MEERA

There was a crowd outside the house in Malviya Nagar, Bhopal. Savitri Devi had passed away this morning. Her only daughter "Meera Rajput" was in the name of the family. Savitri was battling a serious illness for the last several years and today she took her last breath and said goodbye to the world. Meera was 21 years old and was in the last year of college. Savitri's lifeless body was lying in front of her eyes covered with a white sheet. Tears were flowing from Meera's eyes. The women sitting nearby her, were consoling her but only Meera could understand the pain of losing a mother. She was the only one in this world to call her own. Savitri had sent Meera to Indore for her studies, the special reason for which was known only to Savitri.

In Indore, Meera studied in National College and lived in a hostel of the same college. Meera is a very soft-spoken girl, she used to spend most of her time in books. Her only friend in college was "Nidhi Vyas" who lived in Indore with her family! Nidhi and Meera were both very good friends. They had completed two years of college together but Nidhi knew very little about Meera now, the reason being Meera being an introvert or maybe circumstances made her mature before her age! This time Meera came to Bhopal without telling Nidhi

The preparations for Savitri's last rites were complete. When her body was being taken away, Meera started crying loudly. The women tried to console her but no one could stop her. She ran out and said, "I will also go with you!!" "Daughter, women do not go to the crematorium!", said an old man standing there.

"I don't want to hear anything, I will also go with you!" said Meera

"Let it go uncle, it is important to have someone close to perform the last rites! And these days it doesn't matter whether it is a boy or a girl, let it go!", Vishwanath standing nearby said to the old man.

Everyone left from there carrying Savitri's dead body, with tears in her eyes, Meera was walking away holding the fire vessel in her hands! It was as if there was no courage in her lifeless legs, she had spent very little time with her mother, who knows what was the reason that her mother always kept her away from herself! Thinking and remembering the past, he reached the crematorium! Savitri's last rites were performed, being the only heir, he also lit the funeral pyre!! It was very difficult to control Meera in those moments! The eyes of everyone present there became moist!

After a month Meera came to Indore. She changed her clothes and picked up her books and came to the college. After coming to the college she talked to the principal and told him about her mother's death. Since Meera was the most promising student of the college, the principal agreed to her one month leave. Meera came out after thanking the principal. There was still time for the class to start, so she came and sat on the bench and started looking at the ground with sad eyes. Just then a familiar voice came in her ears, "Oh Madam ji, where were you all these days, neither a call nor a message, what is going on in your mind?

Meera turned towards the voice and Nidhi was standing in front of her! When Meera did not respond, Nidhi sat beside her and said lovingly, "What happened Meera? Is everything alright?" Hearing Nidhi's words, Meera's eyes welled up with tears. She looked down at the ground and said, "Mother is no more, Nidhi!" "What? When did this happen? And why didn't you tell me?", Nidhi said in shock.

"What should I tell you Nidhi? I myself did not know what pain my mother was going through. She always kept me away from herself so that I could not know anything and see, she went away from me forever", saying this Meera's eyes filled with tears! Nidhi took Meera's hand in hers and looking into her eyes said, "You are not alone Meera, I am with you! Don't say such a thing again!"

Meera hugged Nidhi! Nidhi kept encouraging her! When it was time for class, both of them got up and went to class! Nidhi went home after telling Meera to take care of herself but today she was very sad and kept thinking about Meera! The next morning the hostel warden asked Meera to vacate the room! She had not received the rent for her room for the last one month.

Meera asked for permission for a few days but the warden clearly told her to vacate the room! No one helped her, Meera packed her stuff and started packing it in her bag! The money she had was spent on her mother's last rites and the subsequent work! After all, whose help should she take in an unknown city? Meera was a very self-respecting girl and hence she did not tell Nidhi about her problem! Meera had no other option but to go back to Bhopal! She left the hostel with her bag!

When Nidhi came to college and did not see Meera in the class, she asked Ragini, who was sitting next to her and also lived in the same hostel, "Hey Ragini, where is Meera? Why didn't she come to college?"

"Hey, don't you know? Today, Warden Madam expelled her from the hostel", Ragini whispered. "What? But why?", Nidhi said in surprise.

"Because she did not pay the hostel room rent, now don't disturb me, let me study", said Ragini and looked into the books. When Nidhi heard this, she started thinking, "All this happened and Meera did not even tell me, this girl is really very difficult to understand! I don't know where she would be at this time? I have to go." Nidhi picked up her bag and books and went out of the class.

She came straight to the hostel from college and asked Meera's roommate. The roommate told that Meera was talking about going back to her home. Nidhi left from there and immediately came to the railway station. The train had left. Nidhi became dejected, she looked at the train going with sad eyes and as soon as she turned to go back, her eyes fell on Meera sitting on the bench.

Nidhi came running to him happily but the very next moment her happiness turned into anger and she said, "What do you think of yourself? And

Where are you going hiding your face like this?"

"I am not going hiding my face, I informed Ragini before coming", Meera said in a low voice

“And you think I will let you go like this!”, Nidhi said angrily.

"But what will we do here now? The warden has also expelled me from the hostel!", said Meera

As for the warden, I.... Tell me why didn't you tell me?", Meera became silent on this question of Nidhi!

Nidhi sat next to her and said, "Meera you are not my friend just for the sake of it, there are many girls in the college but I chose you as my friend, do you know why? Because you are very good and intelligent too! You are a very strong girl Meera then how can you go away like this? How can you forget aunty's dream? You have to study and become a big officer, how did you forget that?"

"Nidhi, I have not forgotten anything, I remember everything but I have learnt one thing from this city that if i want to live, then money is necessary and I don't have that Nidhi! I will go home, at least i have my own house to live in!", Meera said sadly.

"Enough of your idealistic talk, let's go!", said Nidhi while getting up.

“Where?” said Meera.

"No questions, get up and go", saying this Nidhi picked up one bag herself and handed the other to Meera! Both of them came out of the parking lot and Nidhi brought her scooty

She took it out and started walking with Meera! Meera, who was sitting behind Nidhi, had several questions troubling her mind! Whenever Meera thought of leaving this city, this city would pull her back towards it! There were many questions but no answer to where Nidhi was taking her.

She had no idea! While driving the scooter on the road, Nidhi suddenly applied the brakes and took a U-turn!

"What happened? Where are we going Nidhi?", Meera sitting behind asked

"Hostel!", said Nidhi

“But why?” said Meera

"You come, I'll tell you!", saying this Nidhi increased the speed and after some time both of them were in front of the hostel! Nidhi parked the scooty on the side! She held Meera's hand

She caught hold of him and took him inside! The warden was standing right in front of her. Nidhi came in front of her. She took out some money from her pocket and gave it to the warden.

Handing it over to her, he said, "Keep your money and from now on never throw any girl out of the hostel like this!"

"If the rent is paid on time, why would anyone leave? But these girls waste the money of their family on luxuries and then start crying at the mention of rent", said the warden while counting the money with a frown

"Witch! How dare you say such a thing about my friend. I will tear your face apart!" Nidhi said while arguing with the warden but at the last moment Meera intervened.

I stopped her and said, "Nidhi, what are you doing? Leave her!"

"I will break her face, no matter what the girls of this hostel do, you are not like that", Nidhi said angrily to Meera.

"Please let's go from here please!", said Meera while almost pulling Nidhi. When Nidhi left from there, Meera came to the warden and said in a very low voice

Meera said, "Ma'am I apologize for what Nidhi did, one more thing and not every girl comes here to enjoy!" Saying this Meera left from there. When she came out she saw that Nidhi was angry. As soon as Meera came to her Nidhi said, "Are you really from a Rajput family? She told you all this and you listened it all and didn't even said anything!"

"It was my mistake. If I had paid the rent on time, this wouldn't have happened", said Meera in a calm tone.

"Oh Goddess of Aadarsh! Stop it, if you keep on like this, someone will sell you off!", said Nidhi with folded hands in front of Meera. "Nidhi, it is not like that! I have been here for the last 3 years, I do not want my mother to be embarrassed because of me! It is also important to maintain the respect of the surname I have got!", said Meera.

"This is how you will maintain your respect, if someone says something, listen to them quietly and if possible, apologize yourself!", said Nidhi

"I won't be able to make you understand!", said Meera while picking up the bags.

"This is good of you, well forget it, come sit, let's go, it is getting late!", said Nidhi while starting the scooter. "Where do you want to go now?", said Meera. Nithi smiled and said, "There where all are your own people!" As soon as Meera came and sat, Nidhi moved the scooter forward. Both came to "Shivaji Nagar"! After coming to Indore, Meera saw this city for the first time! Clean roads, big tall houses, she was looking at all this with unblinking eyes. Nidhi was driving the scooter at a fast speed.

"Nidhi Vyas" is everyone's darling in her family! She met Meera in college and she liked Meera's calm behaviour at first sight but she herself was not calm at all! She was always laughing and giggling! She was her darling so she was never told no for anything! Nidhi stopped in front of a big house with Meera! She parked her scooty on the side and came inside with Meera! Meera's eyes fell on the name plate on the door of the house "Vyas House" Meera came inside holding her bag! As soon as she came inside Nidhi shouted Mumma Papa, Dadu Dadi, Bhaiya, everyone come.

Everyone came out as soon as they heard Nidhi's voice! Seeing an unknown girl with Nidhi, everyone had a question mark in their mind which Nidhi removed the very next moment and said, "Grandpa, this is my friend Meera!" And then turning towards Meera, she said, "Meera, this is my grandfather Shri Nath Vyas ji and she is my grandmother Surekha Vyas ji"

"Namaste!" said Meera with folded hands.

"This is my father Vijay Vyas and this is my mother Radha Vyas", Nidhi said pointing towards her parents. Meera greeted them as well and both smiled in response. Nidhi came to her brother and said holding his hand, "This is my elder brother Arjun!" "Hello!" Arjun said smiling and Meera also replied with a Namaste.

After introducing everyone, Nidhi came back to Meera and said, "This is my sweet family, (she remembered something and said looking around) where is Akshat Bhaiya? "Akshat has gone out!", Radha said coming in front of Meera. She looked at Meera very carefully, big eyes with kaajal on them, bright pink lips, a slender neck like a swan, fair complexion, long thick hair which was neatly braided and a strand of hair coming from them was falling on Meera's cheeks again and again.

Seeing Radha looking at her, Meera said, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Radha came back to her senses and with her finger, removed the kajal from the corner of her eye and applied it behind Meera's ear and said, "You are very pretty, touchwood .That the evil eye may not fall on it!"

Meera smiled! Perhaps she smiled for the first time since coming home! Radha held her hand and brought her among everyone! All the sofas kept in the hall

But he sat down! Nidhi said everything in one breath! And then she came in front of her grandfather and said innocently, "Did I do the right thing, grandfather?"

"Yes, beta ji, you did the right thing. In times like these, only a friend helps a friend.", said Dadu, touching Nidhi's cheek lovingly.

"Then Meera can stay here, right?", Nidhi said.

“She can stay here as long as she wants!”, said Dadu and then looking at Meera he said, “Meera!”

"Yes!", Meera said softly! Dadu smiled and said, "Consider this your own house, if you need anything, feel free to ask for it!" "Yes, thank you!", Meera said with folded hands!

"Papa, I am leaving, there is a meeting in the office!", Arjun said while getting up.

"Yes, okay, dad and I will come later!", said Vijay. Arjun picked up his phone and bag from the table and started leaving after saying bye to everyone, when his eyes fell on Meera, he said, "Bye Meera!"

"Bye", Meera said softly

"Come on children, first you both have something to eat!", said Radha and brought both of them to the dining table! Nidhi and Meera came and sat there! Radha served food for both of them!

Grandma got up and went out for a walk. It was winter time and in this season the only solace is sunlight. Grandma came out to the garden and was basking in the sunlight. Vijay and Shri Nath ji also came out after some time. Nidhi started eating but Meera was sitting quietly. Seeing her silent, Radha said lovingly, "What happened child, eat na?"

"Hmmm!", said Meera with a choked voice.

Radha put her hand on her shoulder and said, "I cannot share your pain but I can certainly reduce it! All these people are with you, child!" When Meera looked at Radha with moist eyes, Radha lovingly took her face in her hands and said, "Such a cute girl does not look good when she is sad! Now eat the food, it is getting cold, till then I will make arrangements for your stay." Radha left from there.

Meera liked everyone but she liked Radha the most as she could see her mother's image in her. After having food, Nidhi started showing her the house. The house was built very beautifully. Downstairs on one side was the grandparents' room and next to it was the puja room where there was a big statue of Shiva Parvati. Next to the temple was the kitchen in front of which was the dining room. Vijay and Radha's room was right next to the stairs and there was an office room where they sat and discussed work. There was a garden at the back of the house in which green grass was spread and plants were planted in pots in a row. After showing all this, Nidhi took Meera upstairs where there were 3 rooms and a big hall. Where two rooms were together and the third one was separate from them and was built right in front by joining the hall. One of these rooms was Arjun's and the other was Nidhi's. Nidhi did not say anything to Meera about the room in front. Meera also did not ask. As soon as Nidhi opened the door and came into her room, both of them closed their noses because of a strong smell. Nidhi closed the door again and called her mother. Radha came upstairs and said, "Sorry son, the cleaner bottle got accidentally broken in your room this morning. Raghu will do it!"

"But till then where should I go? Meera also needs to freshen up, look at her condition", said Nidhi.

"Do one thing till then you can use my room downstairs!", Radha said.

"Let it be, I will use Arjun bhaiya's room!", said Nidhi

"Okay!", saying this Radha went away.

Both of them came to Arjun's room and Meera saw that the room was very clean and organized, each and every thing was kept neatly! Meera was observing all this very carefully.

While she was watching, Nidhi said, "Brother always keeps his room in tip top condition, just like you!"

Meera smiled and Nidhi said, "Okay, you take a bath, till then I will bring your stuff from downstairs!"

Meera went to the bathroom to take a bath and Nidhi went downstairs!

When Meera came out after taking a bath, she found her clothes kept on the table. Meera wore her clothes and came out of the room to dry her wet hair but there was no sunlight except in the balcony of the hall. Meera came to the balcony of the hall with her wet hair wrapped in a towel and started drying her hair. Then her eyes went to the door of the room connected to the hall on which was written in big letters "Akshat Vyas a complicated boy". "Who keeps such a name plate?", saying this Meera went away from there.

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