Kavitha

Kavitha dialed Ma and waited for the ring to peal out fully twice, there was no response.

Ma, and not at home? That never happened at all.

Ma never went out alone and definitely not after the dusk, a habit her widowhood had imposed on her. But what had happened, was she ill and not able to get up and attend the phone? Kavitha’s heart sank. She dialed Sameer’s number and listened to the high pitched voice informing her with a forced joy that it was switched off…Kavitha pressed the red button hard and bit her lip. What could she do now?

It was nine thirty and the train was now waiting its signals near the outer cabin. If Sameer was there, they would reach home in another half an hour, but sometimes the half hours made all the difference, Kavitha remembered her grandfather’s passing away and shuddered. One hour of leaving him alone and the family members returning from a function at the neighbor’s had found him on the floor, lifeless.

Oh! God! What was she doing now; this was not her usual way of handling things, thinking too much and getting panicked! Kavitha forced herself to take a few deep breaths and tried to remember her yoga classes on how to remain calm. But all that came to her mind was Ma’s face, and Kavitha felt the world around her spin.

She had an idea then and dialed Arjun’s mobile number. It was engaged. She felt bewildered now, and tried the number again, it continued to be busy. After a few trials, the ring tone pealed out in hard rock beat and Kavitha instinctively held the phone a little away from her ear. It was too disturbing at the moment. A voice came through,

“Hallo!”
“Arjun?”
“Sorry this isn’t Arjun, this is his friend Adi and I am using his phone today because a personal emergency, who is this please?”
“Emergency? Oh! My God, what happened to Arjun?”
“Who is this?”
“Kavitha, his Bhabhi.”
“Namaste Bhabhi, you remember me? I am Arjun’s friend; you met me when you came to the hostel. No, nothing is wrong with Arjun; I have a personal emergency and needed a connection for today since I lost my own mobile, so borrowed Arjun’s. I will see him tomorrow, any message I can pass on?”
“No, No, Nothing, is he at the hostel now?”
“Actually he need not be, we finished our sessionals today and the boys may be celebrating. Bhabhi you sound worried, are you OK? Can I help you?”
“Hey, I was calling him just like that, don’t worry, will try him later at the hotel. Take care and bye, Adi.”

Kavitha forced herself to be cheerful and her normal self. The mobile was sounding faint now, the battery was weak and in a few minutes she wouldn’t be able to receive any calls, Kavitha bit her lip again, that was bad, being alone and unconnected! She hoped Sameer would be there, and longed to see his calm face and serious expression, wishing the day had not gone the way it did.

The station approached and the train slowly came to a stop. The ladies queued up at the door and were slowly stepped down and Kavitha peered out through the window to look at the parking lot visible through the railway entrance. Sameer always parked in view of the entrance so that he could sit in the car and read in the light of the big neon lamp above the portico. It was empty today. Perhaps he has parked somewhere else, Kavitha hoped. She felt hungry too; she had skipped lunch that day due to an extended meeting and taken just a coffee at break time instead.

Kavitha felt a little dizzy once again and stopped walking, holding on to the railings of the small flight of steps she was descending. Sameer was no where in the range of vision and the station was fast emptying of the crowd. The passenger was the last train to stop there on any day and the platform was getting ready for a sleepy night. Kavitha started walking again and after a few steps felt the dizziness come on yet again. The coffee stall was not shut yet, perhaps she should have a coffee while she waited?

Waited? Was she waiting for Sameer? He was never late, never ever late, anywhere, for anything. If he wasn’t there it only showed that he wasn’t coming. Kavitha felt another wave of panic coming over her. There were no autos in the stand, and to ride one she had to walk along the narrow way to the upper road, which would be lonely once the exodus from the railway station would cease. And even then, it wasn’t very safe to ride an auto at this time and that too alone. She suddenly saw a familiar face on the platform, Ram Kaka the porter and called out to him.