Sati

'Kavita Shukravars'

Sky is almost dark, Manav parks his car near the Calcutta Book house to step out side and he sees a small black board which has written "Kavita Shukravars" on it.He takes out a small comb from his back pocket and brushes his hair and sighs letting down his other 

He enters the library to see the obnoxious librarian walking here and there with a tray of drinks in his hand. Manav walks near him to ask where is the evnt held, as he approaches him, to his left he sees a glass door with lilac curtains hanging and covering half of the door;  he can hear a familiar voice, and see a lady in grey saree sitting on stage with a mic in front of her, and a crowd sitting in round tables in groups and listening. 

He moves towards the door, voice gets more familiar in his head, he pushes the door open, he could clearly hear the voice. He walks to a side intending not to interrupt the vibe inside the room, even though he can't understand anything keenly he stands there hoping to see the poet's face. A lady with the head bent down, hair parted in the middle with a long braid hanging from her shoulders, narrating a poem in Bengali, puts her head up after she reads her last lines with a timid smile in her face. Manav realises the voice now, "Arunima?". 

He somewhat amused and impressed at the same time. While these thoughts are clouded in his head, it gets scattered by the applause by the audience. Mr.Metha walks to the stage clapping and shakes hand with Arunima and shows her way back to her seat. Mr. Metha speaks in the mic announcing

 "Ladies and Gentlemen we will be taking a small break after which this peotic evenig will continue. Please help your self with snack and drinks". 

People disperse from their tables to grab drinks. Manav's headache comes down a litle bit thinking he could use Arunima's help to talk to the "Book Baba",  but first he has to find and talk to her. He moves through the crowd searching Arunima, he sees her taking drinks from a table. He feels rush of adreline approaching her, he move near her, he could smell the jasmine's fragrance stuck in the hair. He goes near her ear while Arunima's back facing his, he whispers in her ears,   "What a a poetry Madam". 

She turns to see the voice, almost her cheeks touching his nose, he smiles at her. She takes a moment to realise how close they were standing; She blushes and takes a step back to look at his face filled with broad smile. Arunima realises why he might have come here. Ofcourse to talk to 'Book Baba'.  

She frowns and says    "Sir! why did you come today, so unlucky, Book Baba hasnt come today". Manav for once had forgotten why he went to talk to her. Looking around the crowd, 

"Oh! I missed him is it?"

"No sir!, he didnt come today to Kavita Shukravar"

 "Oh, bad luck i guess"

 "Don't worry sir every week he comes he might have missed it today" 

"Mr.Metha is here. He has his contact. Next time you can call him and know whether he will be coming or not", Manav nods and takes up a drink in his hand and his eyes goes to her bindi; small and round which complemented her face well. His eyes are caught up by the round beautiful Arunima's face. He stands admiring how elegant she looked in that saree and that bindi which never seems to lose his attention.

"Mr. Mehtha is going to Bombay this week, so hurry and ask Book Baba's contact now only. 

Manav waken up from his thoughts, he nods and keeps his drink on his table and walks swiftly to Mr. Mehtha who was heading towards his the door. 

"Mr. Mehtha..." 

Mr. Mehtha turns and looks and takes a minute to recognise Manav; he smiles and puts his hand forward and says "Mr.Manav good to meet you. how are you?