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Lover’s Eyes (Part 7)

A year passed this way and Debangi never tried to contact Piyali. Mukundo was angry, but Piyali begged him to keep quiet and not bother her in anyway. “Despite everything , she is my mother, Mukundo Babu. And Baba’s condition, Priyendra’s responsibility… She is under too much pressure.”

“If she didn’t treat you this way, she could have had your help. And mine!”

“She doesn’t think a daughter can be of any help,” Piyali had said sadly, “But you can help her.”

“Yes. I am not throwing your family out, Piyali. And beyond that, she doesn’t consider me good for anything anyway.”

Debangi was a simple woman. Almost too simple. She didn’t have much of a mind of her own. She believed and did what the customs of society dictated. To her credit, she had tried her best to look after Mukundo after his mother died, even though she herself had an infant Piyali to take care of. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough. Twelve-year old Mukundo was battling with confusion, angst and low self-esteem. He needed someone to see through all of that and help him navigate through it. Debangi couldn’t do it. She watched helplessly as he developed such bad temper that everyone was scared of him. Except probably his grandfather. She did notice his attachment to Piyali though and found that when he was with her, it had positive, calming effect on him. She was fine with that; for next few years at least, until he grew up and found his own avenues for letting his angst and insecurities play out. Drinking, visiting prostitutes and escorts, staying out of home till late nights, even drugs once in a while, not to mention the short-temper that continued to wreck havoc. She tried to pull Piyali away from him then, but it was too late. He already held a magnetic attraction for her daughter! She was a servant. And after his father and grandfather’s death, Mukundo was the de-facto head of the house. She couldn’t say anything to him. But she developed a dislike for him, which she did not try to hide in her behavior and actions, even if she could not give words to it. His temper got more under control over time as the responsibilities of business fell on him and as he discovered art as a means of expressing himself. Piyail’s friendship continued to be his lifeline. Debangi’s dislike did not go away, however. He still drank, visited prostitutes and did suspicious things, according to her. Mukundo did not blame her for that. Not until he realized that her dislike for him had come in the way of Piyali’s wellbeing.

Mukundo had been bitter about her treatment of her daughter, but had agreed to Piyali’s request of not saying anything to her. Piyali would often ask him about her family. She didn’t usually ask directly about Debangi, but she did about her father and brother. “Your father is still in coma,” he would inform her every time. His condition refused to change. It neither got better, nor did it deteriorate. But not once did he hear any murmurs about Piyali in his house. Not from Debangi, not from any other staff.

So, he was extremely surprised when he found Debangi waiting for him one evening. “I need your help, Mukundo Babu,” she looked helpless, not like her usual assertive self. He got worried thinking that something might have happened to Piyali’s father. But that was not the case. “I need to find Piyali,” she said.

“Why?”

Mukundo hadn’t acted surprised by her request. He should have been. He had never been told that Piyali had left her home. But she was so engrossed in her own worries that she did not notice that.

“I have done so wrong by my child,” she said miserably. Then she narrated the story that he already knew by heart. About what had happened to Piyali after that fated blood report. She carefully omitted to tell him that they had accused him along with Piyali. He didn’t point that out either. What brought this sudden change in her feelings, he wondered while she talked. Soon enough she came to that. “Pronab is on death-bed. His illness was much advanced. He would have had it for four or five years at least. He couldn’t have gotten it from her,” she told him and broke down, “She was right all along Mukundo Babu. I didn’t believe her!” She also told him more about Pronab. His lifestyle had always been questionable. She never cared to find out before fixing the marriage.

Mukundo could not hide bitterness in his voice as he asked, “And you didn’t care to find out about her all these days?”

She shook her head guiltily.

“What do you want now?”

“Find her Mukundo Babu. You have the contacts, and resources. She is not at the place she had taken up at first. But my heart says she is not dead. She can’t be. Please find her. You have always cared so much about her…”

Mukundo wanted Debangi to suffer! Also, he wasn’t sure if it was up to him to reveal anything about Piyali. She herself would have to take that decision. So, he just told Debangi that he would see what he can do and left her.

He was already a little worried that day. Piyali wasn’t looking well after returning from the university. Medicines for AIDS were often highly experimental. They had often changed them in last one year to avoid side-effects.  The doctor had looked worried last time. He had confided in Mukundo that he was not happy with the situation. Medicines were not working as well as they should have. And she had looked extra tired today. He had stopped her from cooking and had ordered food. She’d have to skip university tomorrow. He’d take her to the doctor. Debangi could wait. If Piyali has suffered for so long for no fault of hers, Debangi could suffer for a few days for being so cruel and insensitive, for her bullheadedness.

Next morning Piyali looked like all energy had been drained out of her. Mukundo lost no time in taking her to the doctor.

“Admit her here for a few days. Her immune system is giving way. When outside, she needs to be extra careful,” the doctor told him grimly.

“You will be all right,” he told her as she lied on the hospital bed.

“I won’t be, Mukundo Babu. But that’s all right. I just wish…”

“Tell me.”

“I wish I could see Baba. He is now at home, right?” They had brought him home several months ago. There was no point in keeping him in the hospital. Debangi herself looked after him.

Mukundo sighed. He decided to tell her, “Mashi is trying to find you.”

“She is? How come?”

“She found out that Pronab was sick for several years.” He didn’t talk about him being on death-bed. That might bring her morale down.

“Take me home, Mukundo Babu.”

“A few days here and then we would go, okay? If you want I will get her here.”

She nodded.

“Do you want to talk to her now?”

“Yes,” she whispered as tears threatened her eyes.

He picked up her mobile that was lying on the nearby table. He had gifted it to her recently. “I will wait outside,” he said and made to leave, but she clutched his hands.

“Please stay,” she said.

She spoke to her mother, assured her that she was all right and was crying by the time she disconnected the call.

“Don’t cry,” his said gently, “Everything is all right.”

She nodded but still continued to cry. He wiped her tears with his hands and feeling overwhelmed himself, bent down and kissed her on forehead.  “Don’t cry. Please,” he whispered to her again. She heard what he hadn’t spoken. That it hurt him to see her cry. She made an effort and wiped off her remaining tears.

“Mukundo Babu,” she said after a while.

“Hmm?”

“I like it there. Staying in that house… Our house… Home…” He looked at her quizzically; so she continued, “Ma might want to take me back home. I miss her. I want to see Baba, meet Priyendra. But I… I like staying there…”

She had almost spoken his mind out. He liked it that she was reuniting with her mother and was happy about it. But he also had become used to having her to himself. If she went back with her mother, that would change again. It won’t be as bad as it was earlier. He wouldn’t have to wait for her to come to him and would be able to meet her freely. But it won’t be as good as it was now. He didn’t want anything to change. But he was unable to say anything about it. And then he had to leave her alone at nights in the apartment. As her condition deteriorated, that wouldn’t be a good idea. So, if she wanted to go back… But she had resolved his dilemma now. At least one part of it. She wanted to stay. He would be able to explain it to Debangi why she should stay.

“Me too,” he said with a smile, “But there is one problem which needs to be resolved.”

“What is it?” she asked anxiously.

“I am not comfortable with you staying there alone at nights. Something needs to be done.”

“I know the apartment is too small for you, Mukundo Babu. Still, could you stay with me?”

He stared at her in surprise. “With you there, that apartment is the world to me, Piyali. But are you sure?”

“I was sick last night, Mukundo Babu. At one point, it seemed like I could feel my death. And I realized, then, that I no longer cared for the world.”

Mukundo’s eyes moistened. He held her hands and kissed them one by one. “Leave the rest to me,” he said in a hoarse voice.

“And somewhere, deep down, I desperately wanted to prove to Ma that she had been wrong about me, about us. That is accomplished now. I don’t care any longer. Not even for her approval.”

They heard a knock at the door just then. A nurse came in and told them that they had visitors.

“Must be Mashi,” he told Piyali.

“Stay with me,” she said.

“Yes. I will. But let me check and escort her in.”

To be continued

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3 thoughts on “Lover’s Eyes (Part 7)

  1. Awe awe awee….
    Thats all i m doing right now…..
    Mukundo is proving out to be a dream man…..
    Mashi finally realized his mistake…
    U pointed out a real big point….the girls parents not finding out anything about the man they are going to get there daughter married…..it happens most of the time….
    I wish mashi would have thought of it….
    She destroyed piyali’s life….
    I m glad now piyali is not afraid of anyone…..
    Waiting for next part to see happy piyali mukundo life <3

    Luv ya
    ana

  2. This is getting too much sad… DONT U DARE KILL PIYALI LIKE U DID TO KARISHMA IN ‘BEING ANNA’!!!!! DONT!!!!!!

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