Taken in by her grace, I was puzzled by her aloofness..who was she and where did she go? |
THE PARCEL We were having a house warming party in our new villa, a quaint little bungalow tucked away amidst lush greenery. The hall was decorated with items of etched glass and illuminated with elite lampshades which imparted a warm glow and radiance. A wild wintery wind was blowing outside the homely milieu.It was the month of January.The biting icy cold gust of breeze entered the room as a guest opened the sliding glass doors leading to the porch. “Oh gosh, what a frosty draft !!” exclaimed the guest, as he hugged his pullover. “Secure the shutters .” called his wife, shivering with chill .“ We will freeze to death.” “Don’t worry,” I assured them. “ I will set the thermostat higher.” “The forecast says that the cold wave will continue for a few more days,” my friend Sally announced. “At this rate, what would happen to those penury stricken families around ?” conjectured my husband, shaking his head. The buffet table was laden with delicacies of different kinds and the bar had a spread of cocktails, wines and drinks. Some of the guests were making merry, cracking jokes, yet others were engaged in somber conversation about politics, sports and weather. Few others resorted to discussions about country’s economy. Many of them were tossing down quickly a measure of peg, whereas some of the courteous ladies were sipping their glasses of wine with a refined poise.A soft instrumental music was being played in the background and many romantic couples swayed to the melodious tunes. I was bustling about attending guests, my husband was the busy bartender, and my young son, who was home for a holiday from his Engineering college, was welcoming new guests and glancing at his watch every two seconds. “Expecting someone special, is it ?” I casually remarked. “Not exactly,” he replied back. “ Only a classmate who is pursuing her Interior decoration Course …. I asked her to have a look at our home to lend us some tips.” He added after a brief pause. “We do have some exclusive company today.” I observed. “When is she expected ?” “Anytime, mom.” Danny answered. “Don’t look so skeptical.” “Of course not. Did I ever suggest anything like that ? I just wondered……….” I left the sentence trailing. “Mom, don’t ever imply anything of the sort to her.”retorted back my son. “ Oh no, I am conjuring up any thoughts. I know better….. she is welcome and do show her around .” I assured him. “Thanks mom.” replied Danny. The chimes of the doorbell echoed throughout the hall. As he opened the door, he ushered a dainty girl in her early twenties, a year or two younger than himself. He introduced her to me as “ Sania.” I played the perfect hostess. As I watched her, a nagging doubt played in my mind. The girl was quite graceful, had pretty,soft and delicate features. But as she was being introduced to me, a bewildered expression crossed her face swiftly, almost as if she had a flicker of recognition. She muttered some words of thanks.….and retired to a corner silently. Although she was rather composed outwardly, I was mystified at her awkwardness. I dismissed her nervousness as embarrassment as to the unfamiliar surroundings. I ignored her as, I attended the other guests. At around midnight, Danny who had been getting some drinks from the bar, nudged me and took me aside, “Mom, have you seen Sania anywhere? She seems to have disappeared.” I looked disapprovingly at him. “How should I know ? She was sitting at that corner. Weren’t you taking care of her?” Danny looked baffled. He called her in her cellphone which was switched off. He wandered to the patio outside the hall and peered into the darkness as if she would appear suddenly from nowhere.I searched the washrooms, but she seemed to have vanished like Cinderella from the ballroom. At last the guests departed one by one, and though Danny was cordial with them, he wore a perplexed frown. We retired to our beds in silence. Early in the morning, as I walked up to the graveled path that led to my garden to relish its beauty, I stopped short in my tracks, as a bright coloured parcel wrapped attracted my attention. I picked it up and started opening the wrappers. An old familiar object peeped out of the papers. It was an old pair of shoes belonging to my son when he was a kid; It was stuffed with an envelope containing a letter addressed to me. Puzzled, I opened the letter to read. “Dear Mrs. Dutt, You may have not recognized me, but I did, as you have not changed over the years. I was, a kid when we first met at this same site. I was the daughter of one of the masons who had constructed this bungalow, who lost his lower limbs accidently during the construction. You and your family had come to visit the construction site….you had removed your shoes to take a look inside, when I had come along. Fascinated by your son’s colorful shoes I snatched them and tried to scamper away, when you caught me red handed. You yelled and everyone came running; The guards called my mother who reprimanded me severely.It was a cold wintery evening. I was a barefooted urchin. My mother implored you to forgive me. Your husband,moved ,immediately handed over a cheque of Rs. 2500/-. As I returned the pair of shoes, your son urged me to keep them; you gently rebuked me saying, “Never steal things; earn them. Keep yourself warm wearing these shoes. ‘Hope you will have plenty of lovely shoes to wear in future.” I still remember your words,you were my fairy godmother. The money helped me to get education. I have preserved these lucky shoes, hoping one day I will return them to the rightful owner….I finally did. Thank you, yours Sania.” Dr. Sujata Chatterjee (Mou Dutta) 21.02.2011 |