THE UNWANTED

CHAPTER 24

Years passed and over to in the sleepy village of Shamli, Sitara, the daughter of Tara and Ramu completed her intermediate education from Una district. After earning a bachelor's degree from Simla's renowned college, she moved to Chandigarh where she obtained her masters in English literature from Punaj University, with the state government funding her education from the scholarships she had earned by studying hard and always topping the university.

Six months later, Sitara decided to attempt the civil services examination and qualified for the interview round. When she appeared for the next round of the exam, she was discouraged from joining the Indian Administrative Services (IAS) by the distinguished board which interviewed her. The board was headed by the chairman of the UPSC. Instead, the foreign services and the central services were offered to Sitara, as they were more suitable for 'women'. They were somehow convinced inside their hearts that she would be unable to handle law and order situations, if and when they arose. So, instead of the charge of a district sub-collector, she was offered a post in the secretariat. But for Sitara, who had undergone training in horse riding, rifle and revolver shooting and in using magisterial powers, knew that she was at par with her male counterparts. For the second time in her fledgling career, she fought for a chance to prove herself, arguing that she was equally competent to men in handling any situations that might arise as a part of her job.

Eventually she was posted as a sub-collector in the Una district and her own village Shamli coming under her jurisdiction. As a sub-collector of Una, when she visited her village in a jeep surrounded by four of her security guards, she was cheered by the village folks where ever she went. The village women just walked around her, looking at her in awe. Suddenly an old lady said, "She looks just like one of us. She is Tara's daughter who stays at the other end of the village." It was then, that Sitara realized their disappointment and knew that people expected something different from a woman who had made it as an officer of such a high grade.

Later, as the times passed her administrative brilliance fetched her widespread respect in the official circles as it was her thoughtfulness that endeared her deeply to the common man. A couple of years passed of Sitara holding her post. She had been allotted an official bungalow with all the facilities of a telephone, car, driver and personal servants by the authorities in the Rakkar area of Una which had by then become the new face of modern urban well planned, neat and clean city with all the advanced facilities like banks, best hotels, and showrooms etc.

One day, as she was enjoying a total free day for herself basking the sun in her private garden when Tara silently came and sat in the adjoining reclining chair.

"Sitara, I want to talk to you on something very important issue, but you never have the time to even sit with your Ma for some time," Tara said complainingly.

"It's not that Ma. You just talk it over today as you can see that I'm totally free now and enjoying sitting in the sun," Sitara replied laughing.

"Look here daughter, you have grown up now and I want you to get married so that I become free of my duties as your mother," Tara said hesitatingly.

"Wow Ma, I was even thinking of that a few days back. If I marry, it will be with my colleague, my batchmate and my sweetheart Kabir who will in another one year become the principal secretary revenue. So, I can wait till then," Sitara looked at Tara smiling.

"But how can you wait and waste one more year of your life like this?" Tara said showing apprehension in her spoken words.

"Ma, he's worth waiting for," Sitara said with fondness about a man in whom she found exceptional humane qualities.

"Okay, as you please," Tara bowed down to her daughter's wishes.