“Suman….Beta I am going to office…please give the keys to
Shobha Aunty, our neighbor while going to college” told Rita, a working woman, a
widow, a fighter, a mother.
She had no way but to go for a private job after
death of her husband due to lung cancer when Suman, her daughter was in Class X.
Now Suman is doing her post-graduation and in few months she will be supporting
her Mom as she already got placed in one MNC.
In last 14 Years Rita had did everything to shape up the
career of her only daughter. Suman also did well in her studies and made Rita
proud of her.
It was a regular working day for them. Rita was having a
meeting with new client so rushed a bit early to office, else she used to go
after Suman left for college and carry the keys, as for last 15 days Suman used
to come late due to extra classes.
“Sure Maa, I will give the keys to Shobha Aunty, today I will
be again late, will be attending a seminar”, told Suman
“Ok Beta…today I will be cooking your favorite Chinese Food…do
come back on time…bye…see you in the evening” told Rita
“Ok Maa..bye..all the best for presentation”, told Suman
Rita’s presentation went quite well, client was happy and so was
her boss. They got the order, one of the biggest
.
“Well Done Rita, with this your promotion is almost sure, let’s
celebrate and have lunch together.” Told her Boss.
“Thank you sir, it was all because of your guidance. Just a
request, can I leave a bit early for home, I need to prepare special dinner for
my daughter and need to do some preparation.” Told Rita
“Sure Rita, you can leave after lunch for today.” Told her
Boss
Rita had lunch in a hurry and rushed to the super market. She
got all the stuff she required for the dinner and reached home.
“Hi Shobha Ji, can I have my keys.” Told Rita after reaching
her Society.
“Arre Rita, you are early too, anything important today.” Told
Shobha
“Early too? What do you mean? Who else came early.” Asked Rita
“Arre Suman beta also came 2 hours back. I have given the key
to her.” Told Shobha
Rita was surprised but was happy also as both of them will
get some quality time together on a working day.
She moved towards her flat. She was surprised to see that
door is locked but the key is still in the lock.
“Mad girl, she started forgetting things. May be due to
pressure of her studies.” Rita thought.
She turned the key in
the lock and opened the door. There was a different smell, which she never liked in the
house. Memories flashed back when this smell used to be a regular stuff in the
house. It was the smell of cigarette but a bit different, may be mixed with
something which her husband used to have almost a pack every day. That became
the reason for his lung cancer and death eventually.
There was pin drop silent in the house. She saw that the back
balcony door was opened, which is usually closed as there is lake on that side and
almost every month one suicide happened there in last few months. She went and
saw empty packets of cigarettes and an empty bottle of whiskey, three glasses
and some grass like material in a small packet.
She got apprehensive, fear of something bad grown in her mind
immediately. Slowly she moved towards Suman’s room. Suddenly she saw Suman’s
college bag on the floor just before Suman’s room. She picked that, she got
another shock as she found a packet of ciggerrate, a lighter and a packet of
condoms.
Rita always supported Suman in various decisions some of them
being a bit bold against so called social norms. But Rita always had trust on
Suman that she will be not doing anything wrong or something which will hurt her.
She never thought she can lie to her. She did not got the courage to even see
inside Suman’s room. She immediately went outside and called Sadhana, one of
the close friends of Suman.
“Beta I am Suman’s Mother, just want to know, can you tell me
if Suman is under some pressure or anything wrong going on with her. I am a bit
worried and you are the only one whom I know very well.” told Rita
“Aunty, Suman is not attending college post her placements. I
have not met her for last 15 days. In fact she is not even picking my phone. So
I have no idea. Only one thing, once I have seen her with Rohit, he is our immediate
senior. But he does not hold good impression in the college. In fact he was restricted
for getting weeds in the college and involvement in a sex scandal. I warned
Suman but he told that he know how to take care of her and no one can take
undue advantage. After that I never met Suman. On whatsap goup she told that
she is going out of town on personal leave so also did not disturbed her much
except few calls.” Told Sadhana
“Beta can you give me the details of that boy.” Told Rita
“Sure Aunty I will whatsapp the details with his photograph.”
Told Sadhana
Rita cut off the call and got the message from Sadhana. She
saw the photo of Rohit and called the number given by Sadhana. A mobile started
ringing inside her house. She went inside and saw a mobile just near the bathroom,
Rita’s number was displaying on the mobile. It was not locked. She picked the
mobile and saw that whatsapp message notification was blinking. She opened the
whatsapp and got a message conversation of Rohit with a middle age man as per
the display pic. Rohit had messaged an address which was Rita’s flat’s address
and told that man to come with the cash, some seminude pics of Suman was also
there in the messages sent to that man. By seeing the pics Rita got sure that Suman has taken those pics as these were selfies and taken in the their bathroom only.
Rita almost became lifeless. With heavy breathing she slowly
moved towards Suman’s room again.
She got shock of her life. Suman was sleeping on the bed with
two man, one of them was Rohit and another one was that middle age man, all of
them nude and in deep sleep. Probably dose of weed which Rita found in the
balcony along with whiskey and ciggerrate resulted in such situation.
Rita felt lifeless. All her efforts wasted in a flash. She
was not able to understand where she went wrong.
Next day Rita’s body was found in the lake in the back of her
society.
It was just another suicide in the Lake for everyone but we
know A working women, a widow, a fighter and most important A Mother passed
away on that day.
