the one i never met 2

 

   Due to the uneven circumstances, we were asked to move to Delhi to treat the migrants there. Camps were raised, work has started. It took about three months for me to get a leave and move to Bombay, collect my things. I was called to attend emergency services but was held there until the situation gets balanced. I reached Mumbai, went to my quarters, collected my things. As a last hope I went to the post office and enquired about any letters that were posted on my name. There were few, but not the one I concerned about. I took the letters Zoya has written to me and left for Delhi. As the situation has brought under control, we were allotted our living quarters. Every wound is getting healed, rather the one I was having.

   My days and nights getting passed, in her thoughts. The letters from her are the only remains of her, causing some relief to me. I read them twice, thrice and so on. I have written and waited for her replies, but never once knocked on my door. As the days are passing, my hopes of meeting her were getting diminished. One fine day, someone knocking my door. I opened it, it was a postman having a letter for me. He read the address, handed it to me. I was happy as it is not a formal letter from an official, but something personal. The happiest moment hasn’t stayed as the letter I received belongs to my neighbor. The address mentioned was wrong. We all used to have the same address except for the change in door number. It raised many doubts in me. I was thinking whether I am writing for the wrong address, so I am not getting any replies. I started to check the address, as I have written several letters I remembered her address. But there is only one letter which is having a different address, differing with the one I noted.

   It is a postal address of “ THANE”. A major postal division of Bombay presidency. I took a leave and left to thane. I was having a friend in thane, as we two worked in Mumbai. He received me and gave me a good treat. The next day I went to the postal head office of thane, to my surprise I found Shekar chari, an employe of Bombay postal service. He worked in the post office where I served for three years. Seeing me he greeted me, I was surprised as he remembered me and felt happy. We had a normal conversation for some time. later he handed me three letters I got when I left for Delhi. He excused as he couldn’t able to pass me those letters, but put with him as my remembrance. In the letters two of them are from clients, and the third one is from Zoya. The address on the letter is matching with the one, I came in search of it. She mentioned her new address but it was lost due to aging. The letter is from a local post office in thane. I decided to go, Shekar assisted me.

   We took a tonga and started to, Shravan line in thane. It is about seven kilometers from central thane. The journey takes about half an hour. The small streets, children playing, people of different professions are at their work, the national flag at the center of the street reminded me of the difference between independent India and British India. Meanwhile, we were talking about our regular stuff. Our lives in two different corners, about the letters. He felt pity for me at the age of nearly thirty-seven, I was searching for a bride instead of getting my daughter married. I had many questions when he told me that “ will you marry her?” I was puzzled with many questions, is she living there or left? Is she married or not? At last is she alive? I had only one answer to this, to find her.

   The tonga stopped as we reached the post office. The postman gave the details about the letter. We took her address. After a five minute walk, we reached a small shop. I enquired about Zoya. He replied negatively as there was no woman with that name. he hasn’t completed the sentence but I turned and want to leave, “ Dr.Aryan” a voice made me turn, it is a girl, young girl in her mid-twenties with black-brown hair, curvy eyebrows, blue-black eyes, a wedge cut nose and curvy little pink lips. She asked “whom you are for?”. I replied “ Zoya”. She asked again “ why?” “ to marry her” I replied. She ran towards me and hugged me cryingly asked, “ what took you so long to come?”. I had a big answer but the situation doesn’t need that, but I had a question and asked “ how do you get me?” she replied “ you and my father are the only two people who call me Zoya”.

I had no questions and no answers but to enjoy my rest life with Zoya. And I finally met

                      Ksvks

            The one I never met

By

ksvk

Got lost in your letters,
Got rode to you; better.

Wish to be a tenant in your heart,

So we may never be apart.

                                                                                                    By

                                                                                              Shinar Athwal