Karuna

10.10.2009

The night was cool, pleasant and silent. Preeti sat down at the bench, pixy sat down at her feet. It was her daily routine before going to bed. To take a little stroll in the park with pixy. It was good for both of them.

A cool breeze was blowing laden with fragrance of flowers and trees. A fragrance which eased her mind like nothing else. she looked at the sky, it was clear, studded with dazzling night diamonds. She smiled, she loved stars. They always promised her about far away lands and light.

Suddenly she felt pixy tugging at the leash, first gently and then so hard that the leash went away from her hands and pixy darted in the darkness.

She stood up scared, first she thought about calling out to the guard, then she gathered up her courage and followed pixy, prepared to scream. She heard pixy yelping playfully. She soon located him yelping at a small bundle. To her surprise the bundle was moving.

She knelt down beside it, she thought some one must have discarded kittens, because a feline sound was coming from the bundle.

She untied the bundle after tying pixy to a tree near by, because she did not wanted him to attack the kittens.

Her jaw dropped when she saw what was inside the bundle. It was a tiny child, hardly three or four months old, dark complexioned with a head full of curly hairs. The poor thing has been crying her heart out. Her face was twisted with pain and fear.

“My poor darling, my sweetheart!!!!”, she cooed at the little girl as she scooped her up in her arms and held her to her bossom.

As if by some miracle the child stopped crying and snuggled against her.

She untied pixy and rushed for her sister’s flat.

Preeti was a designer who worked from home, she used to work for an US firm and earned enough for a luxurious life, she lived in the same building with three of her other siblings, each having their own flats.

Preeti was single, she lost her husband after an year of their marriage, they had loved each other for ten years before marrying. After losing him she never felt the need to look at any other man, instead she dedicated her time and energy in the things she loved, designing, she used to design furniture, statues and other decorative items, fortunately she earned recognition very soon.

Sometimes she used to pine for a child but as she knew that no one will ever be able to take the place of her husband in her mind she used to suppress that pining and dedicate her feelings in her work.

12.10.2009

She was breathless when she reached her sister’s flat. Her sister was about to pack up for the day when she heard the door bell. To her surprise she saw her sister standing outside, fidgeting nervously.

“Smriti, look what pixy found in the park!”, she exclaimed.

Smriti and her husband Ashish shared her surprise when they saw what pixy has found. Soon the whole family was gathered around the tiny treasure, the police were informed.

The baby was closely inspected, there was no injury, she was a perfectly healthy baby, pixy found her before any thing else could.

The police arrived, they took the note of the incidence and left the baby with Preeti at her earnest request.

Preeti told them to leave the child with her till someone comes looking for her.. well, months passed into years, no one did.

Preeti adopted her after a few years, named her Karuna. Karuna knew from the very beginning that she was adopted. Preeti wanted a completely honest relationship with her.

Karuna turned up in a beautiful and graceful young lady, she pursued her mother’s career and both worked together in her studio.

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Preeti was sitting in her studio. A few strands of her hair has turned white, giving her a graceful look. She was a slender elf like creature, with chiselled look. Her inner goodness was too much visible on her face, her artistic dreaminess added a celestial charm to that.

She looked up at a sound from the door, Karuna entered the studio. Her hands were filled up with the articles she has brought, spending the entire day out in the bazaar.

She smiled at her mother, she was a stunning beauty. Tall, slim, dark complexioned with exquisite features. Her eyes were large, full of kindness and dreams. Her head was full of curled hair, which was tied in a tight plait, and reached almost her knees. Her soft lips were always ready to smile.

“Look what have I found.. “, she said excitedly. Her voice was soothing, sweet and melodious like a musical strain. “ See this.. this and this.”, She added excitedly.

Preeti softly smiled at her, relishing her childlike excitement on every thing in the world.

13.10.2009

“Karu, I was thinking about holding an exhibition of our works. We have been working for the firm too long, we may think about our own independent business now.”, Preeti said.

“Whatever you say ma, I will do the organising part and you will do the selection of exhibits part”, Karuna answered after thinking a little.

The next one month passed like a hurricane. The exhibition was inaugurated. It drew quite an ample amount of crowd.

Karuna was sitting in her seat, a seat placed in a way so she could see the whole room, she saw a guy looking at each and every thing with deep interest. He was a really good looking guy. Fair, handsome and sophisticated. The way he was watching every thing clearly reflected his knowledge in the field.

After completing the long tour he came to her. “I guess you are the creator of these things…” he looked at her with open admiration. “They are fabulous.”

“Some are mine and some have been created by my mother.” She shyly replied.

“I am Jay Ghosh.”, he stretched out his hand.

“The renowned artist Jay Ghosh?”, she swallowed hard as she took his hand.

She always thought that he was an old guy. She has adored his works for years.

“I have been lucky in this field.”, he politely smiled and added, “Would you two mind joining me in an international project?”

She took him to Preeti and the project was finalised within a week.

15.10.2009

Within a few weeks of starting the project Preeti observed that a beautiful chemistry was forming between Jay and Karuna. Soon they became inseparable friends. Preeti observed with great joy how perfect they were for each other, but she knew reality.

Jay belonged to a reputed and wealthy business house, but changed his way to pursue his dream. His share of his family property was enough to take care of his needs, and leave a lot extra, hence he concentrated on his dreames and Devi Saraswati had all her blessings for him so he never looked back.

His father Rajkrishna Ghosh was very status conscious and conservative. Preeti knew he will never accept Karuna as his daughter in law.

She gently pointed these things out to Karuna, so she could avoid the pain of rejection. Being an extremely intelligent girl she understood and stayed within the limit of friendship.

This was not the case with Jay. The more he saw Karuna, the more his attraction for her grew. Karuna seemed like the person he has been looking for all through his life. He knew from the very beginning that she was an abandoned child, but it hardly mattered to him.

16.10.2009

“so that’s what those two women has been doing for all these months.” Senior Mr. Ghosh chewed out between his clenched teeth.

Jay has already procured Preeti’s permission. He softly discussed it with his mother Rama, who promised she will talk with his father.

They were sitting in the drawing room after dinner. Mr. Ghosh’s face has turned crimson. “We have not brought you up for this. To grab a woman from road and expect us to accept her as our daughter in law and give her a place in our home.”

“Have you forgotten your family background? What will I say to relatives and society?” he fumed.

“There is no need of your accepting her. I will accept her and stay out of your home.” Jay softly said. He was a very soft speaking person. He left the drawing room followed by his mother.

“Baba, don’t be angry, your father is saying the right thing. There are lots of other girls far prettier than her. Give it some time, you will forget her. I will bring a fairy for you.” Rama pleaded.

“Ma, I don’t want a fairy or a goddess, I want Karuna as my life partner. We have every thing common… you would have loved her if you have met her.” Jay softly said.

Rama pleaded for hours but Jay sealed his lips. Rama left for her husband to plead to him. Well, luck did not worked out there either.

Jay shifted to a rented flat next week.

17.10.2009

“I think you should think well before deciding. I don’t want you to regret later. Do you think its al right to sacrifice so much for love? Or a feeling that you are thinking as love?” Preeti asked seriously.

“I dote after Karu, she is too naïve and innocent, if you hate her for separating you from your parents she will be shattered to pieces. But if you walk away from her now she may forget you after a while.” She said.

“Ma, I am not naïve. I know what I want. I have run my own business and life for last ten years. I have seen the world. Seen it on my own, not under the wings of dad.” Jay said.

“Dad and mom will accept us once we are married. I know mom. She will never let dad drift away from me.” He added with hope.

Preeti knew her limits, so she consented and Karuna and Jay were married in the Registrar’s house. They went to seek the blessings of Jay’s parents.

A new servant opened the door, “Babu and ma has gone out of station. They wont be back soon..” he repeated like a parrot. Did not even asked them in.

Jay tried to call up his father and mother but the phones went unanswered.

Days passed to weeks and then months. Senior Mr. Ghosh made it clear that he was firm on his views.

19.10.2009

A couple of years has passed by, without his parents showing least signs of softening up. Jay too distanced himself. He has tried hundreds of times to meet them or call them up. To no use.

They did not even bothered to bless their daughter Mirna, though his father and mother’s friends came to bless the new born. All of his relatives, who could, came to see and bless her. So his own parents got the news but did not bothered to contact him. This hardened his heart a little further.

Jay has returned to India after spending a few months in USA, Karuna has gone to Mirna’s school. It was Parent-Teacher Meeting, so a lengthy affair. They were not supposed to be back before a few hours more.

He was sitting with the newspaper, his regular habit when a news caught his eyes. A sentence in bold letters said his parents were bankrupt. The news item that followed said that his father has lost every thing, even his furnitures to his ex manager. He remembered Mr. Roy very well. A person he has warned his parents about.. again and again. But they trusted him too much.

He jumped out of the sofa, grabbed the first set of clothes he could and drove to his parent’s home.

There were trucks outside the home. Carrying away the furnitures, furnitures filled up with his childhood memories.

He stopped by the supervisor. He was busy ordering the guys picking up the things. “Can you give me the number of the person who is buying these things?”

“Why not babu, they are very good are not they? It’s a sad affair when these old, prestigious homes get sold..” the guy handed him the number.

He called him up and requested him to postpone the moving for a day and meet him next day. His requests were granted.

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He walked inside the drawing room after requesting the supervisor to replace the furnitures. His parents were sitting on the sofa, side by side, like two lost babies.

He went to them and touched their feet. His father clutched him like a child clutches his father. He softly cursed himself in his heart for not keeping an eye on them.

“Come lets go to my flat, your grand daughter Mirna will be ecstatic to see you two when she comes back from school.” He said after a while.They got up from the sofa and followed him like a pair of robots.

They reached the flat. Rama looked at the surrounding, it was beautiful, well maintained and prestigious. When Jay opened the door of his flat for them she was stunned. Every inch spoke of extraordinary taste.

“It’s a fabulous home. You have decorated it so wonderfully.” Rama gushed.
“Its mainly Karuna ma, I only helped her. “ Jay replied. “Come in and see the rest of the home, lets see how many marks you give her.” He added laughing a little.

There were photographs and paintings of a happy family hanged across the flat. Theirs were also hanging from walls.

“Karuna painted that!” Jay said, when he saw Rama looking at a painting with eyes full of admiration. It was a painting based on her first photograph after marriage.

“Come here, let me show you some more.” Jay asked them to follow him as he showed them their studio. It was a huge hall, full of complete and incomplete paintings and sculptures. There was a series of pictures based on various moods and occassions of Raj and Rama.

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“Dada, the breakfast and tea is ready.” Their apt concentration was broken by a soft voice. They turned to face the woman who uttered the word.

“This is mina, our house incharge while we are running around!!” Jay laughed. “Minadi, my father and mother.”

Mina came forward and touched their feet.

They were busy talking after taking the breakfast when the door bell rang.

The door was answered by Mina, they heard the sound of tiny feets and a chubby child appeared on the doorway of the living room where they were sitting.

“Baba, I missed you so much.” She pouted at Jay as she clung to him. Suddenly she realized that there were two strangers were in the room and she shyly distanced herself from her father and stared at them.

“Touch their feets darling, they are your grandma and grandpa.” Jay said softly.

Mirna hesitantly went to them and touched their feet and Rama hugged her tightly with tears in her eyes. Two drops of tears were shining in Jay’s eyes.

A musical voice sounded in the doorway, “Why did not you called me when you went to pick up ma and baba?”

“I went all the way to there to be informed that you have already taken them home.” Karuna said complainingly as she headed toward her in laws to touch their feet.

Jay met the dealer next day, he was businessman but not unkind. He realized that he can buy his home along with the furnitures back.

Few months later the whole family shifted to their actual home after selling the flat.

finished :)