her and tickles her on her belly. She bursts in
laughter and they mends up.”

I could not control my laughter. After a long time I was able to breathe fresh air in my
lungs. His innocent suggestion brought smile to everyone’s face. I looked at Nilanjana
ma’am. She was trying to hide her coy face by looking at dad.

I looked at Nilanjana ma’am, “So, this is the secret as how you rule your kingdom?”

While returning she sat cowered in one corner of the seat. Looking curiously all around
her as what was happening with her. Every time I tried to touch her, she gave me a
curious look and moved away.

[ddey333]

“Come inside.” I ushered Titli in my flat. “This is where you would live.”


After entering, she looked all around my small flat. She touched the couch and the
curtains. She walked around the room like a breeze. I watched her actions quietly.

Aunt asked me, “I am very much concerned about her. What will happen, Budhaditya?”

I nodded and assured her that everything will be fine. I asked aunt to take her to the
bedroom and lay her down on the bed. She quietly lay on the bed and closed her eyes.
Aunt sat beside her and soothed her head for a long time. She was shaking by her
mother’s touch. She was unable to cope with the new environment around her.

Aunt looked around the house and asked me, “How will she live here?”

I asked her in return, “What’s the harm? If I can live she also can.”

She mumbled, “No, I mean her room is much bigger than this.”

I sat beside the bed and took her hand in mine, “I know that Auntie.” Time has come to
divulge the truth. I looked at sleeping Titli and said to Aunt, “You see these curtains, the
wall hangings, the couch covers and everything. Those all were bought by Titli.” Aunt
was awestruck to hear as what I was saying. I continued, “She graced every nook and
corner of these dingy rooms to make a perfect abode fit for a queen. Titli’s soul was
stuck here, in these two rooms. Only her body slept at your house.”

[ddey333]

Aunt looked at Titli and then at me. She asked me, “Are you telling the truth? When she
did all these? I don’t believe you. I am her mother. I thought that I knew her well. She
never took any interest in household things.”

I smiled at her and nodded “Yes she did. Now you know the reason.”

Her eyes were glistening. She gently ruffled Titli’s head, “I felt some changes in Titli, but
never did I imagine that she could be like this.” She gave me a soft smile, “Only you can
change my Titli.”

I looked at her snivelled eyes and said, “I don’t know auntie. You have hope and I have
faith. We need to keep those with us.”

All of a sudden, Titli shivered and woke up. She looked at us with thousands queries in
her big eyes. Aunt held her across her chest and tried to soothe her to sleep. I gently
nodded at aunt and came out of the room.

The walls and the curtains were crying, asking me as what happened to the queen of the
roost. I did not have the answer. I sat quietly on the couch and blankly looked out of the
window. The sky was dark and overcast with rain clouds. I lied on the couch and closed
my eyes.

A soft groaning sound woke me up. The morning twilight was peeping on the east. I
tried to figure out as from where the sobbing sound was coming. After some time I
realised that, the sound was coming from the bathroom. I walked to the bathroom and
was astound to find Titli there. She sat cowered at one corner of the bathroom. Her eyes
were red and stream of tears rolling down her cheeks. I knelt in front of her. She looked
at me and tried to say me something.
I felt like crying to see her in that condition. I asked her, “You are not able to sleep?”

She shook her head, “No.”

I held her in my arms. She became stiff in my embrace. Gently she brushed her head on
my chest.

I asked her, “You are frightened?”

She nodded her head, “Yes.”

[ddey333]

I pulled her on my lap and walked into the drawing room. I let her sit on the couch and
knelt in front of her. I took her hands in mine and asked her, “You don’t remember
these couch covers, do you? You remember nothing.”

She shook her head, “No.” She gestured at me, “Who are you?”

That query made me cry but I controlled myself. I looked deeply in her curious eyes and
answered, “I am your Adi, Titli. Your husband.” I lied. A lie perhaps could bring some
change, a lie for a better cause.

She gave me a curious look and gestured that why I did not divulged that to her
previously.

I smiled and said to her, “Even if I said that, would that matter? You do not even
remember your name dear. How could you remember me?”

She clenched her fist and tried to bang her head. I held her hands tightly to restrain her
from doing so. Tears from her big black eyes were flowing continuously. I took her face
between my palms and wiped her tears. She felt little relieved with my compassionate
touch on her cheek.

I said to her, “It will take some time for you to respond to your name, Titli.”

She gave me a painful smile and nodded her head, “Yes.”

She gestured me that whether she could lie down on the sofa. I asked her why she do
not go into the room and sleep on the bed. She said that she was feeling uncomfortable
there. I smiled and nodded at her. She lied down on the sofa and looked at me. I
covered her with a bed sheet. She held the bed sheet close to her chest and closed her
eyes. Gently I rubbed her forehead, passing the warmth of mine to her cold shivering
face. I watched her closely as she tried to sleep.

I looked up and found that Aunt was watching us.

[ddey333]

She gave me a blissful smile and said, “I think I can leave her here now.”


I stood up from Titli’s side and said to her, “She is everything to me. I lost my mom when
I was very young, then I lost my grandma which was not in my hand. I lost her once and I
don’t have much strength left to lose her again.”

She ruffled my hair and said, “I think it will not be raining today. Like some tea?”

I smiled back at her, “Sure. You still owe me the sukto, remember.”

She laughed at me and patted my unshaven cheek, “You are really crazy…. Go and
brush. Take a bath and don’t forget to shave. From last ten days, neither you have slept
properly nor taken anything.”

I laughed at her, “You also have not left her side Auntie. Don’t worry I will sleep now. I
have to join office so I am concerned as how to keep her alone.”

She said to me, “Why are you worrying so much? I will send my maid in the morning and
I will be here until you return from office. I am her mother. So I have some duty also.”

Titli was gradually regaining her lost stature. We all were delighted to see her in good
shape. The glow on her face was returning, yet her eyes bore few strokes of insecurity.
She was able to walk properly and she started responding to her original name, Titli.

Titli’s mother went back after five days. I assured her not to worry about Titli and she
can come to check her anytime as our houses were nearby. She gave me a hug and said
that she was not worry about Titli but she was worry about me as how would I cope
with her current being.

We were all alone in that house after aunt left on that evening. She was feeling
uncomfortable, as I was the only person in the house. I asked her to sit on the couch.
She felt bit uneasy when I sat beside her.

I asked her, “What are you thinking?”

She gestured at me, “You and me will live alone in this house?”

I nodded my head, “Yes Titli. This is your house.”

She gave a cold expression by gently nodding her head, “Ok.” Then she retired calmly
into the bedroom.

[ddey333]

Few days passed without much flutter. There were no changes in her behaviour. Her
cold smile haunted me more than ever. She used to confine herself in the bedroom,
seldom she came out of that place. Not much word was exchanged during dinner.

Silently she ate her food and then went back to recluse. She never took interest in
anything, always looking at us with blank vision. My patience was being tested.

On one evening, I returned home with her favourite flower, Rajanigandha. Instead of

retiring to her room, she looked at me. She gave me a faint smile, took those flowers
from my hand, and smelled. My soul was filled up with bliss on beholding her smile. I
felt that I had everything in the world. I said to her that that was her favourite flower.
For next few days, I brought her flowers to cheer her up. Slowly she was opening up
with me. Smiles were exchanged more frequently, yet she was far away from my touch.
I dared not touch her fathoming her mental condition. She used to stay with me in the
drawing room watching tv even after the maid left.

Aunt asked me to put her through the speech therapy. The doctor checked her and tried
to help her in speech. I took her to the doctor for the next few sessions.

One day she asked me as why I was taking such pain. I asked her whether she wants to
speak again or not. She asked me whether I had any problems if she was mute. I could
not find any answer to her. She gave me a painful look and quietly accompanied me to
the therapist that day.

That night, she remained very cold. She did not even eat her food properly. I asked her
as what has happened. Her eyes expressed that she wanted to be left alone and she
pushed me out of her room. I asked her as what she wants. She gave me a helpless look
and shook her head. I saw pain in her eyes. She expressed that she does not want to go
through the therapy it pains in her throat. I had to bow down to her on beholding her
depressed face.

Next evening after I returned, I found that she was preparing tea for me.I was surprised
and asked her, “What are you doing?”

[ddey333]

She asked me to sit in the drawing room. I asked her as where the maid was. She
answered that she send her away as there was not much to be done.

I told to myself that the day has come to unfurl some of her memoirs to her. I went
inside the bedroom to bring the suitcase that contained her belongings. I opened the
suitcase in front of her. She gave me an inquisitive look as if asking as what I was doing. I
showed her dresses and asked her does she remember these. She looked at the dresses
and shook her head.

She gestured at me, “Did I wore those?”

I nodded my head, “Yes dear.”

She pulled out one of her flimsy slips and held out with two fingers. She squeezed her
nose and asked me, “Did I wear this also?”

I laughed at her, “Yes dear, you looked really beautiful in that dress.”

She blushed and shied away her coy face. I was happy to see her blushes again. The lost
smile was returning on her lips. The pink tint was again on her cheeks. However, the
affection, the warmth was lacking in her touch.Then she asked me a query that I did not
have answer, “Where are the pictures of our wedding?”

I stooped in front of her and lied again, “They are not here Titli. They are at Dhanbad.”

She touched my chin with her index finger and pulled up my face. Her piercing eyes
fathomed my pretense. She only shook her head. I was unable to understand as what
she meant then.

I asked her, “Want to have dinner now? I don’t know what the maid has prepared.”

She nodded her head that she was hungry. I asked her whether I should feed her. She
blushed again and said that she can eat all by herself. Then she got up and walked to the
kitchen. I tried to stop her but she waved her hand at me and asked me to keep seated
there.

I felt a new breeze flowing in that dingy room all over again. Cold monsoon winds were
blowing outside creating a feeling of togetherness in me. I heard her footsteps and
looked back to find her standing with two dishes in her hand. My bereaved soul was
again drenched. I held her hand and helped her to sit.

[ddey333]

After dinner, she came in the drawing room and sat beside me. That was very unusual of
her. I asked her whether she was feeling sleepy or not. She gave a blank look outside the
window. Then she shook her head and said that the rain was creating some unknown
feelings within her soul.

I said to her, “I first met you in one such rainy night.”

She gave me a curious look and asked “Where?”

I said to her, “It was raining that night. We both were standing at a bus stand. You were
waiting for your brother to pick you up. He was late so you asked me whether I could
wait for you or not. You were feeling uneasy with lots of prying eyes lewdly devouring
your charms. You stood close to me and you said that you felt safe.”

Her eyes sparkled, “Really?”

I nodded my head, “Yes.”

Titli was getting better with each passing day. The cheekbones vanished under chubby
cheeks, health regained. Her big black eyes were expressive more than ever. Those were
smiling all over again. The roost saw their old queen in a new form. The gloomy
semblance of the flat was weathering.

Once again, she was taking interest in the household chores. She would anxiously wait
for my return. Every evening she used to ask me as what I did in office and I used to tell
her every minute of my whole day. Still my ears hankered to hear her sweet nonsense
and curses.

On one weekend, we were asked to visit her house. I took her to her house. Her parents
were very happy to find her there. She walked in that huge house along with aunt. Her
eyes were searching for answers as she was told that that was house. Aunt took her to
her room and asked her whether she was able to remember anything or not. She shook
her head and expressed that she was unable to recollect anything. I let out a deep
exhale, as I felt helpless as what to do. Titli gave me a helpless look and asked me to
take her home. I saw a writhing pain her mother’s eyes. I persuaded aunt that we should
not exert pressure on her as she was still recuperating.