Sitting in
the veranda on this lazy morning, she was drooling over the events of the past
six months. She was finding it impossible to keep her tears in check trying to
comprehend the direction in which destiny had steered her. Till not quite long
back, she used to consider herself as the luckiest girl in the entire world. She
had aced her MBA examinations and had got placed in a reputed MNC four years
back. She had worked hard and earned herself a decent reputation in her
company. She had also built up substantial savings for purchasing her dream
home in Mumbai. Finally, two years back she had married her childhood love and
they had pooled their savings to purchase their dream home and had relocated
there. She could not have asked for much more in her life till….
“Radhika….Radhika…..”…Neeraj’s
voice sounded concerned. He found her seated in the veranda lost in deep
thoughts.
“Radhika…..Radhika….what’s
wrong?”…He shook her out of her reverie.
Looking at
Neeraj, she no longer could control her tears and they streamed down her
cheeks, leaving behind marks of sorrow on her pale skin. Neeraj took her in his
arms and tried to console her.
“Oh
Radhika….don’t lose hope….who knows destiny has much better plans in store for
us….there are thousands of kids in need of love, care and a safe and secure
home….giving birth to a child is not the only way you can become a mother….I
promise you that we will soon have a cute little daughter in this home calling
you Mumma…Mumma…”
Hearing
these reassuring words, Radhika became still more inconsolable, and in between
her sobs, looked at Neeraj with eyes full of love and gratitude….”Oh Neeraj! I
love you…..”
Almost a
month had passed by and with continuous loving support from Neeraj, Radhika had
somehow managed to get her life back on track. She was returning home after a
hectic day when she saw big, bright, smiling, green eyes staring at her with
innocent affection. A lady with a beautiful child in her arms was talking to
one of Radhika’s neighbours. After the usual round of courtesies, Radhika
learned that she had new neighbours in the flat across hers. They were a family
of four, Shama and Nafees, both software engineers in the same firm, Nafees’s
mother and the adorable little Ujaala.
That first
eye-contact with Ujaala was enough for Radhika to fall head over heels in love
with her. Visiting Shama’s flat to see and play with Ujaala had become a
permanent daily evening ritual of her life. Ujaala also soon became extremely
attached to Radhika and would look forward to her daily visit.
Radhika was
feeling like dancing with childish joy and excitement today. It was Ujaala’s
first birthday! Radhika had purchased a truckload of gifts for Ujaala and was
just stepping out of her house to go to Shama’s house when she saw a police
official walking towards their building. He saw Radhika standing in the doorway
and approached her….”Could you please tell me where Mr. Nafees’s house is?”….he
asked, in a dominating voice. Radhika pointed towards Nafees and Shama’s house
reluctantly, with horror filled eyes…..”Inspector, what is the issue?”…She
asked with a tinge of fear in her voice. “I have a complaint against them for
trying to convert their neighbours to their religion”…he remarked nonchalantly.
His matter-of-fact remark was enough to send shivers down Radhika’s entire
body. She got rooted to the spot and couldn’t move for a while. Mustering all her
courage, she probed for details. She was shocked beyond belief to hear what the
inspector had to say.
Their
common neighbours had complained against Nafees and Shama that they had
developed overly friendly relations with Radhika and Neeraj with an intent to
convert them to their religion. They had cited numerous examples, such as their
offering prayers at Radhika’s house occasionally, spotting a copy of Quran at Radhika’s
place, their regular mutual visits, Radhika’s extreme attachment and love for
Ujaala and so on and so forth.
Radhika was
dumbfounded to hear all this. After a few seconds, she managed to regain her
composure. She tried to reason to the best of her ability with the police
official standing in front of her. “Sir, I think you have been entirely
mistaken. Nafees and Shama are like family to us. We are extremely close to
each other and enjoy each other’s’ company. Ujaala is more than a daughter to
me. But religion has never been even a topic of discussion between us. They
have never ever tried, intentionally or unintentionally, to impose their
religious beliefs on us in any manner. Please ignore the complaint. We are sorry
that your precious time was wasted…” She finished her urgent entreaties with an
expectant look at the Inspector.
After
listening to her patiently, the Inspector smiled a mischievous smile….”Thank
you for the information, Madam. Now, if you could please excuse me and let me
do my work?”….Radhika was again left rooted to the spot in disbelief. The scene
that followed, got etched in her memory forever. Despite all her pleadings and
entreaties, the police officials forcibly took away Nafees and Shama along with
them, leaving behind a confused and crying Ujaala in her grandmother’s arms.
Radhika
immediately called up Neeraj and they rushed to the police station. After much
deliberations, the police officials released Nafees and Shama on bail with
strict warnings to not indulge in proselytising activities in future. It was
past midnight when all four of them returned home, distraught and exhausted,
after an unbelievable and long day.
In the next
few days, Radhika saw her whole world collapse in front of her eyes. Despite Radhika
and Neeraj’s repeated requests and assurances, Nafees and Shama refused to
continue to stay in the city. They were too shaken up and scared after the
incident and had firmly resolved to leave the city.
That day
was the last time Radhika saw her Ujaala with her big, bright, smiling, green
eyes staring at her with innocent affection. She was refusing to leave Radhika’s
arms. In turn, Radhika was facing great difficulty in keeping her tears in
check. She didn’t want to bid adieu to Ujaala forever, with tears in her eyes.
Ujaala had
wailed inconsolably when Shama finally forcibly took her from Radhika’s arms. Radhika
could only see a blurred image of Ujaala through her tear-filled eyes. She
rushed back inside her house and collapsed on the bed crying out with uncontrollable
grief. That was the last time Radhika saw her Ujaala……the light of her life had
left her forever, leaving behind a permanent void in her heart that refuses to
be filled to this day…….