Love Not Expressed

A Fiction

Leaving little Megha with her maternal uncle, the couple had left for Elephanta Island on that Sunday morning from the Gateway of India.

Both were happily returning by the steamer. Mayank was buying tea and snacks from the canteen, when suddenly there was a commotion in the ferry. Vidya had fallen into the sea.

Everyone kept watching including Mayank, and drowning Vidya was making only one request to Mayank,
“Take care of Megha!”

And in no time, Vidya disappeared from Mayank’s eyes.

The police registered a case against Mayank. He was accused of pushing Vidya into the sea. Some others accused him of torturing Vidya. His father-in-law filed another case of dowry harassment.

Mayank kept visiting courts and lawyers. He was also taken into police custody for a few days for investigation.

His only daughter Megha had also started believing that he was the murderer. But he was always concerned about Megha. His in-laws did not allow her to come to him. Mayank did not protest, but kept sending half of his salary every month to her in-laws for Megha’s education and other needs.

When Megha passed her high school exams, Mayank was overjoyed. He went to congratulate Megha with sweets and gifts.

Megha then asked Mayank,
“Papa, why did you kill my mom?”
“I didn’t kill.”
“Then what happened to her?”
“I still don’t know.”
“Was she happy.”
“Yes, very much, but she was feeling low for quite sometime. I asked her many times, but she didn’t tell me.”
“And the fights I heard?”
“In every home, it happens. Difference of opinion does exist. But does one kill, and that too one, who has become your life?” Mayank’s eyes were moist.
“Can I stay with you for a few days, Papa?”  Megha wanted to get to the bottom.
Mayank happily said,
“That is your house. Come whenever you wish.”

Megha was deeply saddened to see her father’s chaotic life, but she was also surprised that not a single photograph of her mother was found anywhere.

When the neighbours there told her that Mayank and Vidya used to fight very often recently, her suspicion further deepened and she went back to her granny’s house. Meanwhile, Megha joined the medical course, and left for Pune.

Mayank’s health had already started deteriorating and he died at the age of fifty-two.

Megha came home. While cleaning the house and arranging books, papers, clothes etc, she found a diary in her mother’s cupboard, which her father probably had not even read. It was written on the last page,

“Mayank, you don’t know that both my kidneys have failed. Dialysis is necessary twice a week. It is very painful and expensive. And in the end, you know what happens. So I am saying goodbye to you, so that you can give full attention and time to Megha.

“And yes, I’m sorry for the quarrels. I deliberately started quarreling with you, so that I could get out of your heart, and you won’t miss me.”

Tears welled up in Megha’s eyes. She felt true love for her father for the first time.

–Kaushal Kishore

images: pinterest

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