The story that no one read

Some days back TOI Kolkata announced for a story writing competition under the event name – Spellbound. With the boosting support from my friend Sonali, I sat to write the first story of my life. Six story beginnings were given and the stories were not supposed to exceed the word limit of 400. I picked one, developed the plot, drafted it and sent it across – all within 15 minutes. In the hurry I forgot to give a name to it! So it was very obvious that my story would never be published and it never did as expected.

Here is the story –

She had almost retired for the night when the doorbell rang. She wearily got out of bed and put on her nightgown. She opened the door and was almost taken aback by the sight of the visitor, Nisha!

“What does she want after all these years?”, was the first thought that struck Anjali’s mind.

Nisha was standing abashed, sweated and embarrassed; very much unlike her, thought Anjali.

“Please come in”, said perplexed Anjali, as her own voice sounded strange to her.

In hesitated steps, Nisha entered and sat uncomfortably on the sofa. Her undone hair, unmanaged dress and a bit swelled face was conveying that something was seriously wrong. “What’s that? Kaushik?” Anjali shivered.

Anjali sat in the opposite sofa. She couldn’t find words to start conversation. She was at a loss.

“Can I have a glass of water”- it was Nisha who broke the silence.

“Oh sure” – Anjali was on her feet. She could see Nisha moving her face on the other side, to hide her tears.

Some pieces of memories were rushing fast in Anjali’s mind.

Five years back, it was the Diwali night, when Anjali saw Nisha, for the first time. Nisha Kothari, the very smart and efficient private secretary of Executive Manager Kaushik Sengupta. It seemed a little odd how Kaushik got too cozy with her new subordinate almost overlooking all other guests. Nisha was there till late, of course on her boss’s special request. Anjali remembers, that night Kaushik went to drop her as it was very late to let her go alone in a city like Delhi.

She met Nisha for the second time in Kaushik’s office. The peon asked Anjali to wait outside the bada sahab’s cabin as he was on an urgent meeting! To Anjali’s surprise, it was Nisha who came out of the cabin when agitated Anjali caught her husband over phone.

The third time she saw Nisha, along with Kaushik, near Regal Cinema in a taxi. But Kaushik told he was going to Bangalore for two days on an office trip!

She came to the hall. Nisha looked at her. Now she didn’t try to hide her tears. All she could say before hiding her face with her hand was “it’s all over”.

“Anjali, do you remember what you said the last time we met?”

Anjali nodded. She could remember very well. “Be careful Nisha, the next turn may be yours” - the words almost echoed her mind.

“You were right Anjali. I’m leaving Delhi. I couldn’t have gone without seeing you at least for once.”