I am busy with my computer when
Bahadur enters my cabin.
“When did you come, Madam?” he
asks.
“Oh, just now, a few minutes
ago.” I answer without taking my eyes from the screen.
Then I realize that he is still
standing there.
I look at him questioningly.
“I was at the reception and I did
not see you,” he complains.
“Maybe I came in an invisibility
cloak,” I joke but he does not smile. He
goes out reluctantly.
After five minutes, he returns
with a cup of coffee.
“Madam, at what time did you
leave yesterday?” Bahadur pretends to be casual but there is something funny
about his question.
“Bahadur, you know better than me
that we have a definite time to come in, but never for leaving the office“, I
am getting little irritated. I have a report to complete and this guy is asking
stupid questions early in the morning.
“Now, go away, I have to complete this document. Then I will answer all
your questions,” I almost order him.
***
Fifteen more minutes and Kapil
enters. “Madam, Sirjee is calling you.” He tells me. OMG, the boss is already
here and I am still in the midst of the document. But no excuses! I will have
to bargain for at least an hour.
“Savitri, Yes, where is the
report?” boss asks without any formalities.
“Sir, just give me an hour. I am
giving final touches to it.” I say politely.
Boss looks at me with surprise.
“But you were to complete and email me the report last night.” He barks.
“Sorry Sir. Just 60 minutes and
it will be perfect.” I add apologetically. I am the Project Leader, so he knows
I am the best person to write this report. He nods and I start leaving.
“By the way, last evening why did
you not pick up my calls?” he asks.
“Your calls? Sir?” I am surprised.
“Why did you switch your cell
phone off?” He looks sternly at me.
I pull out my cell phone from the
pocket.
I am bit confused. How come my
cell phone is switched off? I think fast.
“Sorry Sir, the Metro does not
provide charging points and the battery was almost over, so I switched it off,”
I am telling a complete lie. He too knows. He is asking about why it was
switched off yesterday. But he looks
concerned.
“Are you telling me that you
traveled by Metro today to reach office?” boss asks.
“Yes Sir, as usual,” I am happy
with the change of topic.
“Have you lost your mind? Since
yesterday evening, Delhi Metro is not running. There was a bomb blast at Rajiv
Chauk station. Don’t tell me you don’t know that. If you want to tell a lie, at
least be smart enough about it.” Now his rising temper is visible. I am
clueless.
Raina, my colleague helps out, “Sir
that blast was on Dwarka line. They have restored the Huda City Center line
today morning. Savitri must have taken an auto from Central Secretariat.”
I am indeed thankful to Raina.
*****
I come back to my cabin and
concentrate. The doubts can wait for a while; the report is the topmost
priority now. I am good at focusing, so I complete the report and send it to
the boss. On this final report the remaining 20% fund release will happen – so
this report needs to be perfect. However, as I am working with this
international funding agency for a decade, I know what they want and I have
done it without any kind of exaggeration.
I press the bell and ask Bahadur
for a cup of coffee. Now I can entertain his questions. In the mean time, I
switch on the cell phone and see number of missed calls. It seems that all the
people from A to Z in my contact list have called. I have to call back at least
some of them But when did I switch off the cell phone and why? I also find it surprising that there is no call from Shaunak.
With Bahadur, comes in Raina.
Bahadur waits in the corner. Raina asks in a conspiracy tone, “By the way, how
did you come to office today? You should have called me and I would have picked
you up somewhere near your residence.”
“You know it, you told it to
boss, and why are you asking me again?” I feel uneasy.
“To tell you the truth, not a
single Metro line is yet restored, I said so to save you from wrath of boss.”
He says. Is he joking? My head starts spinning.
Diya comes in – bubbling with
enthusiasm as usual.
“Are you not well?” she asks.
“Why, I am fine. What makes you
think so?” I am not at all polite with her though she is not at fault.
“No, your clothes are not ironed
today. Oh, look, you are wearing the same set of clothes that you were wearing
yesterday. Is something wrong with you?” She starts laughing initially and then
sounds worried.
“Oh, just did not get time to
iron it. But I had washed it yesterday evening.” I say casually. I make out a story – that after
bomb blast I took a cab; I was caught in traffic jam; the network was
temporarily stopped by officials and I stayed with one of my friends. In the
mean time the battery was down …
Neither Diya, nor Raina nor
Bahadur are convinced. They exchange looks hoping that I have not noticed it.
They leave but I am sure the
discussion continues outside.
*****
Is it all a dream and actually
nothing of this sort has ever happened?
It is only that my office colleagues are playing a mischief with me? Let
me check about the bomb blast first – whether it is right or not.
I open e-paper and the images
tell the true story. The Metro as Raina mentioned is not yet running. I open my
purse. My debit card, I card, entry pass, cash – everything is intact.
I make few calls. Everyone shouts
at me for switching off mobile and not calling them. After the news of bomb
blast, everyone is concerned about my safety and security. I repeat the story.
They are angry but happy that I am safe. This continues for more than an hour.
The Tiffin lady (who delivers
home cooked food to me) too calls. “Deedee, you did not come in the morning.
Yesterday night too Bipin said that the house was locked so he brought the
Tiffin back.” I explain again and ask her to send Tiffin today night.
Now I sigh. Something is absolutely
wrong here.
When did I leave yesterday
evening? Why don’t I remember anything about bomb blast? How did I reach home?
If I did not go there, where was I the whole night? Why did I switch off my cell
phone? Why did I not complete the report? Why I am wearing the same clothes? Why
Bahadur could not see me coming in? if Metro is not running, how did I reach
this office?
Questions after questions.
“Am I dead?” I ask myself.
No, it can’t be. My heart is
beating, I have taken two cups of coffee since morning, I have done a quick report
finalization job, I can breathe, I am anxious. If I am dead, I can’t be doing
all these things.
Was I drugged? But then my body
and mind both seem alright – no scratches. Did I sleep in the office itself and
nobody noticed? But then I would have remembered that. And Bahadur always
checks the whole office before locking.
Was I kidnapped by some aliens? That
seems to be the only possibility – I say sarcastically to myself.
*****
Cell phone rings. I am surprised
to receive a call from Avinash. He is Shaunak’s friend and Shaunak you must have guessed rightly is my husband. Why is Avinash calling instead of Shaunak and
at this hour?
“Savitri, here is a good and a
bad news for you. Which one you want first?” he asks. He seems to be in a good
spirit.
“Where is Shaunak?” I ask.
“Don’t worry, he is absolutely
fine. “ Avinash assures.
“Where is he? Is anything wrong
with him?” I demand.
“Savitri, listen. Shaunak had a
bad accident yesterday, must be around 7.00 PM India time when it happened….”
“What?” I shout before he
completes.
“But nothing to worry. He is
completely out of danger now. I called you because he keeps on telling me a
funny thing and he wants me to tell you that immediately.” Avinash sounds
little confused.
“And what is it?” I wait.
“Well, it sounds weird. But
Shaunak keeps on repeating that you saved his life. It was you who fought and
brought him back from the clutches of Death.”
I smile.
Now I understand the mystery of
that last night.
No time to think about it. Maybe
I will be able to put the pieces together when I meet Shaunak.
However, that will come later. Now I will take the first
available flight and see Shaunak. This is my top
priority today night . How would I explain that last night to the world, will always remain a problem.
****
