NAZMA

11^th June,2010, Friday

As usual Nishant was 10 minutes late but now he is very used to this scenario for last one year. Hurrying through the streets of Avenue Lane he was finishing up his last touch of dressing up. Today he will not forget to ask Ravi, his colleague, for the powerful ringtone which he thinks is the best and permanent solution of his long and persistent problem of getting late. But this habit of getting late is to some extent healthy because by now he is 15 minutes off time n he is on a virtual sprint.

The bus stop, from where he his supposed to catch his lifeboat was on the opposite side of the lane and he has to cross the main road. Nishant checked the time, its 9:21 and he has to wait 9 more minutes.  Just by the bus stop was the kaka’s pan shop from where Nishant used to take his magic puff. It was also a part of his daily routine. He lit up his cigarette and turned to find those beautiful eyes staring at him on the other foot. This was not the first time he was seeing those beautiful pair of eyes stare at him and to his wonder for the last few months it was co-incidentally a part of his everyday happenings. Suddenly Nishant felt a goose bump.

She had a dark complexion, dry hair, but the best part was her bright expressive beautiful eyes which appealed Nishant the most. Nishant guessed she was merely 5 years old .Few days back he had also asked Kaka the whereabouts of the girl. Kaka said

“O bridge er tolaye thake ghure beraye edik odik. Kachra tule fere”

 (She must be staying under the fly-over and most probably she is a rag-picker.)

Unconsciously Nishant had also asked a very stupid question which Kaka chose not to answer…

“ and she doesn’t go to school?”

Nishant checked his clock which suggested 9:25 am. He had 5 minutes in hand. Nishant chose to give her a smile for the first time in last few months and found that the beautiful lady was shy enough to hide her face behind her two lil pair of hands. He sacrificed his puff and was up for a conversation. Nishant was now standing near the lil gal who was still hiding her face but at the same time Nishant found that she has been looking through her fingers n her eyes were open. Nishant adjusted his body n bent down in a manner that he is now in direct contact with her eyes. Nishant cleared his throat and with a chocking voice asked…

“Tomar nam ki?”

(What is your name?)

She shyly replied “Nazma”.

Ohh! what a lovely name Nishant felt, but didn’t say anything. Nishant is not yet done with his curiosity about the girl. He continued….

“Tumi kothaye thako?” (Where do you stay?)

 She pointed out a little corner under the bridge. The place though was not at all hygienic but still there was an amazing peace n happiness which Nazma has brought in that dark corner of the bridge. Before Nishant could continue he saw S-6 speeding through air and approaching the stand. Nishant waved her goodbye and left. From the bus he saw that she was still waving him Good Bye.

14^th June, Monday, 2010, 9:23 AM

Nishant’s new ringtone didn’t do a magic spell and he was as usual late and again he missed the 9:20 bus and has to wait for the 9:30 ‘s lifeboat S-6. But today while crossing the road he felt somewhat strange. But then again Nishant can’t afford that much time to figure out what was the difference. There was an amazing silence, a silence that engulfs nature after thunderstorm. After reaching Kaka’s and buying his magic puff Nishant suddenly realized what was missing. It was “Nazma”! She was not there. And…and her sweet little home… Its gone! Nazma z gone! In desperate misery Nishant turned to kaka and before asking any question kaka answered…

“Mission Sunset--- Latest Project undertaken by KP (Kolkata Police) to remove all the hawkers and rag-pickers who stay “Under the Bridge” … ”

Nishant heard a lil gal saying to her mother ---“Look mummy, there’z an aeroplane in the sky … ♫♫♫”