Maithili

Maithiliepisode6

Link for episodes: #Maithiliepisode1 , #Maithiliepisode2, #Maithiliepisode3, #Maithiliepisode4, #Maithiliepisode5

#Author: #RhituparnaChakraborty

#Disclaimer: This is an original work of fiction with no relation to any person/organism living or dead. Every episode, every character is a work of imagination. Any resemblance to any person, organism, place or character is purely coincidental. There is no intention to hurt or rebuke anyone through this work. This story/episode cannot be copied, published or reproduced without the permission of the author RhituparnaChakraborty.

At around 4:30 p.m., Mushtaque came to pick up Maithili from college. Maithili came out of the practical class with Anu, Radhika and Nimisha. Mushtaque stood in front of his car, leaning on the front edge of the car. With his glares on, he looked no less than a Hollywood movie star. When Mushtaque saw Maithili he waved his hand. Maithili waved back at him. Radhika and Nimisha looked at each other and then at Maithili and said, ‘Whoa, who is this guy? He looks dapper.’ Maithili winked at them and said, ‘Top secret.’ Anu giggled. Radhika asked Maithili with curiosity, ‘Don’t tell me this is your boy friend?’. Maithili smiled and said, ‘Ummm…. well….I don’t want to tell you guys anything now.’ Anu laughed. Nimisha kept on staring at Mushtaque and then told Maithili, ‘Atleast introduce us to him. Can’t you see there is not a single handsome guy in this college. This friend of yours is such an eye candy. Woooh.’ Maithili said, ‘You mean to say no good looking guys in college? Really?’ Anu said sternly, ‘What about Dr. Mihir?’ The girls laughed and said, ‘Of course, he is. But he is our professor. We can’t flirt with him.’ Maithili grinned and said, ‘Well, look at the senior guys in college. Some are super cute.’ Anu looked at Maithili and said with a teasing note, ‘Seniors! Aha!’ Maithili said, ‘Girls I need to go now. He is waiting for me. Bye. See you tomorrow.’ Rafique thought Maithili would meet him before leaving. But she did not. After Maithili left, Anu asked Rafique to join her for coffee, but Rafique said that he had a splitting headache and he wanted to go back to his room.

Maithili boarded the car. Mushtaque drove. He asked, ‘So, how was your day?’. Maithili smiled and said, ‘It was great Jiju. Best part is, Kartik is out of danger now. I enjoyed the Anatomy practical class today. Dissection was interesting. The cadaver was somewhat scary, but I was able to muster up courage to follow the instructions by the professor.’ Focusing his eyes on the road, Mushtaque said, ‘That sounds interesting. And, how is Rafique? Did he attend all the classes today. I saw him pretty disturbed yesterday.’ Maithili said, ‘Yes, Rafique did attend all the classes. He was tired though. But, I could feel he was feeling better .’ Mushtaque said, ‘Hmm. By the way, have you received any message from unknown numbers after the last message that you had shown to me and Saanchi?’ Maithili said, ‘Surprisingly, No.’ Just when Maithili said that, her phone buzzed. She checked. It was from an unknown number. Maithili froze. The message read, ‘Hope you did not find love as yet. Did you?’. Maithili quivered. With his eyes still fixed on the road, Mushtaque asked, ‘Everything okay?’ Maithili said petrified, ‘I got a text message.’ Mushtaque drove a little ahead and then stopped the car. He told Maithili, ‘Show me the message.’ Maithili gave the phone to Mushtaque. Mushtaque read the message and tried calling back the number. But, the number wouldn’t go through. Maithili turned pale. Mushtaque knew this was not the time to ask questions to Maithili. He told Maithili, ‘ We will talk about it once we reach the guesthouse.’

Saanchi was serving pancakes with chocolate syrup to Mehek when Maithili came in. Seeing Maithili, Saanchi smiled and said, ‘Freshen up quickly and come and join us. Piping hot pancakes and coffee.’ Maithili did not say anything. Saanchi went near Maithili and asked, ‘What happened baby? All okay?’ Maithili sat on the sofa near the dining table, covered her face with her hands and started weeping. Saanchi was aghast and worried. She said, ‘What happened Maithili? Tell me please.’ Just then Mushtaque came in and said, ‘Well, Mr./Ms. unknown texted her again.’Saanchi gaped at Mushtaque. Mushtaque said, ‘Girls, I think we should grab our snacks now. Cheer up.’ Maithili wiped her tears. Her nose was red. Saanchi said, ‘Haww, look at you, your nose looks like a tomato.’ Maithili smiled. Mushtaque went to Mehek and said, ‘What is my munchkin eating.’ Mehek looked at Mushtaque and said, ‘I will tell you only when you take me in your arms.’ Mushtaque said, ‘Well, without washing my hands, I should not do that. Let me quickly wash my hands and then take my baby in my arms.’ Mushtaque went to the wash basin, washed and dried his hands and face and then took Mehek in his arms, brushed her hair and said, ‘You know Papa loves you. Don’t you?’ Mehek said, ‘Tee hee, I know that.’ Saying that she put a peck on Mushtaque’s cheek. Mushtaque then said, ‘I have an urgent piece of work to complete. So, I will take your leave now. Okay? I will see you pretty girls in sometime.’

Mushtaque went to the police station. He met the officer in duty there and asked him to trace all the phone calls and messages received on Maithili’s number. Mushtaque then went to Maithili’s college campus to see Kartik.

Kartik was in a comfortable room in the hospital. Mushtaque knocked and entered the room. Kartik’s parents were with him. Mushtaque introduced himself, ‘I am Mushtaque. I am Maithili’s friend. I was visiting her here when you were brought to the hospital after the accident.’ Kartik smiled weakly at him. Mushtaque pulled a stool near Kartik and sat. He then said, ‘Kartik, you don’t have to talk much. Just say yes or no to what I ask. Rafique has already shared all the details of the accident with me. I just want to know, is there anyone in and around you who does not like your friendship with Maithili?’ Kartik thought for a while and said, ‘No.’ Mushtaque said, ‘Any episode you recall when someone interrupted you or snapped at you while you were talking to Maithili?’ Kartik thought for a while and said, ‘Well, yes….’

Maithili was scared to the spine. She lied down on her bed and kept on looking at the ceiling fan. Just then her phone rang. It was from her mother Shubhra. It was a video call. Maithili received the call. Seeing Maithili, Shubra beamed and said, ‘Kemon Acho Shona?(How are you darling?). Maithili tried to hide her fear and said, ‘I am fine Maa. How are you? How is Baba?’ Shubhra said, ‘ We are all fine. How is my Saanchi and Mehek?’ Maithili smiled and said, ‘ They are also fine Maa.’ Shubhra then said, ‘And what else? I hope you have not made any boyfriend. Have you?’ Maithili was pissed off. Off all things happening in her life, this was the last question she expected from her mom! She tried to keep her cool and said, ‘No Maa.’ Shubhra then said, ‘Okay listen, you never know, there could be somebody in your life soon. Nonetheless, remember, the boy should be Bengali and caste should match. Otherwise you know what chaos would befall on our family.’ Maithili was furious. She was already disturbed. And now this. She quietly said, ‘Maa, I need to study now. Bye.’ Saying that she hung up. The moment she hung up, a text message popped up. It was from Raghav. The text read, ‘Hi Beautiful’. Maithili beamed. She replied, ‘Hi’. Raghav texted, ‘Well, you know, it’s beautiful to hear or read one’s own name from the person he/she loves.’ Maithili blushed. She hesitated. Raghav was her senior, around 6 years senior to her. But she knew she liked him. One day she would tell him. She suddenly recalled what her mom had said about caste. Raghav was not a Bengali guy. Neither did his caste match with hers. Damn it, she was falling for Raghav. But, she can’t. She cannot hurt her parents. She then replied with a smiley, ‘Ummm….Hi ….Raghav….Sir….’. Raghav replied, ‘Hahaha, no worries, one day you will call me Raghav. By the way, I wanted to say that you look amazing in Saree. I had seen you in Saree on the first day of your class.’ Maithili texted, ‘Really? But, I did not see you.’ Raghav texted, ‘Well, that’s not important. But, I really thought you will be wearing saree for at least some more days like the rest of the girls.’ Maithili texted, ‘Well….I am not comfortable in Saree.’ Raghav texted, ‘That’s okay. Maybe when you say “yes” and I take you to my favorite place for a date, you will wear a saree.’ Maithili blushed and texted, ‘If I say no?’ . Raghav texted, ‘You won’t, I know that.’……

Mushtaque came out of Kartik’s room and was walking to his car when he felt, someone was following him. Mushtaque turned around. There was no one. He boarded his car and started driving. After couple of minutes, on a pitch dark empty road, the car broke down. Mushtaque got off the car to see what was happening, when a car came speeding by. Mushtaque knew something was wrong. He swiftly pulled out the gun from the holster and before the car could run over him he shot a bullet on the car. The car skid. Mushtaque ran swiftly towards the car, however the car sped away. Mushtaque smiled to himself and said, ‘Well, my guess should be right. Will collect all the evidences in some days. You are gone ‘Unknown Number’.

Raghav smiled and said to himself, ‘You won’t say “no” to me Maithili. I know that.’ He was in love. Deeply, madly in love. He changed into his bermuda shorts and was about to eat his dinner. He had asked the cook to send his food in his room. Raghav never knew that his food was poisoned…………

To be continued……….