A belated love story, part 8 ...

Continued from part 7

The next morning me, my father, my brother and my mother visited the Native land Zoo. This zoo was established by the British. This was supposed to be a picnic but my thoughts still lingered around what I had already instinctively known- the betrayal of Alice.

I carried a worried look and a depressed appearance that started to bother my mother. Seeing the look on her face, I realized no matter what I was going through, it bothered my mother to a much greater extent.

When we returned, my mother said, "If you wish, go and meet Alice... and hope for the best."

I threw a military salute at my mother and said, "Is that you, Mom? "

"Yes my son! Go win her back...", what she said was indeed the best encouragement that any mother could have provided her son in such a situation. ¹

I dutifully arrived at Alice's house after 5: 30 pm in the evening. I was sure that Alice would have returned from her school and she would have freshened up by them. Which she did.

Again Alice shook hands with me against my desire for a warm hug. Like before again her mother brought teas for us.

This time she (Alice's mother) spoke, "Did you ask some girl named Juanita to call Alice up...?"

Oops! She knows about it? "Yes I did", I admitted.

"Why?"

"I had no contact with Alice for so long. I acted on the very first opportunity to do so... "

"You are brave enough to admit what you did. ", she admired me. This explains the strange smile she always carried this time. She was in fact happy with my relationship with Alice.

I looked at Alice, she was staring at the floor with a smile on her face.

"So you know about it ?", I asked her mother.

"Yes I do, I realized it way back in 1992. You could have left when Alice went to get the medicine... you never did. I observed my daughter after that. She always asked about you... ² ", she started to recall., "that day the phone rang for Alice for at least three times ³ ... then when she got home, the phone rang again. She picked it up to speak to Juanita..."

"What happened after that? "I asked.

Alice started to speak, "I never realized.... it would have been a call on your behalf. I ...."

Her mother said, "she (Alice) said, she had received a call on some one named Sudip's behalf. She asked me who it could be? I immediately knew it was you ...I told her... this is our Sudip! ⁴"

An enlightenment dawned upon me. Her mother knew about my affair too. she was not angry, in fact she seemed to be pleased with it.

All this while I was listening to the whole narration spell bound, I finally asked her mother, "I love your daughter... I want to marry her... I am sure you know that there is hardly any age difference between me and Alice. ⁵"

"No problem", her words were very encouraging, "we would tell the truth. You both are of the same age.... yesterday, Alice told me you like her.... she also asked me if I had any objection ⁶... I said no. I know his boy ( that's me) for years... I know his parents too they are wonderful people... why should I have any objection."

Now Alice said, "Sudip... my father is already accepting proposals for me. He wants me to get married as soon as possible..."

"I know that Alice, " I was jolted to reality, "I need two more years to settle down"

Alice simply looked out of the window and said, "But I am getting married Sudip"

After that day I started to visit Alice regularly. But she never found any extra time for me. She was always busy with her students. It started to appear that she is completing a mere formality to spend time with me. Her attitude gradually started to show that all my visits to her home and staying there for a few hours was actually bothering her. she started to repeatedly say, "Sudip I am getting married soon.... you must hurry and settle down and talk to my father...".

As if this was not enough for my aching heart, she also used to say, "... what have you done to your health? How am I supposed to introduce you to my friends? What they would say.... am I going to marry a guy who is reduced to nothing?"

I had no answer to that. When ever she spoke such harsh things; my heart would shatter into pieces. I no longer felt the warmth and comfort I used to feel with her earlier. Still I continued to visit her for about ten days. She never stopped repeating the fact that she would be married off soon. Each time she said this my heart ached.

For me what ever amount of time she spent with me was not enough. After all I starved to meet her for all those five years, how can a few days compensate for the time gone by? Where is that time machine again?

July 11th, 1997; Dr Ritz had already landed in the Native land. I rang him up to confirm the same. As token of gratitude, for all what Dr. Ritz did; I wanted Alice to accompany me on a visit to his home. A voice in my head was always asking me to take her out. Away from home out in the streets I wanted to actually observe her behavior. I had fixed an appointment with Dr. Ritz.

I had made plans to visit Dr. Ritz's home and return before sunset. I would take Alice to the new restaurant near by and I will call it a date. So I asked Alice to be back from her school early.

Alice never kept my promise. As usual, she came home around 5 o'clock in the evening. all this while I had been waiting and chatting with her mother for more than two and a half hours.

Finally I went out with Alice. We boarded a bus to where Dr. Ritz lived. As the bus conductor approached with the tickets, I stood up to pay for the bus tickets, Alice also stood up and said, "Wait Sudip... You are still dependent on your parents... let me pay for those...."

I agree that she got a job as a teacher at an early age this little but impermanent success had gone to her head. She should learn to respect her boy friend.

The bus conductor and all those who were near us heard her say so. It was very insulting for me... still I forgave her for the moment.

We reached Dr. Ritz's house. Formal introductions did not take much time. Dr. Ritz was elated that a senior (me) had come home to visit him that too along with his girl friend. His esteem did not last long when Alice again started to throw her tantrums.

She asked Dr. Ritz, "So Dr. Ritz... tell me about your course... I heard that you guys are pilots.... what made Sudip reduce to nothing.... don't you guys take care of your selves? ... what is the future of Pilots? ⁷... ", she continued with her nonsense. Dr. Ritz started to feel a bit awkward. I realized that and at the same time, I was getting annoyed at Alice. After all Dr. Ritz belong to the "Mighty wings" ⁸. Insulting my friend would in turn insult me.

Finally I said, "Well Alice, we are getting late... we should go."

"Oh! Yes, You see Dr. Ritz... I am very busy now a days with my school and tuition's... may be we can visit you some time later.", Alice said.

I and Dr. Ritz started at each other momentarily. His look was that of understanding and I had an embarrassment on face.

Dr. Ritz saw us of at the bus stand. We boarded the bus and I broke my silence, "What is the matter with you Alice?"why were you asking him (Dr. Ritz) so many questions?"

"Oh my God!... what did I do...?", she appeared astonished, " I must know what you are getting into... my father is already accepting proposals for me. I never know weather you would settle down on time or not ... it is the question of my entire life..."

That was the last straw! I looked at my watch it was exactly 20: 15 hours. On 1st of june 1992, this was the very moment in time when I proposed to Alice. Ironically at this very moment, the Alice drew out the last straw.

I dropped her off at her house dropped the idea of the date as it was too late already. Alice had not left her school early as she had promised; hence there was no time or inclination on my behalf to take her to the restaurant specially when she she is continuously taunting at me with the fact that I am still dependent on my parents.

When returned home. My mother who had been observing me and alice's behavior demanded to know how was the date.

I never kept anything from my mother I told her how oddly she had been behaving. My mother yet again told me to throw Alice out of my mind.

Now, I started to think about it. ⁹ She was no longer the pretty girl I loved. It appeared she is possessed by an evil witch. ¹⁰ I stopped visiting Alice after that. Alice too never came to meet me. I believed that this was the last of anything that I would see or hear from Alice. I was wrong.

Continued to part 9

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