The story of Peaches and Sweetpea Part 4

Neiladri Sinha Jr. :-

Why it had to happen this way? I had to confess my feelings for Tanuj some day or other. But as Thammi used to say, we realise the importance of people when they are taken away from us. Maybe to teach me a lesson, The Mother Goddess devised the turn of events. But because of me, Peaches is in danger. Oh Mother Goddess! I have already harmed my innocent brother. How many crimes will you make me do? I beg you my true love’s life and well being. Please save him! I have worshiped you all my life, and I promise, I will never ask for anything more. Just save my Peaches! I want to spend a ripe old age with him.
How unfortunate I am! I madly love him, but can’t show it when I need to!

“Neil, we need to talk.” said Rajiv.

Masking my emotions with worries, I said “Yes Rajiv, how can I cooperate?”

Rajiv asked “Tanuj talked to you for the last time. What did he say?”

I glanced over Rajiv’s shoulder, Mrs. Rao was crying inconsolably as Smita consoled her.

I said “Tanuj said he was going to Nagpur very soon.”

Rajiv asked “Nagpur, but why?”

I said “Raos are originally from Nagpur. Tanuj came here to earn money for his mother’s treatment.”

“That’s wierd! Where is Mr. Rao?” asked Rajiv.

I said “I never asked where they lived in Nagpur. But according to Tanuj his parents separated 7 months ago.”

“Divorce?”

“Can’t say. Apparently there was some conflict between them, most probably due to the expenses spent on Mrs. Rao’s treatment and they separated. Whether it was official or not, I don’t know.”

“So it is obvious that Tanuj was compelled by the circumstances.”

How could I tell him now that I was responsible for this? We are not even sure that it was a suicide. If it was a murder attempt, then why should I suffer for someone else’s bad Karma?

“Inspector Rajiv!” Called a strong feminine voice that a recognised very well. Ma walked towards us as her armed bodyguards followed her.

Rajiv turned to Ma and saluted her. Ma acknowledged him with a nod.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you again madam.” he said. Seriously?

Ma tilted her head to right and said sternly “I am afraid I can’t say the same in the given circumstances, inspector.”

Rajiv shivered a bit. For the first time I was seeing Ma in full IPS mode, intimidating a junior official.

“May I know why my son is being interrogated?” Ma asked while raising her right brow.

I intervened “Ma, Inspector Rajiv is doing his duty. Let it be.”

Rajiv smiled nervously. Ma frowned at me and said “Thanks, but no thanks. Damini Sinha knows what she has to do. So officer, what do you think about this case?”

Rajiv meekly said “Madam, I guess…..”

Ma raised her index finger and said “I don’t have time for your guess works officer. Come to the point.”

Rajiv said “Madam, there are 50/50 chances of this being either an attempt to suicide or an attempt to murder. It might be both as well.”

Ma laughed scornfully and said “Both? Officer, are you suggesting that the boy over there fighting for his dear life will gulp down a bottle of alcohol that he knows has been tampered with? Officer, either the boy poisoned his own drink to commit suicide, or he was blissfully ignorant of the fact that he was gulping down poison; and it is the second scenario that is applicable to this case. If this is the ‘intelligence’ of the crime branch of Mumbai Police, then Mother Goddess save this city.”

Rajiv’s face turned red as he hung his head ashamed.

Ma said “The poisoned liquor was for someone else. The boy accidentally bumped into it and is suffering someone else’s fate.”

“Yes Ma’m.” said Rajiv.

“Charge the boy with fine for underage drinking, provided he survives and file it as a murder case. Is that understood, officer?”

“Yes Ma’m.” said Rajiv, saluted Ma and walked away.

I turned to the operation theater, where senior doctors were attending Peaches.

Ma patted my shoulder and said “Everything will be fine, Shona. Don’t worry.”
I turned to Ma. Did she know that Peaches is my true love?

“He has to live Ma. Mrs. Rao has no one except him.”

“He will. You and Neilu need him.”

Ma thought that I was worried because I had invested a great sum of money on Peaches. Money doesn’t matter; all that matters to me is Peaches and his well being.
But wait. How does Ma know I am here?

“Ma, you surprised me by coming here. I thought you are home.” I said.

“Your Baba is part of The Prime Minister’s convoy and has accompanied him to New York. So he suggested that I should visit you to celebrate your birthday.” Ma said.

I had forgotten that I was set to celebrate my 17th birthday in a few weeks. Peaches and I share birthdays. He’ll turn sweet sixteen.

Ma continued “Neilu wanted to see you, so I tried calling you. But you didn’t respond. I learnt from Mrinal about this incident and came to see Tanuj. Poor boy! Neilu is a big fan of his.”

A tear escaped my eye at the thought of death taking Peaches away from me forever. Ma saw it.
She turned me towards her and said “Shona, you are hiding something from me. What is it?”

“Nothing. I feel bad for Mrs. Rao.”

Ma’s tone turned stern “Damini Sinha is your mother, and she knows when her baby is facing a turmoil.”

I kept quite.

“Speak.” said Ma.

I turned to her with a frown. Her body guards stood around us.

“Let’s go home, Ma. This is something confidential.”

————————————————————-

Ma sat on the sofa, stunned into silence after my coming out. She stared at me blankly. I stood before her, waiting to be cursed, to be slapped, to be chastised.

“Ma, say something.”

Ma said “There’s nothing I can say.”

I crouched before Ma, took her hands into mine and pleaded “Please Ma, your silence is killing me. In the name of Mother Goddess, say something!”

Ma looked down at me.

“Ma, Tanuj is my life.”

Ma stroked my hair with her fingers and said “That’s it? I thought you robbed a bank.”

I looked up, dumbfounded. Ma’s eyes were soft with affection. There was a serene smile of approval.

“Loving is not crime, my child. Go with The Mother Goddess, I am with you.”

I smiled happily and laid my head on Ma’s lap. But then my smile faded.

“What about Baba?” I asked

“All that matters to Baba is Neil Jr.’s happiness.”

I turned towards the source of voice. Baba was on Skype in Ma’s Tab.

“Thank you Senior!” I said as I picked the Tab and planted a kiss on it. Baba laughed from the other side.

“Where is Dada?” said Neilesh, as he walked down the stares with a soft toy, rubbing his eyes.
I leapt up to him and gave my kid brother a bear hug. Neilesh was my lucky charm and his arrival brought true love into my life. My happiness knew no bounds and I burst into tears of joy.

Neilesh asked “Dada, why are you crying? Did Ma scold you?”

I said “You are the best thing that ever happened to me. I love you so much Munchkin.”

Neilesh said “Not fair! That’s my line. My Dada is the best big brother in the world.”

My kid brother pulled me down and planted kisses on my cheeks, eyes and forehead, as he used to do when he was five. He was still a child and I suppose he didn’t understand the gravity of the situation.

I turned to Ma. She was smiling but her eyes were moist. But then her smile faded.

“Come to the prayer room.” She said as she took the stairs. The three of us prayed to The Mother Goddess for Tanuj’s well being.

————————————————————-

Tanuj Rao :-

I was dead. I jumped from the terrace and killed myself. So this was afterlife, an unending world of darkness, while I was perfectly conscious.
But wait, there are two orbs of white light rising from the horizon. No, these aren’t orbs or horizon; these are slits, and they are opening. I can see through them. A face, I recognise her; Sister Abigail, who nursed me the last time I was admitted. I was alive! Even after falling from a 42 storied building!
But didn’t I hurt myself?