(Today this post culminates the short story Paris. Hope you enjoy reading it.)
For a recap you may read Paris (Part 1) | Paris (Part 2) | Paris (Part 3) | Paris (Part 4).
He had given Suresh the landline number of the nearby grocery shop to contact him. Every other day he inquires the shop owner. It is now over two weeks and Suresh has not called. Krishna starts to worry. The fear of missing his Paris trip begins to trouble Krishna constantly. Trying to hide her fear, Radha says Krishna,"I think Suresh bhai must be busy and this call could have slipped his mind."
Radha suggests him to visit Suresh.
After 2 and half weeks
Krishna finally makes up his mind to go visit Suresh even without the call. He is all set, visits the temple to ward off his fears, and heads to Suresh’s office. Nervous all the way he apprehends a lot. The thought of not finding Suresh hovers. However, when he reaches his destination and finds Suresh, all his notions fall flat.
“Hello Krishna”, greets Suresh with his usual warmth
“Suresh bhai, you never called?”, asks Krishna
“I am so sorry I could not call and inform you. I have been very busy with so many passports. Look, I am working on your passports right now.”, explains Suresh
“I was a little worried.”, says Krishna
“I can understand, Krishna. But I still do not have your passports ready.”
“So when will all this be over, Suresh bhai?”
“I need just one more week from you. You come here exactly after 7 days from today. Then we both along with your wife will go and finish off the formalities at passport office.”, genuinely requests Suresh
Now that there is no other way, Krishna, slightly upset, agrees to meet him in a week and leaves. He informs Radha that Suresh was busy and could not call. This reassures Radha's faith in Suresh.
After 7 days
As agreed, Krishna, with all excitement, visits Suresh. Whistling his favourite song all the way, he reaches Suresh’s office. To his surprise, there is a lock handing on the door. He looks around but cannot find anyone to enquire. Neither is the young office boy around. He thinks may be he has arrived early. So Krishna decides to wait for a while under the banyan tree in front of Suresh’s office.
A stranger comes and opens the door of the office. Krishna immediately questions him his identity and of course about Suresh. As these two talk, five to six people come along and gather around. Krishna recognises some faces. All start to have the same questions and worries. As the discussion in this group increases, the pieces of the puzzle unveil.
Each one was told the same story by Suresh, of being from their village. Each was offered huge concession and immediate travel promises. Each had paid in cash and had no receipt of the same. In fact, all they had were stories involving Suresh. However, no facts to support their stories. In the middle of this entire muddle, the stranger informs he is the broker of that house who rents it to people on contract for short periods. Suresh had taken the place on rent for 6 months only and he left the city before 5 days.
Krishna starts to sweat. His palms are getting cold. His heart starts to pound and he is able to hear his heartbeat. He tries to control and calm himself. All the people who took Suresh’s help are more or less similar to Krishna. It is clear that Suresh feasted on the innocence and ignorance of these people. Yet Krishna continues to tell himself that everything is fine. He is now able to hear the words inside his head but his voice is not audible outside. His lips start sticking to each other. He begins to feel thirsty and choked. He is unable to hear the people around him. Their voices seem to fade out gradually. Everything turns hazy, then begins to swirl and goes black in seconds for him.
When Krishna wakes up, he is at his quarter with Radha sitting beside him. The moment he sees her, he holds her tight and cries like a baby. Radha is worried and asks him the reason. She is clueless. Krishna locks himself for days. He does not talk to anyone. He keeps looking at his Paris collections and cries, incessantly. Even Mrs. Sheila gets worried and asks Radha if he needs to see a doctor.
Eventually after few weeks Radha forces him and he tells, “Suresh was a fraud. He took all our money. We are never going to see Paris.” Radha feels his pain and tries to console him.
“I am sorry, Radha. I am a greedy and selfish person. I am foolish. I asked money from your father and now that is all gone. I cannot even take you to Paris on my own. ”, cries out Krishna.
Radha knows Krishna is a good person and this self-loathing is momentary. She understands the importance of Paris in Krishna’s life. It is not a place for him like it is for anyone else. It is his one and only dream. A cherished dream of his life that was sadly taken away from him.
"Let us go to the police. Or let us tell everything to Madam Ji and ask for help. They can find Suresh.", says Radha
"What will I tell? I gave 2.5 lakhs cash to a stranger I met on a bus. I do not have any proof. Who knows if his name was Suresh?", replies Krishna in a disheartened tone. After everything he had done for Paris and that he can never visit, has broken Krishna to the core.
"But...."
"No Radha. I have put you through a lot of trouble since the day of our wedding. I will somehow return the money to your father. I do not want any more trouble in our lives."
"Do not worry about the money. We should get the fraudster caught.", says Radha, trying to infuse some positivity in her husband
"No Radha. I request you. Please do not tell this to anybody."
Radha agrees to respect his wishes. However, seeing Krishna’s deteriorating condition, she decides to return to their village. So, Krishna and Radha leave the city forever informing Mrs.Sheila. Krishna feels sorry and requests for forgiveness to Manohar Ji. On hearing the entire fraud story involving Suresh, Manohar Ji forgives Krishna. After few weeks of settling in their village, they come to know about Radha’s pregnancy. The news brings smile on Krishna’s face since that incident with Suresh.
8 and 1/2 months later
Radha gives birth to a beautiful baby girl.
In the naming ceremony of the child, the village pundit asks, “Krishna, tell me what should we name your child?”
Krishna replies absent-mindedly, “PARIS”
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Image Credits - Google Images
Story © Copyright Salvwi Prasad
For a recap you may read Paris (Part 1) | Paris (Part 2) | Paris (Part 3) | Paris (Part 4).
He had given Suresh the landline number of the nearby grocery shop to contact him. Every other day he inquires the shop owner. It is now over two weeks and Suresh has not called. Krishna starts to worry. The fear of missing his Paris trip begins to trouble Krishna constantly. Trying to hide her fear, Radha says Krishna,"I think Suresh bhai must be busy and this call could have slipped his mind."
Radha suggests him to visit Suresh.
After 2 and half weeks
Krishna finally makes up his mind to go visit Suresh even without the call. He is all set, visits the temple to ward off his fears, and heads to Suresh’s office. Nervous all the way he apprehends a lot. The thought of not finding Suresh hovers. However, when he reaches his destination and finds Suresh, all his notions fall flat.
“Hello Krishna”, greets Suresh with his usual warmth
“Suresh bhai, you never called?”, asks Krishna
“I am so sorry I could not call and inform you. I have been very busy with so many passports. Look, I am working on your passports right now.”, explains Suresh
“I was a little worried.”, says Krishna
“I can understand, Krishna. But I still do not have your passports ready.”
“So when will all this be over, Suresh bhai?”
“I need just one more week from you. You come here exactly after 7 days from today. Then we both along with your wife will go and finish off the formalities at passport office.”, genuinely requests Suresh
Now that there is no other way, Krishna, slightly upset, agrees to meet him in a week and leaves. He informs Radha that Suresh was busy and could not call. This reassures Radha's faith in Suresh.
After 7 days
As agreed, Krishna, with all excitement, visits Suresh. Whistling his favourite song all the way, he reaches Suresh’s office. To his surprise, there is a lock handing on the door. He looks around but cannot find anyone to enquire. Neither is the young office boy around. He thinks may be he has arrived early. So Krishna decides to wait for a while under the banyan tree in front of Suresh’s office.
A stranger comes and opens the door of the office. Krishna immediately questions him his identity and of course about Suresh. As these two talk, five to six people come along and gather around. Krishna recognises some faces. All start to have the same questions and worries. As the discussion in this group increases, the pieces of the puzzle unveil.
Each one was told the same story by Suresh, of being from their village. Each was offered huge concession and immediate travel promises. Each had paid in cash and had no receipt of the same. In fact, all they had were stories involving Suresh. However, no facts to support their stories. In the middle of this entire muddle, the stranger informs he is the broker of that house who rents it to people on contract for short periods. Suresh had taken the place on rent for 6 months only and he left the city before 5 days.
Krishna starts to sweat. His palms are getting cold. His heart starts to pound and he is able to hear his heartbeat. He tries to control and calm himself. All the people who took Suresh’s help are more or less similar to Krishna. It is clear that Suresh feasted on the innocence and ignorance of these people. Yet Krishna continues to tell himself that everything is fine. He is now able to hear the words inside his head but his voice is not audible outside. His lips start sticking to each other. He begins to feel thirsty and choked. He is unable to hear the people around him. Their voices seem to fade out gradually. Everything turns hazy, then begins to swirl and goes black in seconds for him.
When Krishna wakes up, he is at his quarter with Radha sitting beside him. The moment he sees her, he holds her tight and cries like a baby. Radha is worried and asks him the reason. She is clueless. Krishna locks himself for days. He does not talk to anyone. He keeps looking at his Paris collections and cries, incessantly. Even Mrs. Sheila gets worried and asks Radha if he needs to see a doctor.
Eventually after few weeks Radha forces him and he tells, “Suresh was a fraud. He took all our money. We are never going to see Paris.” Radha feels his pain and tries to console him.
“I am sorry, Radha. I am a greedy and selfish person. I am foolish. I asked money from your father and now that is all gone. I cannot even take you to Paris on my own. ”, cries out Krishna.
Radha knows Krishna is a good person and this self-loathing is momentary. She understands the importance of Paris in Krishna’s life. It is not a place for him like it is for anyone else. It is his one and only dream. A cherished dream of his life that was sadly taken away from him.
"Let us go to the police. Or let us tell everything to Madam Ji and ask for help. They can find Suresh.", says Radha
"What will I tell? I gave 2.5 lakhs cash to a stranger I met on a bus. I do not have any proof. Who knows if his name was Suresh?", replies Krishna in a disheartened tone. After everything he had done for Paris and that he can never visit, has broken Krishna to the core.
"But...."
"No Radha. I have put you through a lot of trouble since the day of our wedding. I will somehow return the money to your father. I do not want any more trouble in our lives."
"Do not worry about the money. We should get the fraudster caught.", says Radha, trying to infuse some positivity in her husband
"No Radha. I request you. Please do not tell this to anybody."
Radha agrees to respect his wishes. However, seeing Krishna’s deteriorating condition, she decides to return to their village. So, Krishna and Radha leave the city forever informing Mrs.Sheila. Krishna feels sorry and requests for forgiveness to Manohar Ji. On hearing the entire fraud story involving Suresh, Manohar Ji forgives Krishna. After few weeks of settling in their village, they come to know about Radha’s pregnancy. The news brings smile on Krishna’s face since that incident with Suresh.
8 and 1/2 months later
Radha gives birth to a beautiful baby girl.
In the naming ceremony of the child, the village pundit asks, “Krishna, tell me what should we name your child?”
Krishna replies absent-mindedly, “PARIS”
Image Credits - Google Images
Story © Copyright Salvwi Prasad
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