UNKNOWN HORIZONS PART IV

Continued from previous post….
It was the most uncomfortable moment of my life then. He took things in stride by mumbling a hello. I responded feebly. The rest of the evening I was forced to stay near him. I never ever thought in the wildest of my dreams that Anita could be Tushar’s sister. I couldn’t even feign work and leave early. Raj and the other patients would certainly find that strange. I had seen Tushar with Anita together. Tushar never told he had a family. Perhaps not even to Di. Raj took me out of my reverie and I was relieved to leave the place.

Anita often came to meet Raj to the foundation hospital. She seemed to be a balanced person. I often wondered if she would ever talk about Tushar – the man I hated the most. It was sooner than I expected. Anita and Raj had joined me for lunch in my cabin. Anita casually told about her past, her brother, her meeting with Raj and the things that followed. She had lost her mother in childhood. Her father remarried but practically she grew up on her own. Tushar came to India to join his grandparents. Anita stayed back with her father. She had taken to drugs at a young age. Tushar shifted to Philadelphia in the meantime. Then she narrated how Tushar took her out of those dangerous times and finally she was able to lead a normal life. “He’s such a sweetheart. His girlfriend had called him one day. I was undergoing a major psychotherapy session then. He talked for a minute and then came to help in my sessions. Later I knew that it was her last call. She was dying when she called. He never shows but I know he’s quite …quite depressed.” I was numb after her last lines. I wish I had known how to react.

Raj and Anita had called me for dinner. Tushar was invited too. I reached quite late and I guess I was too worked up. Tushar opened the door and I could see a momentary glimmer in his eyes. He seemed to say,"You look just like her !" When I rose to go home, my sturdy vehicle refused to budge. Melodrama at its best ! Tushar rode me home. I badly wanted to ask him ‘the’ question. He was silent all the way. When he dropped me, I asked him, rudely I guess, "What had she told you ?” He was taken aback and sped back. A plethora of emotions puzzled me- anger, pity, sorrow and curiosity. Two days later a letter cleared it all. It was from Tushar. My questions were answered. My seven year hatred for Tushar vanished in a few minutes. I began to respect him. All I wanted on earth was his forgiveness. I did not lose a second and in an hour I was standing in front of him. Teary eyed. No words were exchanged. We both ended up crying. Perhaps from then on began a new era- of hope, faith, friendship and perhaps love. Di’s last words were,"Now she is your responsibility.” The “she” was me.

Tushar often told me ," Shweta changed my life. I was materialistic and arrogant . Whenever I saw her with you, I was always reminded of Anita. Her words strengthened my resolve to help Anita out of the mess she was in. And she was so worried about you. All the time.” I’m still clueless about how I married Tushar. And now an angel would bless our lives.

To be continued…..