The Zero Hour

She sat in a corner completely aloof in a  Moss Green  Kanjeevaram with  Golden border . Her lustrous black mane caressed her shoulders  and framed her beautiful proud face. The rich coffee brown skin glowed . Those kohl lined brown eyes , scanned the  marriage hall  with slow deliberation -sliding from person to person , object to object .. lazily resting on something , never  on a person – always on a thing- the back of a chair , the navy blue velvet drapes , the carpet . As if people are of no consequence at all !

Oh !she knew ! She knew she was beautiful.

The waiters hovered around her  too eager to serve , the male guests , knowingly , unknowingly , compulsively walked past her  time and again under false pretexts – well most of the times! formed small  groups , laughed too loudly, talked softly , must be  cracking crude jokes Neha was sure !

What  do they want ? Neha wondered..  who wants to  love her ? And who wants  to devour ?! Because remaining unaffected by her was  just  not an option.  

Suddenly she got up and stood there for a moment holding on to the table as if she was afraid of loosing balance and fall..then started  towards the food counter .. and for the first time Neha noticed something odd.. her walk . it was a slow  deliberate walk . May be she was  drunk.. drugs?! May be..

Neeha could not look away , she liked “reading” people and their mannerism. She secretly wanted to be a writer someday!

“What’s you story  Princess  ! what’s weighing you down?”  Neha  wondered softly .

What are you staring at ? Neetu asked softly from behind sliding  in to a chair beside Neha sipping a Pina Colada .  “ look at my guy –acting silly ! I mean should he not sit beside me , hold my hand , ask me to accompany  him to the garden and behind a pillar or a mango tree , give me a passionate kiss? Oh ! no! why would he – he would rather stand with his cronies and stare at that gorgeous Diva—who is she by the way  ?!”

“I don’t know who she is and That’s too harsh ! “ Neha laughed . “Poor Ravi , he has come for only 3 days  from Bangalore . You played hooky yesterday and spent the whole day with him coochicooing  . let him catch up a bit  with his friends today . Do not get so possessive !

Neetu raised one  eyebrow mischievously  and sipping her drink , tugged at Neha , ok! Ok! Lets go check on  the bride .. cant watch  these guys’ puppy act anymore .

After almost a year all friends were meeting at Kuntal’s  marriage at Kolkata . the Y-23  batch from Pune University . In college Kuntal and Nayan were an item .Both got selected in the campus and now at  their parent’s insistence, they were  tying the knot before moving to Mumbai.  Nayan is from Mumbai. Neha and  Neetu  from Pune . Neetu is juggling a career and a long distance relationship with Ravi , who worked in  Bangaluru.

In Kuntal’s bedroom , the beautician was busy wrestling with  her waist  length thick   curly hair weaving in golden flowers  . Kuntal in a   bright red Benarasee  ,  Nath  ,  jhumkas in her dainty feet, gold and pearl  kamarbandh looked  like a goddess .

“You all are not my friends …  nobody is with me , everybody is outside having fun , eating  and here I am for two hours  sitting on a chair , getting painted and she says she will take ‘only’ 2 hours  more!!”

The poor lady smiled and while putting a beautiful golden flower in her hair said “ on your marriage day u have to take some pain , today is your day , you have to look  the  very best “

“She’s got  competition “ .. Neetu teased flopping on to the bed . Kuntal’ eys narrowed  ‘’  you mean Diana ?!  “ 

“ She is gorgeous, who is she? “ Neha asked , nudging Neetu.

 Umm..  my chhoto masi’s daughter . Y-19 batch . Computer Engineering . Brilliant girl. Worked at XXXXX  for about  6 months , before they sacked her.. For last 3 years no job.

“Oh..”  both Neha and Neetu were staring at Kuntal .. The beautician was fumbling with another golden flower .

“Can you believe , in last  one year this is the first time she has come out of her house , and that is to because its my marriage – her only cousin . “

Why  what happened ? Neha  asked .. she was thinking about her earlier thoughts .. its funny how one’s perspectives change ..

“Arre – work place harassments .. The  manager was a lousy bastard . Used to harass her . would unnecessarily call her to his chamber . Would make passes . Tell dirty jokes in her presence . Height was in one of the office parties another colleague saw him spiking the drink  and tipping the waiter to offer it to her .If it were not for that teammate  ,  she would  have been ------ .” She trailed off.

“Oh my God.. what are you saying ? XXXX  has such good reputation…  all from Computers wanted to join them. I was thinking of sending my CV there ..” Neetu quipped  .

Ya.. Nehas was finding it hard to process ..”from our batch Rehan and   Devi   are working there . I am in their FB. They seem to be pretty happy . I cant believe this ..

Kuntal shrugged . “ Next day she complained to the HR , The company made a farce of setting an internal committee . . The teammate refused to come forward ..  The committee declared her allegations  false and fired her. Sent The manager abroad  on a onsite assignment .. “

  “That’s not the end of the world –  why did she not try elsewhere ?”  Neetu asked , taking a kebab from Neha’s plate .

“ she did .. But in Kolkata job prospects are not many. Somehow  her case became  known to other employers across industry . So her CV kept on getting rejected .  It  would seem  Daina because of her striking looks   had become famous for all the wrong reasons.. There were crank calls , Mean FB posts from former colleagues , taunts from relatives . . her Parents were fed up.”  

The beautician had stopped working entirely  .. Kuntal looked  at her and said “aunty , why don’t you go grab a coffee and some kebabs? Leave us alone for 10 minutes Please ? “

The lady looked at  them and nodded  “ OK beta .. but please hurry , I am coming back in 10minutes” . And left . She was going to check on Daina , Neha was sure of it. 

“Her parents  even wanted to marry her off .. she refused .”  Kuntal continued “and after 3-4 rejections , Daina stopped trying . she would come to our house and sit in the drawing room vacantly staring at the  TV . Maa  tried talking to her , but she would not talk.”

“Then Covid happened  . She stopped stepping out of her house  . there were fights  between mother and daughter .. somehow the whole thing   had gradually become Diana’s fault.. “

“In January this year she had a nervous breakdown – after  nearly 3 years sitting in the house , we had dragged her to Hard Rock Café .. at first it was ok.. she was silently sipping a mocktail.. then suddenly she started crying . we tried  to console her .. but she would not stop. She cried louder and louder .. then she was screaming- just one syllable Ha…..Ha….  she was clutching  the table in front and went on screaming .. and she would not stop.. then she..  wet herself .”  Kuntal stopped speaking . The horror of that evening a year back seemed to have happened just the day before..

What did you do? How did you bring her home ? .. Neha was finding it difficult to speak.   Her heart felt heavy with guilt ..  what right she had to judge somebody just from appearance ..

 “we did not know what to do..” Kuntal continued ..”I called masi and told her what happened then we booked a cab and literally pushed her in to it . Thank God Nayan was with us that night .. .  She had  become quite in the cab.. she sat there like a stone for the entire 1 hr ride home . when we reached her place she got down and quietly entered her house , Masi was waiting at the gate  .. Daina did not look at her , did not talk to anybody , went  to her room and banged the door shut “ that was 26th  Jan .. today is 15th December , this is the first time she has left her house  ..” 

Neha and  Neetu sat there stunned. Kuntal’s lips quivered . Neha squeezed her hand and  shook her gently.. “hey darling don’t cry , please don’t cry , your make up will get ruined then you will have to sit here for another 4 hours.”

Kuntal  held on to her friends’ arms and said  in a  small halting voice .. “Neha , please go to her  . she is a sweetheart . Please go and sit with her – just keep her company.” There was a soft knock .The beautician had returned.

Neha and Neetu got up . Neha turned to Kuntal “ don’t worry . I will be with her.”

They left the room . Neetu looked at Neha   and whispered  “what are you going to do?”

Neha shrugged “ Nothing.. I will go and sit with her ,as Kuntal said and keep  her company. Go find Ravi . He is leaving tomorrow .”

Neetu looked worried “ you will be ok?”

Neha nodded and looked across the hall.

Diana was still sitting in that same corner with a plate  of untouched food  . But now she had company.. 2 guys were sitting in front of her and trying to strike a conversation. Neha grabbed a coffe and some finger food and walked to their table . Both the guys looked up . “Aunty is calling you two ” she said casually.  Both of them stood up confused .. Neha again looked at them and said “ Go..  aunty needs help” she could see they did not believe her .. so she went on staring at them .. after a moment they must have thought “ what the heck..” and left the table.

Neha looked across at Daina . she was watching her , when their eyes met , she smiled faintly and said Hi!

Neha smiled and  dragging a chair sit down. “ Hi! Diana, I am Neha !”

Diana haltingly said .. “u know  me ?”

“yes”

“O..”

Diana looked away.. as if holding another person’s gaze even for a moment needed too  much of effort then haltingly said

“I am sorry .. I am not much of a company.. “

“That’s ok” Neha did not know what else to say .. she was no therapist  ..

Diana’s phone started vibrating .

She looked at it and got up. “ my driver has come , I will leave now..”

“You wont stay for the wedding? “

“No.. Please tell Kuntal . she will understand. Mom is inside . I don’t want to go in.. please tell them I have left” And turned  to leave.

Neha too stood up and desperately said “ Diana , you need to try to heal , try to move on , don’t let the world defeat you “

Diana turned she had a startled look ..

Neha continued in the same breath.. she was afraid she  would not get another chance “ leave Kolkata for some time , try to look for jobs in Pune and Bengalore . there are far more opportunities there . I am from Pune .. u can stay with me dear . just give yourself another chance . you deserve it ..”

Diana’s went on staring at Neha . after what seemed like an eternity softly asked ” you really mean it?”

Yes , dear , Yes..

Why?

“I don’t know ..” Neha desperately searched for the right words “ May be because its not your war alone .. Tomorrow I may become a victim  . These harassments will increase if we quit so easily. If u quit today. This is your zero hour  Daina . this moment  is the Zero hour. This moment decides how you will be living rest of your life.. don’t leave .. don’t quit . please stay. Lets enjoy your sister’s wedding  today. Tomorrow lets meet in the morning and plan how to heal you , how  you should start all over , how we can fight this menace”

Diana stood there rooted .. Tall and proud.. all of 5.7”  with 2” stilettos.. all a façade Neha realized . All only appearance . She had created this regal aura   hoping people would  find it difficult to approach her. Inside that façade lived a very broken girl…

Neha slowly started walking towards her ..” Lets join hands to take control of our lives .  Ur case is not Unique Diana , we all face it .men face it too. In a society where justice comes late even babies are not spared .”

 “Pune , Bangalore .. you think they are safer then Kolkata ?” Diana for the first time smiled a sad sarcastic smile .. her eyes had become moist .

Neha slowly reached out and held the other girl’s hand.

“No. there is a problem in our society .. sexual harassments , bulling in work places -they are rampant , because they are unchecked . May be time has come to think of a strategy to fight it differently . Let ‘s brain storm tomorrow .I am asking Neetu and Ravi, her fiancé to join us . Ravi is  practicing corporate law. he will have a different perspective .  You know  we all should form a solid Network through Insta, FB.. Fighting this menace intelligently , incessantly with solid legal backing is important .. Honestly I don’t know how such a movement and  such a support system can be created , but discussing , taking in to different perspectives will surely pave the way.”

 “ You  are righ, quitting is not the solution.. “  Diana looked at Neha   and that  sad unsure  face slowly  broke in to a soft hesitant smile.

“I want to live , I want to heal Neha , I want to be happy.. but it will take a long long time time..I am afraid “

“ Don’t be afraid . Take your time dear , with professional help, supportive friends and relatives its very much possible..”  

 “So.. tomorrow will be our Zero Hour ?” Diana asked shyly.

“Nope !  Today  is . this moment is . and it  starts with Us . It starts with u calling ur driver and asking him to wait .  Then our going to the food counter and checking out what all Kuntal has planned to feed us. Tomorrow we will plan your trip to Pune  and we will plan how to make our world a better place. “

“ You Promise ?”

“Yes I Promise. “