The emotion, followed by scar: part 4

WRITTEN BY NANDA NAIR A

Now it was Anupam’s duty to owe back everything Anand had done for him. Anupam decided to stay with Anand at least for a while. He wanted to make sure his brother wouldn’t think of doing anything wrong. For further support, his sisters too visited them. Vyshnav who lived alone in Kolkata too visited him once. Since they were not on good terms he didn't bother to stay there longer.

Since much money wasn’t spent on Anand's behalf, the financial crisis was far from them. But time went on to test them. Anupam’s need for his family was a must when his wife’s mother Sushmita fell sick all of a sudden. She went on to become half-paralysed. Cerebral palsy-they said. His wife being an only child, couldn’t put everything right into place.

“Anupam… the children need you. My mom needs you more than me. Please, your sisters are there to take care of you brother. Come back at least for a while.” she said through one of the calls.

“Yes, yes, Remya, but… try to adjust. See i am equally troubled, i cannot leave my brother like this. You know how badly hurt he is.”

Though Anupam tried his best to speak softly, being a professor, Anand heard all loud and clear. Anand, though weak at heart, gained courage and called him aside,

“Anu… we both know that I need you but your family needs you more. I have already lost my family, but you haven’t. Right now, I have nothing to lose. But it isn’t the same with you. Just call me now and then, like Preety and Pallavi. And maybe once in a blue moon, visit me. Fine?”

“Bhaiyya… i am so sorry but i will definitely care about your whereabouts.”

“Yes, Anupam, you may leave.” but this time he was a little stern. Now it seems like he wanted to be alone.

---

She wore her hair in a bun. To cover it completely and bring out the tomboyish look, she wore a hat on top of it.

Stepping out of the train, she drew an umbrella above her. It was too sunny outside. Seeing some of the poorly dressed women who sat on the grounds to beg, she wondered about her own condition. Quickly she checked her wallet, 2000 rupees left. Wasn’t she as aimless as them? If she doesn't reach her goal as soon as possible, she too might as well end up like them. They knew how to sing, she didn’t. Clutching her fists tightly, she walked towards the exit. Going to a nearby shop, she bought a fully marked map of Mumbai. Dharavi, Asia's largest slum, covered most of it. Walking towards the bus stop, she began to feel as if all this is a terrible nightmare. Bus stop was the only free shelter she could find there. Sitting on one of the steel plated chairs she took out a crumpled letter from her side pocket. It read,

“Dear Tanisha,

You don't know me. And you will probably never get a chance to see me. By the end of this letter, everything will seem obvious. Right now, please trust me and read till the end.

This is Joshua writing. None must have ever told you about me. But I am sure you must have heard about me, though with much ambiguity. I am your mom’s so-called lover, with whom she eloped. Right now we are legally husband and wife. Before she turns into a widow, I thought of mailing you this.

Once I am gone, she will be in solitude. There’s no other entity for her to lean upon.

Everything that your father must have told about us must be true. Both of us had made our own errors. But the one to suffer, unfortunately, is your dad.

Yes, we were caught in a house fire. But we didn’t die, that was a rumor. I escaped by a close call. She too did, only with minor urns. But the fire meant we had to start all over again. Tanisha, we don't have any progeny. She refused to have any. The reality was that she couldn’t bear to leave me and live with your dad then. But your dad’s loyalty, that's high. It was only after eloping with me did she realise how harsh she was with your dad. She also recognised the love that your father had towards her: that how much your dad held to his words. Though your mom ran away with me, after you completed your lactation, she never stopped talking about you. She always told me about how much alike both of you were when you were born and about how much you must have inclined towards your dad. And how much you must be hating her right now. Considering what we have done to your dad, it is cruel to even think whether he still loves your mom.

Tanisha, this is o dupe. You shall or shall not believe this…but considering the slight probability that you might want to meet your mom, after all, here’s the plan to bring that thought into action:

……”

TO BE CONTINUED....