A Funny Story : Sangath... .

- Compilation: Pratibha Thakkar

- pratibhathakker@yahoo.com

The letter came less and less now,

However, email has now taken its place

Face-to-face hugs are no more

However, its place has now been taken by Face Time

What to do now with all these people

When machines took their place...

Somewhere I stop writing like this,

Think of this loneliness

Who will take the place now!!

Ankita was writing - words were dripping. He knew that she had been writing for some time, should she do it now too! There is no one with him. Every day she used to sit here on the banks of the river and come back and write something and something in the diary. Both his sons were abroad - in different countries of course!

Ankita came twice but did not like it very much. When Aniket told Ankita that he wants to go abroad to study, he remembered the empty bird's nest in his garden. Aniket left and once he got a call he said that he has got married and wants to settle abroad. Again Ankita remembered the birds flying in the distant sky. Similarly Anirudh also went abroad of course he is not yet married - he doesn't want to tie the knot in the name of marriage!

What to do now? This was Ankita's daily routine, in the afternoon she would go to the institute's office and listen to questions - yes she was a lawyer by profession, but she never gave up practicing law. His job was to provide legal advice and guidance for all to get justice for their rights, their distress. She also guides them to get educational assistance for further studies, also guides them if someone wants to get a foothold.

This was the routine of Ankita's life. This morning she came and sat on the same platform, suddenly she found Sameer. He dreamed of living life with the same Sameer. Naturally, phone numbers were exchanged and then meeting for coffee started.

Sameer was going abroad - Ankita had some dreams with him.. But Sameer's desire to show off took him abroad and Ankita stayed here..

Their college love stopped there, Sameer left and Ankita got married within two years. Where was the email at that time, what could Ankita do..

Just Ankita got settled with Neeraj - their world was going on happily and a beautiful family with two sons was flourishing - those flowers that had just grown looked so beautiful .. so ..

Suddenly someone came and plucked that flower plant as if! And Neeraj left - was in the house - right in front of Ankita .. came from her office - not feeling well and tea - went to bed after breakfast or didn't get up..

On the other hand, Sameer earned a lot of money abroad, but it was no match for getting a wife. Hoping to get a permanent visa abroad soon, he married a foreigner but also an Indian girl and accepted her slavery as it were. Sameer's family was there but Sameer had no children. He had come to the country - just because his wife had passed away, Sameer had come here to perform some traditional rituals.

Sameer was asking Ankita - what now? What to do now?

Ankita you will come abroad with me! Sameer was going back abroad - he had a ticket next week. Today he was asking Ankita! Will you come with me?

Saying that she will tell Sameer tomorrow, she left the place - one can even say ran away...

The past that was haunting him - How did Sameer know how lonely he was after he went abroad and how he fought for two years against the constant pressure of his parents to get married!!!

After much effort Samir's contact number was found - he called and his foreign wife picked up the phone - the distress Ankita felt at that time - as if you trample a beautiful flower under your feet and walk forward - without bothering to look back !!!

How did Sameer know that when he went abroad leaving Ankita, Ankita was pregnant and their child i.e. Aniket - along with Aniket, Neerj welcomed Ankita into his life. Neeraj never told Aniket that he is not his child!!!

Ankita was looking at Niraj's photo and saying - Maybe God took you from me because he needed you more - Ankita was saying - I will not go anywhere by leaving you here.. You are always with me - what am I going to do? not alone...

I am so happy here in my native land - a few flowers bloom in a foreign land!!!

At the special insistence of the same Niraj, he passed the bar exam - just after Aniruddha's birth. And that is why today it is working for the needy people with a sense of service.

The age of being bound in emotional bonds has passed now, my Sameer - I am bound from the roots right here.. He sent a message to Sameer on the phone...

Author : Kripali Virag Shah