Episode 3

RECAP: In the last episode we saw Bapu started going to the school. Laxmi started learning as Bapu taught her whatever he learned in the school. Laxmi first got herself literate and then started teaching her other siblings. Once Kiran runs from the house and join a Independence March. She doesn’t return home and after hearing news on radio about a mob lathi charged Jija and others start worrying about her. And now the story continues…


Thak! Thak! Thak! Let me in, please let me in! A girl shouted at Raghav’s door. Raghav came running and saw through a small window who was shouting. He saw a girl bleeding. There was blood on her face, blood clotted on her forehead where it took dark crimson red color. She was shivering with fear and if not given support would have felled at his doorstep. Raghav rushed and opened the door. He took her inside, closed the door behind her. He called Rohini, to look at the girl. She saw the girl, hugged her to make her feel better. Then told her to sit and went in the kitchen to bring some hot water. There were no medicines other than natural means. She put some Neem leaves in the water while boiling it. Kiran was sitting in the corner shivering, Raghav looked at her and Kiran saw that he was waiting with thousands of questions for her. Rohini came with warm water and a towel. She cleaned her forehead and the blood over face. Rohini took a glance at her cleaned face, Kiran was a beautiful girl, even with a cute face line her eyes were full of confidence and the depth in her eyes showed the depth of her mind and thoughts.


Rohini poured the remaining hot water in the bucket gave her a towel and told her to wash her hands and legs, also gave her a dress to wear. The couple didn’t had a baby but they always donated dresses to the children residing in the Aashram. This was the reason they had a spare dress. While she was in the bathroom, she heard Madhav talking to Rohini about her. She didn’t mind it, because it was but obvious that they were surprised with whatever happened to them.


Back home Jija didn’t turn off the radio as they were constantly updating the list of the identities of the people who were dead and those who were injured. Many of the names were familiar but there no where she heard name of Kiran. She was depressed as hours passed. It was only a couple of hours that Madhav would return home. Will she be able to tell all this to him? What will be his reactions, many questions hovered her mind which made her much more depressed. She started preparing dinner. Laxmi sat down near the window gazing outside thinking of her sister. She was not able to do anything and even if she would have been able to leave house what she would have done? She just thought that she someone would come to that window and Atleast tell her something about Kiran.


Jija was busy making Dinner, meanwhile someone knocked the door, and she went running with all the hopes and opened the door. Her face went pale after seeing Madhav at the door. She didn’t move for a minute. Madhav shook her, what happened Jija? She came back from the trance and said “Nothing, Nothing, what happened, Come! Come in!” Ok Listen Madhav said, “I am in hurry, I have to go the Ram Mandir today night, they have arranged a Kirtan and I have to be there for the complete night.” “Prepare dinner for me quickly and I will leave.” You and children then eat together.” Understood! He said holding Jija’s shoulders. She said yes! I will do. You get fresh Dinner is ready. As he went in, she gave a sigh of relief. Every day Madhav insisted that Dinner should be done with all family members together. That was the time all the children used to talk to there father about there day, whatever they did or learnt anything new. Laxmi and Kiran always told then they learnt one or another food item. Madhav was also interested in what they did; he also shared about his day. What did he preach the people, if there is something special that happened that day, he used to take all the kids, Jija in the Waranda after the dinner and tell them the whole story.


When the Madhav came home all the children were near the window to hear who came in. After hearing there Dad’s voice they all also were panicked. But after sometime they saw that Jija was not that much worried and so they understood that may be something good has happened. They went back doing there own work. Madhav came to kitchen saw the time he had some half hour, so she asked Jija call the children its about time to take dinner we will have it together. She listened and again she was shocked. She said, No its ok, why make them eat in hurry. I will make there food after sometime. So that they will be able to eat when its still hot. He agreed, and asked for the plate. He took his dinner, took his bag, a typical bag which a Brahmin carried. Went near the room where all the children were sitting, and told them that he was not there or the dinner today with them. They all shouted its Ok! But they took promise that tomorrow’s Lunch he will be with them, He didn’t promise but said I will try my Best kids. Now you all listen I am not there today night, please take care of your Mom. He left home. Jija sat down. Tears came from her eyes. Kiran’s face was hovering in her mind.


Kiran came out from the bathroom. Dried her legs and came to the Kitchen where they both were waiting. She was ready to face any of there questions. She entered, her plate was ready, she said, she don’t want food, she is ok. But after Rohini insisted her she agreed to take the food. While having food, Rohini told her about them. She was a house wife. They moved in Nagaon only a year ago. They were leaving near a small village near Pen, Raigad. There they made idols of God. The cost of living was high there and also Raghav’s Job made them shift here to Nagaon. Rohini told all this to her to make a good rapport with her, so that she will be more comfortable with them. She was very much correct and before they would ask anything to her, Kiran spoke.


I ran away from house. They both stunned. I ran away as I wanted to fight for our freedom. I don’t like to be sitting at home and people giving away there lives for the freedom. I went to a march… before she said anything Raghav spoke… Rohini told you that my job made us shift over here. If you want to know what kind of job I do then listen… I am a Freedom Fighter. Working of a home company “Bharat Chodo” and we are here to make a team co- ordinate people like you to use there feelings in right way. We have our sources to make money for our work. We are in all a team of 15 people who work in different parts of Maharashtra. We are now making local teams which will me in our contact and do the work as needed. They will be trained and kept ready for operations.
Kiran shouted… “I am IN”


*** What will be Raghav’s answer to this? Is she too small to do all this? But she is the one who can be there most important person. Is his search ended here? What work do Raghav has in his mind for Kiran? What will happen when Madhav comes back home the next day? All this will be answered in next episode. ***