Token of True Love
The first thing that preoccupied Shalini’s
mind when she came to Baroda after her long stay in a small non-descript town
called Palanpur, three hundred-odd kilometres away from Baroda, was to pay a
visit to Narhari Amin Hospital and ask after her pregnant friend Savitri.
Therefore, as soon as Shalini reached her uncle’s home, she had a cup of tea,
unwound and hoped an auto-rickshaw to Narhari Amin Hospital. The familiar
streets the auto-rickshaw passed through and the popular haunts she watched
passing by sent her mind racing back to her university days when untrammelled
by marital vows of fidelity and far away from parental scrutiny she ventured
into hobnobbing with the most coveted studs of the university. The journey down
her pleasant past left a wistful smile on her face and rueful tears hiding in
the corners of her eyes.
The rickshaw stopped at Narhari Amin
Hospital. She got off it and walked to the hospital. She had a glance at the
list of patients and hurried to room number 143, where her bosom friend Savitri
had been admitted for last two weeks. Savitri was lying on a bed. Her gaze was
fixed on the snow white ceiling of the room, as if she was watching her
colourful heyday against the drab whiteness of the ceiling. Her crestfallen
face got livened up by a much awaited smile when Shalini’s appearance distracted
her eyes and set them free from the entanglement of reminiscence.
‘Hi, how are you?’, asked Shalini.
‘I’m fine. And what about you?’ , said
Savitri.
‘Though my life does not lack anything that
a happy marriage needs, I feel a disturbing vacuum somewhere in my life. I
don’t know what I should call it but I know my life was much better during the
university days than it is now.’, Shalini spoke.
‘Yes, dear we know that there were dreams
in those young eyes and an inexhaustible zest for life in us those days. But we
must pass through such a rosy phase remembering the truth that nothing lasts
forever.’, Savitri spoke with a consoling tone.
‘And how’s your husband?’, Shalini enquired.
‘Arun is a man of great understanding and a
very adaptable human being, I must admit. Though it’s been a year since we got
married, we both get along very well and accommodate each other. In spite of
his hectic schedule, he manages to steal some moments away from his professional
life and takes me to the cinema and posh restaurants every week. He’s a man who
loves springing pleasant surprises on me. He takes care of each of my needs.’,
enthused Savitri.
‘Do you meet or talk to your old flame
Mohan?’, asked Shalini.
An awkward silence ensued.
‘You know everybody has his share of
happiness in his life. But, unfortunately, sometimes this happiness is nothing
more than a flash in the pan. However short-lived the flash is, it certainly
lights up everything, I assume’, said Savitri.
The lines forming on Shalini’s brow
indicated her whetted curiosity.
‘Please tell me whether you’ve broken up
with Mohan or you still meet him furtively without your husband’s knowledge?’,
Shalini enquired.
‘Yes, he met me once. I can’t recall exactly
when. There was an abyss of indecision I was helplessly falling in before my
marriage. And ultimately, I decided to meet him before I was going to marry
Arun. When I was getting married to Arun I knew that I was going to live in
limbo swinging between life and death, between pretence and essence, between
fond past and uncertain future.’, Savitri said.
‘Dear, you’ve got to forget your past and
flow where life leads you.’, spoke Shalini.
‘Yes. I agree. But sometimes past leaves
its indelible marks on you and they live on as a reminder of your golden days
and like the fragrance of flowers still permeating the air they remind you of
the memorable spring that has gone by.’, Savitri said.
‘Do you miss Mohan?’ , Shalini asked as she
was trying to decipher the words spoken
by Savtri.
‘Yes, I miss him very much and wish he were
with me at every moment of my life.’, said Savitri.
‘What do you do when you miss him?’, asked
Shalini.
‘I simply look at the token of his true
love that he’s given me.’, said Savitri pointing her finger at her stomach.
