A SLICE OF LIFE AND TIME(PART-3)

The sweet face of Rosa engulfed Shiva’s mind.He was eleven when he first met her.She had perhaps lost her way, or even home ;how she reached this place he didn’t know. She was just nine then. She had,most probably, lost her voice. Shiva took her to the nearby destitute home. Nobody knew who she was and was named Rosa. Shiva became a good friend of her and they went to the same school. Years rolled by but Rosa could never speak again. Yet,there was a mute eloquence in her eyes, which only Shiva could comprehend.She had a sort of charm that enticed young Shiva like never before. He spoke to her without words. Often they stood together still, in silence. School was over and Shiva’s family had no plans to enroll him in a college. But he pleaded with his parents and they gave in. Thus began a new life for him, he would go to college in the mornings and work in evenings at a nearby stationery shop. Rosa, in the meanwhile, had blossomed into an industrious young lady. She passed her intermediate with flying colours and pursued her graduation. She earned some money by tailoring too.
Shiva, also called Happy, often talked to her about his aspirations and dreams. She consented and Happy was really happy that day. He was nearly 20 now, a year to go and then they would be one. The in-charge of the destitute home was too happy to hear it. But he suggested that Shiva must search greener pastures if he wanted to live comfortably. Shiva gave it a thought and moved to Vijayanagaram, Andhra Pradesh. There he started a small garage and fortunately it clicked. Almost a year passed and he felt that he had, indeed, become an eligible bachelor.
He visited his parents in his hometown once in every two months during that gruelling year, but just had glimpses of Rosa. That fateful day, he walked into the destitute home and was waiting to see Rosa. Just as he saw her coming, a group of vandalists entered the place. Rosa immediately went upstairs and locked herself. The hooligans held Shiva,dragged him out of the building and cried, ”You want to marry her; she! God knows who her wretched parents are. You’ll go to hell!” Another quipped, ”Why do you rough him up? Its all due to that bloody woman. Come on, kill her.” Shiva’s blood boiled now, he hit someone very hard. The mob lost its temper and badly manhandled him. A gruff voice cried ferociously, ”You dumb woman ! Come down.” Rosa came to the window, opened it and gave her Happy a last look, eyes full of tears. The two little lamps said, ” Goodbye, Shiva. Its better to die with honour than live a life of suffering and pain.” And she shut the windows. He rushed but was stopped by the pack of wolves. In front of his very own eyes, he saw his life on fire. The destitute home was burnt down and in it, Rosa too. A loud wail followed, amidst the flames. All came to an end for Shiva. He could never be happy now. The mob hooted at this performance and then broke down on him. Shiva thought at first, why should I live now? Next moment he remembered Rosa’s last words. He must die with dignity. He defended himself and perhaps, the mob was too tired by now. So they let him off, injuring him grieviously. He jumped a high wall and was here. He was jilted by the events of the day. He was determined to avenge the death of his beloved. What should he do? Loot the mob? Kill? Plunder? Then what would be the difference between him and those wretches? Rosa would be so angry with him. Tears welled up. He wailed again, ”Rosa….” At the darkest hour of the night, Shiva felt something in his pocket. He took it out- a chain!!! The silver chain with a lovely locket- he on one side of it and Rosa on the other. He wept again. Thinking of something, he slipped into the darkness of night.

He had visited a friend’s home that night. Gifted her a vague sense of security. Only he didn’t know it.