The Last Promise

Summers! I don't know what exactly to make of this season. It gives you so much happy stuff like lychees, mangoes, raw mango pickles, lemonade, and much more. Also, summers in Kolkata would mean the epitome of humidity and stickiness in the weather. Summers still are always special to me. It was summer vacations in the childhood days when the first two weeks of June meant a patented visit to my grandpa.

Well, I am maintaining that tradition even now. Though I am supposed to be staying at my home, since I have exams exactly after two weeks, but here I am. Again, with my grandpa.

It was a super hot Sunday today, and we were staring at the sky, searching for some teeny tiny signs of grey clouds and rain. I saw a postman opening the gate. I ran down the stairs to open the door.

"Avik!" Grandpa screamed while running down the stairs. "What is it?"

"A letter for you!" I replied.

"For me?" Grandpa was surprised. "Who's gonna write letters to me?" He laughed.

"It says from Leena," I replied.

Something in the air froze as soon as I spelled the name. Grandpa kept on staring at the letter and then at me. I went close to him and kept my hand on his shoulders, and made him sit.

"After all these years? A letter for me! From her!" He muttered.

I was confused. I didn't know who this lady was. I looked at him once again, at his dumbfounded expression and quivering lips.

I tore the envelope, took out the letter and started reading.

"Binoy!

I hope you are fine. I also hope you remember about our days, moments and most importantly... Our Promise! The last promise!

I ask you now, for this favor of the last promise.

Take care,

Leena"

"Last promise?" I folded the letter and handed it to him. He unfolded the letter, tried to absorb those letters, and sighed. I peeked through the window. Finally, the sky outside got cloudy. So did my grandpa's eyes. I gave him his space. The silence felt like an eternity. Finally, he started speaking.

"Well, I don't know if I am supposed to be telling you these things. You are so young and a child, you know!" Grandpa blushed.

"Come on, Naanu (grandpa)! I am in my final year of graduation. I have told you about my gfs. Then why can't you?" I made a poker face.

He smiled and then started narrating his 'once upon a time story of some forgotten age.

"It was winters of the 20th century. I was too happy to get a chance in the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun. It's all strict and disciplined, and some people feel like being caged. But I was happy. That valor and pride always fascinated me."

He paused and looked at the trophies and medals kept on the shelf behind me. His eyes shone with pride while looking at those souvenirs of bravery and then continued.

"There was a church nearby. We could hear the girls singing carols and the ringing of the bells. We were young, like you, and we also fantasized about being with girls, teasing those who girlfriends. Oh, sorry, what do you say? Gfs. Yes.

Sundays were off. The day went with driving away fatigue of the entire week, but I and my group managed to pick up our over-exhausted body and went to the church. Sunday mass was going on. We made sure we were looking good enough and went inside the church. My eyes fell on a girl with two long pleats wearing a pink dress. She was looking like Snowwhite."

I tried my best not to laugh. My grandpa looked so cute while he blushed, reminiscing, and reliving the moments.

"Love at first sight? Of all the people you had a love at first sight?" I exclaimed

He blushed a little more, cleared his throat, and continued.

"That night, I dreamt of her. I had never seen someone so divine and beautiful. The next day, after our drill and classes, I went back to the church and waited for her to come outside. I wanted to say Hi but fell short of my courage. I saw her coming out, but she went on with her journey, and I returned to my hostel. It went on for few weeks. No one's blind. My friends finally noticed me escaping every evening and started taunting me. Taunts were never an issue. The problem was, I had no idea how to approach her. We didn't have films like these days to teach us.

One such evening, as I was walking back to my hostel when a melodious voice echoed in the air, 'Excuse me, yellow shirt?' I realized that she was calling me. She was staring at me with a stern face. 'Yes, you! It's been almost 24 days that you had been following me and still didn't came up with a better introduction.'

My face was getting hotter. She had noticed. 'So well.' She continued, 'Lemme start then. I am Leena. A catholic. I come here daily. I am associated with the church and assist them with all activities. Are you one of those army boys?'

'Uhh, yes. I am Binoy.' I spoke. My voice was not audible even to me.

'Where are you from?' She asked.

I replied, 'Kolkata.'

'Bengali? Hmm, interesting. Tomorrow we can go up the hill. The garden up there is nice. You will be allowed to speak more there.' She laughed at her punch line and went away. "

"Wait, what?" I interrupted, "She had proposed you? In those days? Really?"

We came up to our terrace. It had rained heavily while we were walking down the memory lanes. It was a little soothing and better than the humid. My grandpa nodded his head in some sort of disappointment.

"Sorry sorry! Please continue." I said.

"Yes. Finally, she had approached me. From then onwards, we met every day in the evening. We would walk up the garden, sit there for some time, and exchanged our reveries. She was Tamil Christian, but her grandfather had sentiments attached to Dehradun, and they had settled there permanently. I had learned. Her grandparents were very strict and orthodox. We knew in our hearts if we continue being with each other, her family would never agree to this. Yet, the attachment and love between us overpowered the practical senses. We continued being together.

My training was almost over. I was posted to Ladakh. I went to meet her before leaving Dehradun. What I didn't know was that I was meeting her for the last time. We both cried that day.

Two years went by after that. Borders are meant to be disturbed. And I never got a chance to think about anything else. I was again transferred in the third year. This time to the Northeast. I decided to stop by Leena's house. And the nightmare did happen. She got married to someone else from her community. She had shifted to Chennai with her husband.

That's the end of my love story."

Grandpa was staring at the grey sky. The rain had left a part of gloominess between us.

"And that last promise?" I asked.

"Yes, that promise!" He started, "I was waiting for my train at the Mussorie station when Leena's friend came running. 'Binoy, Leena had left this for you.' She was going breathless. I looked at her.

She held my wrist and said, 'Don't worry, Binoy! Don't blame yourself. You didn't forget about her. She would be happy about that. She's also happy about the fact that you are fine, alive. Take care of yourself. And try to move on.' She smiled half-heartedly and went away.

The letter said, 'I am sorry, Binoy. It was all my fault. I couldn't convince my family. I failed. You can hate me as much as you want. I deserve that, maybe. But can you promise me something? Please?

In this lifetime, if I happen to call you or ask you to meet me, will you come? I won't die before meeting you for the last time!'

I knew in my heart, she would call me someday. And wanting to meet for the last time means...."

Grandpa trailed off. I didn't imagine that the story would be ending on this note. My heart didn't want to accept it.

"The last time means," I asked, "It means she has not more days to live?" My mind had to struggle to find those words.

Tears started floating in his eyes. I said nothing after that. We ate our dinner in silence. After making sure that grandpa wasn't waking anymore, I took the envelope and dialed the number written on it. It was Leena's son.

"Ohh, Hi Avik. Thank God you got that letter. I wanted to send an email, but Maa insisted on sending you a handwritten letter. She had your address saved all these years. I hope we are not causing any inconvenience." He spoke in one breathe.

"No, not at all." I replied, "How is she?"

"Not good. Maybe a few days more!"

There was a deafening silence. I confirmed the address and disconnected the call.

We had a lot to do on the day next. I went to the travel agent to book two tickets to Chennai, and we were finally on the flight after two days.

We were now standing in front of a peach-colored house with a beautiful garden in the front. I looked at my grandpa. He was fighting his tears back.

"Naanu!" I held his hand and opened the gate.

"Binoy uncle?" A man in his 50s came running and took the luggage from his hand.

"Leena's son?" Grandpa asked.

"Yes, I am. Hi Avik!" He smiled at me.

I wished him back and went inside. He took us to Leena's room. She was all covered with wires. She wore a broad smile when she saw us.

"Binoy!" She tried getting up.

Grandpa sat on the chair kept beside her bed.

"You remembered our last promise! You came." She smiled like a child.

"Yes," Grandpa said, "How can I forget? It's the only thing you have ever asked. I had always remembered."

I came out of the room. I don't know what they talked about. I never asked my grandpa. They might have reminisced their long walks in the green valley or the carols in the church. But all that I know is, it doesn't matter if you stay away from each other. Promises can still be kept alive, and pure love never ends...