THE MEETING Im really nervous. Ma will be coming with me to meet Dhiraj today. She finally wanted to meet the man I was in awe of. I had met him exactly a year ago. Since then, we knew that we were destined to be together! Ma wanted me to see other men, but I was determined, (she called it desperation) to marry Dhiraj. Hence, finally I convinced her to give us a chance. But the weather was a complete spoiler today. Due to the continuous rains, the weather was damp and chilly. Who would say it was March? I typed a message for Dhiraj, Wear that blue shirt today. Achhe lagte ho tum usme. Aur time pe aa jana. Love u As soon as I kept the phone away, it started ringing. It played “Kuch toh hai tujhse raabta...kaise hum jaane hume kyaa pata” This ringtone was set by Dhiraj for himself, so that even from a distance, Id know it was him. I took the call excitedly. Hello? I said. Hello, baby! Nervous? he giggled. Ummm, thora. But I know youll be great, I said enthusiastically. But, what if she finds me weird? You know, everyone doesnt understand me. Everyone is not you, he said. Dont worry dear. Ma is cool! Keep talking, she loves to talk, I said. Yeah, I hope just talking helps. Thats all Im good at, Dhiraj joked. We talked for an hour or so and kissed each other goodbye before hanging up. I picked a yellow kurti that complimented my figure. After getting dressed, I assured Ma that Dhiraj was a very nice guy and she need not worry. We left for the cafe, a few streets away. Dhiraj messaged and informed me that he had already reached, and was waiting outside. Just as we were nearing the cafe, it began to rain again, heavily. I paid the rickshaw fare and took Ma to a shaded place across the street. Where is he? asked Ma. I strained my eyes to look for him, and finally spotted him in that blue shirt next to the cafe. He didnt see me yet. I pointed at him and showed Ma. Ma, look! That man in the blue shirt is Dhiraj! I exclaimed. Which man? What blue shirt?” My mother fixed her glasses for a better view. Arey Ma, cant you see? He is with that black umbrella. Right in front of the cafe. Its raining so hard. I cannot see anybody there in blue at least! she said. Oh mamma! You wait here. Im going to talk to him. Wait till the rain stops, and then we will call you, I said, a bit irritated. I steadily walked across the street towards Dhiraj. He saw me and greeted me with a warm grin. His eyes looked for my mother. Aunty ji kidhar hai? Didnt she come? he asked. Oh yes. She is right there, standing under the canopy of that shop. Let the rain subside, we will bring her here, I said. Dhiraj looked at Ma and waved smilingly. I turned to look at her as well. She was aging, and so was her eye-sight. I waved at her as well. She looked at us, confused. I turned back to Dhiraj. His smile slowly disappeared. Priya Shona, I am getting a call from work. I have to leave immediately. Im so sorry. Please say sorry to aunty as well. Bye! He hugged me and left immediately, before I could respond. I was taken aback. I went back to my mother who still had that confused look on her face.Sorry Ma, Dhiraj got a call from work and so he had to leave immediately. He has apologized to you as well. I said gloomily.Achhaa. But what were you doing there then? she inquired. Where? I asked. There, in front of the cafe. Why were you making peculiar gestures and standing alone, getting wet? she asked. What? Alone? Ma that was Dhiraj I was talking to! He even waved at you! Whats wrong with you? I was extremely agitated with her now. Mas expression changed. It became pale and cold. She asked me to get an auto back home and uttered no word anymore. We reached home. I was extremely frustrated with the evenings outcome, since I had struggled a lot to make this meeting happen! Ma locked the door and joined her hands in a requesting gesture towards me. I was startled. Please Priya. Do not contact that man, whoever he is. He is not who you think he is. Stay away from him. There was nobody you were talking to today at the cafe. Woh bhoot hai.Pishaach hai. Samhal jaa Priya, she cried. WHAT? MAA PLEASE! What nonsense is this? You really need to go to a doctor, I shouted. She pulled me to the sofa, made me sit and told me everything. How she saw me walking to absolutely nobody and smiling and talking and then waving at her. I was flabbergasted. I couldnt believe what she said. I was getting worried about her health now. With dad gone, she was finding it difficult to cope. I tried to calm her down. I handed her a glass of water and went to put on some dry clothes. I got out of the bathroom and my phone blipped. There was a text from Dhiraj, See, I told u? She wouldnt like me. I cannot let her get in our way. I really love u Priya. Now this was being judgmental. How could he come to such an abrupt conclusion without even meeting her? I put the phone down and went to check on my mother. Ma was sitting there; her eyeballs bulging, broken glass in her hand, and tongue out. I screamed in terror! I shook her body, but she sat there, lifeless. I kept screaming her name which echoed in my ears. I stopped. It was quiet except the clock that was ticking by. Suddenly my phone started ringing, “Kuch toh hai tujhse raabta...kaise hum jaane hume kya pata” I trembled and walked to my bedroom. I took the call. Hello Priya! Priya? Priyaaa... PRIYAA? The last thing I remember was him calling my name, in a tone, I found really dangerous. And soon after that, it became all black. They have brought me to a rehabilitation center and keep me locked up all the time. They say I have murdered my mother! I keep telling them about Dhiraj Shaw. They say no such Dhiraj Shaw exists. They say I have got ‘Dissociated Identity Disorder’ and that causes hallucinations very often. They have even found proof that accuses me of my Ma’s murder! Dhiraj, the Dhiraj who murdered my Ma was my “Imagination” according to these people! But how can I explain, that Dhiraj exists! How can’t he? I did not call myself up regularly as Dhiraj for God’s sake! We have been together for so long. We love each other. He had reasons to kill Ma. Ma was being really judgmental about him, after all. * Priya Sharma, age 26, declared a murderer and a psychotic patient who was suffering from DID, was found strolling across a glass room murmuring strangely to herself. Doctors passed across her room, and sighed in dismay. Meanwhile, at the police station, Priya’s mobile started ringing “Kuch toh hai tujhse raabta...kaise hum jaane hume kya pata...” Sohini Biswas #TAWfanarchy
Posted on: Mon, 09 Jun 2014 07:30:00 +0000
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