Second Innings

"Oh Gosh!" A loud thud with a yell reiterated from Sunil's room. "Are you okay dear?" Sunil screamed while rushing towards his room. Daughter-in-law, Rina was arranging his room. She seemed scared and nervous. "I am fine, daddy, but!" Rina hesitated. "But what?" Asked Sunil. "I am so sorry, the turtle broke. But trust me, it fell accidentally, it was on the edge of the shelf and I tried my best to catch it." She was almost in tears. Seeing her like this, Sunil's heart filled with pity, a little more for her and a little less for himself and the glass turtle. He wore a faint smile and replied, "You are seriously a crazy woman, you need not wear that scariness on your face. Rather, I always used to be surprised how come I never broke it and managed to keep it intact all these years. Don't worry, I will pick it up, you go and rest." Rina went away and he started picking up the scattered pieces. It was indeed special and he could never tell anyone why. It was gifted by his first love, Neelima.

The entire episode ended with a wistful silence. Sunil was transported to the unwanted bygone. It was about to rain and Sunil kept staring at the clouds which was occupying the blue yonder. The storm was blowing in two worlds; one outside and the other one in his voids inside. He met Neelima during his college days. It was a typical story of every second household perhaps. Started with friendship, then confession and then love. But commitment never happened. The families and the society never accepted the caste difference. They tried with everything, emotions, blackmail, requests, pleading and yet all went in vain. Unfortunately, it was Sunil who gave up and never saw Neelima again after that. But the worst and the best part about life is it doesn't stop. Sunil got married to his father's elected candidate Asha. Later he had a son and named him Shekhar. More than 40 years had passed after that. Life was mechanical like a robot. His wife left him 3 years ago and he was leading a retired widower's life. Son got married. Rina was more than a daughter to him. He accomplished everything which any common man desired for. Yet, so many questions remained unanswered which he still wonders about. And yet again today for may be 1052nd time, he tried looking for some clues in the the grey infinity.

"Have I actually unloved Neelima over all these years? After spending an entire era, did I actually love my wife?" He recited the scenario of that time when she gave him this insignificant piece of glass. "Dumbo, I am not asking you, I am giving it to you. Make a wish, write it on a paper and place it inside the glass turtle and your dreams will come true." Sunil then had laughed his heart out and mocked it by saying superstitions undefined and foolish. Later, he despised it for his life got topsy turvy. And today, he felt like his heart got shattered with the turtle.

He could not sleep that night and kept on staring at the ceiling. The moon crossed the edges of horizon and sun entered the dawn. He remembered where she used to live. And by shocking his own self, he decided to check out whether she was still there or not. Might be a foolish thing but it was worth a shot. In the afternoon, while there was no one in the house, he stepped outside and went for the hunt. He could listen to his heartbeat. He reached the address and rang the bell. An unknown face opened the door, "Do I know you?" It was a middle aged lady. "Actually this house belonged to Neelima Tiwari once and I was wondering if she still stayed here." Replied Sunil uncomfortably. "Well," the lady replied, "It is still her house and we are the tenants. She gave it on rent to us after both of her parents passed away. She dwells in the town next to ours." Sunil had half hoped he would actually be able to reach her. He took the address and left.

Next day, Sunil was standing at the door of his long lost love. Extremely nervous and little proud of having her found through his desperateness. After a momentary pause, the door opened. The shining blue eyes kept on gazing Sunil's face without blinking. And finally she spoke, "After all these years, Sunil, Why?" He bent his head in shame and shyness. She took him inside. It was a small apartment with a beautiful south facing balcony with the same familiar undefined aroma in the zephyr. It started with hesitation and few complaints and then both got so engrossed as if nothing had happened and they had never departed. After few hours, Sunil asked the most difficult question, "You didn't tell about your family, your husband, children?" She got silent and suddenly started laughing. "What do I tell about them when I don't know anything about them. For that, they should at least exist!" Exclaimed Neelima. Sunil got perplexed, "I didn't understand." She got serious, "I never went into any other relationship. I never got married. Yeah, parents went with all possible types of threatening but I could perhaps never escape out of your spell. I couldn't share my piece of heart with anybody else when it was already taken." Sunil got numb. He didn't know what more to say. Ashamed, furious, frustrated, he wanted to get vanish into thin air. He couldn't look into her eyes. He bid her goodbye after a while and then left.

Few weeks went by talking and texting over phone. Rina and Shekhar did notice the subtle change but they never inquired and thought it best to leave him happy. But something inside Sunil grew grave and intense. He still felt horribly incomplete and wanted to be with Neelima all the time. It was a big decision. He lost her once due to society and yet he could lose her now because he was old and a widower. He spent sleepless nights. Rina, on the contrary could feel the tension brewing in his life and on one fine sunday afternoon, she asked, "What's the matter daddy? We want to know. It's been long that you are in a bizarre condition of excitement and dullness." Sunil didn't know how to start. But he pulled up his sleeves and confessed, "Neelima, my long lost love, before I married your mother in law, I got to her after all these years. Now I don't want to lose her. I want her back in my life."

There was a silence. Rina's face changed and Shekhar on listening to this got filled up with rage, "Are you going crazy? At this age you want to get married? You are interested in someone else, and top it all you still remembered her so much that you could easily forego mom's memory. Our reminiscences are not enough to keep you satisfied." Shekhar left unfinished in a fury. Rina followed him. All that happened which Sunil was already scared of. He loved all of them. He never stated this to Neelima nor he ever talked about this to his family.

Rina was worried about his father-in-law. He got dull and weak. She felt that nothing pleased him. she tried her best to convince her husband which always ended up in an ugly quarrel, "He should forget her, I can't battle against the ever ending curiosity and objections of people." "You don't have to. All he needs is our support. He could have done that without even telling us. He has never asked for anything. Why can't he have this?" Rina retorted. And this went on.

Seasons changed. It was the wedding anniversary of Rina and Shekhar. Sunil gifted them a trip to Port Blair. They were happy. While something finally struck Shekhar. He realised how lonely would his father be when the house will be empty. Rina was happy that her husband finally felt that way. And then the unthinkable did happen.

They left with a small surprise awaiting for Sunil. An envelope was lying on the table. He tore it and saw two tickets of a musical concert with a note. It was Rina's handwriting, "We are selfish enough to only ask and take from you. And now it's our turn to give you something. We wish you both a happy life. With love from your children."

Sunil's eyes got filled with tears. That was all he wanted. He was speechless.The love was true, the hearts were pure and hence it came back in the most beautiful form. And destinies did coincide, but this time in the most splendid way.....