THE SHINING MILESTONES

                                               THE SHINING MILESTONES

                                                        PART-4

Eiti took a sigh of relief and reached at the farm house. It was fully furnished and well-maintained from inside. Abhay’s uncle use to give his farm house on rent to foreigners and sometimes, Abhay and his uncle spends time together whenever uncle visits India. He was an NRI.

Abhay happily described the farm house to Eiti, “See there’s a small farm at the backside of the house. You can learn farming from the caretaker, Kumar if you want.”

Eiti was interestingly looking at each photo on walls and showpieces decorated at farm house. There were more of army type of showpieces and hangings on walls.

Abhay instructed the caretaker, “Listen Kumar, she is Eiti and she will stay here for some days. During this, please look after her. Next month, uncle Ranjit may visit here. So, you can make it up to that.” 

Eiti wanted to know about Ranjit Uncle and started questioning him, “Abhay sir, Your Ranjit uncle was also in army? I feel like this farm house is designed as an army weapon showroom.”

Abhay laughed, “Yes dear, he is retired army officer and settled at US with his family and whenever he visits India, stays here for months. We all the family members get together in this house many times because we wait for Ranjit uncle’s arrival. ”

Abhay continued about his family and Ranjit uncle like a best friend with Eiti. She stopped him while talking, “But sir, why are you saying all this to me? I don’t know your family. Suddenly you are so frank with me?”

Abhay smiled, “Oh yeah!! Sorry! I was completely lost in my memories because we army officers stay far away from our families for long time. So, We miss them a lot.”

Eiti in sad voice, “I understand”

Abhay left farm house and returned to military training camp. There Navin wanted to know about Eiti as she has created good impact on him too.

Navin asked Abhay, “dropped Eiti at her parent’s place?”

Abhay still thinking of Eiti, “Yeah dear, I haven’t seen such a brave minor. She faced many realities and have the courage to show mirror to hypocrites. I dropped her at Ranjit uncle’s farm house.”  

 Navin was surprised, “what? Are you joking?” 

Abhay calmly answered, “No, I feel sorry for that minor. Bravely she deal with hurdles, with no parents support struggles everyday with unknown challenges of life. After judging all this, I decided to keep her safe at Ranjit uncle’s farm house.”

Navin was excited to see changed Abhay, “Struggles, challenges, safe you are saying these words? Great!! She did what no one did before and changed your thinking completely. I was wondering, that how this Eiti made you a monk from the devil? What are your intentions dear? ”   

Abhay smiled, “Nothing dear, we are been trained for defense of the Country, but in this country, there are many minors who are forced to live alone and independent at the age of studies. One of them is Eiti. Atleast, I am calmed that I tried to protect one.”

Navin was also upset inside, “But Abhay, for how many days can you protect Eiti? next month your Ranjit uncle is coming, have you thought that? what next?” 

Abhay sink into deep thought for such questions but Navin was proud of him. He wanted someone like Eiti as a life partner for Abhay. On the other side, Eiti was enjoying the farm house stay. She didn’t even expected such a comfort. Some days passed like this and one day Eiti was roaming around the farms. While roaming she loved different types of farms and went beyond the fields. Later she realised this, but forgot the way to return back. There three to four goons molested her. Eiti shouted loud, but far away no single person was visible. Fortunately, Abhay reached on the time and saved her. Eiti got scared of fights and got frightened too.

Abhay shouted, “Eiti, what the hell were you doing over here? Alone and Away from farm house, what were you finding in these farms?” 

Eiti in stunned voice, “I am sorry, got bored so just thought to chillout at farms.”

Abhay continued his shouting without listening to her and also scolded caretaker Kumar, “Where the hell were you? U were instructed by me to take care of her?”

Kumar answered in fear, “Sir, I was out for grocery shopping. So, unaware about this incident.”

Abhay continued, “So, You could have taken her along.”

Kumar was embarrassed, “Sorry sir, but please don’t inform Ranjit Sir, orelse I’ll be thrown out.”

Abhay, “In future be careful.”

Abhay got more worried about Eiti and decided to teach her self-defence. Next morning, Abhay started a small training session for Eiti.

Abhay in army style, “Eiti, I here for 2-3 days. In this duration, I will train you for self-defence. I hope you will learn army discipline and some stunts to protect yourself. Is that clear?” 

Eiti starred him and words got bounced from mind. Abhay shouted in loud strict army voice, “Eiti….. are you listening? Come on take your position. We will start from some exercise.”  

Eiti was blank and asked, “Why? What is self-defence by the way? Why should I learn?”

Abhay replied, “Self-defence plays an important part in women's lives. Self-Protection is an ability that any woman can learn on a regular basis or wherever the situation requires, to make her own and others' lives safer.”

Eiti got excited, as she is curious to learn new things, “Sure sir, lets start.”

Abhay started with some exercises for the first day. On Second day, he taught a self-defence action like boxing at punching bag. As a minor, this much training was sufficient for her, rest already brave from inside. Within two days, whole time she learned with passion.

Abhay asked Eiti to continue practice, “Eiti, your two days of training is over. Boxing and exercises are sufficient to make you strong to fight and not captivated by others, which is usually seen in our society. Rest, you are already brave. ”

Eiti was impressed that Abhay did lot of efforts to improvise her. Before she could thank him, he was leaving, “Ok Eiti. I have to return back to army camp. Two days leave is over. Take care and keep practising. Bye.”  

One day, Eiti practising on punching bag, looked at a CD. It was army self-defence training CD. She asked Kumar to play the CD. Eiti and Kumar were interestingly watching the self-defence stunts and actions.

Kumar said, “Eiti, its like an action movie with full of stunts and energy.”

Eiti was enjoying, “Yeah!! I am thinking to try some of these stunts. What say?” 

Kumar laughed out loud and they continued watching and munching snacks along. Next day, she tried some easy stunts apart from boxing which she continued for 2 regular weeks. One day, Kumar fell down the stairs. At that time, Eiti did all household works and took a good care of him.

Kumar was pleased with Eiti, “Dear, till date nobody took my care like this. I was 10 years old when my parents died. Since then, doing labour and servant jobs, grew up. Completely rubbed myself into work and didn’t care. But you…..”   

Eiti calming down him, “Kumar, as a human I understand your situation. I faced the same as you did. Now sleep and today I will do grocery shopping.”

Eiti completed all the shopping and while returning back, she faced same situation of goons. Those goons were more bastards than before. They snatched her shopping bags, started teasing and dragged. This time Eiti remembered Abhay’s teachings and with determination dealed with goons. She applied boxing and those stunts seen in that CD. There were total three goons and she fought alone with them. This incident took place in middle market and people nearby were shocked to see such a brave minor kicking punches. Eiti picked scythe from a fruit cart and ran behind those goons. They ran away with speed, as they got scared of Eiti. She returned back the scythe to the fruit seller and people surrounded her with claps.

Fruit seller in thanking voice, “Dear, till today we see girls are been teased and molested by these goons. They recover money weekly(Hafta Vasool) from every seller. Even police is involved, but you are the icon of bravery in our area from now onwards.”

One fruit seller came running towards Eiti and handovers her a watermelon, “Brave girl, this is a present from all of us, as we got rid of those goons. You are not less than a Messiah, such a bravery deserves a salutation.”   

Eiti was surrounded with claps, salutations, compliments and devotions. Looking at this, for the first time in life she got fulfilled with enthusiasm and thanking Abhay from inside.

Holding watermelon, she returned back home and Kumar looked at her with concern, “Eiti, Dear where were you? You look terrific!!! Something happened in market?” 

Eiti in excitement told everything to him. With shocking reactions Kumar asked, “Dear, those goons are dangerous. You did a good job but this is not over yet.”    

Eiti care freely, “What do you mean? In fact, I thank Abhay sir a lot to make me dictatorial.”   

Kumar explained her, “Listen dear, you are so innocent in this case. Police is also involved with them, that’s why all are helpless. I suggest you to please stay away from market area. I will recover and back to my daily routine tomorrow.”

Eiti and Kumar continued their chit-chat. Some weeks passed like this, and the day was near to Ranjit uncle’s arrival. Abhay picked up Eiti again and this time the address was at city side.

Eiti asked, “This time where will you drop me?”

Abhay in relaxed voice, “My aunty in city. Her son left for UK last month. She is ill and no body to take care of her. No servent available, but good neighbours who helps for medical facilities. I heard from Kumar that you took good care of him. Hope the same for my aunty.” 

Eiti asked, “By the way, thanks for teaching me self-defence training. This helped me a lot. Because at that moment, I came to know about fearless Eiti. ”

Abhay smiled, “Yeah, I heard about your bravery too from Kumar. This place is safe and you can stay comfortably. Only expectations from you is to take good care of my old aunty. Rest you are sensible.”

Eiti’s interests to know about Abhay’s intentions, “Last time farm house, today aunty’s house. What’s going on in your mind sir? Now, please tell me the duration to stay.”

Abhay’s calm reply, “Because you are trustworthy and independent to take care of yourself well. Don’t worry about your salary. You will get good income.”

Eiti carefree voice, “Not salary, accommodation is the main concern.”

Abhay gave the details of his old aunty’s house and nearby areas while driving. It was 45 minutes drive from the farm house to the city. He assured the safety and facilities available for medical emergencies as his old aunty is not keeping well.

                                               *************************************************************