Aatma

Hired Ghost Part 1

As usual today also Geeta  was  late to office .She signs the muster the receptionist scolds her for coming late again , this was the seventh time in a month she was ,half an hour late . She says sorry and hurriedly goes to her seat , starts her laptop  and drinks the cold tea which was kept on her table by the office help .She had instructed the office help even if she is not present at the time of serving the tea in the morning her cup of tea should be kept on her table covered with a lid. As she could not start her daily work without her daily cup of tea . She starts working on her assignment and then after an hour she looks  up and waves at her colleagues ,Good morning , they all love her and she is a  very hard working girl., Only problem with her was she always came to  the office late and she  got fired from  HR many times .More than her they used to get tensed when she used to reach office late .She was quite a jovial person she was the life of the otherwise boring atmosphere of the office she was also the favourite of the office incharge.She had long hair and a very naughty way of laughter , she would make every situation a funny one and made all enjoy the work they were doing , she was quiet popular.All pampered her she was very body’s friend and well wisher .But at home being the eldest amongst four siblings she had lot of responsibility , She had lost her mother when she was 15 years of age .Her father worked in a bank .He was a simple man who kept to himself after his wife.s death , he hardly interacted with his kids . The responsibility of the family was on her shoulder When her mother died she was preparing for her board exams , the sudden death of her mother and the consequent responsibility of her very young brothers and sister fell on her shoulder as her father went into depression . She did not score good marks and so somehow she  did her graduation and also started taking tuitions and getting some extra income . She had to cook for the family ,  take care of the younger siblings , get them ready for school and also take care of her father’s medicines . She was multitasking at a very young age.By God’s grace she got this job as soon as she graduated from college . She had dreamed of doing  masters  but had to keep her desires on hold so as to help her father in raising the family . Her colleagues knew about her difficult life so they  were very kind and helpful towards her and treated her as their own child. Men in the office also noticed her and wanted to be in her good books . Some tried to take her on date , but she never encouraged them and politely refused them .She had her priorities  .She wanted her siblings to complete their graduations , so they are capable of taking care of themselves .Though her father was now out of depression he had to be taken care off .S knew he missed his wife , So Geeta had kept all her desires on hold till she would make her siblings self reliant .  When ever she felt she could not cope with her responsibility she would cry a lot and speak to her mother, ask her to guide her and she would see her mother in her dreams she would answer her but never speak to her she could see her mother giving her some sort of signs or show her few things and always when she wanted to hug her mother in the dreams she would wake up .But she would feel very satisfied she had her mothers soul guiding her in her difficult period through her dreams ,She never shared this dreams with any one as this was her only treasure which was only for her.Her father many a times had asked her about her plans of getting married  but she always told him not until the youngest brother completes his studies and get a decent job. Her dad used to tell her it is his responsibility to see that they all complete their studies not hers , she should now think of getting a life partner .She used to tell him she is just 22 years old let her explore the world and if she finds a suitable guy she would definitely get ,married .She knew her father was feeling guilty for making her do the work which should be doing , she had her head on her shoulder and had planned her future very well.After office she would never waste time in staying back and spending time with her colleagues , she would go to washroom freshen up and close her laptop take her bag and rush out of the office to walk towards the railway station from there she would then take a train to her place .This activity was so fixed she would never miss her train ,as then she would be om the platform for an hour waiting for her train. And that loss of one hour would make her late for her other activity ,her students would be waiting for her in the house as she would take tuitions only after reaching home , her whole day till 10 pm would be packed with all her activity.Today the moment she got into her train she made herself comfortable bought a packet of Dhokla a very soft savory made of chickpea flour and steamed . she finished the whole packet and drank water from her bottle covered her eyes with her band and fell asleep this was her daily routine it would take her two hours to reach her station by then she would be fully charged to take on the ;oad of her rest of the work waiting to be completed in the house. She was happy with the way she managed her daily routine .She was fast asleep and she saw her mother standing near the door of the train she had worn a white saree (the traditional attire of Indian women) her hair was in a bun dark black hair she had decorated with a string of jasmine flowers she had a big  red round  bindi on her forehead a mark of a married women her saree end which is on the one side of the shoulder was flying in the air she looked very beautiful she was not seeing Geeta she was just seeing the scenery out  of the train which  was moving very fast .Geeta wanted to call out to her mother she wanted to hug her , she wanted to getup from her seat and catch her and cry on her bosom but she felt as if she has turned into stone she could not move or open her mouth she felt she was frozen . Tears were flowing down her cheeks .and suddenly she called out to her mamma and opened her eyes and took off her eye band and looked around.Nobody had heard her call out to her mother .She felt very tired and sad , she felt if only her mother would be alive today and she could go and hug her tightly after a hard days work  a small tear fell on her cheeks , she got up and took her bag and went towards the door with a very heavy heart. But she also felt happy that though it’s been long her mother was dead she could still see her in her dreams so clearly..She thanked her stars she could still see her mother in her dreams .After reaching home she is welcomed by her very young students five of them .All very excited to see her they come forward and hug her . Her takes the bag from her and Geea goes to the washroom and takes hot water bath changes into fresh house cloths and comes out hugs her father takes the cup of hot tea and sits in front of her students and sips her tea in a relaxed way asking the children what homework was given to them by her and also the school ..They would be very excited to tell her instead what happened in the whole day ,first few minutes would go in them wanting to tell about their school friends their teacher and how their mother does not give them time to play ,this was the daily routine for them to give her complains about their school and parents . She would feel very relaxed with their chatter and the whole day.s tension would just melt away. But today she was not listening to their complaints; her mind was still thinking about the dream she had seen in the train about her mother.The evening ended with the children going to their house after doing their studies and kissing her bye .She goes to the kitchen and checks on the dinner which her young sister had prepared along with her brothers, she is very particular with her brothers they have to help the sisters in the household duties so as to be able to manage if they are left alone she wanted all three to self reliant Today’s dinner was special , they had made rice pudding also and they spread the plate with all that they had prepared and gave it to her and said keep this in front of mothers portrait , they remind Geeta about that day being their mothers birthday. Geeta had completely forgotten she now realises why she saw her mother in the train so beautifully dressed and enjoying the cool breeze..She takes the plate and keeps it in front of her mother and they light a lamp and sing happy birthday .Latter they all sit together and have their dinner the brothers talk about wanting to go on school trip and need to pay for it in few days ,the father does not want them to go ,but Geeta persuades her father to let them go and takes responsibility on their behalf that they will behave properly and take good care of themselves.Both the brothers thank her for being supportive and go to sleep, Geeta sees her father worried and tells him not to worry about the boys so much they are growing and need to explore the outside world and she will give them strict rules to follow.She tells her father it was first time after her mothers death she forgot today is her birthday.Her father cresses her head and wipes her tears and tells her she should not feel guilty about forgetting her birthday she is surely very proud of her daughter taking good care of her family,he tells her she is very dutty bound and caring daughter he is grateful to God for her support . She feels like sharing her dream with her father today ,she sees her siblings are fast asleep so she decides to tell her dad she tells him  today she saw her mother in her dream while she was returning back on the train. Before she could explain the dream and how her mother looked ,she was surprised to hear her father telling her .She might have worn pure white saree a red bindi on her forehead a beautiful bun with jasmine flowers around the bun and standing at the doorway of the train with her saree and flying in the breeze ,Geeta got goosebumps while listening to her father how did he know how exactly she looked in Geeta’s dream . She could not believe it as she had never seen her mother in white saree and so neatly dressed while she was alive.. She remembers seeing her always tired and in hurry to finish the work in hand as it was never ending with four small children . Her father looks at her and asks her did he say right about the way her mother looked in her dream today, she is shocked and wants to know how he knew about her dreams ,he laughs and tells her he did not know about her dream but that is the way she used to dress up when they were newly married and had no children .On her birthday she would dress up in white saree and want to travel in the train and stand near the door and enjoy the breeze, that was the only demand she would make .But after the birth of the children she slowly started getting involved with the household duties and forgot about her happiness , H e tells her when she gets married she should live life for herself for few years and not start a family immediately and also have few children so that she can manage her and her families happiness together.Five years have passed Geeta was very relaxed at her work place she was in the same company she had been promoted many times she was now a manager and had good salary her , siblings had also completed their studies , and where working as trainees in small company and earning experience and also enough money to spend on their needs life was now very good for Geeta .One day in their office it was announced there was going to be a celebration of heir company completing 25 years and doing well.So all where given one day leave and a grand celebration next day .All were very happy , one that day Ravi a senior manager from her department came to her desk and told her can she have lunch with him today , she agreed to have lunch with him as she was  bored of eating her food prepared by herself ,she thought it would be nice idea to have some nice tasty food outside and she was happy was with Ravi he was the most decent young man with lots of respect for ladies he always spoke to them with respect and he was very soft spoken ,many girls in the office  fell for him they were smitten by his good looks but as he was very serious and no nonsense type of guy they never tried to flirt with him . But Geeta knew from start he had a soft corner for her , she had often seen him staring at her and when she would catch him in his act he would suddenly turn serious and ask her about the pending work she had to complete .she would then start working on it complete it and give it on the same dy to him .He would then tell her it was not urgent she could have done it at leisure he just thought of reminding her , she would smile at him with her tongue in cheeks look and he would scratch his head in embarrassment . Geeta enjoyed his gazes every day both knew for many years they were attracted to each other but both did not make attempt to talk beyond office work , only thing both enjoyed was hiding and seeing each other without the other noticing and if cough staring they would act as if it was some work they had with each other. Daily  when they would enter the office the first thing they did was look out for each other till they did not see each other they would feel restless . Only  a few elderly colleagues   had noticed this  game of hide and seek  of thiers , They used to signal to each other when they both used to enter the office it was their daily entertainment seeing them both looking at each other .Geeta  was not paying attention today she was just seeing her watch and waiting for lunch time , she was excited  . She also messaged her friend about the lunch date Ravi invited to atlast . Her friend was more excited then her  ; she wanted to know the whole detail after the lunch . She also advised her how to behave and not concentrate on food and go slow on eating and try to act very interested in what  he was saying .She agrees to oblige by her advice as this was very first time she was going to have a meal with a guy and that too whom she secretly likes all these years.. Atlast the lunch time  is just five minutes away , she runs to the washroom and does qcik touch up of her makeup and sprays a little perfume so he should not suspect she is all excited to met him she wanted to be very casual so she took her bag and told her gang she is going out to buy few things for her sister so she will not have lunch with them. And slowly goes out of the office and sees Ravi already waiting there for her , he smiles at her she feels her heart will just rip off her tops and fall on her hand it  was beating so fast . he signals her to get in his car she goes toward it and he opens the door for her , she sits inside and feels happy as she had always wanted this to happen , and today its happening she could hardly believe it . He sits in the car and thanks her for agreeing to join him for lunch , and then starts his car .They both dont talk , both are shy .Then he parks his car in front of a small restaurant and comes running towards her side and opens the car door for her . They. both go inside and choose a quiet corner and then again look at each other not knowing  what to say , he tells her to choose what she would like to eat and he will also have the same thing as he was fed up of eating his choice of food , she smiles  at him and then orders chinese hakka noodles  and fresh lime juice for both . they give the order and as both are waiting for the food to arrive they feel awkward as they have never  sat so near  and looking at each other from so close quarters . She starts seeing his moustache and thinking she had never noticed it was so thick and black , suddenly she realises he is staring at her and might have thought she  was checking out his lips . She feels awkward and shifts her gaze towards the other people having their lunch and looking at the way they were pushing food down their mouth she feels more hungry and her stomach growls in hunger she suddenly picks up the glass of water and drinks it so that her stomach does not make more noise , she shift in her place. Ravi is engrossed in staring at her., He has got a golden opportunity to stare at her , so he was doing it with  a lot of guts.. The waiter arrives with hor noodles and serves both , as soon as it is served Geeta starts eating it she has forgotten to go slow on food she eats like a savage and then picks up her glass of fresh lemon juice and that time she sees Ravi has not started t eat  yet and was still staring at her . She  remembers her friends advice and thinks s**t she has lost the opportunity of impressing him with a classy way of eating now he will think she was so starved which she actually was . She suppressed  her burp and while wiping her mouth looks at his plate which is still untouched she says what happened why he is not eaten .He smiles at her and tells her his stomach feels already full just watching her and he is feeling so nice that this one hour she is in front of him and so did not want to miss on seeing her closely . She shifts awkwardly and tells him they work in the same office and the see each other , every day , so he should better finish the meal or they will be late for office she tells him to finish the food fast or else he will be hungry for the rest of the day .He finishes of the food gulps down the lemon juice and pays the bill and both rush off to the office before the lunch time and enter the office separately ,so that no one suspects them of going out for lunch together . But the old gang who have kept a watch on this love birds have started messaging about not seeing both of them during lunch hour and then seeing them  at their desk working very hard .Ravi decides to propose to Geeta on the day of their office celebration party. He is quite sure about her feelings for him and he is sure she will agree he has waited for this moment for  seven long years , he had fallen for her from the day she had joined the company and had  wanted to propose to her when he felt sure about himself ,he had lots of responsibility . He had to get his two sisters married  off and then think of his own marriage ;  now he was free to get married as they both were well settled. He was from  a rich family . He had lost his parents a few years ago . He had lots of property , He knew  from sources Geeta had lots of responsibility before she decides to get married and she was focussed like him .So he waited till her responsibility and his too got over . On the day of the company celebration Geeta had worn a pretty  saree   and she looked very beautiful and radiant Rav saw her and immediately went towards her and before anyone else could sit next to her he pulled a chair and sat , she was very happy to see his interest in her and he putting efforts to be near her. She had dressed for his sake ,she wanted to look best for him.The programme had started the owner was talking about the journey of the company , in the beginning how very few people worked for them and then slowly more and more people joined them and so on and so forth ,But Ravi was  only  thinking how to propose to Geeta whether to take her out or just there when the owners are talking so that he will have some support of the people around him .Out he will feel lost for words here he will ask her and finish of the ordeal he was going through the whole day. He clears his throat and asks Geeta if he can talk to her ,she asks him regarding what he wants to talk about ,he says their life together . Geeta’s eyes pops out and she swallows her spit and coughs aloud and shifts in her chair adjusting her saree , she feels she has not heard him properly , and wants him to repeat  what he just said he tells her he is interested in her and wants to live rest of his life with her . She is overjoyed and holds his hands. Her hands have become very cold ., he holds it tightly and looks at her lovingly , he tells her he had fallen in love with her from the day she stepped into their office .She accepts his proposal and tells him to visit her house and talk to her father .He thanks her and tells her as the next day is holiday for them he will visit their house and talk to her father.