At 21, Shokhi's heart felt nothing. At times she felt like she had no feelings. She was fully focused on her becoming a teacher, her dreams, desires took a plunge into her subconscious mind and now for some good number of years it was not going to emerge or surface in Shokhi's life. Her tender, untouched innocent heart and mind told her that her life would be better now. How? she didn't have any answer to that. Her bonding with Shokha was her survival dose. They had experienced a life that no children see or experience. Shokhi used to look up at Manas, used to think of a life partner like him! But it shattered and left Shokhi thinking, men are cruel! Looking at Moni, she felt sad and bitter at heart because Moni certainly deserved a better life. Shokhi took a turn. She started praying to Almighty 'I just need a normal simple life. A good husband, secured home and a normal peaceful life'
Often at night she started having visions that she's in Kaali Baari (temple) sitting on the staircase and a beautiful divine lady in a white red bordered saree, having long beautiful hair and the face was litted beautifully sat beside her. She took Shokhi's head in her lap and comforted her. Whenever Shokhi was upset she saw her and that brought her calmness.
Moni gave a matrimonial ad in the paper, in her search for a groom. Manas of course did his bit too here.
Shokhi just watched them and kept to herself.
One day Manas invited a guy for lunch hinting Moni that he could be considered as a perspective groom. Shokha started teasing Shokhi now. Shokhi enjoyed it!
Ayan came for lunch. He took Shokhi by surprise by his looks. Ayan fitted the description of 'Tall dark and Handsome'. Shokhi found him interesting in her own way. Both of them spoke to each other and Shokhi in many ways embarrassed him. But Ayan seemed to be charmed by her. He took everything in his stride.
Shokhi here realised that she had a strong sixth sense. She somewhere in her mind knew that Ayan had fallen for her. To a girl of her age Ayan should have been a dream come true but to Shokhi... He didn't matter much, though she liked his intellect, humour, poise and looks.
Ayan expressed his wish to marry her. Another victory for Shokhi. He asked Shokhi wether she was interested in him. His proposal for marriage was serious. Shokhi was numb, she didn't know what to say. She point blankly told Ayan that the decision lies with her parents.
Ayan with all communication avenues available kept in touch with her.
Shokhi now understood that maybe she couldn't be forgotten easily. She wasn't sure of what she realised and felt, so she kept quiet and enjoyed her victory.
Ayan's proposal got rejected and the search began again. Moni felt Ayan was too old for Shokhi. Manas felt Ayan wanted to rise in life with his help by using his daughter.
Shokhi quietly used to hear all this and unknowingly it stayed with her, inside her never to be forgotten.
By now lot of proposals came. One even from London!! A doctor ! Manas wanted to marry Shokhi to him. He tried to convince Moni but again she refused.
A letter from Allahabad came through the Ad.
A proposal from a family friend came. Uncle was a doctor, he got the proposal of his nephew.
Doctor uncle's family was very close to Shokhi's family. Letter from Allahabad and Doctor uncle's nephew matched.
Shokhi was now 22.
TO BE CONTINUED...
© Choitali