Light of love

31.10.2009

“Baba indra, wake up.” He could hear his mother’s voice outside his bedroom door.

He opened his eyes and looked at the clock on his bedside table it was six in the morning and it was Sunday.

“Indra, get up and brush your teeth and take a stroll in the park before it gets crowded.” He heard her again.

He got out of the bed and went to toilet. He dressed up and left for the park as ordered by his mother. Who was waiting outside his bedroom door with a glass of milk and biscuit.

He was thinking while strolling in the park about his mother Mitali. She got widowed at a very young age, Debendra was only five years old when his father passed away. She was still beautiful. She doted after debendra and she was very, very possessive about him.


Debendra was born with a small defect in one of his legs, which due to ignorance of the small town doctor resulted in a lifelong pain. Debendra’s leg was twisted from the calf, as a result he knew that he will never live normal life like other mens. And his physical helplessness shot up Mitali’s possessiveness on him. She was dead certain that every person is either aiming at her little boy’s neck or at his wallet.

She used to hover over his personal life like a watchful sentry, shooing away any one she had least doubt about. As a result Debendra grew up as a very shy man.

Then youth arrived. To add up to his past miseries whenever he made the mistake of befriending a lady, his mother used to play the girlfriend slayer. Openly telling her all his drawbacks, if the poor girl did not minded his physical problems she used to become over suspicious, and did not had enough tact to hide it. She had a firm belief that only money seekers will be chasing her little boy, and as a mother she has full right of protecting her son.

So he ended up as a very lonely man when it came to friends, forget about lovers.. Debendra started to teach in a school to forget his pain, he used to shower all his affection on the children and they used to dote on him.

Life was moving on in its usual monotonous pace. One day after another without any variation. Only spice in Debendra’s life was those hours spent with children, watching them living their life with unbridled joy.

He was just about to enter the gate when he heard a sweet voice, “Can you please show me the Principal’s room?”

He turned his face, it was a beautiful young lady. She smiled at him and Debendra could feel the perspiration forming on his forehead.

“Yes, sure, why not?” he mumbled. “Please come.”

He took her to the chamber.

“I am Mira, the new librarian.” She stretched out her hand to him before entering the chamber.

“I am Debendra.” He smiled.

Library was Debendra’s obsession, the school had a gem of a library. The earlier librarian Mr. Ghosh has retired just a month ago. He and Debendra was really close friends.

Mira soon became very close friend, she had a graceful way of presenting herself. She could coax any one to friendship.

Soon they both realized that they have too much in common and their friendship grew deeper with every passing day.



Soon it was summer vacation, this time Debendra was really sad, on one hand he was going to miss the kids on the other hand he was going to miss Mira. The only intimate friend he was blessed with.

He was sitting on the balcony watching the garden below. There was a spacious garden and lawn surrounding the housing. Straight roads connecting every block with four exits.

A sultry summer day has turned into a breezy, cloudy eveing. He noted a lady walking toward their block. She looked familiar and when she approached nearer he saw that it was Mira.

He was surprised, he never knew that she knew someone from their housing.

A few minutes later he heard their doorbell ring, Mitali answered the door.

“Indra someone has come to see you!” he counted five before he got up. It was Mira ofcourse and she was there to see him.

“Hi Deb! I was getting bored, so I thought it will be better if I bug you.” She smiled when she saw him.

“You remember that promise you gave me? You will teach me French?” she showed him some books and notebooks. “I have made the arrangements.”

“Oh yes!!” Debendra mumbled, he could see his mother standing and watching Mira like a hawk.

“Here goes another friend..” he thought inside.

“Ma, she is Mira, our librarian. She has joined a few months ago.” He introduced her to Mitali.

To his pleasant surprise he observed that Mitali soon got over her suspicions on Mira. To doubly relieve him Mira used to include Mitali with them and used to mix with her as freely as a family member.



The summer vacation just flew by. One week was left before the school was reopening.

Debendra was sitting on his favourite chair when Mitali came and sat down beside him.

“I like Mira”, she started unceremoniously, “She is a very nice girl.”

“I was asking her yesterday if she likes you.. I think she really loves you a lot.” Mitali continued. “She is an orphan. So there is no one to look after her.”

Debendra was staring at her with a bewildered look. A deep disappointment slowly sinking in his heart. His mind projecting the cold rejection which he will have to face when he next time talks with Mira.

“I asked her if she will marry you and she said that she will be honoured if a person like you becomes her life partner.” Mitali added triumphantly. “You should propose her.”