P 3. Revisit

Janet is glad to be back in the world of the living.... and rushes about making her wishes come true........there's no time for contemplation...!

3. Revisit

Rrrriiiiiiigg.......The alarm went off promptly at 5 am. Turning it off, she flung off her sheet and leapt off the bed, brushing aside her customary habit of lazing about for another half an hour. Oh boy! was she glad to be relieved of the ordeal, of the ghostly dream, and to be alive and kicking..literally...wow! She walked about bare feet, relishing the sheer pleasure of the smooth coolness of the tiled floor. John, her son was fast asleep, and she knew it was pointless trying to wake him up. She hurried through her morning chores.

“I’m rejoicing night and day, as I walk the narrow way,

for the hand of God in all my life I see;
and the reason of my bliss, Yes, the secret all is this:
that the Comforter abides with me..........”

“Mom, here’s your oats”, She shouted above the choir playing on the television, as she placed a bowl of hot steaming oats on the table. Mom began her day with listening to the “Good word” on the TV in full blast, making all others squirm and plug their ears from under their sheets....

The remaining chores of the day, she handed over to Sarah, her sister in law and dashed out of the kitchen.

Draping a pure silk sari with pale blue and gray and yellow design, she preened before the mirror. She had plain features.... nothing great to coo about. Her colleagues maintained that at 50, she didn't look one year over 35, and she and John often passed off as siblings! Her raven black hair had begun to gray and to thin out though of late, something which had begun to unsettle her. But today she had no complaints, as waking up from the eerie nightmare and just being alive called for a celebration. Besides, there were several unfinished tasks at hand.

The girls, her two little nieces were already on the computer fighting for the ‘mouse’, before John would arrive and take over like the real ‘Big Brother’! Switching on her laptop, she gave some finishing touches to her ’Presentation’. Today was ‘Women’s international day’ and she was to make a presentation at the University. On her way out, she peeped into John’s room, and was met with loud singing from the bathroom shower. “So the brat has decided to turn a new leaf….Good”. She smiled to herself.

The car arrived on time and she was on her way to the college. Unable to suppress her new found elation, she made small talk with Rajesh, the driver, who responded with a surprised look, for she’d always maintained a prolonged silence enroute after a pleasant ‘Hello’ and a ‘How-do-you-do’. She’d then disappear behind the books or caught up with friends or played some games on her mobile phone. During the journey of about 28 kms. Today she felt on top of the world, after her supposed return from the land of the dead. She held her chin up. Now, to get done with the pending works, make the world a better place for herself and for those around her, for ‘who knows when the axe would fall... for real’?

Oh, and the sari. Janet loathed the five and a half metre long piece of fabric, which only came in her way, literally causing her to stumble and retarding her efforts at a graceful stride, besides of course unnecessarily exposing body parts. But, today was special. She’d taken special efforts for her dear friend Arun. Aah Arun. She’d called him for lunch at the ‘Shanghai inn’ and planned to tell those words that he’d waited for all along and perhaps given up on it. She smiled again, “Arun is going to faint when he hears it from her. He deserves it, and so does she. Life is short (she realized it just on time!), and what’s wrong, nay why not make it nice and happy for oneself and for your loved ones....”

They had met on a train, five years ago, on her way back from an outstation work.. Casual introductions had run deep , what with discovery of sharing many common thoughts and convictions, and even life experiences! A divorcee himself like her, and of the same age as her, he’d found new hope in her friendly, confident and outgoing nature. The attraction was mutual. But she’d stopped short at that, refusing to take the plunge. They had then resolved to remain good friends, and so it had been, till now. They talked over the phone almost everyday, sharing the day’s events, the fun and the frustrations, laughing, singing and sometimes even fighting over issues and abruptly hanging up on the other, only to make up soonest, with due apologies. Five years had passed like a dream. Today, she had dressed especially for him.

The college building stood on a hill top on a sprawling area of 30 acres. The greenery and the natural stream flowing by its side lent it an enchanted look. She paused and savoured the splendour displayed before her. Strange, she hadn’t noticed any of it in the past two years after she’d taken over as the Principal! She went through the routine administrative works in the morning, perusing the letters, giving out instructions. She handed over the remaining works to her Deputy and the Office Superintendent and was once again on her way.

This time she was headed for the University, for her presentation on the International Woman’s Day celebrations. She dismissed her driver and was ushered in. There were many speakers…..

******

She vehemently stressed on not just ‘liberation’ for women, but for status at par with men. Woman’s tryst with equality should begin from the place of her birth and at the hands of her parents or caretakers. The numerous bills on reservations ‘for upliftment’ of girls and women, actually pushed them into the ‘backward’ category. Instead, she expressed the need to ‘liberate them from such reservations’ by preventing the emergence of gender discrimination among the siblings right from birth and their period of growth and development through life, education and work and play…. “Nip the evil in the bud” by educating boys and girls to respect each other. She also called for heavy censorship on media that undermined the image of women through cinemas, serials and commercials. And if all this sounded impractical to implement and violence on the female population uncontrollable, she called for passing of bills on rational use of weapon by women for self defense, and fast courts to deal with related cases.

Boy that was exhaustive! During the light refreshment that followed, Janet was glad to meet several old time colleagues and other acquaintances. But her heart was elsewhere. Soon after, she was off for the ‘rendezvous’, with a song in her heart and wings on her feet.....

True to his word, Arun was waiting at the gate. His eyes nearly popped out as she got in beside him. “Jane, you look ravishing today! So tell me, what’s the agenda, hmm? ”

“Arun, do I need an agenda to see you?” she pouted. “But thanks. I had a sudden wish to see you, and there...” He drove in silence. She was aware of his thoughts then “ Aaargh! Janet, the abrupt and unpredictable one. Haha, wait till I spring the real surprise...”

“By the way, I am impressed by your presentation today. Such revolutionary thoughts..!

“You mean you were there in the hall?” She couldn’t believe her ears.

He smiled nodding, “Yes. I knew it’s going to stir up a hornets nest and it did. Indeed there’s much fodder for thought.”

“Thanks dear”. She couldn’t ask for more. This was her day..

They had Chinese noodles and then Arun ordered the dessert. Janet seemed to be in another world

“Hey you jabberpot, a penny for your thoughts?” He teased her.

Janet stammered, “Arun, there’s something I want to tell you.”

Arun frowned, “The management giving you trouble?”

“No silly, it’s you...”

“Who, me? What did I do? Jane come out, and make it quick. I’m concerned. There’s something bothering you.” He was in earnest.

Janet looked into his face. Why oh why hadn’t she met him before? She blinked hard to shut out her painful past. “Forget it, forget it” She pushed herself. “Look at your present. So what if its late? He cares.... go ahead you fool, before it’s even more late...”

“Tell me Jane, and get it out please... please”. She saw the selfless concern in his eyes. “You know I’m there for you, tell me, what can I do for you?”.

That was it. He had adapted himself to share life with her on her terms. He cared, he really did. Her heart burst with the rush of emotions. Should she tell it out? “Stupid fool, dallying still, after what happened. Janet, OUT WITH IT, before this too passes...!.” She urged herself..

“Arun, I love you ....”, she gasped, “too much”

He smiled indulgently, “I know Jane, and I love you too”

Now she got impatient, “Not that silly, it’s even more..”

“Ok. Tell me?” He looked into her face, not daring to touch her..

“Let’s get married”, she blurted out.

There, at last. It was out. Pin drop silence. She leaned back and shut her eyes, deep peace spreading within her. She waited and waited. No response. Anxious and a wee bit embarrassed, she opened her eyes..

“Arun, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have....”

“When and where?” Arun was smiling.

“Uhh, right now.” She was relieved, and happy at last. She reached out and they held hands, oblivious to the stares from the other tables.

Dessert came, Black currant ice creams for both! Wow!! Her joy knew no bounds....

“God, this is too good to be true”, She squealed, and got a warm squeeze on her hands.

They attacked the ice cream together..

They walked hand in hand toward the car. “Arun”, she struggled to pull in the haze of memories of the other day, “The other day I’d had Black currant ice cream by the beach, with the kids, and then it’s all a total blank. I’ve total amnesia about what happened thereafter, and am seriously concerned about that bit......”

“Don’t worry, You’ll never forget what happened after this one.” Arun laughed aloud. “Where to now? ..the church or temple”

“Anywhere you wish” Her ecstasy growing. She really didn’t care...........

“No, your wish”

“No yours.....”

”Yours.......”

“Noooo”

"Hahahhahahahhahahahha. “Laughing together they walked to the car.

-----------------

They walked hand in hand by the beach.

“Let’s sit here and watch the sun set. What say?”

““Anything you say Arun”. Janet smiled into his eyes, as they lowered themselves into the cool sand..

Scooping a handful of sand, she let it run through her fingers, breathing in the saline air. Life was indeed beautiful!

Far in the west, the orange sun made its slow descent in all its pristine glory, soothing the huge wavy waters in its shimmering glory as the two watched mesmerized.

“Hey that’s a huge wave..!” Before Arun could finish, it was on them.

SPLASH! The water hit her right on the face. “Ouch! I’m drenched! Arun…”, she groped about… “.. Arun!!.........Arun?”

She looked around, with growing panic. Where’s Arun? Arun!?

Where was the beach, the setting sun, the sand, the waves?

…Darkness everywhere!

“Arun, where are you ?” Her parched throat ached. More waters……

*********

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