............Vijay was tired after the days work. He relaxed on the couch listening to the evening show on the radio. Some one knocked on the door. Vijay got up from his seat and walked to open the door. When he opened the door he saw a thin man, with fat glasses standing in front of him smiling. Vijay smiled back. "Yes, how can I help you?" Vijay asked. "I am Suresh, Arun and I met in Bombay a week back during the conference. I was to come to Delhi so he sent a letter with me for you, here it is....." Suresh handed the letter to Vijay. It was sealed in an envelope. Vijay was confused. He suddenly realized that he had not asked Suresh to come in. "Please come in, so we can talk in detail, I have been worried about Arun for the last few days"
Suresh frowned and said "Sorry, I cannot, I have to leave for a very important work, in fact I am already late. Arun had requested me to give this letter and since I promised him then...." Suresh left. Vijay got back to his seat. There was a sense of excitement and concern in his mind. He switched off the radio. There were a thousand thoughts running in his mind. Vijay pulled his glasses that he used for reading.
After five minutes into the letter there was another knock on the door.Vijay was upset this time since he did not want to leave the letter. He briskly walked to the door and opened it. It was his wife. She was carrying a bag full of vegetables. Vijay pulled it from her hand and kept it aside. He then pulled her hand and asked her to sit on the couch. "What?" his wife complained. "Remember I told you about Arun and that he had gone to Bombay to find a girl.." "Right I remember that..." Vijay's wife cut him off and said.
"Arun sent a letter through a friend of his, I was reading that, the girl actually gave him a fake name. But that is not the end, he later found out that the girl is missing.." "O! Then where is he now." Vijay's wife asked. Vijay said "Yes that is what I was about to read when you entered. "Please read loudly" Vijay started to read the letter loudly "...I was sitting at gateway wondering what I can do. I decided to leave for Delhi but something in me kept on saying that I should find out about the girl. The next day I visited her home." Vijay and his wife exchanged looks.
Vijay continued reading "She is from a rich family. But the people were not good with me. Her father was least interested in talking with me. Her brother asked me many questions but did not tell me why his sister left the house. I was not happy with the treatment but I still wanted to know why is she missing. Her father and brother left the house, asking the girl's mother to answer the rest of my questions. Her mother was a nice woman. She explained me everything. Some of the things I had already predicted, had come true. Basically the girl's father wanted her daughter to get married. But Kimaya, well that is her name as I found out in the newspaper wanted to work. Even in today's age its disheartening to see that parents don't encourage their daughters to work. The conflict in their thoughts led to a quarrel in the house and one day Kimaya left the house. Her mother cried as she told the story. But I was still clueless, I knew the reason as to why she left the house, when she did it, but where did she go? thats still a question mark....." Vijay turned the page to read further.
But then today when I walked into the local library I saw the same book that Kimaya was reading in the train. I read the entire book. It was truly inspiring and I am not surprised that Kimaya took such a step after reading the book. The last page of the book gave me the clue as to where she might be. The author of the book is a woman and she had mentioned that she would like to help woman who want to break the shackles of society and live independent life. I think Kimaya for sure would have gone to meet this author and this woman is probably my next clue. There is a chance that I might be wrong, but today I would not want to think that. I am leaving for Calcutta for that is where this author lives. Once I reach there I will send you a telegram. I hope you are in good health and so is my sister, your wife. Suresh is a good friend who was coming to Delhi so I quickly penned down everything and gave him this letter...."
Vijay kept the letter down. He placed both his hands on his head and said "he is gone mad.." his wife replied and said "...in love" Both simled.
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