Unexpected Love

They say you always find love in the most unexpected places and from the most unexpected person. As beautiful as it sounds, he thought it would be equally impractical an occurrence in anyone’s life. But, that day, Anil Mishra was proven wrong. As he sipped on his daily dose of caffeine, sitting by the large window pane, watching the rain drops dance away in glory as they spatter all along the earth, he reflected back on the most significant day in his life. One that to the last breath of his life, he will savour.

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“Do not run, the floor is wet, you will trip.” He yelled as he cautiously sprinted behind her to make sure he is not far away if she slips.

“Anil sir, do not worry, I am a strong girl.” She smiled while looking behind but running ahead.

No sooner did she turn she banged into a tall and lean matured man, probably in his 40s, presumably on his evening walk. Isha was so happy today, she gave out a huge smile to the gentleman as if nothing had happened and marched ahead in merriment along the beautiful Marine Drive in Mumbai on a wet July evening.

“Sir, I want kulfi.” She stopped in excitement at the sight of a kulfi vendor.

“No way Isha, you know you have a sore throat right, it is not....” Anil stopped abruptly as he looked at Isha and suddenly reality struck him in his head like a knife-poke.

“Ok Isha, come baby, which flavour you want?” He lifted her merrily in his arms so she could see all the available flavours.

“Bhaiya, give me malai kulfi, big one.”

Anil handed the money to the kulfi vendor and they walked along the queen’s necklace happily embracing the beautiful weather. Isha was a charming 5 year old girl who lived at a shelter home for destitute and homeless kids. It was run by a government funded NGO situated in the dusky and dense lanes of Dahisar, a distant suburb in north Mumbai.

“Anil sir, look the waves are splashing all over the road, wow, let’s go there.” She pleaded.

Anil, who had run away from his hometown Meerut to Mumbai to make a living when he was 18, used to work part time at the NGO, teaching the kids basic life lessons. He had a tattered past and had experienced all the hardships a small kid can ever go through. His mother had passed away as soon as he was born. His father, an old school orthodox who turned into an alcoholic soon after his wife’s death, blamed Anil for all that had happened. He and his family considered Anil an unlucky life and treated him as a liability. If not for his grandmother’s insistence, Anil’s father would have long abandoned him. Anil grew up amidst a lot of negativity and coarse around him, but he survived it all only under the influence of his grandmother. She would teach her all the good things when he was a kid, which he often fondly remembers even today and imparts the same wisdom to the kids at the NGO. Life however had other plans for Anil, for as soon as things were getting better, his grandmother died and left behind a lifeless soul that was always ridiculed and never loved. He left soon after for Mumbai, never to look back.

“Careful baby, do not run. Go easy.” I insisted she holds my hand while walking.
Isha relished the opportunity to play under the strong waves that were lashing along the boulders and splashing above the seating pavements to drench all the people walking along the stretch. Anil carefully looked at her from a distance, feeling a sense of bliss and at the same time sadness at the apparent turn of things that he knew was to come. Isha jumped and splashed along the pavement while getting completely drenched and cheerfully running around. She was never this happy ever in her life. She was a picture of heart wrenching purity, one that makes you want to laugh and cry at the same time.

“Anil sir, you are so nice. Thank you for bringing me here. I love you. I am very happy today.” She hugged Anil tightly while still smiling gleefully.

“I am not nice beta, you make me nice! Be like this forever...” Anil twitched his words again, almost fumbling through the last few words.

He lifted her in his arms and hugged her real tight. He felt every single atom of his strong body cry out in aguish as he gave in the most compassionate hug he had ever given anyone. Small tears slowly started dripping along his cheeks mixing with the rain drops and the splash of the waves.

“Come sit here.” He walked her towards a slightly drier patch of mortar and made her sit along the pavement, facing the sea. He sat very close alongside her, hands firmly protecting her from the side.

Isha noticed tears in Anil’s eyes and in her innocent voice asked, “Anil sir, why are you crying? Are you not happy like me?”

There is something about the purity and candidness with which kids talk. No matter how stone-hearted a man can be, an innocent question from a small kid can simply melt a man to tepidness. Anil was in a similar situation today. He had no answer. He could not tell the truth to Isha since that would steal away all the bliss that she was surrounded with today, something he did not want. Sometimes being kind is far more important than being right, this was one such situation.

“No one has ever told me ‘I love you’ in my life, and you just did today. It made me emotional, which is why I had few tears in my eyes.” Anil said while still battling to hold back his tears. Anil was a sensitive person and he thought to himself he would always be candid and himself with people who he loves.

“Anil sir, your mummy-daddy did not love you?”

“My mummy passed away as soon as I was born beta. I only might have spent a few seconds with her, and my daddy did not love me because he considered me unlucky and always cursed me for everything bad that happened at our home. Only my grandmother used to treat me nicely, but she also left me soon.” Anil looked at her straight in her eyes and said it all out. He had never shared this with anyone else in his life. He had never got an opportunity either.

“Sir you are very nice person. Your daddy is unlucky, not you.”

His heart melted, he could not hold back his tears once again. Isha leaned slightly forward and looked at Anil’s eyes and while wiping his tears went on to say, “Sir, you have lived some time with your mummy-daddy but I don’t even know my mummy-daddy, but I am still happy.”

“I do not have anyone in my life Isha beta, no one after I came here to Mumbai. I only work as a clerk in the bank and in evenings I am with you and other kids at the school. After whatever that had happened to me when I was a kid, I have never trusted anyone in my life so I never got close to anyone. All I loved and enjoyed doing was spend time with you Isha beta, because I love you so much, but now even you...” Anil let out a huge sigh, but controlled his words and stopped as soon as he realised what he was about to say.

“Anil sir, that is not true. There is someone who loves you more than anyone else. I know that person. He is very sweet and is ready every day in the evening to take me to doctor uncle. He takes me out to have kulfi and chocolate whenever I want to. He is so nice that he laughs when you laugh and cries when you cry. You know who it is?” Isha got up to stand as she said the last few words as Anil held her hand to help balance her.

“It is you Anil sir.” She said with a huge smile on her face. “See, only if you love yourself will you love someone else and someone else loves you back. I know you love me sir, and I love you too sir, so that means that you first love yourself so much. Anil sir loves Anil sir.” She let out a huge grin and giggled hysterically as she completed her words.

Anil was so touched by this response that he hugged her tight and smiled gleefully while staring at the sea. He was a picture of sadness and remorse all his life but today for the first time he found love at the most unexpected place from the most unexpected person. He just realised what he had been missing all his life and secretly vowed to self to always be happy and cheerful, just like Isha.

“You are an angel and my sweetheart. I love you Isha. Thank you for showing me the way.”

He picked her up and they started walking towards the taxi stand at the end of a junction.

“Anil sir, the train station is that side.” She said pointing towards the opposite side.

“I know baby, but today, we will take the taxi home, it seems as if it will start raining again, and I want you to enjoy the drive in the rain.” Anil announced with pride which Isha gleefully accepted.

As they drove by towards their school that evening, Anil kept looking at Isha who had her eyes constantly out of the window, taking in all the beautiful sight the city had to offer in the rain. Slowly but surely, she started drifting to sleep since she was tired with all the running around all day. Anil slowly patted her forehead as she fell asleep in his lap. As soon as they reached the school, it was already dark and had stopped raining. Anil picked up Isha, who was reluctant to walk back to her room, lay her on her bed and put her to sleep.

“Anil sir, you will come tomorrow to take me doctor uncle again right?” She asked in a sleepy voice.

“Yes beta, I will be there. Sleep well, goodnight.” He said while pulling the quilt up her body.

Anil dragged himself back home that night. He was physically tired but spent a sleepless night. He kept replaying the entire day in his head several times while lying on his bed and staring at the fan above. It was as if he had found new colours in his dark and gloomy life. He suddenly had a purpose in life which he had long lost hopes of getting. However, every time he thought about Isha, his smile slowly turned into a sorry face. He knew what was to conspire and he hated the fact that he had no control over it.

Isha had a hole in her heart. Doctors had already predicted her death few months ago; they were surprised she was alive beyond the tentative time they thought she would survive. Anil cried a bucketful that night. He cursed God to have given a hole in the heart of such an innocent and beautiful little child who not only lives life to the fullest, but also inspires others to be happy. A beautiful dream was about to end and all Anil could wish for is for the dream to last as long as possible.

Next day, as he was getting ready to go to work, Anil got a message on his phone. Isha breathed her last that night. As soon as Anil reached the school, he saw a motionless little angel lying on the bed, eyes shut, with a beautiful smile. One that inspired. One that captured the essence of all life on this world. A smile so pure, it was addictive. Anil kissed her on her forehead and with eyes closed; fingers locked into each other, sighed, “I love you Isha, I always will.”

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“I love you daddy.” A cute little girl came running towards him as Anil looked back.

“I love you too Isha, I always will.” He let out a tear, hugged her and smiled.

Father and daughter merrily sat alongside the window pane and continued to enjoy the rain outside.


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This was published by Your Story Club, India here - http://yourstoryclub.com/short-stories-family/family-short-story-unexpected-love/ 

The sweetest dairy milk

It was the usual evening for me. Post dinner I made myself comfortable on the couch, playing the 8-ball pool game on my iPad, which I have gotten addicted to, while parents had all their senses glued to the nonsensical ranting from the very young looking mother of three grown-ups on the television. No sooner does the ranting get over and parents make their way to their room calling it a night; I get ready to battle my way through tough deadlines as I start my laptop to begin writing. Just then, I get a call from my best friend. I saw the phone buzzing, but chose to ignore it. He won't mind I know him, I said to myself. And then he called again. 

That is the thing about best friends. They probably know you better than you know yourself, and that is why they are one step ahead of you, always. I had a lot of writing to do and I hadn't even started for the night, but then, that is the thing about best friends. You can hate them, but something within you does not let you ignore them.  

"Where are you?" his patented first line. 

"Home, where else." my patented first line too.

"Come down near the main gate, I am reaching in 5." he cut the call. 

Honestly, we had been planning to catch up for the last few days but none of us made it eventually for whatever reasons. He had a few major events approaching which he had to talk about, and me, well, I generally always have something major coming up in life, which he wanted to know from me about. I walked my way down to meet him. 

I really don't know if this is common with other best friends as well, but whenever him and I meet, we never know where we are headed. That night was no different. As soon as I got into his car from the main gate of my complex, we just start talking. And probably without him and me realising he started driving, with no where to go, he took the first left turn. 

I asked him, interrupting from our conversation, "where are we going?" 

"There was a CCD here right?" he said

"That thing got shut ages ago dude."

"Ah, ok let me take a U-turn." He turned around and got back to the junction from where he had turned left, took a right turn onto the same road and another U-turn from the next signal brought us back to the same place he picked me up from. This was very typical him and me moment. We always meet, even to date, without knowing where to go. 

He parked the car to the side and inside the car, we both traveled places from Mumbai to Bangalore to Dubai to Surat and back to Mumbai within a span of 20 odd mins. We spoke about his new job switch, my experiences with the new girl I met for an arranged marriage recently, our unsuccessful past business escapades, and all that fell far and few between all the years that we had known each other. Somewhere amidst our serious conversation, I noticed him passing me a small bar of dairy milk chocolate, which I gladly accepted. He knew how crazy I am about chocolate and I know how much he hates chocolate, so there was no argument over who would have it all. 

All along the time we were talking to each other, I held the chocolate in my hand. Somehow I resisted in opening the wrapper and having it then. I don't know what made me hold on to it, but I just kept fiddling with it in my hand as we got deeper into conversations. 

After some time, there was a brief moment of awkward silence as if we had suddenly lost topics to talk about. Just then he noticed the idli and coffee vendor with his cycle standing near the car. Hungry that he was, he asked for an idli, and I settled for a cup of coffee which I needed since I had to stay awake for longer that night. Although the coffee was no match to the strong sugar-less latte that I am used to having at coffee shops, I ended up asking for it just because I can never say no to coffee. Be it any make. 

It was 12:15 AM, time enough to call it a night. After trashing the idli plate and coffee cup in the bin, he got back to the driver seat and started the engine, when it made a weird and not so heavy screeching sound. At first, I did not notice the sound, but then a few more unsuccessful attempts at keying the engine, it failed to begin! The battery refused to spark. 

"God Damnit, this had to happen now!" He cursed the heavens above. "What's wrong?"

"Dude, I guess battery problem. We will have to ask someone to push the car and you will have to pick it up while its in motion." I said. He looked at me with an expression which clearly read, I don't know how to do it. 

I looked back at him with an expression that read, neither me dude! I know it can be done, but I do not know how to do it. 

Since we were at the Malad link road, a place that is always busy, no matter what time of the night because of the many call centers and BPOs working round the clock in the vicinity, luckily there were people around us. 

I asked an auto rickshaw driver and another tourist car driver who were around to help push the car which they gladly accepted. I along with them pushed the car while my friend was at the wheel trying to get the engine rolling, with no knowledge how to do it. 

It had just rained some time back to the road was all wet with patches of water pool spread along the road. And I was in my shorts and slip-ons that did not help in any way for me to push the car and run along. 

First attempt and it failed. Both the guys who first helped us resigned to the idea and left since we had pushed the car a fair distance ahead but my friend failed to start it. As we reached a few steps ahead, there were a few more rickshaw drivers who came forward to help us. Second attempt and he failed again. 

Now, we went even further ahead in vain. This time, the rickshaw driver who had resigned after helping us in the first attempt came back. He willingly came forward, this time, while riding his rickshaw, he lifted his left leg and parked it on the back of the car and tried to push while driving his rickshaw. I was at the other side pushing it from the back. We again managed to push a fair distance, but no luck. The rickshaw driver left us in the dark, rode ahead. I could even hear a few choicest of abuses hurled slowly fading away in the distance. 

"Dude, do you even know how to do it?" I asked him panting because of some serious efforts I had put in trying to push that car. "That car driver said you should put the car in second gear and try to release the clutch and accelerate at the same time while its in motion. Did you do that?" 

"Dude, how will it work when the engine itself is shut?" he said. I was left expressionless. 

Just then I noticed another tourist car driving towards us slowly. Let's talk to him and ask him to help. My friend, a Maharashtrian, asked him to stop and in Marathi explained him the situation and asked him to take the wheel. 

Marathi helped this time again, I told myself. As was always the case with him. Be it the time when we were caught with liquor in our car while on our way to Tiger point, Lonavala, or at the time when he actually drove without a valid drivers licence in the city for a few months and not get the pauti. 

Me and my friend pushed hard. This was the fourth attempt. I put my everything as I ran along while pushing the car from behind, not bothered about the dirty muddy water splashing on my feet or the uneven paver blocks actually hurting me slightly as I went along with the flow. I exhausted all my energy and almost reached a point where I was about to just give up when the car screeched, wobbled, and the sound of engine broke in as I instinctively gave a rather mellowed down cheer, YAY! 

The car engine started, we exchanged pleasantries, genuinely thanked the driver and got into the car. "Dude do not stop the engine until you reach home now." 

12:30 AM was the time and as he took another U-turn from the next junction and dropped me opposite my complex gate, I wished him luck, with a genuine smile, picked up my dairy milk chocolate and got off the car to leave. 

As I walked back home, I somehow looked back at all these years of knowing this guy. We had experienced every unique, some bizarre episodes that any Bombay boy might have gone through from drunken nights, to arguments, to huge business ideas, to driving along without any destination, and to top it all, being hit by a police constable fiercely with his lathi outside the Wankhede stadium when we tried to jump the ticket queue. But this was a first. I had a smile on my face all along my way home. This was a small, probably insignificant episode in our lives, but the sense of achievement made me really happy. As they say, it is the small things that makes life seem beautiful. 

I finally unwrapped my dairy milk chocolate as I walked back home. That night, it tasted much sweeter than it usually did.