1945, My Love Story (Unedited & Raw Version)

Phase V: A Misfit Judgement From My Side

I was still midway to the door and she was still standing outside the door at the corridor.

She was looking straight into my eyes with her half covered face with all of her courage. She knew this very well-I was the son of her enemy. An enemy at who she wanted to throw that stone but what she didn't know was that it hit me instead and also she didn't know that I saw her there with the protesters.

When she didn't say anything for a long time, I finally started the conversation.

"Yes miss, may I help you?" I asked like a gentleman trying really hard not to scare her away.

When she didn't reply, I remembered that she didn't understand my language. I rolled my eyes at my stupidity & slowly walked towards the door and stood in-front of her outside my room.

I started to sign words gesturing my hands to make her understand. "You are here for what?" I whispered.

In respond to my sign language, she showed me the steel jug she was holding and offered it to me.

Oh! She brought me water.

"Oh." I walked forward. "Thank you!" I said with a nod and took the jug from her hand during which the tip of my fingers brushed the back of her right hand. It felt like a piece of silk fabric, soft, delicate & smooth. She glanced at me for a second and bowed a little before started walking, but my mouth uttered something that I didn't get enough time to process it in my mind before speaking it out loud.

"I saw you!" I said and she halted her steps.

I don't know why did I say that?

She turned a bit and look at me. Her full face was still undiscovered. But then I was aware that she was not knowledgeable about my language so whatever I said, she didn't understand.

So, I continued speaking with a low tone staring at her. "I saw you that day with those...protesters and also caught you sneaking at me from behind the wall at your house when I visited." I paused and felt guilty. "I know, this is not what you might have dreamt of through out your life, being here, serving us, giving up your dreams, sacrificing your own happiness." I regretted my actions. "Just because of me, you are being forced to work here and I am really sorry for that. It was absolutely my foolishness; you don't know how much it bothers me to see your family suffer like this." I took a breath and continued assuring her about my silence. "But, I promise I will not say a word to father about you being one of the protesters; this is the least I can do to save you from his rage. I believe you being a part of that group won't harm any of my family members. It's just a request, I know, you won't show your hatred here. This place, Fort William is quite protected. I am sure whatever you work for will be kept outside this place." I don't know why I was saying all those things. Either I was worried for my family or I was scared for your life. I breathed out when you didn't react. I knew, you didn't understand a single word of mine so I huffed and said the last sentence to myself. "That Saree looks good on you; thank you for accepting it and wearing it. I am glad you liked it." I finished talking with a weak smile on my face and she looked down at her clothes for a moment. Staring back at me, she finally said slightly twitching her lips. "Dhanyabaad."

My eyes widened in amusement as I clearly understood what she meant by that. It meant 'Thank you.' I knew that because I had heard this word many times before from people in the market. But what made me surprised and more curious that she understood what I said to her. Did she understand everything what I babbled to her or just the last sentence because I used the word 'saree'?

Was she faking of not knowing English language? If not how did she reply with a 'thank you' when I complimented. I kept thinking amused staring at her and she just walked away. I stood there for a while holding the jug thinking about her reply. It concerned me more because I revealed almost everything regarding what I knew about her and in a way I tried to warn her about her actions by saying that I saw her protesting in the field.