Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Ajay’s Shocking Saturday Part II

Devi & Ajay reached home by 12.30pm on their new Pulsar. In a span of 2 hours, lots of changes have happened in the mindset of Ajay regarding his mother. He switched on the TV while Devi started to cook lunch for them. Ajay could hear the sound of their Tata Safari – his father Deepak has come. Since it was a Saturday, he came soon. Ajay went into Deepak’s room as soon as Deepak entered his room & he started narrating the whole story to his father. But Deepak did not show any great reaction. Seeing this Ajay asked, “Papa, are you not amazed at moma’s talent? I still couldn’t believe it”.  Deepak replied calmly,”My dear son, I know about her very well – What you have seen today is only a small sample!”

“What??? Is this a sample……”

“What do you mean Papa?”

Deepak quickly changed his dress and sat on the bed. “Come here Ajay, I will tell you the whole story”. With great excitement, Ajay sat on the bed along with his father. Deepak started narrating his flashback:

“I was 26 working in a small scale industry. Due to a dark incident in my mother’s life, my mother & father were very much concerned about me. As you know I was the only child who survived after losing 2 of my brothers in their childhood itself. My father used to accompany me where ever I go. What I all know was just studies & work. My parents did not even teach me to ride a bicycle fearing that something would happen to me.

At this stage, they wanted me to marry a brave girl who can take care of me in all the ways for the rest of my life. After searching many alliances, we came across the daughter of an ex-police officer. She was your mother Devi. I still remember the day when we went to her home for the first time. We were all talking about various things to her parents, but she was not there. I was eagerly waiting to see her. Her father told that she has gone to a Karate class – not as a student, but as a master. She was Black belt II dan at that age itself. Suddenly the sound of a heavy Royal Enfield Bullet was heard, I was peeping through the window to see who it was. A tall muscular girl dressed in a bright blue dupatta was parking the heavy vehicle. It was none other than Devi.

 

When I was watching this, a servant in their house came screaming, “Snake, snake……” I was shocked, I shut my eyes and caught hold of my father. Devi’s father rushed outside to see what it is. With lots of fear, I was the last to come out to see the unbelievable scene of my life. Devi was holding that snake which was about 1 metre long and threw it away like throwing a stone. Though I admired her bravery, I was more scared when I thought that I am going to marry her. Then all the usual customs got over in their house, but I did not get a chance to talk with her. Both our families were happy with the alliance and agreed to start on the marriage work.

At that point, her father exclaimed, “Devi, why don’t you take Deepak for a ride tomorrow?”. I was delighted as well as scared to hear this. She also agreed to it with my parents’ permission. My father gave my office address so that she could pick me up the next day.

 

Next day, I was awaiting for that wonderful 5 O’ clock  - my office got over, I know that it was going to be my first ride with a girl, that too with my fiancée – in a jumbo bullet, I have never sat in that bike before. Devi arrived in time, she was dressed in a light pink salwar. On seeing me at the gate, she exclaimed,”Hi Deepak”. I was nervous, so I did not even smile and just told a mild Hi. My parents had told everything about me to her, so she knows that she needs to play a role more than a wife after our marriage. With a charming smile, she asked me to sit on the bike. Getting all my confidence, I managed to sit. She asked, “Shall we?” for which I gave a stuttering reply of Yes.

 

I did not even ask her where she was going. She was an awesome driver with complete control of the mighty bike. She went to a park where we talked for about 2 hours to understand each other. Then while we were returning, we were to cross a nasty road. There was not much light in the street. Suddenly there was a jerk, I completely fell on her catching her waist. It was a speed breaker which she did not notice. I was very embarrassed on my act, I felt guilty about it and asked sorry to her. But she was quick to respond, “Its’ all right honey, why are you worried? I am going to be your wife”. That reply of her gave me a lot of relief, I started feeling that I was near a caring soul. There were subsequent speed breakers, but I was no more worried about them.

 

Some days went in the similar fashion. She used to pick me up in the office after her karate class. We would chat for some time, then she will drop me at home. One day, there was a sudden union problem in our company. Workers started fighting badly. First they were just talking, then they started using sticks and stones. I was very afraid of the situation as I was never exposed to violence right from my childhood. Somehow I managed to escape from the fight and reached the gate, but people were fighting even there. Police was not informed on this as the management feared that it would affect the company’s reputation. Outside the gate, one of the fighter threw a stone on my head, I was bleeding badly. Before I could regain my senses, a heavy stick stuck my legs & I fell down. Then I regained my consciousness, but I could not walk  - suddenly one man frightened to hit at me with a bar. I was helpless. When the bar was supposed to hit me, I could see a hand stopping that and throwing the bar away with a powerful push.

 The man was astonished. It was Devi who came to pick me up. She caught his hand tightly for about a minute – what a powerful hold from a strong karate woman! He screamed for life and ran away from the place. There were few others trying to hit me, but on seeing Devi’s terrific eyes, they withdrew. Then she lifted me gently with her hands and took me to the bike. She told “Just lie on me honey, I will take you to the hospital soon”. I placed my head on her shoulders, kept my hands around her waist with the confidence that I have got the shelter of the right person in my life. She drove the bike carefully not to disturb me, then we reached the nearby hospital and I was treated. I was in the bed for a week with my sweet darling taking care of me completely.  I was completely convinced that I got the right partner in all aspects.

 

Then we married as per the plans, I resigned my job and got a new job. But my office was far away, so transportation was a problem to me. Then we bought a Hero Honda 100cc bike. Devi use to drop me at office daily. One day when we were returning from office, it was raining heavily. But we did not have any umbrella or raincoat. We could not stop anywhere for shelter also. So we kept riding in the rain. I was feeling very cold, Devi told me ”Hold me honey, you will feel better. the wind is very bad. We will reach home soon”. Her white salwar was completely wet in the rain and so was my pant & shirt. Then I holded her tightly with lot more confidence than I did the first time. It was a great feeling to hold my special lady in a majestic bike on a rainy ride.

 

As days went on, she got pregnant, so she was not very comfortable in riding bikes – so I learnt biking from her and rode it on my own. After that, you were born and then we sold the bike and bought a car. Now, I thought that she should ride again and that’s why I bought the Pulsar for her.”

 

When Deepak was completing the story, they heard, “Lunch is ready dears” –it was Devi from the kitchen. Ajay was much more shocked now, his respect for his mom further increased and he still could not believe whether he was dreaming all these.