Piyali had checked on Sumedha. She was busy with her friends in the preparation for evening’s programme. Other teachers were helping with preparation of costumes and stage. Piyali figured that she could take a break before the final round of stage practice for musical event. She walked to the nearby guesthouse where Mukundo was staying and rang the bell with trembling hands.

Mukundo opened the door expecting it to be Sumedha and got the surprise of his life. Wordlessly he took her appearance in. She had changed. At twenty-five she looked like a mature woman compared to the twenty-year-old girl he remembered. Age and a more prosperous lifestyle, where she didn’t have to eat stale food for three of her four meals, and run around entire day between college, tuitions and music practice, had filled her up just right and it was accentuated by the warm clothes cold Darjeeling weather demanded.

His face contorted with overwhelming emotions. “Piyali!” he barely managed a whisper as a lump formed in his throat. Against his better judgement, he hugged her right there, at the door. She didn’t resist. The corridor was empty and no one was around.

“Oh my God,” he said as he released her, “I don’t know what am I doing. Will you… come in… Of course… Please come in…” He let her in and locked the door behind them. “Let me see you to my heart’s content,” he held her at arm’s distance, “You look well, Piyali.”

“But you don’t,” he was clean-shaven and well-groomed as usual. But years of neglect and depression was showing. He looked weak. His cheeks had grown hollow and there were dark circles around his eyes.

“I am just getting older,” he evaded.

“Hmm… Older indeed!” she didn’t know how to start talking to him about things that really mattered.

“Are you the music teacher, then? Was it your idea?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“The thought had occurred to me once. Darjeeling. Residential school. But I didn’t think you would be teaching music.”

“I am the Maths teacher actually. Filling up for the music teacher, because we have none right now.”

“Hmm…”

“Why did you stop performing, Mukundo Babu?”

His face darkened.

“So much happened, and you didn’t think it right to talk to me at least once? One letter? I had left you my address.”

Mukundo stayed silent. He wasn’t prepared for this meeting. He didn’t know where to start.

Piyali sighed and made to leave.

“You are going?” he asked miserably.

“I have to go right now. Mukundo Babu. I am planning to perform tonight. For the first time on stage. I am nervous, obviously. If you come on stage with me, it will make me very happy. This is a charity show; so do not expect to earn your usual remuneration. But I am still asking.”

—

Sumedha’s performance was over and she was sitting with her father in the audience. Piyali walked on the stage. She sought out her mother first. She almost looked happy today to see her on the stage. If her father had only been a little practical about life, Debangi might not have hated music after all. Then she sought Mukundo out. His eyes were glued to her.  She started the performance after silently seeking blessings from Goddess Saraswati, her father, her teacher Gayatri Devi, who was no longer alive, and him. There was a loud applause when her song ended. She sought him out again and saw him saying something to his daughter. Then they got up from their seats and started walking out. Her heart thumped like it had in the initial days of meeting him. She lingered around on the stage and surely! There he was. Walking on to the stage. She picked up the mike and made an announcement.

“Ladies and Gentleman. What I am going to announce now should result in voluntary doubling of revenue from this event.” It drew a chuckle from the audience and she continued after they were silent again, “The music lovers amongst you, even if you can’t recognize his face right now, would not fail to recognize his name. Today you are going to listen to the performance of Mukundo Thakur.” Piyali could feel the excited murmur of recognition from the audience. And then they broke into a louder applause than ever earlier during the programme. The other organizers were looking at each other is surprise.

She offered him the mike in case he wanted to say something. But he refused and took his seat on the stage. “You must stay,” he told her and she nodded. Putting the announcement mike back in its place, she sat down beside him and the performance started.

—

“Baba!” Sumedha ran excitedly to him and hugged him, “You are performing again?”

“Yes,” he ran his hand over her hair and replied with a smile.

“Will Ma come back, then? Can we go home?”

Mukundo blanched visibly and Piyali’s happy countenance also stiffened. She broke the awkward silence.

“You can’t just leave school in the middle of the term, can you Sumedha?” Piyali put up a smile.

Sumedha was old enough to know that she had reacted hastily. She changed the topic, “You are taking me out for dinner, aren’t you Baba? I am tired of the mess food.”

“Of course Shona. We can go right away,” his eyes silently apologized to Piyali for not spending the time with her. She blinked in assurance.

“You must also come, Miss,” Sumedha surprised them with her offer.

“Oh no! It’s your father-daughter time,” Piyali refused graciously.

“Please come. Without you…”

“Please,” Mukundo also added and Piyali could not refuse.

—

“Sumedha. Come in. What brings you here early in the morning? I thought you would be with your Baba.”

“I had just come to say thanks to you.”

“What for?”

“For making him perform. Now that everyone knows about Baba, I am suddenly a celebrity in the school. For being his daughter,” she smiled.

Piyali chuckled, “What did I do? You brought him here.”

“Yes. But you made him perform. It changes so many things…”

“Yeah… But Sumedha. About your mother…”

“I know. It was stupid of me, wasn’t it? She isn’t coming back.”

“You miss her, don’t you?”

“I don’t know. I just miss having a… family.”

Piyali’s heart went out to the girl. “Come here,” she gave her a tight hug. “Don’t worry. Things will be all right.”

“Miss. Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Do you think it was Baba’s fault that this… happened? This breaking down…”

“I don’t know what exactly happened, Sumedha. And I don’t want to judge your mother either. But I know that your father is a gem of a person. Even if it were his fault, in your place, I will forgive him.”

She smiled and nodded. “I will leave now, Miss. I am having breakfast with him.”

“Sure. Run along. And don’t bunk your classes.”

“I won’t. Bye Miss.”

—

To be continued