The Pink Secret

Ragahav was working in a bank as a Branch Manager. Though he was a branch manager, but he was good poet also. He was having a hobby of writing, he wrote many poems, he was very emotional by nature, always he was making a decision with q soft heart and mind, but his wife Namrata, was quite strict, she was also doing job, she was doing a job in Advertising Firm, as a Creative Designer.

               Raghav was having a limited duty period, it was fixed, 7 hours a daily, no extra work, no overtime, Saturday Sunday off, and all national holidays he was enjoying. In that holidays, he was enjoying writing, attending a classical song concert, presenting a poem in any poem reading competition. He was also giving his poems to newspapers and to magazines also, and they were publishing his poems. Namrata, was having fixed time, for office, but not fixed time to come back home, she was Creative Designer, so that, till completion of targets, she must be in office. So many workload she handled, sometimes she became angry, but Raghav was understanding to her, and he was handling the situation very politely.

               They were having a daughter Reha. Reha was studying in the 9th standard, and her next year was for board exam year. Namrata was always saying to her, you have next year is very important, keep the practice of your studies, don’t waste your time. She was quite interested in playing badminton, she won the matches, at state level. Though she was good in her studies, but she was also a good player, she wants to play but due to Namrata’s strict nature, it won’t possible to her always, But Raghva was taking her side always, and he was saying to Namrata, that Reha is good in her studies, it is not a harm, if she played, let her enjoy, on this talk of Raghav, Namrata was becoming angry, and she was scrolling to Raghav.

               On that day, it was again a fresh morning, Raghav was working on his poem, it was a holiday, Namrata came to him and said,” Raghav, you are not going to office today?”. Raghav said, “Namrata, please don’t disturb me, I am writing some beautiful lines, do you want to listen? Namrata said,” no I don’t want to listen, keep it with you, these poems would never give food and money, and for that, we have to do work, we must earn the money.” Namrata was in the angry mood again, at that time Reha came, Reha was waiting for finishing their discussion via, quarrel, it was a quarrel, but form one side, Raghav was always taking back himself, in that situation. Namrata was thinking that, though Raghav is doing job in bank, but he should do more work, he should achive more targets, and should earn rewards. Raghav was not more interested in that, he was soft-minded, he was poet minded person, and he was interested in more playing with the words, not with the bank figures.

               “Dad, I want to say something, “Reha said to his father, Raghav was always listening carefully to her daughter. “In next week, there is a match at Bangalore, and she is playing now for national-level championship. Raghav was knowing that Namrata would never permit to Reha for playing at Bangalore, and Reha was also knowing that, if her mother got the news, she will again an angry, so she came directly, to her father, “Look Reha, your mother would never permit you for national-level championship, because you have next year is very crucial, you have to give board exams in next year, and now the final exams are coming within month. If you scored not good marks in this exam, again Namrata will become angry, and she will increase more your study hours, even in your holidays, she will prepare a strict timetable for your studies, and you couldn’t play, so it is better than, remove your plan from your head, and do studies.” Raghav said very politely, to Reha. Reha said, “this is a golden opportunity and she wants to play.” She was requesting to her father, and on her request, Raghav agreed on talk with Narmata, but he not promised to Reha.

               At the night, dinner time, Raghav talked with Namrata about, her national champion level game at Bangalore, Raghav was scaring about that, and it happened, Namrata scolded both of them, it was expected to them, they were noting saying, they were just eating their food, and Namrata was scrolling to them, expected answers was getting them, Namrata refused to Reha, for the same, the reason which Raghav told to Reha, the same tape repeated by Namrata.

               After finishing dinner, Namrata was doing some work in the kitchen, Raghav was reading a newspaper, Reha came to hi and asked,” Why you are so much scaring, to mumma?, you also can give the answer.” Raghav said to Reha, “ Yes, definitely, I can give answer to her, but I will not do it, and maybe never, because, though she was scrolling to her, but from her words, mother’s care was there, you didn’t realized but I realized the same, by heart she is very good, due to work pressures, deadlines, she having headache, and sometimes she became an angry, I am respecting her so much, she is doing all work from office as well as for home, you also respect to her.” Reha went from there, and again he started to read a newspaper. Namrata came and told Reha to sleep, she was watching TV, on that Raghav said few words, again she angry with him, she offed the TV, and both went to bed.

              

 Namrata, was doing some work on laptop, Raghav asked about the rude behavior for Reha, she can talked with her with soft-minded, because, now Reha was growing up, and we must have a good talk with her, but again she scolded to Raghav, and said that he is soft-minded, and he can behave like that, but she is not that type, one person should be a strict. Raghv offed the light, and he slept.

               Reha was preparing for her exams, Namrata was in house, because it was Sunday, Ragahv was playing with words, the phone came, Reva received the call, it was on Raghav’s mobile, her face was very happy, because Raghav got a prestigious award, for his poem, and she ran to tell Raghav, he became very happy, but Namrata, didn’t replied with more happiness, she just give a smile, a corporate smile! But Namrata and Raghav were very happy, it was very special award for him, from many poems his poem were selected, it was at state level competing, he won first prize in that competition, and he has to go at Mumbai, for presenting the same, and he was awarded on that literature program, after reading of his poem. On that day, both were celebrated, Namrata was also involved in their celebrations, but she were just present physically, but mentally she was in her office, for tomorrow’s work, she was planning for next day working. “I think you are not happy with my success, I got a very prestigious award, and you just smile, nothing you react. “ Raghav asked to Naramta. “I happy, but I became more happy, when you completed your targets, these words are just giving few time happiness, but your completed targets would give happiness to us for entire life,” Namrata replied, Raghv left her.

               On next day, all were on the table for breakfast, and suddenly, Raghav started a chest pain, and he collapsed on the table, immediately, Narmata called to doctor, and he hospitalized, after all, checking, it was afternoon, Namrata made a call to her office, for not coming at office. Reha didn’t want to go to school, but her final exams were so near, and Namrata forced to her so that she went to school.

               It was mild heart attack to Raghav, he was admitted in the hospital for two days, and all restrictions came on Raghav. Don’t have oily food, doing exercise, you exercise, and yoga’s regularly, having medicines from time to time, Namrata was very punctual about him, and for that, she was always scolding him. Once Reha angrier on her mother,” Mumma, why always you are scolding us? Why we can’t live our lives with our won way? Why you always interfering in our life?” Namrata became angry, and she raised her hand on Reha, at this situation, Raghav stopped her and told to Reha for going in her room, and it was again quarreling between both of them. Always winner was Namrata, she didn’t listen to Reghav, she was just yelling and talking, and she was saying that only Raghv would be a responsible for any bad things happened in Reha’s life, these words really affected on Raghav, she didn’t remember that Raghav is heart patient, he became restless.

               At night, they went to sleep, next morning, the day was started for Namrata, and for Reha, both were started for their working, again Namrata was yelling on Reha, and always Reha was ignoring to her, Namrata went in her bedroom, to get up to Raghav, but not single movement she saw, she tried, to woke up, many times, she was yelling,, now she sat near him, she tried to woke up from her hands, but nothing was movement, now Namrata was scaring, she called Reha, Reha aslo tried to wake up her father, Namrata called to doctor, doctor came, he checked to Raghav, but the game was over, Raghav was no more, due to massive attack; he died in sleep.

               Namrata totally collapsed, Reha too, the whole responsibility of home on her shoulder. Even she was not able to crying, all the necessary things done on Raghav, all members were went, from Raghav’s family, not much more people were there, when he was in school, his parents died in car accident, his uncle was caring him, just he came, and the members of his bank were there, but Namrata’s parents and her relatives were there on his funeral. Guest were for 2-3 days, everyone went to their home, Namrata’s parents too. After some days later, the persons came from bank, and did necessary formalities, and gave cheque of his provident fund and all for dues, she took that cheque, it was not just money, but it was the love and affection of Raghav, to his family, one day, when she was searching something in cupboard, she found the investment papers, whatever investment he has done, and in that papers, one note was also that, after him, all will transfer automatically to Namrata, Namrata was always giving lecture to Raghav for doing investments, she was having much salary than Raghav, so that, she was having that an ego, but she didn’t know, that, Raghv had more salary than her, and now she realized that, how he invested, the money, and how he secured future of his family.

               She went in hall, and she started to crying, Reha came to her, and asked to her, what happened, she shook her neck, and she took near to Reha, and started crying, Reha promised that she will concentrate on her studies, and will bring a good numbers not only in her final exams but also in board exams too.

               At Mumbai, both, Reha and Namrata were presented, Raghav was honored on that day, but unfortunately, he wasn’t present, on that programme the chief guest, and all dignitaries gave condolence to Raghav, and announced to come on stage to Namrata and Reva, for accepting an honor, for best poem and poet of the year, on behalf of Raghav, both came on stage, before the accepting an honor, Reha requested to chief guests and all dignities of dais to read a poem, of Raghav, Namrarta told to read the poem to Reha, Reha opened the poem, she was knowing the poem, which Raghv was get honored, Raghav shown the poem to Reha, before sending to for competition, Reha opened a paper, and she started to read a poem. The poem was titled “The Pink Secret”.

               The poem was dedicated to Namrata, he showed how he so much loving to Namrata, form that poem, he weaved the words very beautifully, for honoring to Namrata, and Reha too. After completion of the reading, it was a quietness in hall for few seconds, and then everyone was clapping, the sound of that clapping was really, an honor and tribute for Raghav, when Reha was reading poem, Namrata was looking to her, and she was feeling like, that, Ragav is presenting the poem. They accepted an honor on behalf of Raghav.

               They came to home, from next day, there were final practical and oral exams were starting of Reha, so she went on bed, and she slept, Namrata was feeling very uneasy, from the programme, she was not controlling on her tears, she controlled it because she didn’t want to lose herself in front of Reha, Namrata, went in bedroom, and she started to crying, she wasn’t’ realized Raghav’s love and care, towards her, but she realized it now, but it was too late, she was an alone, she wants to contest, she wants to say sorry to Raghav, but it wasn’t possible, because she was alone, Raghav was not there, to listen to her, her yelling, her spicy words, and her angriness, she was just alone.

               She sat down, and she was just crying, and the poem was there, named “The Pink Secret”.