STORY
My father is a Railway employee. We were staying at Jaipur
near the Civil Station, in a big house, owned by Durgadanji. We had only a
small room but being a girl, I had freedom to go anywhere inside. Maji had a
cow and we used to take milk from her. Her husband was BDO and used to come
rarely. In the evening, Gurgadanji, who
was Director in the State Government, used to relax in his ‘charpoy’ placed in
the front garden. I used to sit there and study, as it was hot inside our room.
The old man used to talk to me and I would ask questions about the things I
could not understand. I was in the tenth standard.
The BDO has two sons. Om, the elder, was in the college and
was rarely seen. His brother Gobind, ten years old, was naughty. He would peep
through the ventilator , when I am taking bath. I would then throw water on his
face. At heart, I enjoyed it.
After passing tenth, I joined college in Delhi . My contact
with the BDO family was lost. In the college, I had several girl friends and a few boys. One belonged to the Bajaj
family and we felt we were in love, though both of us did not mention the word.
He used to come in his car. Often we used to roam about.
My father retired and settled in our home town near
Amrithsar. Often I used to think of the days I spent at Jaipur. Is Gobind still
naughty?
I got a job in the Railway, by the influence of my father.
This time I got a Railway quarter hired from a friend of my father. He had a
spare room and I paid only a small rent.
One day I went to see the BDO family. Durgadanji was no
more, Gobind has become very tall and was doing business in the town. Om was
there, still unmarried, Maji told me. “Why don’t you marry him?” You have to
talk to my parents.” Gobind began visiting me often. He has a scooter. He would
take me to see films and dine at costly restaurants. He never misbehaved. I
wished at heart, he became naughty again. I was eager to hear the words “I love
you” from Gobind, but held myself in check and behaved cool . Can I tell Maji?.
Suddenly Bajaj came “I tried hard to get your address . Some
of our friends told me you are in the railway and then I managed to get it
right. Take some days leave”
“But, you must speak to my parents first.” “Yes , first we
go there.” So, suddenly I got detached from Gobind. I felt sorry. Of course, my
parents were too happy to have a Bajaj as son-in-law.
