The Pact between us both

A reluctant confrontation

Nonetheless, as the MAN that he was, Deb finally decided to face the "stalker" who would observe him, every moment as he sat lazily at the old ghats of the Ganga while all the respectable folks went about with their work.

"Who is it, cowering behind the sacred tree ? Be a man and face me...".....said he and in the back of his mind, he expected to see either a sneaky CID agent of the British or another damned khadi-clad nationalist youth.

But oh!! Our protagonist's fancies did not even match the child-like face of a young girl,trembling, with a carefully handled book in her delicate hands.

She came forth, lips trembling, gait shaky and worried about the consequences of stalking a young man.

Deb remained silent. He couldn't speak for a while. And then his expression changed to that of childish mischief. In mock anger he asked, "Pray, what purpose does this behavior of yours serve, young lady ?"

The girl was scared to even remain silent. Forcefully she said, "I...My father and my brothers are the only people who can read at home....I wanted to read the Gita, but they don't have time to teach.....I have seen you sitting idle for hours...so I thought..."

 "What ?? So you thinking I am a mere idler ? So impudent you are to observe a strange man.... You must be punished"

The girl was horrified. She came down the stairs hurriedly and fell at his feet. Deb burst out laughing and asked her to get up.

"I just wanted to read the book. Our family priest says the Gita has the answers to all questions in Life" she said

"Another one of these....Gita is just another of those plain books written by a great sage, but translated by fools who have now ruined the true essence of God and his divine Orders."

The girl mustered up courage for the first time. "But you just have to read it to me, I will take from it whatever I want, however I want, I will not be fooled by such mistakes. You are my Guru from now on".....she said and handed over the grand book to Deb.

"What do they call you ?"...Deb asked

The girl turned away embarrassed, and covering her head with her saree's end, she protested-

"This is not appropriate for you to ask a strange woman's name and identity...."

"And it isn't appropriate to spy on other people. Besides, what kind of a teacher is ignorant about his student's identity...."

"I live at the Ghose's.....Shree Madan Mohan Ghose is my father"

"You are Charulata...."

"But how did you..."

"The whole town knows about you.....the jewel of the Ghose's who is known for stalking boys..."

And their simple laughter rippled the peaceful waters of the Ganga, and the wind blew in appreciation of the childish love in the air....