Love@LaliBagh

Dear Diary,

Let me narrate a short love story to you. The love story of 2 birds, whom the love untouched till the lockdown.

Shanthamma and Sakamma were friends and neighbours at Shantinagar and worked together as caretakers at Lalibagh from past 30 years. Lalibagh was 2nd house for them. They enjoyed doing and monitoring every single task there. Whether it's cleaning and maintenance of garden, shaping toparies, cutting grass and hedges or watering plants. Every evening they used to tie fallen jasmine flowers with their own hands and offer it to lord Shiva and Devi Parvati temple situated next to two lanes after Lalibagh. On the way to the bus stop. They looked after minute detail of garden. But after the lockdown was announced, they were forced to stay at home as they were near to sixty. Even after the lockdown they somehow went and saw their 2nd house. But they weren't happy with its maintenance. Because of lockdown they became absent-minded, lost interest in everything and felt depressed. The joblessness started affecting their mental health. Seeing their conditions their kids who were working as interns in MNC and dreaming of becoming leading data scientists of India decided to join Lalibagh as volunteer caretakers.

Next day Vaidehi the only daughter of widow Sakamma and Raghuveer the only son of widow Shanthamma joined Lalibagh. Even though they were neighbours from past 25 years the handsome hunk and lovely lady had hardly spoken to each other.

As per the instructions given by their mothers, Vaidehi and Raghuveer started working and monitoring all the jobs at garden. Cutting grass n hedges, shaping topiaries, watering plants, sweeping, cleaning path each and every task of workers (hardly five) were personally monitored by both of them.

While picking the fallen jasmine flowers Vaidehi request Raghuveer, "Raghu can you please take a photo of mine picking and tieing these fallen jasmine flowers?"

Raghuveer: Why? Want to WhatsApp?

Vaidehi: Yes.

"Everything should not be shared on social media. Nobel deeds should be done silently. It should be done through heart, not for showoff."Said Raghuveer in a harsh tone.

Vaidehi: I want to WhatsApp it to my mother. She will be happy seeing her garden clean in safe hands.

(Raghuveer silently takes mobile from her hand and starts clicking Vaidehi photos. With the start of flash, his heart too started flashing for her.)

Raghuveer: Vaidehi can you send the photos to my mother too. She will also feel happy.

Vaidehi: Sure. (She shares then with Shanthamma and resumes back to work)

For the next 20 days it was the routine of both. Cleaning, sweeping, watering plants, monitoring others job, at thirty past 4 tieing all the fallen jasmine flowers and offering them to Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati as their mothers used to do. For the entire day they hardly spoke 3 sentences.

Good morning when started to Lalibagh.

Thank you for clicking/ thank you for sharing photos and good night.

It was the last day of lockdown. As usual did all the assigned tasks. Tied flowers and at 5 bided goodbye to the guard and went to Shiva-Parvati temple.

(At the temple Vaidehi offers flowers to shiva and Parvati while Raghuveer keeps them in his hand and closes their eyes for prayers)

Vaidehi: Raghu can I ask you one thing?

(Apart from greetings this is the first sentence Vaidehi has spoken to Raghuveer, and that too a question. He nods his head in affirmation. Vaidehi continues)

"Why didn't you offer flowers?"

Raghuveer: It is not for this Devi.

Vaidehi: Then for whom? Are we going to another temple?

Raghuveer: No.

Vaidehi: Oh! Then it's for your mother?

Raghuveer: NO

Vaidehi: Then

Raghuveer: It's for you.

(In a shock Vaidehi remains still as a statue. Raghu places the flower on her feet with folded hands in front of Shiva and shakti as witness proposes her)

"I am ready to be your Siva will you be my Parvati?"

With all the mixed feelings of surprise, shyness, joy, and love she picks up the flowers puts it in her braid and with a happy voice says "YES. I DO."

Both smile at each other. While their eyes express their feelings, their lips remain silent. And they walk towards their home holding their hands tight with a promise to hold it forever.