“Nandu Di”

Someone calls from their back. Both Aditya and Nandana turn in reflex. A boy of mid-teenage is standing with an imbecile grin. His eyes are fixed on Nandana. A lollipop is there in his hand and his drooling mouth is trying to articulate more words.

“Nandu Di..”

He again mouths in a lispy accent. With a perplexed expression, Nandana looks at Aditya. A simper grin creeps on Aditya’s exasperated face. He immediately glances at his watch and grips Nandana’s wrist.

“I forgot to tell you. I have an important meeting at my party office and I am already late. Let’s go. I think you are right. We have shopped enough. We can come again…some other time. Come..come.”

He almost drags her out of the Mall. Nandana tries to ask him about the boy who is still following them with baby steps. Aditya purposely doesn’t halt his pace. Neither does he let Nandana question him more nor does he slacken his grip on her hand. Within a couple of minutes, they are in the parking lot. Aditya presses the central lock button and the car beeps open. He almost pushes Nandana inside the car passenger seat and hurriedly occupies the driver seat. The car whizzes past the exit gate.

“Aditya…that boy…that boy was calling me. That means he knows me.”

Nandana finally sheds her baffled state. Without shifting his eyes from the road, Aditya replies in a pretentious calm voice,

“Nandita, couldn’t you see; that boy was retard. He must have mistaken you with any other person.”

“But…but he mentioned me as Nandu Di. He might nickname me Nandu. Nandita…Nandu…Aditya, let’s get back to him. He must be someone known to me. Must be someone from my past.”

Nandana says restlessly. With a jerk, Aditya halts the car beside the bleak road and faces Nandana. His eyes are red with fury.

“Are you not happy with me in our present? Why do you always talk about your lost past? Why can’t you let it go as a forgotten dream? You are Nandita…would be Mrs Nandita Aditya Oberoi. That is your identity and I am your past, present and future. Do you understand?”

His tone rises to a high pitch. Nandana flinches. Her eyes become wide and immediately brim with tears. Aditya closes his eyes to simmer down his frustration and anger. After a small silence, he again says but this time in a calmer tone,

“Look Nandita. Doctor Nikhanj has advised you to not pressurize your brain to recollect your memory. It will affect your health. If your memory has to come it will come automatically. So, please! I request you, don’t disturb yourself with these incoherent matters. We are happy in our world and let it be like this. We don’t need anybody in our life.”

With a bending head, Nandana is listening to his words. She knows how much Aditya is concerned about her health. Perhaps he is telling the right thing. But when that boy called her Nandu Di; she felt a connection to that name. His innocent eyes, his pure smile instantly made her feel a strong affection. Was it a mere illusion? For a moment Nandana is adrift in the thought. Suddenly Aditya’s call breaks her train of thoughts.

“Nandita…are you listening to me?”

Nandana meets his eager eyes and bobs. In a hesitant voice, she asks,

“Aditya…for some days I have been thinking of telling you something. Can you change my doctor?”

In reply, Aditya just crunches his forehead.

“No…I mean…I don’t feel good when I take those medicines. I feel giddy; weak…they only make me sleep all the time. I feel like I am going to be lost in endless darkness…It…it feels….”

She tries to express her helplessness while palming her face.

“It’s good that you feel sleepy. Because good sleep will help you to recover your health. And who likes to have medicines? Still, if you think that your health is not improving by those medicines then I will talk to Dr Nikhanj. He will definitely change them. Now, can we go? Otherwise, I will definitely miss the meeting.”

Aditya says with a smile. Nandana nods in positive and reclines on the seat with closed eyes. With a pensive expression, Aditya starts the engine.

............................

“What do you mean by that? Rishi mistook some other person as Nandana?”

Vivek chides while searching for his umbrella in the room. It is raining outside and he has to go to the police station. Jaya’s eyes are moving with her husband’s restless body. She wobbles in denial.

“I am not saying that. But if that girl was Nandana, wouldn’t she recognize her brother Rishi? After returning from the Mall, he is continuously crying after Nandu’s name. It was my mistake. I shouldn’t have given permission to Manvi to get Rishi in the Mall. He might be confused and scared to see so many people.”

Jaya places her dilemma. Vivek finally finds his umbrella behind the wooden almirah. Adjusting his specs, he slips on his sandals and replies in a determined tone,

“Whatever, I won’t ignore any possibility. And I believe that Rishi can’t make mistake to recognize his sister. He can be autistic but he is not emotionless. He has a deep connection with his elder sister and I believe in that bond. I don’t know why Nandana didn’t reciprocate his call. Or maybe she didn’t see Rishi. Uff…I wish Rishi could say anything clearly. But if she is here and fine then why didn’t she come back?”

Vivek furrows his brows and shakes his head in exasperation. Jaya can’t deny his logic and keeps mum.

“I have to tell all these to the police. After that murder, they haven’t got any lead. Perhaps this information will put some light on this case.”

Vivek says with hopeful eyes and is about to exit when Jaya mumbles,
“Will the police believe in Rishi’s words? After all, he is not normal.”

Although her voice was low, Vivek hears every word. He turns and replies sternly,

“They have to believe in our belief. I will get my daughter back in our life. And for that, I will knock on every door.”

.............................

“Okay, Mr Basu. I understood but for that, I have to talk to your son first. I have to know exactly where did he see Nandana? Was she alone or somebody was with her? Did she say anything to your son? I have so many questions and before getting their answer I won’t be able to decide anything.”

The SP clears his point. Vivek listens to him with a bending head. Gradually, he gazes up. His eyes are moist. With a trembling voice, he says,

“Sir, I have no issues with that. But as I said to you earlier; my son Rishi is autistic…I mean he is not mentally fit. I am not sure how much he can help you with this. It will be difficult to get an answer from him. We also tried but he is only crying after Nandana's name.”

He pauses for a moment and again continues with a choked voice,

“Today I have got a faint ray of hope that my daughter might be alive and fine. Please, Sir. Don’t let this hope die.”

He places his tired head on his entwined hands which are rested on the table. The SP sighs and touches him by his shoulder.

“Don’t worry, Mr Basu. We will try our best. You have done wisely that you shared this news with us because every clue is important to us. And don’t worry. I will get a counsellor with me who will interrogate Rishi. They are professional and know how to deal with these special children. So, hopefully, we will get some positive results. Now, tell me when can we come to your home? But you know…as we will delay as the lead will get weaker.”

The SP utters with concern. Vivek nods in affirmation and responds,

“You can come tomorrow morning but please come in civil dress. As you can understand, my son has the brain of a child. He might be scared to see the police.”

The SP purses his lips in approval and says,

“Okay, we will be on time.”

With a smile of gratitude, Vivek leaves the police station. The surrounding is dark and bleak. Only the pitter-patter sound of rain on the ground is keeping it alive. Vivek forwards to his home with hope beyond hope.

............................

Nandana is standing on the balcony, stretching her hand to the open sky. Raindrops are descending on her palm and dancing like droplets of diamonds. The petrichor and the dewy touch on her hand are embellishing her heart with serenity. She forwards her both palms and cumulates the shower. With a childish grin, she brushes the palms on her face to feel the fragrance of nature. Suddenly she feels two warm hands slip around her waist and wrap it tightly. She is shaken by the sensation. A virile voice whispers against her ear,

“I can’t say what is more beautiful? This rain or you against these silver threads? What is more melodious? Your heartbeat or the rhythm of the falling rain. You brought back the old happy me.”