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  Chapter V: The Letter

  After six days of tragic death of Manoj, Deepankar received a letter without having sender’s address on the envelope. The address was typed neatly. On a close observation Deepankar could identify the name of the post office from where the letter was posted. It was from the location of his office. He opened the envelope and pull a handwritten letter. It was not difficult for Deepankar to identify the handwriting of the letter; it was written by Manoj. He started to read the letter.

  My dearest and only friend Deepu,

  When you will receive my letter, I shall leave this world forever. You know, except my parents, I love you and your parents as my closest friends, philosopher and guide. But a year back, everything had changed for me after the arrival of Jyoti in your life. Your life started revolving around Jyoti. After your marriage to Jyoti, even uncle and Aunty started giving importance to her more than me. Even my entry to your room had been restricted. As a rational person, I understood all these are natural. But heart never understands those small things.

  You know that, I have only one friend that is you. Contrary to that you have hundreds of friends, though I was pretty sure that I am your closest and dearest friend. I never had a feeling of insecurity from those friends. My position in your heart was never threatened. When you first told about Jyoti, I thought she would also be like any other friends of you. But within a short time I realized Jyoti was not an ordinary friend of yours; she was special for you. She actually relegated me to the second important person in your life, which initially I could not tolerate. However, as a rational person, I compromised with the situation. Four months back, she came to your life as your wife and from then everything has changed. You like to stay with her all the time; practically you have no time for me. I cannot even enter your room without knocking.

  I also needed some moral support from someone like Jyoti for you. Therefore, I consented for my marriage with Gayatri whom I met for the first time when she was hardly ten years of age. After that only once or twice I met her. Last time I met her at least five years ago. However, she came out to be an extremely nice wife for me. She treats you like her own brother and I know that you also like her as your own sister. Therefore, she is open to you. Again I lost a game of love to you. How?

  Even though, I have known Jyoti for last one year, we are not free in our conversation. No, do not worry; I have no bad feeling about her. She also treats me as her brother, but I could not take her as my little sister; I always treat her as my rival. In the meantime she also became close to my wife Gayatri. In the process, I am losing another battle of love.

  Now I realized, the world is very big with full of relations and I am not fit for this world. I have always been myopic. So I decided to leave this world forever. So forgive me for any of my omission and commissions. I know, even if I do not request you, you will look after my parent, Gayatri and the new born. Therefore, I am leaving the world with a satisfaction that my best friend will take the responsibility of my nuclear family.

  If there is a rebirth, I want to have a sister in Jyoti so that if she would be married to you, my best friend, I need not have to knock the door before entering into her room after your marriage. I do not know how Gayatri will take my untimely death; but I know you will take care of her as your own sister.

  Hope, next rebirth also you become my best friend.

  Manoj.’

  Now, Deepankar came to know that Manoj has not died in an accident but in a successful suicide attempt.

  He passed on the letter to Jyoti. Before reading the letter, Jyoti told, ‘Before reading the letter, I want to tell you something special for us.’ Her face was flushing.

  Sensing something, Deepankar snatched away the letter from Jyoti’s hand and asked, ‘What happened darling, you seemed to be very happy?’

  ‘Yes, I am very happy! I am going to be mother of your child. I am pregnant.’ She said coyly.

  Deepankar’s face also brightened and embraced Jyoti. He kissed her on her forehead. When Jyoti wanted to read the letter he did not give the letter and said, ‘It is not an important letter for you. It is just an official communication about sanction of my leave.’ Fortunately, Jyoti did not insist to read the letter.

  Deepankar decided to destroy the letter and kept the letter in his brief case.

  Chapter VI: The Beginning

  To everyone’s relief Gayatri took her life with a positive manner. She visited the doctors regularly for check up and took all care for the unborn child. In the meantime, with the help of Deepankar, the entire amount due for the family of Manoj has been transferred to the account jointly maintained by parent of Manoj. There was a hitch, that due amount from his office was to be transferred to Gayatri as per the office procedures. However, Gayatri insisted that the money should be transferred to the account of her in laws. Finally after taking an official request from Gayatri, the office of Manoj transferred the amount to the joint account of the in-laws.

  After six months of death of Manoj, Gayatri delivered a healthy baby girl through a caesarean operation. Once she delivered the baby girl, condition of her health deteoriated day by day without any apparent medical problem. As Jyoti who was also in a family way, she could not attend Gayatri, the way she wished to attend.

  After two months Jyoti also delivered a baby boy without any complication and therefore, she was released from the hospital just after two days. Though there was movement restrictions, Jyoti met Gayatri in her hospital bed after a week.

  Gayatri with a faint smile welcomed Jyoti, ‘Come Jyoti, I am waiting for you only. Now hopefully my wait is over. Today, I want to hand over my child to you. I do not want to live any further. I want to join Manoj as soon as possible. If possible, love my daughter as your own daughter. I have no regret to leave this world. My only repent; I could not make Manoj understand that I cannot live without him.’

  With these few words she closed her eyes. To everyone’s shock, she closed her eyes forever.

  The baby girl started crying, probably she was thirsty. Jyoti picked up the baby girl in her arms and put her nipple in her mouth. She started sucking milk from her new mother!

  Deepankar reached the hospital in no time.

  On the next day, Deepankar read the letter which was written by Manoj before his death, once again and then he destroyed it by burning so that nobody will be able to know that Manoj killed himself by slamming his car at a high speed in a divider, as he saw in his dream. Gayatri also followed him by starving herself to death. Probably, Gayatri also knew that Manoj committed suicide!!!!!!

  The author is a Government servant and a man of vivid experiences derived from his official postings across the country, travels across India and numerous visits outside India. He is presently placed at New Delhi. The book is about a fictional story of true friendship, a nightmare and true love of two couples.

  His earlier publications are:

  1. Random Thoughts through a Coloured Prism

  2. Dilemma of a Young Mind

  3. Funny Statistics and Serious Statisticians

  4. Melody of Fragrance

  5. Akhadya

  6. Few Cities through Lens of Hiranya Borah

  7. Guilt: Gift of Winter Spring

  8. Beautiful Ghosts

  9. Great Fighters: Grace of God

  10. All Blurred

  11. Putting Kids to Sleep

  12. How to Become Unpopular

  13. Soulmates

  14. My Grumpy Face

  Connect with him

  Email: [email protected]

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