There was a slight cold wind in the morning and Mridula loved that. She opened the window of the bus and put her face outside like a child trying to get some raindrops during the first rain. In the bus, she can see other associates chatting happily. The excitement was more because today is Valentine’s day.
The bus stopped at Thiruvanmiyur junction in front of the signal. While looking out, she noticed the girl. She has been seeing the girl everyday here for a long time. The girl is about 8-9 years old. She wears a simple white shimmy and doesn’t have any slippers. But her face even though not so fair, had something attractive on it. The innocence of childhood or was it the charming grace on the face, she was not sure. The girl usually sells ear bud packets. The packets look like home made ones, may be they r made by her mother in the home. When the vehicles stop at the signal, she runs towards them and sells her ear buds. Most people boo her away. Even if anyone buys it, it’s usually not because he wants it, but he just thought that may help the girl a bit.
Today, instead of earbuds, the girl was selling roses. Mridula smiled at her. And she came near to Mridula’s window. She asked, ‘amma, poo venama?’ Mridula thought about buying one. Seeing the sweet smile on her face, she was mesmerized and she brought 10 roses. The bus started moving. Mridula quicky gave the money. The girl was beginning to return the balance, but by then bus have started moving fast. The girl started to run behind the bus. Mridula was terrified that something will happen to the girl. She shouted to keep the balance with her. The girl heard that and stopped running.
In a few minutes she reached her office. There was the usual Valentine’s Day stuff going on. Proposals, rejections…
In the evening, she went to Beasant Nagar beach. It’s always nice to sit in the beach, looking at the sea. The sea breeze has a nice effect on everyone. She sat there thinking about her family. She laughed thinking about the scene her son made in the morning when he left for school with a red rose, claiming that he will give it to the beauty of the class. A fifth standard student celebrating V day!! Then she thought about her husband. Married lives of IT professionals are always tough. Even before Mridula wakes everyday, her husband would have left home since his company is far away. In night too, Vivek returns very late. But still the relationship is not much affected. They still get some time to spend together. Mridula have already decided that she will quit the job this year. She was on the verge of breakdown managing a home, husband, child and a job. One of their dreams, a good home was already finished a few years back. They always wanted a good car. Vivek has a craze in cars. They were planning to buy a Skoda. Now Mridula has managed half of the cash needed and Vivek the other half. They have paid the advance already and they will take the car tomorrow.
Gazing around, she noticed that the girl who sells the roses is now here. Just then the girl too noticed Mridula and she came to Mridula. She tried to give back the balance amount of morning, but Mridula refused. Mridula was thinking about the girl. She was almost of the same age as of her own son. What all hardships she may be facing. Why is she not going to school? Mridula didn’t want to ask that question. It doesn’t matter. She probably has a sick mother in home who is abandoned by her husband, or may be he is dead. Real life stories are always sad. After chatting for sometime, the girl went away.
It was night when Vivek came. Mridula was waiting, with her roses. ‘To my husband…’ said Mridula and gave him one Rose. ‘And what are you going to give me in return?’ she asked. ‘A car, a big luxury car. Just wait till tomorrow.’ Vivek said. While sleeping they discussed about their day. Vivek had a lot of office talk to share with. Mridula told him about her encounter with the flower girl, the proposals made in the office…
Next day passed as usual. In the evening, Mridula was waiting for her husband bringing the new car. Time passed and there was no sign of him. Finally, at 10 clock, vivek came, riding not a Skoda, but a Nano. Vivek hugged Mridula and said, ‘I have a gift for you darling.’ But Mridula just pulled him away. This was too much for her. She has given her hard earned 7 lakhs as her part for buying a Skoda, and he is back with a Nano. This has happened before also. Whenever they saved money for something, some emergency comes for some of the relatives of Vivek and he instantly pools his money for them. But this time, it was too much. Such a large sum, just to placate his relatives!! She went to the bedroom, closed it and wept and slept.
The next morning, when Mridula woke, Vivek have already gone. Mridula opened the door of her bedroom. She saw an envelope on the doorsteps. On it was written, ‘A gift to my Valentine, with Love…’ In it was a bank receipt of fixed deposit of Rs. 10 lakh deposited in the name of the little girl who sells ear buds and flowers. Mridula wept…
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