by Shikha Tailang

(AI translated version of – भइया मिल गया!)

Yogesh – What is our dear daughter doing?

Anita said – Papa! Rakhi is about to come. I am missing Bhaiya a lot. Truly, it used to feel so good when my eyes were fine and Bhaiya and I used to play hide and seek in the house or sometimes even outside. Even though there used to be quarrels between us sometimes, there was a lot of love too. I remember that scene again and again when I was sitting at the table and doing my homework. Then the naughty Ajit came from behind and pulled my braid. I was annoyed but on hearing his mischievous laughter, I forgot my pain. While saying this, tears started falling from Anita’s eyes.

Yogesh also got emotional on seeing this condition of his daughter. But he controlled himself somehow and spoke in a faltering voice.

Yogesh – My dear! Be patient. I will try my best to ensure that this time your Rakhi does not go empty. Also, I am trying to arrange money for your eye treatment. I hope that your problem will be solved soon.

Meanwhile, Gomti Devi went to the kitchen and made tea and gave it to her husband and said – she had been sad since morning. I do not want to see her sad. May God bring happiness back to our home soon.

Yogesh said in a voice full of confidence – Dear! Whenever sorrows come in life, new paths emerge. We are trying our best. We will not sit in peace until our daughter’s eye problem is completely solved.

The next day was a Sunday holiday in Yogesh’s office. Yogesh thought why not take the whole family for a walk to the Sukwan-Dhukwan dam built on the Betwa river near Jhansi Cantt? By walking around, by changing places, the mind will become a little lighter and the family’s attention will be diverted from their problems. When he presented his proposal to his mother and daughter, they gave their approval.

The next day, the entire Tiwari family left for the dam in an auto. There were two army checkposts at the beginning and the end of the dam. Two soldiers were deployed there. They checked the auto’s documents and let it go ahead. Yogesh had made a plan that he would halt at the picnic restaurant on the other side of the dam and would stop the auto there till evening. Then after roaming around, they would reach home before nightfall. But something else was to happen there.

On seeing the river, Anita felt like taking a bath in it. As soon as she reached the river bank to take a bath, she could not see the moss that had settled there due to blurred vision and her foot slipped. She slipped and fell into the river. She called out in panic – Papa! Mummy!! Save me! Save me!!

She threw her dupatta and tried to grab a small rock nearby but was unsuccessful. Seeing this scene, Yogesh and Gomti Devi also panicked. They also started pleading loudly – Oh! Someone save our daughter! She is drowning in the river!!

To be contd. …