The Last Wish

He re-checked his boarding pass; the number was correct it was indeed F 7 window seat.

But someone else was sitting there. He stood and watched. The man was immersed in reading a book. Kantaraj cleared his throat and the man looked up.

“I think the window seat is mine,” said Kantaraj. The man stood up and came out so that Kantaraj can go inside and sit.

The man sat on the aisle seat, kept his book away and extending his hand said, “I am extremely sorry I sat in your seat. 

I had to use all my contacts and twist a few arms in the bargain in London to get a seat on this flight; I was desperate to travel only by this flight, you see.

By the way, I am Dr. Alok. Please call me Alok. I just mentioned my profession out of habit.” Said Alok smilingly.

Kantaraj clasped Alok’s hand and said. “There is no need to apologize, doctor; we travel so frequently mistakes do happen. By the way, I am Kantaraj. I prefer window seat otherwise; I wouldn’t have asked you to get up”

Kantaraj looked at Alok; he was a young and handsome man of around 35 or so. He had a well-maintained physique and a very pleasant face and smile. Very good assets for a doctor, thought Kantaraj.

Kantaraj looked at Alok and spoke, with the intention of changing the subject.

“Is this trip to India, a business trip or personal?”

Alok looked at Kantaraj and smiled.

“It is a very special and personal trip. And, you?”

Kantaraj looked out of window and spoke.

“I am going back to India after a long gap; may be 12 - 13 years. I have a conference to attend and then meet some relatives whom I have not seen for ages.”

Both men just chatted away about delay in flight for a while. Kantaraj observed that Alok kept the book in the magazine rack of the front seat. He couldn’t make out the title as there were other magazines kept and it obscured his view.

After a while, Alok took out the book and leafed through the small book and found out the page which he was reading.

Kantaraj could now see the title and his heart skipped a beat or two; it was P.S.I Love You by Cecelia Ahem and it looked very much like the one he had once; the front page had turned yellow and had aged.

He looked at Alok and asked hesitatingly. “Alok, can I look at your book if you don’t mind?”

Alok took his eyes off the book and looked at Kantaraj and appear to hesitate.

After pondering what to say and how to say, he said hesitatingly. “I am sorry. This may sound almost preposterous. I normally don’t give this book to anyone. Please don’t get me wrong. There are lots of hand written notes inside the book and I am afraid I might lose them; they are too precious to me.”

Kantaraj couldn’t believe what he heard. He was now sure that it is the same book, which he owned once.

His heart pounding, Kantaraj spoke in a shaking voice. “By any chance these hand written notes belong to a woman?”

Alok smiled and said, “Yes. Indeed, they are written by a very special and a very pretty woman.”

 Kantaraj was at once relieved and intrigued. He was about to say something when Alok folded the book and handed it over to Kantaraj and said. “You can have a look at it. Please, just be careful with those notes.

You see, I can easily preserve them by putting them away in some safe place. But they are too precious and important for me. I carry them wherever I go and this book is the only place, I believe where they must be held.”

Kantaraj took the book, his hands trembling, leafed through the book and slowly turned to page no.17 hoping he wouldn’t see what he was expecting.

He was shocked!

The small yellowed handwritten note, indeed was in Adit’s handwriting.

Kantaraj closed his eyes and slowly, a couple of drops of water trickled down from his eyes.

This can’t be true; his mind fought the battle within.

Alok was busy going through his handbag and was searching for something, didn’t notice Kantaraj.

Kantaraj quickly wiped his tears and casually went to page no. 26. He was not disappointed. The second hand written note too was very much intact; in the same handwriting.

This couldn’t be happening, thought Kantaraj. After a gap of nearly 3 years! Why? Is this for real? Have I found her finally?

He didn’t go through two more sections of the book; he knew the notes will be there.

He gently closed the book, held to his chest and looked at Alok who was tidying up his bag and once finished, put his bag away and looked at Kantaraj who was staring at him.

Alok looked at Kantaraj and said. “Raj Oh? I am Sorry. Is that how you prefer to be called or… by your full name?”

Kantaraj gave the book back and Alok took it in his hand carefully as if it was very precious.

“Raj is fine. All my friends call me Raj. All the four handwritten notes are interesting by the way. He looked searchingly towards Alok.

“Five? You mean, said Alok and looked questioningly at Kantaraj

Kantaraj held his breath and spoke, surprise in his voice. Aditi wrote only four; how can it be five, he thought.

Alok looked at Kantaraj’ s confused face and smiled. “The fifth one is written by me. Did you get to see it by the way?”

Kantaraj was relieved; he was right; only four notes. He smiled at Alok and shook his head in negative and asked.

“What did you write?”

Alok looked at Kantaraj and then looked outside the window and replied. “I couldn’t match what she had written. I only wrote a note to myself.”

Where should he begin? How to ask him the details? By God, this kind of coincidences happens only in films and novels; they don’t happen in real life, thought Kantaraj.

“You seem to have been lost in thought. The book or notes? Did they trigger your memory to something?” Asked Alok laughing.

Kantaraj took a deep breath and spoke in a measured tone. “So, yours was a love marriage, I suppose? Where and when did you meet your wife. You seem to be head over heels in love?”

Alok looked at Kantaraj but his eyes were not looking at him. He was lost in thought.

After few seconds, he shook his head and said. “Well, the way I met the girl was through an accident, literally and figuratively.

This happened almost 3 years ago. I was driving my car to the hospital. Normally I don’t use my mobile either for talking or texting when I drive. But on that day, unfortunately, a patient kept on texting me as I normally don’t receive calls unless it is from the hospital.

Then I remembered that I only had asked the patient to text me as she was not getting the medicine I prescribed and the shop keeper suggested an alternate medicine which she wanted to check with me.

I looked briefly at the message and took my eyes off the road; the next thing I knew was a girl falling in front of my car as I had hit her inadvertently. The girl too had not seen the car and was crossing the road.

Of course, I braked hard and because of the impact, she fell down and was unconscious for a brief period. Not much damage had taken place to her, physically. But nevertheless, I took her in my car and took her to the hospital, though she kept protesting.”

It was literally, love at first sight for me.” His eyes twinkling, said Alok.

Kantaraj simply sat there like a stone; Oh my God. Why did you do it? I was waiting for her and searched for her everywhere; it never struck me that she could have met with an accident.

Alok looked at Kantaraj who sat there without any response and asked, in a worried voice. “Raj…. Raj…. are you alright? Are you facing any medical problem or something? Please let me know…”

Kantaraj realised that he was casting needless doubt on himself and need to tackle the situation a little more diplomatically. He looked at Alok and said. “No, no, no…everything is fine. I was overwhelmed by your story. Which city, by the way, this happened? Please continue.”

Relieved that nothing is wrong with his co-passenger, Alok relaxed and continued.

“In the same city where both of us boarded the plane. London.

In the hospital, the girl appeared to be very anxious and wanted to go. It was me who protested. One reason is that as my car bonnet had hit her, I suspected a concussion and as a matter of abundant precaution, wanted her to undergo MRI scanning. There was already a patient in the scanning room so, she had to wait.

I asked her many times as to why she was in a hurry to go; all she said was she was about to meet a person.”

Kantaraj closed his eyes; the scene flashed vividly.

He stared at his image in the mirror and adjusted his tie. The colour of the shirt, as she had asked for, was grey though, Kantaraj wanted a blue shirt.

The suit too was matching and he looked and searched for grey hair and finally, after a couple of minutes, he found one.

With great difficulty, he plucked it and, in the bargain, disturbed his neatly combed hair.

He brushed his hair once again and checked his belongings; the diamond ring was kept on the dressing table as he wanted to put it in his coat pocket.

He did a last-minute check, locked the door, checked his mobile and left in his car.

He wanted to make the call from his car. As he taxied out of the compound, he called the number and waited.

The phone was ringing.

He disconnected thinking she too must be in a last-minute preparation herself, and smiled.

He dialed after a minute and it was picked up immediately.

“Can’t you wait for 5 minutes? Girls need extra time for preparation. Being a man, I know you checked your image in the mirror at least three times.

By the way, did you find it.”?

He loved her lilting voice and yearned for her to continue. But she had asked a question so he cleared his throat and said. “how did you know it was three times? And what was your question?” I didn’t get it.

“I asked you, whether you were able to find it.? Said the girl.

“Find what” he asked, confused.

“Oh? Don’t do drama. Ok? I know everything about you. In fact, you yourself may not know few things that I know.

I asked whether you found that one grey hair you were searching for? 

He laughed out loud and said.

“You are right on that one. You know me better than any living soul in this world.

“Ok. Ok. Enough. Now drive safely and meet me in the café.”

The line was disconnected and Kantaraj drove, smiling broadly.

“Where were you, Mr. Raj? You seem to have been lost completely.” Alok said smilingly.

Kantaraj realised that he was sitting on the plane and looked at Alok.

“Do you know what you were doing? You were actually smiling when you had closed your eyes and dreaming. I am sure, it must be a girl whom you were remembering and smiling. Tell me honestly?” Alok chided.

Kantaraj didn’t know what to say.

He looked outside and saw white clouds passing through the window which he could touch.

He made up his mind and spoke.

“Yes. Indeed, it was a girl. I was on my way to meet her but……” Kantaraj swallowed the words.

Kantaraj steadied his voice and spoke. “I will tell you about mine, later. But you were mid-way through your accidental love story, Alok. Pease complete it.”

Alok smiled.

Oh, yes. It was one of the best accident stories that can happen to anyone. The girl got the scanning done and the report would have taken a long time to come so, she expressed her desire to go back. She then asked me about her hand bag.

Honestly, in my urgency to ger her to the hospital, I never bothered to find out whether she was carrying anything with her.

So, I took her in my car and we went to the same place where I hit her with my car. We searched for her hand-bag everywhere. But I couldn’t find it. Obviously, someone must have taken it away.

The girl started crying. She lost her mobile and with it almost all her contact details.

She looked at me angrily and was about to walk away when my phone rang.

It was from the duty doctor; he wanted me to get back immediately and if possible, bring the girl also back.

I was disturbed. Why the duty doctor was asking me to get the girl also back?

I looked at the girl, her eyes welled up, cheeks red both from crying and anger. I just couldn’t help myself but smile; even in that situation.

I virtually dragged the girl back to the hospital though she vehemently protested.

I left her in my cabin and went looking for the duty doctor who had telephoned me.

I just stood there listening to the duty doctor who had put the scanning reports in front of me and was looking at me expectantly.

I just couldn’t believe what I saw.

The girl had a tumor in her brain and …...”

Alok stopped and his eyes welled up, his voice shook. “The cancer was in an advanced stage; she had only a few months at the most, to live.”

Kantaraj stood up involuntarily and stared in disbelief at Alok.

Alok was alarmed. “I am sorry, Raj. I know I upset you. Who wouldn’t get upset when they listen to a story where such a beautiful and very good human being is going to be whisked away by death?”

Kantaraj took courage, exhaled deeply and in a voice barely audible, spoke.

“How come she didn’t know it? Were there no symptoms?”

Alok, his eyes still wet, looked at Kantaraj and spoke.

“The cancer is such a decease Raj, that most of the time, one gets to know its presence only at the advanced stage. Normally, the regular symptoms such as headache, imbalance etc., are not found in many patients.”

Kantaraj looked at Alok and weighed his words carefully before speaking.

“Doctor Alok, you still haven’t told me the name of the girl.”

Alok looked at Kantaraj and spoke. “I am sorry. I should have told you in the beginning. Her name was…”

Kantaraj held his breath and looked at Alok expecting he might come out with some other name; he was wrong!

“Aditi. She was as cute as her name. Very intelligent too.” Said Alok.

Kantaraj stood up again and spoke sharply without realizing.

“Alok! Why are you using the past tense? Did she?” he couldn’t continue; he slumped in the chair.

Alok regained composure and spoke squeezing Kantaraj’ s shoulder.

“I am really sorry Raj. I am needlessly spoiling your journey with my story.

Kantaraj protested. “No Alok. You are doing a favour. Now, please, tell me what happened”?

“When I got confirmation that Aditi was indeed was suffering from a brain tumor, I had no other option but, to tell the truth.

She had to stay in the hospital for one more day, as few more tests had to be conducted.

When I sat on the chair next to her bed, she looked at me and told me not to come to the hospital next day. When I protested, she pleaded me to let her have a full day for herself. She wanted to do some deep thinking, she said.

Alok exhaled deeply and looked at Kantaraj and spoke after nearly two minutes of silence.

“I obliged her and went one day later, got her discharged and told her that I will take her home. She did not want to go home. Instead, she told me to take her to a restaurant.

We sat there without talking. After a while, Aditi asked me whether I can take her to India.

She wanted to spend the last few months in Kolkatta; the place where she was brought up.

She had no relatives living in Kolkatta.”

Alok looked outside the plane’s window and recollected his meeting with Aditi.

He simply sat across the table looking at the beautiful girl and wondered. Aditi was looking absolutely stunning in the maroon coloured dress which Alok bought her.

Why should god take away such a lovely person, that too when she is so young?

Aditi looked at Alok and spoke; her voice barely audible.

“Alok. can you take me Kolkatta? I want to spend my ….” Aditi stopped and looked outside and then after a while continued. “last few months in that City. How will you manage? You have your own profession to take care of?”

Alok looked at Aditi and spoke; “Anything for you Aditi. Don’t worry about my job. I will apply for sabbatical.”

“One more wish, perhaps, I should say, my last wish, Alok. It is a bit complicated. Can you promise me you will fulfill it?”

Alok held Adit’s hand, gently squeezed it, looked into her eyes and said, “tell me what do you want?”

Alok came back to present. Kantaraj was looking at him expectantly.

He looked at Kantaraj and continued.

“We left immediately; I wanted to ensure that Aditi enjoyed every minute the way she wanted to spend.”

Kantaraj stood up and without looking at Alok said, “I will use the rest room and come back.”

Kantaraj locked the toilet door and wept.

Now he knew why he couldn’t trace her.

She deliberately left to Kolkatta once she knew she had cancer.

Kantaraj recollected his conversation with Aditi a few years ago when they were sitting in a park.

“do you know what is true love, Raj?”

Kantaraj looked into her beautiful blue eyes and smiled. “You my dear. You are true love.”

Aditi looked at the garden blooming with flowers; it was spring!

She smiled and said. “No, Raj. True love is not a person or anything.

True love is sacrifice.

If you really love someone, you will sacrifice anything for them; not just material things, but you sacrifise…….to the extent of even leaving them permanently if you think, that is the best for that person.”

Kantaraj knew why Aditi didn’t bother to find him. She could have, if she wanted to.

She loved him so much that she wanted to leave him.

Kantaraj came back to his seat and observed that Alok was reading the book and the notes and smiling to himself.

Alok kept the book and looked at Raj and spoke.

“Have you been to Kolkatta, Raj? I have been traveling to Kolkatta every year at the same time for the past three years.

That’s where my Aditi is resting. It was one of her wishes.”

Kantaraj held Alok’s hands and squeezed. “You are a very lucky man Alok, to spend time with a girl like Aditi. You didn’t tell me about your marriage?”

Alok smiled.

We never got married, Raj; Aditi did not want to marry me; she wanted me to be her companion for the rest of her, what ever time left.

I agreed.

I took a sabbatical and we traveled; My father migrated to England from India when I was just two-years old and whenever I went to India, it was always official visits like seminar etc., and had never seen the country properly.

God, I had never ever believed that India could be so big and so beautiful.”

Kantaraj took a deep breath and weighed his words before he spoke.

“Where in Kolkatta?

Alok looked at Kantaraj and smiled and said,

“Everywhere.

She wanted me to sprinkle her ashes all over the city. She said, every time you visit the city, you should feel me in the air and once the rain comes, she said she will descend to the earth and will mingle with flowers.”

Kantaraj closed his eyes and wept silently.

Both men got ready to get down in Mumbai airport.

Alok stood up and shook Kantaraj’ s hand and looked into his eyes and spoke.

“I am catching another flight to Kolkatta. I am really sorry. I spoke so much about myself that I never bothered to ask anything about you.

By the way, are you going to be in Mumbai or travelling somewhere else?”

 “I am traveling to Kolkatta too. I have to meet someone.” said Kantaraj with a far away look in his eyes.

Alok kept his face straight and looked at Kantaraj and said,

“Really? Oh, in that case, maybe we might bump into one another again? Where will you be meeting this person in Kolkatta, may I know?”

Kantaraj smiled and said, “Near Rabindra Sarovar. In fact, I am going there after a long time.”

Alok smiled and shook hands again.

Even as Kantaraj took his luggage and walked out to buy ticket to Kolkatta, Alok stood there, took out the small book from the pocket, held it in his hands and spoke loudly.

“After searching all over England, I finally found him, Aditi. Like you said, the book was the key. He is on his way to meet you, Aditi.

As promised, I have completed your last wish.”