Tryst With Past

Kamini was lying on her bed as a soulless life. There was heavy rainfall outside. A thunderstorm was in a violent mood to destroy. Amidst all disturbances she was silent and she had no perplexities and worries for the outside obstructions. The cold breeze was assuaging her mounted afflictions and she was counting each drop of rain. Suddenly the photograph of her friends fell down on the floor by the sudden gush of wind and the glass cover of the frame broke completely. She was taken aback. When her eyes fell on Subhendu on the photograph she commemorated the bitter past again. She could not suppress the impulse to rewind the past despite her striving efforts. All memories became apparent in front of her eyes.

 Since her schooling, she was the best friend of Subhendu. Her house was near Subhendu's house. Both belonged to poor families. He was very cooperative toward her. When they admitted in the same college their relationship became bolstered. They had a very close relationship. With the tides of time, they could not live without meeting. Days passed away. But no one could express their love. After graduation, Subhendu had to go to New Delhi for his master's degree. Kamini could not go as she had financial problems. But she offered her saved money to him for his higher study. He left his village. She could not sleep the whole night and she was shedding the tears on the memory of their relationship. With the passage of time, she convinced herself. But secretly she was nourishing her desire that she would be the better half of Subhendu. She had enormous dreams in her eyes. She was only taking care of her beauty. When marriage proposals came she refuted with her own hands. In meanwhile her mother also breathed her last breath and left her alone. She bore all the hardships making her heart hard as stone. But she had not left her hope. Two years passed away. Once she was sweeping the veranda she saw a four-wheeler came and from that, a modern, smart and dynamic lady came out, and then Subhendu came from that. When Kamini saw him she ran towards him but Subhendu gripped the hands of that smart lady and moved towards his thatched house. Kamini was completely befuddled recognizing his avoidance. She had no words. She was like a dumb. Her lips were dry and her face was pale. Only tears were rolling from her eyes. Without any second thought, she ran towards her home and closed the door and only wept with rampant hopelessness and frustration. Her dreams crumbled down. Then after sometimes the car moved away from her little hut. The world was like a dream for her. There was no hope in her eyes. It was unexpected. But still, she never broke down. She came to Mumbai for exploring a new aspect of her life. After massive searches, she found a job of teaching in an English medium school. Then she found a new ray of hope. She innovated a new inducement to revamp her dilapidated state of life which was moving towards ruination. She was plucking happiness from the smiles of children. There was no sorrow, no sad, no anguish. She was becoming better. One day she noticed one child was sitting silently in her class without uttering a single word. When she asked about the reason for his silence he told his father had rebuked him. Then she convinced him not to get annoyed with parents and the child smiled. Since that day the child became familiar with her. She also started to love him in that school. He was bringing gifts for her. One day she noticed on a gift pack there was written something. The handwriting seemed him as familiar but she deliberately did not want to enter into that. Time went by.

 One day that child came with his parents to school as the parent's meeting was on that day. They were talking with the principal. Kamini crossed the room but the voice which was coming out of the room snatched her towards the room. When she saw through the window her life seemed her as a curse. He was Subhendu. His wife was also with him. Instantly she submitted her resignation and left the school. Son of subhendu searched his dear madam hither and thither but there was no sign of her. He started to weep bitterly with growing afflictions. Then subhendu came to know about her resignation and after a little query, he came to know that she was Kamini. But he did not say anything to anyone. He came home. He was upset throughout the night. His son was crying to return her back. 

Kamini was also crying blaming her luck. As she had to witness the bitter past again which she had wiped off with so many austerities. That school was the only ray of hope for her. That was also withdrawn. She was crying as a frustrated baby. The next day she went to her village. Her small hut was still waiting there embracing the past memories.

Kamini was continuously reminiscing the past and gently moving her hands on the broken glass. Suddenly a tiny part entered into her finger and that was bleeding profusely. Then Kamini felt her all feelings were related to the past. Then she found herself alone in her hut. It was incessantly raining outside. Thunderstorms and lightning were there. A lantern was in a corner. Unknowingly her eyes were watering with extreme pain in the midst of massive darkness.