This chirpy, young girl in her late 20s, Moumita works in an MNC company as graphic designer. She had come from Delhi to spend the long weekend with her boyfriend in Kasauli and next morning they plan to go to Chakrata. She was looking for a taxi driver to arrange for next day’s trip when she got separated from her boyfriend. “Ekta pagol chele, he must have wandered off in the woods”; Moumita told Tanvi with a shy smile of a love bitten girl.
“Where are you staying?” Tanvi asked.
“Not very far from here. It is small but cosy little place built during British time called the Winnes”. Tanvi couldn’t contain her excitement on hearing the name of the place. “Oh great! Finally! I also plan to stay there tonight. Now I will not get lost anymore”. Both the girls were quite happy to find each other’s company at this eerie hour.
Tanvi checked into the hotel. There was nothing fancy about the room. It was small but clean. There was one single bed with a stool that also doubled up as bedside table and a big window. Sky that was absolutely dark today, not even a star.
Tanvi was looking out at the window when there was a knock at the door. “It is me, Moumita”. Tanvi let her in. “we don’t get to see such vast and open sky in Delhi na”; Moumita commented seeing the window panes open. “Yes, in Delhi an open window looks out to another multi-storeyed building where you can see sky in the backdrop of someone’s undergarments drying in the balcony or a dish TV antenna laden with pigeon shit obstructs your view”; Tanvi said dramatically. They giggled for a moment.
“Hey! At this hour you should be with your boyfriend, and not with me”, Tanvi said pulling her legs.
“He hasn’t come back yet. I am getting worried now. His phone is also switched off. Battery must have drained out. He is a very responsible guy. He has never done like this before. I hope everything is fine with him”, tears rolled down Moumita’s cheeks.
“No worries, you can stay with me”, Tanvi understood that Moumita was feeling scared. Probably this is the first time Moumita has ventured out of house alone, and so had she.
Moumita rested her back slantingly onto the window pane, looking outside the window, she started humming a beautiful Bengali song. Tanvi crossed her leg and sat on the bed listening to her croon.
Alo alo rong jamkalo chand dhuye jai…
Chena sona mukh janasona hat chhuye jai..
Fire fire ghum ghire ghire gaan rekhe jai…
Kichhu michhu rat pichu pichu tan deke jai…
(The hues of light drape the moon gorgeous,
The acquainted faces touch the known hand,
The lingering slumber surrounds me with its songs –
Those few nights, call me, call me back!)
God knows when Tanvi felt asleep listening to Moumita.
Read the previous post here – Chapter 8 – Kasauli -The Music Heaven
Read the next post here – Chapter 10 – Fantastico Experience – Was She Or Was She Not?
This blog post is inspired by the blogging marathon hosted on IndiBlogger for the launch of the #Fantastico Zica from Tata Motors. You can apply for a test drive of the hatchback Zica today.
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