It is said that the pride of youth drags us into the world of illusions.
We start dreaming. Somewhat ignorant of the ground realities, they start flaunting these dreams. Beyond the truths, they create their own completely different world and then, living in illusion, get completely engrossed in it. Vinay, who was full of self-loathing, was tormented again and again in the days of his youth by his own innocence. Meeting Deepika and then growing close to home. He was ashamed of their pious initiative and his childish thinking.
The first call was from Deepika's house. Vinay's mind was faster than the speed at which the auto was running on the road. Sitting next to Deepika, something was being said continuously. She was giving instructions to the auto driver and at the same time was cursing the department for the condition of the road. But Vinay had nothing to do with it. If the auto jumped on a pothole, he would have felt that his mind was bouncing. The auto was now passing through the streets, scooters, cycles, etc. parked at places in narrow streets would reduce the speed of the auto but it would not have any effect on the speed of Vinod's mind.
The auto stopped with a slight tremor and at the same time Deepika's voice came - 'Get down, our house has come.'
Vinay got down from the auto and stood at the door with Dipika. It took a while for the door to open, then Vinay's heart started beating. It felt as if someone was going to give an examination and also such an examination in which passing is a question of life and death. Vinay's heartbeat intensified. Wanted to ask Deepika something when the door opened, Deepika's younger sister opened the door and looked at Vinay carefully.
It seems that all the members, big or small, are going to take his test here. Both the sisters went inside after making Vinay sit in the meeting. Vinay looked around to divert his attention. Small but tastefully decorated living room, simple furniture, some paintings on the walls that might have been done by younger sister Monica.
Mother, this is Vinay. Then Deepika entered the room with her mother. Vinay stood up with folded hands. This is the time to make your mark. Vinay thought to himself.
Sitting there for half an hour, Vinay came back. When Deepika's mother asked her to come again, her mind started jumping. It means he liked them.
'Looks very happy. Where did you disappear after college today?' Deepak taunted him as soon as he reached the hostel.
But Vinay wanted to keep his happiness in his mind, for now, so he postponed it.
Just last year B.Tech. After passing the examination, he did M.Tech in this college. took admission in. Just like B.Tech. He was getting a job after doing that, but the desire of his parents was to give him a higher education.
You will not be able to study further in the interest of earning a job and money. Higher education has different importance. Accepting this statement of his father, Vinay considered it appropriate to study further.
It was here that he met Deepika who is a B.Tech. Was a final-year student. Due to both being the same subject, Deepika would sometimes take guidance from Vinay. But gradually Vinay started feeling that Deepika does not come to meet him just because of studies. Sometimes she would ask such stupid questions that Vinay would have wondered if it could be asked by a brilliant student.
Being a resident of the same place, Deepika used to come to college from her home, while Vinay used to stay in the hostel, often meeting in the college library or lawn, and Deepika would catch some topic or the other and start a debate. While talking several times, Vinay felt that Dipika Apalak was staring at him and he would get uncomfortable.
Gradually, the meeting of both started increasing, but the topic of discussion could not go beyond the current state of studies and the atmosphere of the college. Deepika had a rebellious nature and could not compromise on unreasonable talk. That's why they often got into arguments about the current situation. Where Vinay would have advised compromising with the circumstances, Deepika would have clashed with him.
This friendship of theirs gradually started being discussed in college and in a suppressed tongue, the boys along with them started teasing Vinay.
Slowly, Vinay himself could not even understand when tender feelings for Deepika took birth in his mind. But neither of them ever talked to each other in this regard. Sometimes Vinay feels that he is not getting it wrong. One moment Deepika would talk very lovingly and the next moment she would get into the debate.
'Mom wants to meet you. You are walking home with me in the evening.
Vinay got annoyed when Deepika pronounced her order in blunt words.
'What a girl. Want to take home, that too by ordering? Even before the feelings start to arise in the mind, she crushes them with her lathmar language. But despite this nature, Deepika liked him too. Clear of mind, without any lagalpet, would have spoken. Till now even Vinay did not know who was in his house. He never gave the right to ask this much, nor did Vinay wish to ask him anything about it.
'But why?'
'Tell me, mother wants to meet.'
Vinay understood that Deepika must have said something about him and mother must have called to see him. Vinay was happy in his heart. But remained calm from outside, after all it was necessary to show our importance.
'out of sudden! I would have asked myself earlier if there is any work for me in the evening.
'If there is work, let it be, next time I will tell my mother after taking time from you.' Dipika's face was swollen and Vinay could not afford to offend her. So he left with Deepika after the class was over.
It was only after reaching there that he came to know that two years ago Deepika's father and brother had died in a road accident. Mother found it difficult to run the house with her father's pension, so Deepika started teaching tuitions after her studies. If the brother was alive, it would have been almost equal to Vinay at this time. But since then Deepika has handled both the house and outside in such a way that the mother does not suffer. But still, neither Deepika nor anyone else could remove the pain caused by the death of her husband and young son.
Another look of Deepika was in front of Vinay. He never considered her so responsible. Till now, the image of Deepika in his mind was that of a talented girl with a rebellious nature.
Gradually Vinay's visit to Deepika's house increased. Deepika would often take her home on the pretext of her mother and her mother would pour so much love on Vinay that Vinay would start missing his mother.
Vinay was now looking for an opportunity to speak his mind to Deepika.
By the next year, Deepika did her B.Tech. and she will complete M.Tech. After getting a job, he can think of marriage. If he goes home this time, he will also talk to his parents in this regard.
But in the meantime, something happened that Vinay got confused about.
'Yesterday mother called you.'
'But why?'
'I do not know! Ask your mother.
This nature of Deepika would sometimes hurt Vinay. Once he did not feel like it, but the next day he reached Deepika's house in the evening after being subdued by the mind.
'It's the too late son. How long have I been waiting for you?' Hearing the affectionate voice of the mother, his anger cooled down.
And what happened after that, for unexpected modesty, in no time Deepika and Monica sat down in front of him carrying a plate of pooja. Along with Roli-Tika, Rakhi threads were also kept in the plate.
Vinay felt as if he was dreaming. What kind of game is this being played with? 'What are you thinking son.' Mother's voice rang in his ears.
'Deepika used to say that she is exactly like a brother, so I could not believe it, but soon, the day you came home for the first time, I felt that my Kishan is sitting in front. Same face, same habits.' Tears started flowing from his eyes as he said it.
Vinay was like samadhi. He was not in a position to hear anything even after hearing it.
You know Deepika. How rude of nature, but seeing you, she too…….
So that's why Deepika came close to him and that idiot thought something else. What will he do now? What to say that he should not be anyone's brother. He loves Deepika! Vinay thought a lot but could not say. Monica and Dipika tied rakhi in his hand and made his face sweet. He went on doing everything under the control of circumstances like a wet.
Why did he not remember that today is Rakshabandhan? Maybe also because he didn't have a sister. That's why he never understood the importance of this festival.
When the mother requested to go for food in the evening, she silently agreed. Everyone in the house was looking very happy. Seeing Vinay silent, Monica twice asked the reason for his sadness, but if Vinay had an answer, he would have given it.
When I came back to the hostel, I saw that Deepak was not in the room. Quietly turning off the lights, he lay down. What did he think and what happened. What will he do now? Will he be able to face Deepika tomorrow?
There was a thought that from yesterday, we should reduce the interaction with Deepika. Will he be able to maintain the dignity of the sacred relationship that Deepika has made with him? If after this his mind goes into feelings for Deepika in some weak moments, then he will never be able to forgive himself. Anyways a few more months here, will somehow bite and never come back to this city again. Yes, that would be fine.
But the next moment he remembered the love floating in the eyes of Deepika, Monica and their mother.
'If Kishan was alive, the son would have been equal to you. Your words, your face, and face match my Kishan so much that you yourself will not believe it' - and mother had picked up Kishan's photo from inside. When she saw the photo, she found the mother's words to be true, she found a lot in common with Kishan's photo and her face.
Tears were flowing from her eyes and Deepika, who never allowed herself to be weak, ran to another room to hide the tears in her eyes.
Should he lose such a loving relationship because of his one little weakness? In today's environment where only one's own blood relations are betrayed, it would be his fortune to have such a holy relationship at that time.
Thinking about both situations, Vinay did not know when he fell asleep. When I woke up in the morning, there was determination in my mind. He was feeling at ease with the decision taken in his mind.
Today being a Sunday was a holiday. Getting ready early in the morning, Vinay went straight to Deepika's house via the market. Seeing Vinay suddenly at home, a wave of happiness ran on the faces of all the family members.
'Yesterday I did not know that my sisters are going to gift me such a beautiful relationship of love on Rakshabandhan. I had left empty-handed yesterday. And saying this, he put both the packets kept in his hand in Monica's hand.
'It was not needed, son, the depth of relationships is not measured by gifts, it is manifested by the feelings of the mind.'
'Okay, mom.' When I saw you for the first time, I remembered a lot of Bhaiya. When told to mother, she insisted on meeting you. We did not want to impose this relationship on you, but….. It was Deepika.
'Do not say this. I got two sisters as well as a loving mother.' There was firmness in Vinay's words as well as the feeling of the relationship changing in the mind. He was full of self-pity. All his pride was gone. The intoxication of youth that had hit him had vanished.
