Kumar kept looking at Aruna's car in a daze. He guessed that she would commit suicide. He was terribly upset because he was helpless. He Anybody who saw her facial feelings at that moment can easily guess what is going to happen. He looked at the TV journalists who interviewed her staring at her. They looked like cameras with legs. They see everything with their cameras. Don't they see anything with their eyes? Perhaps they are on duty! Is it not their duty to save a human. Only if she has a friend among journalists with whom she poured out her heart! He was amazed to see a a senior journalist running after her car. By then her car exited the gate. Leaving his camera to his assistant he got into his car and followed her car.
***
Aruna's car entered PV Narasinharao marg. The traffic is now free because all the party people are still at the party. After the party meeting is over the traffic is expect to shoot up. The white Innova is going with the speed of wind. A red Maruti Alto was trailing far behind. The man in the red car pressed the accelerator. The little red car went got close to the Big white car. It looked like an ant chasing elephant. After ten minutes The white car reached necklace road. Aruna stopped her car at the Love HYD sculpture which was erected on the edge of Hussainsagar lake. A boy took photos leaning to the giant letters had gone. Aruna got off the car and looked around. The road was empty. She looked at the letters " Love HYD." How can I love Hyderabad when I can not love my life?" She went behind the letters. There was iron railing with silver coating. She stood there looking at the water. Is the water deep enough ? She was thinking.
146 deaths and 510 suicide attempts since 2013 maximum dept is 32 feet average depth is 5 meters. Somebody is reeling out the details. It is a voice familiar to her. Aruna turned her head and said " Durga prasad! you are here?" I must ask you that question. Aruna was silent. How is Lakuma? Aruna broke down. She felt awkward about herself.
***
Durgaprasad's office. Aruna sat in the sofa. Durga prasad sat on the writing desk. He slid off to the ground from the desk and said "Relax Aruna! I am your childhood friend. You are spotted by me not by a stranger or by TV cameras. Why do you think you are humiliated? Aruna remained silent. Durga continued, "You may think that you washed the dirty linen in the public. You have lost your face. Your daughter is stubborn. but she is not ruined. Even if she is ruined she can come up. I was ruined in my youth. I was in love with the girl who made me wait and wait until all her family problems are solved and finally gave me a big shock." Durga smiled. Aruna looked surprised. The boy brought coffee. "How could you smile in the face of defeat!" said Tara. " Have coffee, later you can get surprised" He smiled again. Aruna finished coffee and asked "Durga, there is no trace of slight disappointment about it. How could you manage?" "Aruna, if you expect disappointment you will never get disappointmented. I expected disappointment and shock from the girl I loved. The same thing came true. " Is she married ?" asked Aruna. No she is not married to anybody she can not trust anybody. She can not trust me too." Durga prasad smiled. Aruna felt sorry.
Look these are are trivial problems. A well disciplined and well planned life may end up suddenly. What happened to Kalpana chawla ? She studied well, scaled great heights, got a job in the NASA but her life ended suddenly while she was still young." Durga paused and looked at Aruna. " But that is an accident." said Aruna. " Well life itself is an accident. Not just one accident a series of accidents. I got several accidents later." Duraga paused again. Aruna looked dismayed. " You mean you fell in love again?" Durga laughed. " I lost love on love. I got a professional accident. This channel for which I was is in financial doldrums. In fact most media houses have no TRP ratings. They have no business that means no income. Many big media houses are unable to pay salaries. They are ready to sell the channels. Our channel is on the same path. I am in the same boat as hundreds of other journalists. It is six months since I received my salary. Aruna's shock deepened to see the smile in Durga's face despite his survival problem but suddenly she remembered Sominaidu and the party leaders who laughed at her.
She said " My problem is public humiliation. I am more humiliated than Draupadi.
What about Sita who was kidnapped by Ravana for no fault of hers? What bout Ahalya who was cursed to be a stone while Indra was left off ? What about Rambha who was raped by Ravana? when She tried to seduce Viswamitra he cursed her to be a stone for ten thousand years in the forest. Are not they great epic figures ? Are they not humiliated?
Draupadi was disrobed right in front of her husbands in the presence of full court.
My dear Aruna Poolandevi was married at the age of 11 faced sexual torture by 35 year old husband. She was publicly raped for seeking justice. Have you forgotten Rupa deyol Bajaj IAs from punjab was touched on her back by the famed KPS Gill the then director general of Police. She only lamented the injustice! Varsha joshi another IAS from Delhi had similar humiliation and Riju bafna is an other IAS fom Gujarat who had similar bitter experience she took umbrage and commented that " In India there is no dearth for such men" She had to apologize and withdraw her comments in the wake of raising public discontent. Many women although stationed at a high position could not just remained as women unable to raise their voice to question injustice but you are able to. You blasted Sominaidu. Many people will take pride in you. They will be appreciative of your bold attack. You must be happy about it.
Aruna was clearly consoled. All her emotions cooled down. She looked as calm as the pacific. You have removed the stains of inferiority I felt and filled me with confidence. Durga, can I offer you some financial help? she said taking a pack of currency from her hand bag. This is clearly humiliating a childhood friend. Durga smiled Aruna had to put the money back.
"Only if I am educated I can take up a good job. I failed in politics. I want to quit politics."
Your tenth class has made you voracious reader. I know you keep reading history and literature. learning the academic syllabus can not make one educated. One should read thoroughly and acquire knowledge first, then that knowledge has to reflect in his manners then only a person is called educated. Today's education can not educate people because it is on the wrong path.
Umm!! Durga prasad's education philosophy! You did not tell me if I should continue in politics?
Who said that you failed in politics? If you quit politics it is like cutting the nose to spite the face. win your spurs and prove that you are capable. Quitting politics is resigning to fatalism. keep fears at bay and accept Shashi's invitation in Mumbai.
How do you know about his invitation? Duraga laughed I am a journo girl!
When Aruna heard the word "girl" she was instantly transported into her childhood.
It is not that diamonds are woman's best friends, best friends are woman's diamonds"
***
Like a snake that casts off its slough Arunatara had cast off her frustration when she reached home. It was evening and the sun was setting in the western horizon. when she entered the living room she saw Kesava sitting on the floor and watching Arunatara's anguished face and tearful eyes on the television. Naidu's face was shown laughing while Aruna was crying foul. It was afternoon program now being televised. Kesava was absorbed in the television. He did not notice Aruna entering the hall.
Tears was trickling down the cheeks of Kesava. He began crying loudly. Aruna took the remote from the glass table and changed the channel. Kesava looked at Aruna and stood gazing at her while she was switching the channels. She changed the channel. It was showing the Velugu party meeting. The footage shows Aruna getting into car and driving away. The same footage was shown repeatedly. She changed the channel. There Aruna was speaking with the news reporters about the injustice and humiliation meted out to her. She went up and down switching the channels. Everywhere the same visuals. a vexed Aruna switched off the television and collapsed in the sofa.
Kesava had woe betide and haggard look. He came and sat at her feet. Aruna lay her hand on his head affectionately. She fondled his hair. She had no words. suffering is inevitable in life. They both were dumb. Dwaraka villa was as dumb as they are. The garden was also deathly still. There is no movement of leaf. A high pitched bird call came from the deathly still garden breaking the silence. The bird was making varied sounds. The sounds were increasing as if the bird was calling them. Aruna entered the garden to see the bird. Kesava followed her. Amma what is the name of this bird? asked kesava.
This is Chataka bird. A legendary mythological cuckoo, who is unwilling to drink water found on earth, It drinks only fresh pure rain water as it falls from the sky. Kalidasa used it in his "Meghadoota" as a metaphor for deep yearning and this tradition continues. It has the hope and patience to wait.
This bird is symbol of hope and patience. Kesava got a message that Suffering is inevitable in life. His heart is light he ran to the bathroom and turned on the geyser. Aruna moved as it is completely dark. She sat in the rocking chair. Nature has soothed her heart. She did not want to touch the TV. Kesava went into the kitchen, prepared tea and brought it to her. "Amma tea" He said. "Where is Lakuma?" asked Aruna. "She went out to with her friends." said Kesava. Aruna started sipping the tea. Kesava went into his bedroom and brought the mrudangam. While Aruna wad taking the tea He spread the mat and started playing slow paced base rhythm called Gumiki with his left hand and gradually ascended the scale and started playing very complex Druvatala which only a Percussion Maestro chooses to perform.
Tha thaam thadim thadim thadin thadin thakun gida gida tadigida tathadi gida gida tadigida tathadi tha thaam.. Aruna was rocking gently in the rocking chair she is not in this world. She has outside the body experience. She is floating on the clouds. Suddenly the telephone rang. " Lakuma's car met with an accident on Shaadnagar highway at Maheswaram." The voice said. Arun had a thud fall from the clouds. Her peace of mind is evaporated. She is instantly on flames. She became nervous. Her legs trembled. Kesava saw sweat on her forehead and neck. He overheard voice on the telephone and understood what happened. He saw Aruna running to the car. She did not bring the car in. The car was ready out side.
Kesava ran faster the Aruna and dashed into the car. Sitting behind the steering wheel he opened the door and Amma please relax. Hardly had Aruna stepped in than the car shot like an arrow. Kesava is the cub, the combination of precision engineering and aerobatics.
***
The Accident - The new jet black Terracan is going towards Shadnagar.
The road is beautiful and broad
The weather steals beholder's applaud
With high and low gear wheels
with back and large sports wheels
The car is like a vessel floating on water.
The exterior of the car is gorgeous,
The interior is filled with laughter
The girls in the car are glamorous
The interior is rich and enormous
The upholstery is soft like mother's lap
The travelers instantly slip into nap
Inside it feels like a baby's smile
Oh! what a steering! what a style!!
Behind the steering wheel sits a louts eyed slender beauty. Her hair is thick, long , black and soft like silk. Her fingers are like ladies fingers. Perhaps she is made of butter. Her name is Pallavi ( meaning leaf) is epithet of her looks. She is pressing the accelerator with her tender betel leaf like foot. Her friends Surabhi, Sravani, Madhuri sat behind her and Lakuma beside her in the front seat. Pallavi is frightened at passing vehicle that crosses her vehicle closely. She often slows down, pulls her vehicle to the left, she curses the passing vehicles. Suddenly a young boy of with a sports bike darted like a sparrow, crossed the car by an inch. The speed was too great and the distance was too close. She pulled her car to the left and started fretting and gasping. Pallavi and Surabhi were dazed. Look he is stunt biking shouted Sravani. Lakuma looked ahead through the windscreen. The dandy just bent the bike to the right so low until his knee almost touched the ground. Then he bent the bike to the left in the same style. Later he performed sparks and snakes. A little later he lifted the front wheel went ahead a few meters, then lifted the back wheel and looked back. Pallavi was frightened out of wits. Her tight orange blouse bulged out of proportion is bouncing to match her emotion. " Now look, there is a speed breaker ahead, It will take care of his joints" said Surabhi. But that fellow is too smart. He skipped off the speed breaker raising his bike four meters into the air. OMG shouted Sravani. He looks like the hero in the Greek literature the fiercest warrior of Homer's Trojan war Achllies. He is more like Olympic stuff ! What is he doing on Hyderabad roads?" exclaimed Madhuri. Oh! great warrior off course can resist swords of steel but not feminine charms. A man who swallows a bullet falls for a slut." said Pallavi
All the girls in the stopped car are laughing at Pallavi. Lakuma looked at Pallavi impatiently and shouted seriously " What the hell are you doing? stop your silly illogical jokes" " It is true, let me explain said Pallavi and continued " You know ISRO's National remote sensing centre in Shadnagar which receives data from Indian and foreign satellites" Pallavi stop your extraneous rhapsody. Tell me what is the point!" There is a point , listen a man can cross marvelous hurdles on the road but it is impossible to cross the toughest hurdle marriage. Any hero but falls flat in the ditch of marriage! My father who works in National Remote sensing center as a scientist . He can assess the mass of any object in the space from pin to a mountain, a telemetry expert but alas! when he goes to shopping with my mother the clockwork in his mind goes whirr .. his mind becomes blur he can not calculate how long she does the saree selection. He can not count the things she bought and always faces music with a dazed face. On top of it, he can't even manage the stove for a minute. The man who controls satellites becomes a satellite and goes around my mom like a satellite. "
Should we wait until he is married or should we search for a girl. Lakuma gave a sharp cut and gave a sharp look. She instantly sprang and took the steering into her hands displacing Pallavi slid to the back seat. Lakuma started the engine and pressed the accelerator deep and hard swiftly changing the gears. Her gaze is fixed on the road on one object that is the orange sports bike. She looked like unstoppable (Arnold Schwarzenegger) Robo cop. Yes Lakuma never blinked her eye. Her driving is so audacious that it is the not the wheels that squeal but the wind. The wind is dashing the windshield and making a bitter noise. The vehicles around are frightened and started running back. The girls were scared. In minutes the orange bike came into sight. Lakuma was speeding up and nearing the dandy, the whipper sniper. He saw the car coming like a whirl wind. He tried to escape but the lynx had already crossed him. It was such a sharp cut that the body of the car just tipped the bike. the bike was grounded in no time.
Luakuma turned the wheel to the left of the road. While the car was turning to the left she pressed the brake The giant vehicle was scooped by the force dragging the tyres on the road. The vehicle turned 180 degrees, turned its face from south to north. Now Terracon stood facing the bike. The bike lies on the road a few inches from the front bumper. Lakuma saw the man from over the dashboard through the windscreen. The girls opened the window glasses and stuck their heads out of the window for the clear view. Lakuma pressed the accelerator and generated terrible hurricane sound from the engine. The girls shut their ears. the man was shit scared. He appeared to have pissed in the pants. He stopped lifting the bike from off the ground and lifted his hands and folded them to Lakuma and then to all the girls with apologetic looks. Lakuma stuck her head out of the window and said " I pressed the accelerator only if I put the gear .." her voice sounded steel. With legs trembling and voice blared he said, "My ... are in my mouth. His disbelief in his survival looms large on his shocked face. Lakuma silenced the engine and said " get off". The dandy picked his bike and licked the wounds. He disappeared in the next moment.
***
The car was sailing smoothly. Madhuri said " We will get into police cases unless you refrain from your violent methods of takling men" Oh! God police cases! Sravani shivired like a tender leaf. Pallavi said "Let us go back. We can not go farther than this. My mother is very strict about time." Lakuma showed funereal face and said " You are lilly livered cattle. I am the daughter of Arunatara, She blew the horn with pride. None can touch me. She blew the horn again. I am confident of my mother. She blew the horn again. A White Mahindra Bolerio was going a head of the black Terracon. Three men are sitting in the white car. The driver looked back seriously. He put his hand out of the window and questioned her " why the horn?" That has amused Lakuma. She silently sped up crossed the car and starting driving irrecularly. The white car slowed down for a while but soon short ahead with a great velocity. Then it was Lauma's turn. The cat and muse chase led her to a disastrous end when she saw a truck ahead of Bolerio which was crossing another truck. She had to pull her car down to the extreme right into a sticky fields to dashing the truck.
***
When Kesava and Aruna reached the spot of accident Lakuma was desperately waiting for help. Kesava who worked at a car mechanic attended the problem. In half an hour the Terracon was on the road. Kesava was driving the terracon while Aruna drove the girls in her Innova. " How did this accident take place?" " The truck has just crossed the Bolereo It was crossing another truck. It was his rash driving" said Sravani. The people in the white car are rash" said Surabhi. Aruna looked at Surabhi suspiciously. She demanded truth. " If you don;t tell the truth I will come and meet your parents" she raised her voice. " Lakuma's rash driving is the reason... Pallavi told everything from the beginning.
***
It was 10.00 pm when Arunatara reached Dwaraka villa. Aruna was fatigued and Kesava was fearful as he suspected a verbal crash. The night was calm. The air was pleasant. The tranquility seemed to be the forerunner of a war. Lakuma went to bath. She looked tipsy and was staggering a bit. Her clothes and body was muddy. Aruna asked Kesava "what happened in the afternoon?" Kesava said " There was a party in the afternoon. Chitra came with her friends. She brought a bottle. Koteswarrao also participated in the party. But don't tell Lakuma that I have told thee things." Aruna said " Ok" Later kesava took bath. Aruna served supper to both. Kesava went into his room after finishing the supper. Lakuma and Aruna were at the dining table.
What happened in the afternoon?
Nothing happened.
Why did Chitra come with her friends?
Lakuma was silent.
Why did the Bank manager Koteswarrao come?
Who told you all these things?
Some Tom Dick and Harry. Tell me is it true?
You don't offer a cell phone, Koteswarrao has sanctioned student loan. He promised to give any thing I need. Lakuma looked at her mother who looked like the mother Kali. "Yes he serves your need later you have to serve his." Said Aruna. Lakuma was a bit frightened and continued " You don;t trust me but he trusts me. I regard him as my father."
All the seriousness in Aruna flew away. She began laughing at her daughter." Look Lakuma maybe you are regarding him as a father but he is not regarding you as his daughter. You will understand my words when you are in neck deep troubles. He is a butcher he will lead you to slaughter. Did you drink with Chitra? I want only truth! tell me. Aruna shouted. Lakuma with a tipsy mind shouted " Yes, we had a divorce party when you are away" The next moment she had her mother's hand on her jaw. " Divorce party!!!" exclaimed Aruna.
Yes Chitra got divorce so she celebrated with us. You are a dictator. I will go to Kerala and stay with my father." She went into her room and shut the door behind. Aruna's senses are benumbed. Her heart was throbbing. God save Lakuma! Her conscience groaned.
Life is full of accidents. It is true. I like the character of Durga Prasad. He is very motivational and friendly. Humiliation of Arunatara is painful.
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