(Note: Due to a glitch, this story was previously improperly posted and portions of it omitted/altered.)

Short Story By: RANJIT SINHA ROY

Imagine yourself twenty years hence. You are no longer the twenty-five year old pretty, attractive young girl fresh from the university, with a post graduate degree in English Literature and a short term certificate on Computer Basics.

Today, after two decades, you are a beautifully matured woman. Despite having a daughter in twelfth standard and son in eighth, you are still very charming. You maintain your figure beautifully and in parties males try to draw your attention. Though you never flirt, many of the wives are envious of you. Arun, your husband is quite conscious of your attraction and at times you two share jokes and laugh on the stupidity of people.

After confirming that you have no particular boy in mind, your parents searched and finally selected Arun, an MBA from a US university and holding a senior position in an MNC. You are happy with him. Hardly remember, to have quarreled. You have a very happy compact family, with two well brought up children.

It is now about eight in the evening. You are sitting alone in the balcony. Namita, your daughter is bent over books, preparing for the twelfth class finals. Son, Yash is watching the day n’ night one day cricket match between India and England in the TV. Arun, as usual, is turning the pages of Economic Times. He is now the Vice President – Commerce, in his company. You do not mind their being busy with their own vocations. Sometime. You also like to be alone, immersed in your own thoughts, very personal and secret, which you do not want to share with any. Not even with Arun.

You have a full time housekeeper, who also cooks. Except for occasional shopping and going to Kitty Parties, you have nothing much to do.

Now, it is dark. One can hear traffic on the main road, beyond tall trees around the grass lawn and garden. It is a moonless night and the sky above is littered with stars. You look up. Gaze at the stars, millions of them twinkling in the ink black sky. You look for a long time and feel sad. You feel as though they are all watching you from far beyond. Countless of them, from millions and millions of miles away.

You remember the days after coming out of the university. Short time Computer course was also complete. Then, the Institute asked, if you were interested to join as a Counselor. You readily agreed. There would at least be something to keep you engaged.

Your two years stay in the Institute was memorable. You knew the Instructors and other staff members. There were Sunita, Rita, Anjali, Ashish, Syed, Srinivas, George and few others. They were all young, energetic and smart. You mixed with them very well. Everyone liked you.

You were there for nearly two years, till your marriage. Most of your colleagues were of same age or slightly older. They took their work seriously and sincerely, but were never grim faced. They joked, laughed, and teased each other, as long as it did not affect their work. Being of the same age group they mixed well. You liked the institute, liked your colleagues and were sorry while leaving.

Lunchtime was particularly enjoyable. Over the lunch, they would discuss any subject on earth, except computers. Would narrate anecdotes, tell interesting personal experience, and talk on sports, films, music, jokes, anything excluding politics, office or seniors. They were all free, frank and open.

But Ashish was distinctly different. From the very start he was cracking jokes on you. On the very first day, he said, “You all know, for days and months I was looking for the perfect girl.” Others smiled. They knew what was coming. “Now I have found her. You know who she is.” He winked and glanced at you. Everyone laughed. You blushed pink. But knew it was only a joke. You took the comment sportingly and thanked him. Things were easy after that.

Often he would tease you. Once you were absent for two days. Next, when you all met during lunch, Ashish told, “ Do you know, I thought you have resigned and gone for ever. I did not take lunch for two days. Was it not so my friends?” He asked others. They all said in chorus “Yes, Yes”.

But while taking class, Ashish was very strict and serious. He relished no nonsense and would spare no words for the deliberately negligent students. He was reserved outside the Lunchroom. Once or twice you met him in the office on some work. You two were alone. With a serious expression he listened to you and gave necessary advice. There was no joke or humor.

One day there was this topic on what happens to people after death. There was variety of opinions. Some serious, some funny.

Ashish was silent all along. When others finished talking he said,
“ I have a different theory, and it is left to you to accept it or not. In my opinion after death the souls become stars and watch us from trillions of miles away. They lived on this earth and got much attached to this planet with its rivers and mountains, trees and flowers, blue sky and clouds, birds and butterflies, green grass and moonlight on a quiet night. This earth with its happiness and sorrows, love and hate, continue to attract them. They can not forget their short stay on this lovely planet and fondly observe us from the night sky.”

All were silent for few moments. You looked at his face. He seemed different, different from others. You discovered it then.

No one argued or objected to his theory. No one laughed. Someone sighed deeply and silently they got up and went to their seats.

Days passed and then your marriage was fixed.

It was still a month for the ceremony, but you kept it a surprise from the Institute colleagues. You decided to resign only a week before the marriage and distribute the invitation cards on the same day.

One day, during lunch break Ashiish announced with all seriousness,
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have some secret to tell. I sincerely hope that you will keep the information within yourselves. Otherwise the whole plan will collapse." He paused.

They were all-eager to know and asked,
"Tell us what it is. We will not disclose your plan."

Ashish cleared his throat and said,
"See, we have plans to elope very soon. You can guess, who the other person is."
He glanced at you, then continued,
"If you find us absent continually for few days, then you can be sure that we have eloped.

Everyone laughed and looked at you.

Though you knew he was only joking and it was not to be taken seriously, still you were very annoyed and told,
“Look, Ashish you are going too far. I know you are telling all these to amuse others, but certain things should not be told even in jokes.”
You finished your lunch in silence and so also others. Never again did he joke with you again. That was his last.

A week before marriage, you resigned and on that very day distributed the Invitation Cards. Most were surprised and inquired if you will continue with the Institute after marriage. They were sorry when you told that you might not.

Ashish was alone in the office. He gave a broad smile when you entered, as though he was expecting you. That was unusual. You gave him the card with formal request to attend. When he asked, what was the occasion? You said, “ Read it. You will know.” He read and his face became pale and there was no smile. He was silent for few moments, and then said “ Oh sure, I would love to attend, but you see, I have a meeting to attend in Bangalore on the same day. So unfortunate. Anyway congratulations. Wish you a very happy married life" Clearly he was struggling to smile.

You thanked and turned to go when he called you. Surprised you turned and then in a very low and slow voice he said,
“ Do you know one thing? Today I thought of proposing to you. Sitting in the office I was trying to gather courage and rehears to tell you. You know I have no previous experience. I was nervous.”
He was silent with pain on his face.

You thought he was joking as usual and asked,
“ Are you serious or joking?”
He was silent for few moments then said,
“ No. Honest, I was not joking. I am absolutely serious. Anyway no point telling these all now. I only wanted you to know my feelings. Believe me, my good wishes will be forever with you. Good bye.”
You silently waited a few moments more, and then went out.

After marriage you never again went to the Institute, though sometimes you felt like meeting your old colleagues. But, you did not. Mainly because you did not want to face Ashish.

It is now twenty years and the past is mostly erased from your mind. You are content with your husband, daughter and son. Yours is a happy life. But it is slightly disturbed today.

This afternoon you drove to Mall for some shopping. You go there often, but never met anyone from the Institute. Today you met Rita, your old colleague and were both happily surprised. You two went to the Coffee Shop, talked of your family, your husbands, your children, your present life and many other things. You enquired about Sunita, Srinivas, Anjali and others.

Rita had also lost contact with most of them, but could tell about some. Deliberately you avoided asking about Ashish, but at the end you could not help. Rita said that a couple of months after your marriage Ashish resigned and went to New Zealand. He did not marry and recently she came to know that about six months back he died there in a car accident. You only said that it was really very sad, he was such a nice person. You two talked few other things and then parted, exchanging addresses and phone numbers and promises to meet.

Now you sit in the balcony all alone under the dark sky with the canopy of twinkling stars. You look above. If what Ashish told once was true, then he will be somewhere there, one amongst the millions of stars and watching you. You wanted to believe what he said and gazed at the stars. Which one, which? You go on staring till eyes fill with tear.

Someone from behind puts a hand on your shoulder. It is soft and tender and you know it is Namita your daughter. “ Mummy, what are you looking for in the sky? See, that is Orion, then the constellation of Scorpion and look to the north, which is the tail of the Great Bear. You cannot see the Pole Star behind the tall trees. Mummy, which one you wanted to find?” You smile, hold her soft palm and say “ Nothing my dear. I was simply watching.”

Yash comes rushing “ Mummy, mummy, India has won. How wonderfully they played. Simply brilliant. You should have seen the match. Superb!” You smile, pull him near and say; “ I shall watch the next match, Yash. When is it? After two days, no?”

Newspaper in hand, Arun comes to the door. “Ah, you are all here. I was wondering, where have you all gone. Shall we have dinner now or you want to be here for some more time? It is quite pleasant in the balcony.”

“ No, we are coming.” Holding hands of Namita and Yash you go to the lighted
Dining room.

Out in the open, a light breeze murmurs in the leaves, dews gather on grass and stars in the lonely dark sky continue to blink