We didn't meet the doctor and was confident that Ridhima had recovered completely. The speculations were correct this time. I promised my friends that the birthday party would be celebrated immediately once she recovers and it was time to announce just that. Rinku was more than happy to invite all acquaintances for a house party. She wanted to give her personal touch to it. Looking at the cost of eat out it, made perfect sense to me as well. Till last Saturday evening almost everything was purchased and stored - Rinku wanted to make sure she has everything at hand before she enters the kitchen. For me, I just obeyed.
Last Sunday (17-07-2016) by this time around we were busy making things ready for an elaborate dinner. Till the last moment alcohol was not in the list but on insistence I added it. The multi-course (all thanks to Rinku) meal was ready and the guests started to come. The sad news was my younger brother, his wife (Savita) and his 8 months' old Arush could not come due to an accidental death of one of the relatives of Savita. On a personal note, I was unreachable that day since afternoon - my phone was kept on charging and fell on the floor making the display go kaput. I needed help contacting others. Anyways, it was sorted and we continued with the get-together making it a fun dinner. Ridhima was all excited since morning and got company too to create a ruckus.
Rdhima was not taking any medicine since but we kept on with Tulsi Kadha (basil juice) to ensure she picks up fast. I resumed office sans my phone and was hardly contactable till my younger brother lent me one of his spare phones. I called up Motorola service centre and customer care numbers, posted my problem online but nothing worked. Yesterday, was my week off and I went to search for the Moto authorised service centre. I was startled to find that the display of my Moto X Play cost INR 7000, a phone that I purchased in less than INR 10000 (with discounts). Rinku advised me to talk to the technicians outside and it worked. I got it done in less than INR 2500. My phone is working fine since and I hardly feel any difference with this copy display. My wife has again saved me from getting ripped off.
I was in office last Wednesday (20-07-2016) when I received a call from Muntun (my younger brother) about the papers I needed to submit for the apartment, I was planning to buy. He at the end of the conversation informed me that Chhoti (Fufaji's youngest daughter in Pune) has been murdered and her body was found at the riverside nearby along with one of her classmates (Sneha). It was a shock! I frantically searched Fufaji's number and dialed it from the office land line. He confirmed the news and hung up. My heart was sinking in disbelief, was not able to think anything, went up on the 11 th floor, the quietest place in my office, just to breathe. There was no point being in the office if I couldn't do anything and I left immediately.
It was 10.15 pm when I reached Pune. The whole family was grieving the sad demise of their young child. Chhoti was all of 14 and was studying in 10th standard (I guess). I learnt, she was coming from school along with her classmates last Saturday, all four of them. Two went home and two went missing. After all the search she and Sneha did not return home and later their bodies were found four days (the same day I reached) later at the riverside close by. The bodies were in the hospital and postmortem would have to be done next morning to ascertain the cause of death.
At around 2 pm the postmortem was complete and still the cause of death was not ascertained. Some samples were sent to the forensic lab where they would be examined further. We did the last rights at Yedwada cemetery and by 5 pm I was ready to come back to Mumbai, I had some very urgent work at my office the next day. Muntun also returned along with me. On Friday, the grieving family left for their village to complete the last rights and other rituals. Whatever the reason may be, she was a good girl and I have some very good memories of her. I somehow do not believe the media stories of suicide, she was by all means a happy child and the most active member of her family. My heart goes for Fua ji who was inconsolable throughout. Let god give them strength to put up with this tragedy. Let Chhoti rest in peace.
No comments:
Post a Comment