A Heart of Stone with a Coat of Gold

The War against the World

salwar kurta. - an Indian attire

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Nisha boarded the train early in the morning. She had double-checked whether she had packed everything and had the correct address.

Nisha's heart started warming up. It had been months since she had met Anu. The last time had been when she had visited a few days after her brother, Ishan Bhiayya's death. It had been the final semester exam. She hadn't said much.

After a few days, she stopped returning her calls and messages. Finally, Nisha's father had told her, she had been married. Her father had also helped her get the address. As she waited for the train to reach her destination, thoughts started clouding her. She smiled stupidly at the thin air, as she remembered the fond memories.

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16 years ago

"Hey, Nisha means night, right?" A boy teased her.

Nisha, a small girl of 6 then, started crying. Why did her parents give her such an ironic name, when she has not been born fair? That too in a land, where people are judged more for their looks than for their hearts.

"I will show you the night" Suddenly a girl jumped forward. She had black oil paint in her hand and smeared it all over the boy's face. Then she punched him. The boy was taken aback and started crying. "Cry you freckled freak"

That was Anu, always fighting against the world.

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Neel called in the office and informed that he won't be coming that day. He rarely used his paid leaves. But Anu had asked him to drop her as she didn't know the way and the train was really early and hence cabs were difficult to get. Apparently, her mother was really sick. So he dropped her and came back. It was one of the few occasions when he didn't feel like going. He made tea and sat on the dining table.

Neel started thinking about Anu. The young woman, his wife. They had stopped talking altogether now unless it was utmost essential. After his one brave attempt to take her out, Neel had resisted. As he glanced at the empty house, he felt something which he couldn't describe. It was not as if he missed her. More like he had got accustomed to her.

As his thoughts floated to the past, Shruti came to him. She smiled and sat across. She told him, "I love you, dear". He stayed silent. He wanted to say something but the words got stuck in his mouth. He took out a paper and started writing. She smiled sadly at him and took the paper and tore it. "No" he tried to say as he felt the tear, not in the paper, but in his insides. It was hurting like hell.

Suddenly the doorbell rang. Neel woke up with a start.

Neel's hands were shaking like always. He hastily lit a cigarette as he attempted to calm himself. That has been since the day they first started shaking. He smoked when they trembled. Liek clockwork.

He got up and opened the door.

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A gorgeous woman stood at the doorstep. She was wheatish in complexion, had shiny black hair cropped to her shoulders, and was wearing a black salwar kurta. Neel was taken aback seeing such a beautiful young lady standing there.

"Yes?" He asked tersely.

Nisha observed the man standing in front of her. He was wearing a slaty black suit and held a cigarette in one hand. She thought of Anu and Nikhil and the images flashed across her eyes. This was the man, she realised. The contrast was so obvious. The radiance of Nikhil's face vs the dullness in this man's eyes, signs of a faded youth. Her heart fell down.

"Hello, Sir. Is Anu there? I'm her friend." She asked hesitantly. "I came here to give her some stuff" She pointed to her bag.

The man stood for a moment thinking. "Come in." He invited her inside. The outside was too cold.

He pointed to her a seat on the table and sat across her. "Neel Rajan," He said, putting forward his hand. "I'm Nisha" and she shook it. The man kept on smoking. How rude of him, Nisha thought to herself.

"I'm afraid Anu has left for her home. Her mother is very sick. You can give it to me and I will pass on to her." He told her in a low voice. She heard the sound of a baby crying. "Excuse me," he said and left.

Nisha was aghast. This man had a child. She thought of Anu's mother and it made her insides boil. That wretched woman had ruined Anu's life.

Neel came back with a child in his arms. He smiled as he looked onto his son. The whole scene, the happiness on this man's face, and the plight of Anu, all of these made Nisha sick.

"Congratulation on your marriage Sir. You must be very happy." She said, her voice laced with sarcasm and anger.

Neel eyed her as the child goggled at the unfamiliar lady with his round blue eyes. "I guess so. And thanks."

"Is Anu happy? Please don't lie" She pleaded. She waited for the answer, joining her hands on the table in trepidation, her eyes looking down.

Neel took a deep breath. It was a long while before he replied. "I honestly don't think so"

Tears welled in Nisha's eyes. She hastily opened her bag and took out some papers and a box. She opened the box. It had a gold medal.

"You see this medal. Anu worked harder than anyone at college for it. She worked night shifts at cafeterias and studied till morning. All the while when other students were at parties enjoying their lives. See her grades" Her fingers traced the numbers on the papers. "She wasn't even there to take the fruit of her efforts. Something for which she put her heart and soul into. I took it. All because of you people and her wretched mother. All of it was a waste. Her life has been a waste"

She banged her fist on the table. It was the tipping point for Nisha. "I'm sorry. This has been a waste of time. Please just give it to her". She got up to leave.

"Young lady. Please calm down. And sit. I request" Neel calmly said.

Nisha eyes him suspiciously. He, in turn, tried to give her a weak smile, something at which he failed miserably. He got up and held the child to her. "Can you see to him for a few minutes? I'm going to make tea. Then I wanna hear some more. Tell me all about her."

Neel took out another cigarette and offered one to her. Nisha shot him a dirty look. Some men just never learn.