Sandals

Under the scorching heat of Hyderabad, Shikha was seen again coming from far away in the morning. An ordinary employee of a large international Call Center walked again today towards her office steadily. In order to save money, she used to go to the office only walking.

"After reaching office, there is no opportunity to get up from the chair, on this pretext I walk for 40 minutes every day," she used to say when someone used to see her soaked in sweat.

But today Shikha was coming to the office limping. No, there was no injury, in fact, her favorite sandal was broken and thus coming to office limping became a reason for embarrassment for her. Tears were about to come when Shikha called Amit on phone.

Amit used to live in Mumbai, a city of dreams, humidity and traffic jam. Both were in a long-distance relationship for the last year and a half. The phone was ringing in Amit's pant pocket. It was good luck that a three-minute signal of Goregaon had arrived.

Amit immediately called back Shikha.

Amit asked, “What happened?” As if he already knew that it was a small issue like any other time, which Shikha would narrate as if the world's greatest disaster had come upon her.

Shikha said, "Nothing”. Amit also knew that Shikha wanted him to ask about her problem with more concern. So again he said"Look, you have to tell and so fast"

Shikha expressed her anguish sobbing, "Nothing, it was my favorite red sandals which broke". Amit knew pretty well what form this conversation would turn.

Amit already had an answer for this. "Well, do you know why those sandals broke?"

"What do you mean?" It was very old and worn out, so it broke”

Amit said - "No, every small and big event happening in the world, has a special reason. Nothing happens just like that.

Shikha said, “What do you want to say?”

"Your sandals broke today only because I have been thinking for the past few days as to what gift should I give you." Do not know what happened? I had bought these lovely sandals for you yesterday. And look, your old sandals have expired today.

Shikha could not believe and said, “Is it true?

Yes, I thought of giving you a surprise, but since your sandal is broken now, I will tell you. But now I realize as to why I had the inkling to get you a gift yesterday. I always say, "Our love is divine".

Then the phone got disconnected. There was no network. Shikha walked till she reached the lift of her office. In the meantime, the signal of Goregaon had also gone green and Amit also moved ahead.

Here Kapil, Shikha's team leader, who used to wait for her to come to the office every day, was smoking cigarettes on the stairs. Shikha was coming upstairs barefoot, with sandals in her hand.

Kapil extinguished the cigarette on seeing Shikha and asked with great concern,"What happened"?

Hearing such abstract questions every day, Shikha got angry so much that she felt like breaking the mouth of Kapil with that broken sandal. But she controlled herself and said in a sweet voice"Don’t you see?”

'Well, the sandal is broken! Come on, there is a market nearby, let's go now. I would like to gift you a pair of sandals”

Ha-ha-ha, it is no longer needed. You don't know, this is not an ordinary sandal.

“What do you mean?”

Amit has bought a pair of sandals for me yesterday and today it broke. Could you make out anything?

"No"

“This sandal is divine just like our relationship”.

“What nonsense? ... Have you gone mad?”

"You won't understand Kapil", Shikha said.

“I do not want to understand. I am just saying that you are here and he is in Mumbai. Ask him to send it by fast courier. But in the meantime, I shall get you a pair of sandals. They may not be divine but will be useful”.

“No, I will wear only those sandals now”.

Saying this, Shikha reached her desk.

When it was lunchtime, Shikha immediately called Amit. Amit was in a conference then. But when it is a call from Shikha, he will have to pick it up. He came out of the cabin saying "Excuse me".

Oh, buddy, I do not understand really as to why I am getting so much excited for a sandal. Please do one thing, send the sandals through courier quickly.

“Shikha, do you understand the meaning of my surprise?”

“Yes, but...”

“There are no ifs and buts. You tell me when I have bought such a beautiful pair of sandals for you here with difficulty why do you ask me to send them by courier?”

“So what do you want then?”

“Whatever pleases you?”

“And what pleases me?”

“You want me to be in front of you, and with my hands, I should dress you up with those sandals. Tell me if you don't want that?”

“Yes, I want it.”

“Then why delay? A surprise will be real fun if you come here by taking leave”.

“Amit, I love you”.

Just then Amit's boss came from behind and the phone got disconnected.

Shikha was on the second floor, where there was transparent glass in the front. Through the glass she could see that there was a large footwear shop near the pavement. Kapil was standing there with sandals in both his hands.

Kapil was requesting Shikha with options.

But Shikha turned her back towards him.

Kapil came again running to the office.

Kapil, can you do one thing, please?

I was doing the same,

Hey look, today is Thursday; I shall join the office by Monday. Buddy, please sanction me leave for tomorrow.

Kapil thought for a while.

"Now don't say that you are going to Mumbai from Hyderabad to get those sandals"

Shikha innocently nodded saying “Yes".

Shikha was relieved that night.

The phase of free calling had started. Shikha was talking to Amit that night as usual.

You have created so much excitement for such a small thing.

“When the same thing comforts your feet, they become very important. When you spend a lot of time window shopping for such a thing, then it becomes a big thing”.

“Leave it. I have my train at night, tomorrow.I am coming tomorrow. Your surprise will also remain a surprise, giving an opportunity for us to meet. Please do one thing; show me the picture of the sandals. Hope you won’t disagree?”

"No"

I do one thing, I start from the beginning.

"Hmm"

When I went to the market there was a strange scent. I don't know why I got pulled into a footwear showroom. There were so many different types of people looking for their shoes according to their size and their affordability. Some model type girls, shorter in height, were looking for high-heeled sandals. I felt that if I came under their heels, I would be crushed to death.

Shikha smiles "Okay, then"

But I did not look at anyone. I just kept searching for the sandals that I wanted to see you wearing. Avoiding the crowd, I reached where everyone was looking at a particular pair of sandals. Great like the Titanic. I wanted to touch them but was scared thinking that the shopkeeper would come and scold me for staining them

Amit was standing there. Just then Shikha came out of a white door holding Kapil's hand. Amit did not understand what he was seeing. There was a ladder near the sandal. Kapil moved his hand forward. Shikha placed her delicate feet on his hands and looked at the sandals. Its inner sole looked like white muslin. Shikha lied down very comfortably inside that sandals and fell asleep. Kapil was teasing Amit by looking at him.

Amit woke up from his sleep. He didn’t know when he fell asleep while talking with Shikha. It was 11:30 AM. Shikha was to reach Mumbai at 1:00 PM. Amit saw his phone which was switched off. He kept the phone for charging and ran towards the bathroom to freshen up.

He called Shikha after his bath. Shikha told him that the train was late by 2 hours. Amit got ready and left for the market.

When Amit reached the market he was confused. There were so many varieties of sandals and piercing voice of different types of people with different tastes. Amit got a bit dizzy.

On the other hand, Shikha was at the peak of her excitement in the train. She was not looking at any human being anymore. She was keenly looking at the footwear the passengers wore. Then came a person in formal black colored shoes and asked her for her ticket. When Shikha looked carefully towards him again he was the TT. She smiled at her folly. She was just about to reach Mumbai.

Somehow Amit stopped for a while near a store. He tried to focus a little after drinking water. When he turned around, he saw a Big Brand Sales of footwear on the pavement behind, in which a pair of red sandals was shining prominently.

Amit did not look at this side or that but straight away bought the pair of sandals. He had just enough money to buy those sandals. Amit bought the sandals and asked the auto driver to move directly towards Silver Beach.

Shikha had already reached there. The fresh air of the beech made her feel the arrival of Amit. Amit's auto stopped at the right place, near an ATM. Amit immediately placed his gift on top of the ATM. He took out the wallet from his pocket in which he had his ATM card. He inserted the card in the ATM machine, withdrew the required amount of cash, paid the auto driver and ran towards the beach.

When he reached the beach Shikha was not found there. Then Amit dialed the number on the phone.

“Where are you ?”

“Here on the beach.”

“Oh, I am also on the beach. Where on the beach?”

"See at your backside".

Shikha was standing behind him like an angel. Amit looked at her and hugged her. Both felt a great relief.

Shikha then asked, "My Sandals?"

Amit looked at both his hands. Then he suddenly remembered something. The sandal was left on top of the ATM machine while removing the wallet. He did not say anything to Shikha but ran from there.

"Hey, where are you going Amit?"

Amit ran from there to the ATM. Shikha also ran after him. Amit saw the ATM as soon as he entered but there was no packet of sandals on top of the machine. He realized his mistake. In a hurry, Amit also searched the box for the receipt of the ATM, but there was no trace of the packet.

Amit noticed that the ATM always had closed-circuit cameras. When he looked towards the camera, it was looking at some other direction. Outside the ATM, some emergency mobile numbers were written which were also illegible. No guard was even present nearby.

Shikha had reached the ATM by then. He saw Amit in a confused state.

She said – “What happened? Why are you getting so upset? Have you forgotten your ATM card?”

"No, Shikha, I... What should I say?"

 "Hey, tell me then"

"What should I say?"

Amit was almost in tears.

“Shikha, please forgive me”.

“Hey what happened? Forgive you for what?”

"Those sandals that I took for you"

"Yes"

"They were stolen."

Shikha could not believe her ears for one second.

She said, "I suppose you are not joking, Amit"?

Amit said, "What do you think"?

Shikha turned to the other side and moved forward. Amit too did not dare to stop her.

He could only call Shikha when she turned and asked Amit a few questions.

"Amit, I hope you were not lying?"

Amit was stunned. He thought and spoke so much in a few microseconds without blinking an eyelid

"No, Shikha, I was telling the truth."

Shikha wept bitterly hugging Amit. For the first time, Amit had no words to say to Shikha. He also hugged her for a long time.

When Shikha stopped crying, her eyelids were wet. The light falling on the wet eyelids often causes confusion.

Due to this confusion, for a moment Shikha was seeing Kapil appearing before her holding two sandals as usual. But within a moment Kapil disappeared and also the sandals too.

Shikha kept on hugging Amit silently -forgetting and forgiving for his lapse.

THE END

सैंडल 

★★★★★ 

© Aditya Agnihotri

https://storymirror.com/read/story/hindi/oa85rs8z/sainddl/detail

 

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