Kalpana introduces Gaurav to Amma…
"Stay with Amma, okay? I have to go meet the ACP." (Kalpana said while caressing Gaurav's cheek)
Saying this, she leaves to meet Umran, telling Amma to take care of Gaurav. And then she heads out of the house to meet ACP Umran.
"Hasn't he regained consciousness yet?" (Geetika asked Anu as soon as she entered the room)
"Relax, relax Geetika, he's out of danger." (Anu replied calmly, her face showing composure)
"Has he eaten anything?" (Geetika asked in a knowing tone)
"No, I haven't asked him anything. He's fine. The doctor has checked him as well and advised not to question him right now. Maybe he'll even be discharged tomorrow. What about you, what did you do?" (Anu spoke with a questioning expression on her face)
"Got the article ready." (Geetika replied in a firm tone)
"Not again, Geet! You— you think Squadron Leader…"
Before she could finish her sentence, Geetika shot her a sharp look.
"Do you see the condition Suraj is in, and still you're taking her side?" (Geetika said in an exasperated tone)
"Anu, I'm not taking her side. I'm only saying—how can you be so sure without confirming anything? And an article again? How could you agree to get it printed, to push it further, huh? You're the one who always cross-checks your articles 50 times before getting them published."
Keeping up with her unyielding tone, Geetika said,
"All this, everything—I saw it with my own eyes. I don't need to nail it down any further. I just don't understand—how can a person, that too a woman, fall so low that someone else's life doesn't even matter?
She spoke with anger in her voice and continued,
"How can anyone holding that position have a mentality where another person's life seems small compared to theirs? How?!" (she said, growing more frustrated)
"Stop it, yaar, just stop it." (Anu said in an irritated tone) "Do you even hear the words you're saying? What's wrong with you? I don't believe it. I just don't. She could never do that. No way. The girl who, without thinking twice, risked her own life so many times, hanging only by a cable, to save countless others… The one who must have done this countless times before for her country, putting her life up in the skies like drifting clouds… That girl, you think she would take someone's life? No. She could never do that. She just couldn't. Why won't you believe me?"
Hearing all this from Anu only made Geetika's temper rise even further. Her anger escalated, and she said,
"I just don't understand why you people keep praising her so much. Why?!" (her words grew harsher)
"You! None of you see how arrogant she is. How rude she is. She has no feelings inside her. No empathy for anyone. None of you see that. All you see is her dangling on a cable. That's all."
"Stop it, yaar, just stop." (Anu said in a reasoning tone, then continued)
"Okay fine, let's suppose for a moment that you're right. But before writing anything, just once—only once—didn't you think you should know Suraj's point of view? What if there's another side to it?"
"There's nothing different, and there never will be." (Geetika replied irritably, brushing off Anu's words)
I wish, Geetika, that you were right. But where you are wrong—you should think about how you would feel then."
"Come, Umran! Come, let me treat you to the best tea in this valley." (she said, extending her right hand forward)
"This is a small tea palace run by Rai Sahab. He belongs to Gorakhpur. Along with tea, the roasted chickpeas he makes are so good that even the city of the Nawabs would fall behind."
(Kalpana said as she took a seat on a chair)
"Wow, but honestly, the best tea in the valley is kahwa." (Umran replied to Kalpana's words)
"ACP sahab, drink first, then decide. Ever since I came here, this is the only place I come to. Rai Sahab has become a friend of mine." (saying this, Kalpana's eyes began searching for Rai Sahab)
"How are you, Rai Sahab?" (Kalpana tilted her head and asked with a smile)
"I'm doing just fine, and you?" (Rai Sahab happily replied, copying Kalpana's smile)
"I'm great too, please have a seat." (Kalpana stood up out of respect and invited Rai Sahab to sit on the chair beside her)
"How's the work going?" (Rai Sahab placed his hand on Kalpana's head affectionately and then sat down. After he sat, Kalpana too took her seat again)
"Meet ACP Umran." (Kalpana pointed with her right hand toward the ACP)
Umran, wide-eyed with surprise, kept staring at Kalpana when she introduced him. The ACP folded his hands respectfully in a "namaskar" before Rai Sahab, without saying a word. He didn't know the language, after all. Rai Sahab warmly copied the gesture.
Here, notice the upbringing of both men: Rai Sahab is neither the owner of a five-star hotel, nor a politician, nor a businessman. And yet, ACP Umran greeted him with folded hands, while Kalpana herself stood up in his respect.
"Please serve us some tea, Rai Sahab. I've just been praising your chickpeas in front of ACP Umran." (Kalpana said this with full confidence)
"Why not!" (Rai Sahab accepted her words and placed the order for tea and chickpeas)
Kalpana began chatting with him, asking about his well-being and about his family. Meanwhile, ACP Umran kept watching her with eyes full of warmth and admiration. There was also a trace of infatuation in his gaze, as though Kalpana's character was slowly settling into his heart. With a strange yet pleasant feeling, he continued to look at her.
After a while, the tea and chickpeas were ready. With the tea and chickpeas served, Kalpana began discussing matters with Umran. By "matters," she meant—how things were going to proceed, because the whole valley was buzzing with the news that a child trafficking gang had been caught. Who all were involved, whose hands were behind it, suspicions were being cast in all directions. So Kalpana was now discussing this with ACP Umran and said that… she also had to go to Gaurav's house, and that he would accompany her.
Geetika, go home for a while. You've been here long enough." (Anu said to Geetika in a calm tone)
Accepting Anu's words, Geetika got ready to leave for home.
"Listen, be careful while going. The weather outside isn't good." (Anu said to Geetika in a caring voice)
"Fine." (Geetika replied in a curt, irritated manner)
Agreeing with Anu, Geetika left the place.
"Can I help you with something?" (Geetika asked a senior woman politely)
"Yes, child." (the woman replied, turning back)
"Please give me that bag, let me carry it for you." (Geetika stepped forward and took the bag from the elderly woman)
"Aunty, where is your house?"
"Just a little ahead, child. My car is parked there."
And just as Anu had said, the weather truly was turning worse. Snow was falling heavily and winds were fierce. After Geetika seated her inside the car, the elderly woman asked—
"Child, where is your house?"
"Aunty, I'll go. Don't worry." (Geetika answered her gently)
"Oh, no, child, come to my house. The weather will clear. Once the snow stops, you can leave for your home."
Geetika felt nothing suspicious at first, yet she still declined. But the elderly woman insisted again,
"Child, there's no need to doubt me. Come with me, stay at my place. I am like a mother to you. Come."
(This time Geetika didn't refuse.)
She sat in the car, and the two of them reached the woman's house. As soon as they entered, the woman said,
"There's no electricity." (and she walked inside her home)
She lit the lamp kept on the side table. Power cuts were common in the valley, so she was always prepared for it. She lit it using either a match or a lighter and said to Geetika—
"Come in, child, come inside."
Geetika stepped forward with the bag in her hands and placed it on a chair a few steps inside.
"Aunty, I'll go home now."
"Oh, no, child. I told you, please stay. The weather outside is very bad, and now it's only getting worse. Go to the left side—there's a room. Lock it from inside and rest. Please, child, listen to me. You helped me, can't you grant me this one favor?"
Accepting the woman's request, Geetika moved ahead, but made a mistake—
Instead of turning left, she went to the right. She entered that room, and lay down on the bed to rest. Since it was dark and there wasn't much light, she didn't notice. The woman had told her that a lamp was kept just beside the door—it was a system in that house to always keep one there—so she could light it. But instead, Geetika took out her phone, used its torch to look at the bed without lighting the lamp, and then spread herself across the bed.
Meanwhile, Kalpana reached her own house. She noticed there was no electricity. Quietly, she opened the door and stepped inside. Once in, she went straight to Amma.
"Amma, has Master Gaurav fallen asleep?"
Yes, child, he's asleep. I put him to bed. I even went out to get something for him—it's still lying on the sofa since the power is out. When the electricity comes back, I'll give it to him."
"Amma, why did you go out? You just had to make a call."
"No matter, child, I went with Ravi."
"Ravi? Mr. Ravi is back?" (Kalpana asked her mother with a questioning look)
"Yes, he came a little while ago. He asked me, so I said, come along, let's give him some work." (Amma explained)
Kalpana said,"Alright Amma, you too… Did Mr. Ravi go back to his quarters? How's his daughter? Did you ask?"
"Yes, his daughter is doing very well. He showed me her photo."
"Good, Amma. It's late now, you should rest too." Saying this, Kalpana walked toward Gaurav's room, opened the door, switched on her torch lightly, and saw his innocent face sleeping peacefully. Quietly, she closed the door again and moved toward her own room.
Kalpana knew the exact layout of her room by heart—what would come after four steps, after ten steps—so she didn't need to use a torch or lamp. Quickly, she opened her room's door, closed it, took off her coat and hung it on the door, then went straight to her bed to lie down.
But—her mattress wasn't there. Instead, there was something else.
The moment she jumped onto the bed, a startled cry escaped as a girl leapt down from it. Instantly, Kalpana rounded the bed, caught hold of both the girl's hands, twisted them behind her back, and pulled her into her arms.
And who was it? None other than Geetika.
As soon as Kalpana pulled Geetika into her embrace, her nose brushed against Geetika's neck. The warmth of Kalpana's breath spread over Geetika's skin, making her feel it instantly for the first time. But ignoring that sensation, Geetika said—
"Let me go… let me go."
How can I just let you go? You came into my house, into my room, onto my bed—and who exactly are you? And how dare you enter my house, my room, and lie on my bed? Who are you?" (saying this, Kalpana once again showed her strength and authority)
Tightening her grip around Geetika's arms—
"Who are you, huh? You…" She had been holding her from behind, but now she spun her around so that Geetika's face was just at the level of Kalpana's chin. They weren't exactly face-to-face, there was a height difference. Geetika's head only reached the space between Kalpana's chin and nose, so Kalpana's nose now touched Geetika's forehead.
Then she asked,
"Who are you?" (Her tone, which had been so firm a moment ago, now softened slightly.)
"Who are you, and what are you doing here? Speak quickly—or else…"
"Relax. I didn't know this was your room. I was only helping an elderly woman. The weather outside was terrible, so she asked me to go to the room on the left or right and rest there, and so I came. I don't know…" (At this point, Geetika didn't realize it was Kalpana she was speaking to.)
That's why she spoke with such a natural ease—perhaps Kalpana was hearing this gentleness in her tone for the first time. Were they not recognizing each other's voices? Perhaps not, because their tones were different just then.
"Oh, so you helped Amma?"
"I don't know… I only helped an elderly woman."
"Alright, fine. But stay exactly as you are now, don't move."
And so the two stood pressed against each other, unmoving. But Geetika finally asked,
"How long are we going to stand like this? And what's with your house, is there no electricity here?" (after a pause of just a second, she pulled out her phone from her pocket)
Switching on the flashlight, she directed it at Kalpana's face. And the very moment the light fell on her, her tone changed in an instant.
"Let me go! What are you doing? Let me go!"
Hearing that tone, Geetika suddenly realized—oh God, this is her! Kalpana bent her wrist, turned the phone in her hand, and directed the light onto Geetika's face. And exactly as Geetika had said—Kalpana let her go.
Geetika fell down—but landed on the sofa, so she ended up sitting there. Kalpana stood right in front of her. The room was still dark, lit only by the faint glow of the torchlight from Geetika's phone.
"Namaskar 🙏"
* Amma - Grand mother