Fasana
#Fasana
#Episode1
#ContinuationofTheMarriage
#Alovestory
#Disclaimer: This is an original work of fiction. Any relation to any person or organism living or dead is purely coincidental. This story cannot be published, copied or reproduced elsewhere without the consent of the author Rhituparna Chakraborty. This is a work of imagination with no intention to hurt anyone.
Saanchi sat there with her dad Mr. Purshottam Pandit. Mr. Pandit was in utter shock after what her daughter Saanchi had to go through because of that marriage. Kushal… Purshottam Pandit had thought Kushal was someone who loved Saanchi. Why did this happen to his little Saanchi? What was her fault? She was not fair skinned, that was her fault? Or she was not very tall, that was her fault? What was it? Mr. Pandit could not imagine in his wildest dream what his baby girl had to go through. Tears dripped from his eyes. Saanchi hugged him tight and said, ‘ Papa, I am absolutely fine. Please try and forget this as if it was a night mare. I am here with you and Maa now. I am fine. Please Papa.’ Purshottam Pandit patted Saanchi’s head and said, ‘I am sorry my darling. I never knew Kushal would turn out to be a monster. I am sorry. Forgive me.’ Saanchi said, ‘ Papa, you did nothing deliberately. Please Papa. If you want me to smile again, please let us forget this.’ Just then Saanchi’s mom, Mrs. Parvati Pandit stepped in. Nobody in the family or friends circle knew that she was an undercover officer in crime branch. Her get up at home was such that, she resembled a home maker with utmost interest in cooking and someone who loved house hold chores. Her love was teaching music to little children. Well, that’s what everyone thought about her, except for her office colleagues. Oh yes, her office colleagues looked up-to her as one of the most intelligent officers in crime branch. Smart, fit and super intelligent, Parvati Pandit had busted quite a few rackets in her career so far. She still had some years left in this career of hers before retirement.
Saanchi went to her room. She looked at herself. She was not the Saanchi she used to be. She looked haggard and worn out. She always thought she was not beautiful, and today, after looking at the mirror her heart broke. She recalled all that she had to go through in the past few days. She then quietly went to the bathroom. She switched on the hot shower and stood there. She did not remember, how long she was there. After some time, she came out. She dried herself and wrapped in a towel, she opened her closet. Her clothes were stacked neatly. Parvati had ensured that Saanchi’s dresses, home-wear, slippers, jewelry, everything was arranged properly. Saanchi pulled out a comfortable faded tshirt and a pair of cotton shorts. After wearing those, she sat in front of the mirror of her dressing table and combed her hair. Every time she looked at the mirror, she could see Mushtaque. Yes Mushtaque, the officer who had rescued her. 6 feet 2 inches tall, fair skinned with brown eyes,brown hair, sharp pointed nose, crew cut hair and most importantly brave, Mushtaque was an unforgettable human. Saanchi turned around. Mushtaque had given her his phone number. Saanchi had kept that piece of paper on her study table. Saanchi got up and looked at the number. She then went ahead to find her phone.She realized her phone had been confiscated by Kushal. She wanted to call Mushtaque. She looked at the time. It was almost 11:00 p.m. Would it be the right time to call him or should she call him tomorrow? What will her parents think if she called him now? What would Mushtaque think? No no. She should wait. Saanchi kept the piece of paper back on her study table and went to her bed. She had missed her bed all these days. She still could not believe she was home. Covering herself with the cozy blanket, she drifted off to sleep.
At around 6:30 a.m. in the morning, she woke up. The bright rays of sun barged into her room bringing new rays of hope. Parvati knocked and came to Saanchi’s room with tea and cookies. Saanchi sat up on her bed and said, ‘ You don’t have to knock and come in maa.’ Parvati fixed her veil and smiled. Parvati then said, ‘ Saanchi, can I say something?’ Saanchi said, ‘ Yes Maa.’ Parvati said, ‘Darling, whatever happened to you can never be described in words nor can anyone feel the pain you had gone through and the pain will not diminish that soon. But, I think, you should move on. For that, you should resume your job in college.’ Sipping her cup of tea, Saanchi said, ‘ Yes Maa, you are right. I will join today itself.’ Parvati patted Saanchi and said, ‘ That’s like my daughter.’
Saanchi was a professor of History in a college near her home. Her students loved her. She was an epitome of knowledge and compassion. Saanchi missed her college, her students, her colleagues but there was someone she was missing a lot. It was Mushtaque. She wanted to call Mushtaque. But, she did not know how. She could call him from the landline phone but then her parents would know. She could borrow her mom’s phone and call, but then her mom would know. Saanchi decided she would buy a phone tomorrow.
Saanchi went to her college. Her students were happy to see her. She never told anyone all that happened to her. After her class, she went and sat in the staff room. She took out the piece of paper where she had written Mushtaque’s number and kept on thinking how to call him. All the same, she was in a dual state of mind. Saanchi thought, ‘Should I call him? But, what will he think? All he did was his duty. And now that this mission was over, he must have forgotten all about it. Even if I call him, what do I tell him?’ Saanchi thought it wouldn’t be a good idea to call him. She went ahead with the rest of the classes. At 4:30 p.m. her classes were over. She had planned to go and buy a new phone. Just then the watchman came and said, ‘ Maám there is a parcel for you.’ Saanchi was suprised. She had never ordered anything. She said, ‘ This cannot be my parcel.’ The watchman said, ‘ Maám, it’s addressed to you, Ms. Saanchi Pandit.’ The watchman was right. Saanchi opened the parcel. There it was. A brand new phone. Saanchi looked at the phone, suddenly it started ringing. She knew the number. It was from her mom.’ Saanchi received the call and said, ‘ Maa, thank you so much.’ Parvati said, ‘ Now come home, you don’t have to go phone hunting.’ Saanchi smiled and hung up. She was now tempted to call Mushtaque. By now she had memorized Mushtaque’s number. She quickly dialed his number. The phone rang. Mushtaque received the call. He said in his baritone voice, ‘ Hello’. Saanchi was jittery. She did not know what to say. She quickly disconnected the call. Mushtaque called back Saanchi. Saanchi saw the number but she was worried about receiving it, because she did not know what to tell him. She received the call and said, ‘Hello!’ . Mushtaque promptly said, ‘Why did you disconnect the call Saanchi?’ Saanchi was dazed. How did he know? She said, ‘ Umm… hi Mushtaque. How did you know it was me?’ Mushtaque smiled and said, ‘ Your voice.’ Saanchi stood there wondering Mushatque remembered her voice…..
To be continued….
