Fear & Love

Nineteen

Little gestures matters the most, especially when you least expect them.

Gita was at the non-profit organization tuition she teaches at. It was less of a school and more of a way of life to teach the students. It nurtured their talents and tried to give them a platform. The foundation - Sadhna started decades ago as a local initiative but now it is across the state. For Gita, what started as a mere volunteer job has now converted it into something personal.  The children she teaches are her family. Through the functions and funds raised, Sadhna Foundation managed to send their children to proper schools.  The volunteers and teachers like Gita take tuitions, solve their doubts and introduce them to many other subjects apart from the conventional curriculum.

Gita sat on the wooden bench, busy checking the assignment she had given the children. She sat by the window, hearing the sounds of children playing on the ground. The sunlight hitting her face and the fan hardly working. Gita wanted to take the newspaper and shake it to give more cooling. Gita's head was busy in the assignment  when a rose appeared on the desk. She looked up to see the most shy girl of her class. Her height smaller than others but the twinkle in her eyes brighter than anyone else. She had a wide smile on her face, showing her all the small teeth.

"Yes Shrenu?" Shrenu again pointed at the rose and continuously smiling. Gita could see her one hand behind her back.

"What are you hiding?" Giya asked. Shrenu slowly pulled her hand infront of her and gave a white paper to Gita. It was a card! It was a thank you card! The white paper had a big 'thank you' written on it. Letter were flying above from the line and each letter of the word was written with different colours. The whole letter read,
"Dear Gita Miss, Thank you. I got good marks because of you."

Gita felt so much joy seeing this letter. A small kid is appreciating her! On moments like these, she felt that she truly brings some value and joy to these kids, otherwise it is mostly them giving her happiness.

"Shrenu, come here, come to me. You got good marks?" Gita asked, holding Shrenu close to her.

"Yes Miss, I got 80%. On the day of exams,  I was so afraid but as you said, I closed my eyes and told my heart it is okay. And opened it only when I felt nice." Shrenu said.

"Wow! Shrenu. I am extremely proud of you. You not only scored good but also overcame your fear. Very good and thank you for the card, dear." Shrenu

When Shrenu left, Gita again looked at the thank you card and the rose. Shrenu didn't thank her for the subjects she taught but for the extra tips and the care she pours in the class. Sometimes, little things make your day.

When Gita went home, she bloated about this to her mother and father. She also sent the picture of card and rose to Isha.

"Beta, Anand's aunts called. They wanted us to come to shopping with them." Gita's mother informed her casually while dusting the furniture. Gita's mood soured down. She shuddered remembering Anand's words for them.

"Mom, why do we have to shop now? The dates of wedding are not even here." Gita said in order to refuse. Atleast, she should try refusing from this stage to avoid saying no to aunts gifts infront of them.

"Yes, even I said that. But they said, we know the months of the wedding, right, which is not far away. It is better to start shopping from now! Now, I can't say no when they explained me so much and I agreed."

It was during their engagement that the  date of the wedding was being decided but Anand's business commitment were around those times, so the next month dates were also suggested. But the months fixed were either December or January. Now, it is upto Anand and his commitments. The way Daddu was glaring at Anand when he mentioned 'business commitments', she was sure Daddu is going to make him push it ahead and make him marry on the
best date according to the Panditji. (Priest)

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Two days later, when Gita came back home, she was all tensed as to what reasons she should give to avoid going shopping with Anand's aunts. For once, she would have gladly went but if they bought something for her, which even she didn't want them to buy, how would she refuse? Anand being angry would be another story.

Her mother was almost ready, she just had to wear her bangles and apply some powder, when the phone rang. Gita was hopeful again. She prayed that they would cancel it. 'Please God, don't put in middle of Anand and his aunts. Please cancel this.' She had closed her eyes and now was almost begging to God. Her mother entered seeing Gita praying with half closed eyes. She shook her head at her childish antics.
"Gita, you are getting married. When will you stop all this drama?" Gita's mother asked. Only if her mother could understand, thought Gita.

"By the way, they said they are not going to the malls." Gita jumped from her bed. "Yes! Yes! Yes! Thank you God. I knew I am your favorite. Yes! No shopping." She again thanked God.

"Who said about no shopping?" Her mother asked puzzled.

"You! You just said they called saying no malls." Gita replied.

"Yes, that is because they will call the jeweller at Anand's home. So, we are going to Daddu's home." Her mother said and went away. Gita put a hand on her head and sat there. What is wrong with my luck? Now I have to go his house! She again went behind her mother and asked, "I thought it was clothes shopping! Why jewellery?"

"Tch! Gita we are already late. Stop sulking like a kid. Even I don't know why jewellery, why not clothes. Do one thing, when we get there, ask them all this, okay?" Her mother was so annoyed at her. May be because of all the stress of her father's health. Gita felt really bad for being scolded like this. She was genuinely asking and trying to get out of the mess that would be if she goes and shops with them. But it was okay. Gita went to her room and got ready to leave for Anand's place.

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