ROSHA: My first short story.

Today Esha is feeling all alone, standing on the ridge staring the far and widespread water, she is constantly missing Rohan, her fiancé, whom police have arrested two days back for the reason, unknown to her. Staring the deep water, somewhere deep in her heart she is travelling back and forth in the memory lane. She is recalling how she helped Rohan with a cup of coffee in her own cafe after Rohan has dropped down the one he has bought. And after this, he came to her and settled himself on the chair next to her and introduced himself

'Hi, I am Rohan'. He said offering a handshake.

'I am Esha.' she took the handshake.

'They did not ask you for money, do you run some account here?' He questioned Esha mockingly.

'I run this cafe.'

'Ooooh great!' he replied dragging his expression and continued,

'I am studying here in Hyderabad, majors in entrepreneurship.' He provided her with unasked information and asked her too- 'What have you studied?'

'Culinary, two years back and opened this cafe.'

'Goooood. What a shift, studied cooking-baking and running a business.'

'Excuse me?'

'What?'

'Why are you being sarcastic?'

'Ooooh no no no... I just wonder why don't you cook after all that you studied?'

'Well, I have to go, hope you enjoy your coffee.' She got up collecting her belongings and pretending that she is not interested in whatever he is saying. And she left the cafe, but all that day the question he has asked kept her thinking about the same. Next day in the morning she reached the cafe and announced that from now on "Today's Special" will be prepared by her own. That evening Rohan did not show up but he came after two days and then Esha went to him-

'Hi'

'oooh! Hi, how are you?'

'Good and wanted to thank you.'

'Me! But why? '

'Well because your question took me back in the kitchen of this cafe, which is what I always wanted to do and had opened this cafe for,but somehow lost my track, so thank you.'

'Oh that's wonderful, but I will not take your "thank you" only.'

'So what should I do, to give you my "thank you"?'

'Be a company here, and take a cup of coffee with me.'

'Well, sure, and the bill is on me.' And they both laughed.

After this day, sharing evening coffees had become their daily routine. They started enjoying each others company, celebrating birthdays together, going for movies, shopping, meeting friends and everything but they were all together. And one day the bell of the house of Esha rang and she opened the door-

'Madam, Rohan Saab is calling you downstairs.' The security guard of the apartment standing on the door, informed Esha.

'Rohan? This time?'

"Yes, Madam.'

'Ok! you go I am coming.'

After she came down the stairs, she saw Rohan standing a little far and indicating her to come to the park which was in front of the apartment she was living in. She followed him and once getting there she got frightened with the boom of the crackers and Rohan was singing-

'Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Esha, happy birthday to youuuuu.'

'Oooooooh thank youuuu.' She said in an overwhelmed tone with teary eyes.

'Come, let’s cut the cake together.'

They cut the cake together and fed each other. After the cake, Rohan said something Esha was not expecting-

'Esha I love you, will you marry me?' Taking her hands in his.

'Yes, yes, yes' Esha said happily as she was waiting for these words since so long.

It has been more than two years she knows Rohan, and in the hustle-bustle of this world where everything was changing so fast their love to each other has remained unchanged. They were all so happy, in their families and friends and preparation for their marriage was on in full swing but suddenly her world changed and she came to see what she never could have thought, she was worriedly asking everyone-

'Excuse me, excuse me, what has happened?'

No one answering her. She ran near to the police van and asked the police officer-

'Sir! What has happened, why are you taking him?'

No-one answered her. She went to the back of the van where she was able to see Rohan from and started tapping the closed solid door of the van, and yelled-

Rohan! Rohan! can you hear me, Rohan?

Police shooed her away. She was crying lost and seemed so helpless while asking everyone and not getting any answer in return.

'Sir, sir I am his fiancé, what has he done, please tell me.'

One of the policemen replied her in rude and disgusted tone-

'He has been caught with the illegal money, black money, now he will be in lock-up to spend them all.' He sat in the front seat of the van and the van drove off.

She kept on standing there crying and lost. She was totally unaware of what has happened and what she has to do now. People who were circled to see the drama, went off because nothing has happened to them but to Esha everything has turned upside down. Collecting herself after hours of crying and tension she got up and moved towards the police station, she walked slowly as if there is no energy in her body but on her face, she was determined but confused at the same time after reaching there she met to the officer who has arrested Rohan and questioned him in a very low voice-

'Hello, sir! I am Esha, Rohan is my fiancé.'

'Rohan?'

'Sir, whom you arrested for black money or what?'

'Oh, that boy. Come sit here.'

Esha sat down unclear of what to ask or not, she continued talking in the same dull tone-

'Sir, he is innocent, he belongs to a very reputed political family of Himachal Pradesh.'

'These politicians and their children, keep doing something or the other.' Said the police officer in deteriorating tone.

'Sir, I guess there is some confusion, he is a nice boy.'

'Confusion? We have retrieved the bag full of money from his place.' Officer yelled at her.

'I am sorry sir, sir can I see him?'

'Not now, counting is going on, after that, we will file the charge sheet and then you or anyone can meet him.'

Esha got up and left the police station, walking slowly. After reaching home she went to the bathroom and turned the shower on standing weak without taking her clothes off, she wept, so much and for so long. After the shower, she changed in a nightgown and came to sit in the living room. She was unable to

assemble anything happened today and the muscular handcuffed wrist of Rohan kept on flashing in front of her eyes making her more worried, confused and sad all together. The helper in her house came to her while keeping a cup of tea on the table she said

'Madam, today I saw Rohan Saab on TV, the police was pushing him in the van, he was handcuffed, is everything fine?'

Esha looked at her in shock and asked for the remote. She turned on the TV and the news was flashing-

"Rohan Kapoor, the brat of politician Balraj Kapoor! Caught red-handed with black money, arrested and in jail." "Was he involved in money laundering?" , "Does the politician know what his son was up to, or he too is involved in the same?"

All this worried Esha no less and she searched for her phone, she called Mr. Balraj Kapoor, Rohan's father-

'Hello, uncle! Esha here.'

"Hello, Esha! how are you?'

'Not fine uncle, what is all happening here, please do something uncle please.'

'I will not do anything.' He replied irritated.

'What? But why? I believe he is innocent uncle.'

'But I don't, other than choosing you as a life partner he has never done anything right in his life as far.'

'But uncle, only you could do something and take him out of bars.'

'No, I can't do anything, he has always ashamed me, let him die in the jail.'

'Uncle, uncle...."

The phone was disconnected. That night was the longest for Esha, she could not sleep for a minute that night and in the morning she did the first thing to visit Rohan in the police station but she could not as the officers said-

'We have not filed the charge sheet as yet.'

'Ok, I will wait, and see him after you are done.' Said Esha.

"No madam, don't wait, charge-sheet cannot be filed today.'

'But why? It has been a full one day, it should have been done already.'

'O madam, don't tell us the system, our officer is absent who does this work, once he comes back charge sheet will also be filed.'

Esha chose to remain quiet and left the police station. Again the next day she reached the police station and faced the same issue, no charge sheet and no meeting with Rohan. She went to the ridge in the evening and stood up there for so long, she was very confused and paranoid but decided that she will take Rohan out of this mess because whatever happened, she still believes him. In her thoughts, she went back in the times when they were both happy and falling in love deep and deeper with every passing day. Memories, the good one, remain in our minds to come in life when our heart needs them badly and in poorest of the situation put a smile on our faces. One such memory flashed in the mind of Esha too-

'OOOOOh someone is looking hawwt' said Rohan in his mischievous tone and dragging of words.

'Well, I don't know about that but just tell me if I am looking properly dressed' Said Esha.

'If you ask me, you look hot all the time and for your concern, I would say, you look awesome.'

'Sure na?'

'No, lying...Hahahaha, now come on, just take your shoes on and leave from here' said Rohan in hurrying her up.

They were going to meet his family, Esha's father was also joining and probably they will decide upon the dates of their wedding if everything goes in the way they assumed. In the cab, Esha again asked-

'I am looking fine na?'

'Yup.'

'Are you sure, my makeup is all correct na?' The way Esha was behaving can never be a symbol of the confidence she wears in everyday life.

'No, the lipstick is.... should I correct?'

'Yesss, please' Esha dragged as if Rohan was talking.

While she closed her eyes and put her face forward towards Rohan, she mumbled with almost closed lips, 'Do slowly, don't end up messing it more' but in the middle, her lips were locked with Rohan, he kissed her with little force, she resisted but with no force. They kissed for a while, the cabdriver adjusted the back mirror and smiled and Esha could say nothing but 'Ah', as Rohan unlocked her lips. Rohan looked at her, with maximum closely one could, Esha remained still and hesitantly looked away. After a few minutes, Rohan said-

'It's all clean now, You can reapply the lipstick, properly.' They both laughed without seeing each other and Esha started finding the lipstick in her pouch.

They both came out of the cab and Esha adjusted her dress while Rohan paid and collected the change from the

driver. Rohan came to her and said-

'My kiss has made you more beautiful.' And they both smiled, it was true.

Everything that night went perfect, everyone liked everyone and enjoyed the dinner. The date of their engagement was fixed for next to next Monday and for marriage, they decided to decide later. When Esha came to reality she was smiling widely and took a deep sigh. She looked at her watch; it was 9 in the night. She turned back for home. Next day she was again in the police station.

'Sir, I am Esha, I have to meet Rohan.'

'Rohan?' Questioned the police officer, and this was an everyday thing. She replied-

'Sir, Rohan Kapoor.'

'Rohan Kapoor?'

'Sir, whom you have arrested for some black money....'

She said hesitantly and could not continue, as she was not willing to say any such things she does not believe in or know about.

'Oh, that black money guy, Ramlal!' The officer said and called the constable with a loud voice and indication.

'Sir!' Said the constable.

'Madam ko vo black-money vale ke pas le kar ja, aur 10

minute se zada nahin(Take the lady to the one, in case of black money, for not

more than 10 minutes)." Said the officer.

The constable directed her towards a table to do some register formalities and then took her to meet Rohan. Today she was finally meeting him after 4 long days and these days have been like years for Esha. Gripping all anxiety and worries she was standing in front of the cell where Rohan was locked.

he constable directed her towards a table to do some register formalities and then took her to meet Rohan. Today she was finally meeting him after 4 long days and these days have been like years for Esha. Gripping all anxiety and worries she was standing in front of the cell where Rohan was locked.

'Rohan, Rohan.' She called his name but he remained unmoved, Esha was confused on his behaviour and tried to look into the cell by shrinking her eyes to confirm if he is Rohan or not as the cell was dimly lit, it was Rohan for sure. She again called him-

'Rohan!' But got no reply. She again said-

'Rohan!' He remained still. Esha put her head on the bars, and looked at him, a tear dropped from one eye of Esha and slipped on her neck swiftly crossing her cheek. She kept on looking at him but he did not turn his face to look back. She again said-

'Rohan?' But again no reply came. She further said-

'Rohan, please talk to me, I have to know what has happened and believe me I trust you, please for the sake of God just talk to me.' But she received no answer. After a minute or two, she again said-

'I am not innocent; whatever they are telling is all true. You go from here and never come back.' He said in an angry tone without looking at her and remained sitting in one corner of the cell. Esha was feeling helpless and she knew that Rohan will not tell her anything but the reason for his arrest was still unknown to her and now the behaviour Rohan has shown was making her even tense. While she was getting back she thought of her father and suddenly came to realize that everything being on news, he must be aware but still, no call came from him and she got frightened if he was alright. By now she has reached her home and after entering into her flat, she ringed her father the first thing and from the other side, a very happy voice came in-

‘Hello Esha, how are you?’

‘Dad? How are you and where are you?’

‘I am in Goa, to see the banquet hall and other things for your wedding. I have told you already, why are you asking this now?’

‘Oh Dad, I am sorry I forgot, in all the tensions going on here.’

‘Tension? What happened, is everything fine?’

‘Dad, have you not watched the news?’

‘What news? You are worrying me now, what happened, where is Rohan?’ He bombarded the questions on Esha worriedly and she realized that he was unaware of everything but she was relaxed to know that at least he is fine. Later she explained everything to him, how Rohan got arrested and what allegations are charged on him, how he is not ready to talk to her and what behaviour his father is showing for his own son. His father told her to relax and said he will come as soon as possible and hung up. Esha kept lying on bed awake and tense; she did not know when she fell asleep. In the morning she had first thing in her mind was to meet Rohan and ask him again, his side of the story. She dressed up and sat on the dining table for breakfast. While her house help served her Poha and tea she asked Esha-

‘Madam, how is Rohan sir, did he tell anything?’

‘No, neither he is fine nor telling anything, I am going again to meet him let see if he speaks up.’

‘Madam, you don’t go today, give him time, he will tell everything, let Uncle (Esha’s father) come and then meet Rohan sir, maybe he talks to Uncle in respect or hesitation.’ Said the maid arranging biscuits in the container.

The house help has passed on a suggestion which Esha decided to take and instead of going to visit Rohan she thought to go to her café and see if things are fine there. While walking towards the café her eyes caught sight of a half build hut or something on which a huge and stylish board was hanging written “ROSHA” on it, and Esha stood awestruck looking at that and went to recall the day when Rohan and she were talking to open one more café and will name it “ROSHA” joining the initials of “Rohan” and ends of “Esha”. She was no less than shocked to see that board and crossed the roads to reach that place. She found a Kulfi stall just beside that and she asked the man behind the counters –

‘Hello, I am Esha.’

‘Yes mam, how may I help you?’ replied the man holding the handle of the fridge to sell the Kulfi of the flavour she demands, but Esha’s question made him withdraw.

‘Actually, I wanted to ask about this place?’ Esha asked pointing her finger towards the half build hut.

‘Oh, this is a café mam, Rohan was building it, he has become a good friend of mine all along but now he is in jail in a crime of money laundering. But why are you asking?’

Esha did not reply to him and started walking back, now she was not willing to go to her café anymore but went to sit in a park nearby. She sat there for a few hours, looking vaguely on things around her, she was blank and sad and also puzzled with what she has come across just a few minutes back. She was not able to reach on any conclusion though she considers Rohan innocent she somewhere doubted him and felt bad about Rohan hiding it from her but the name he has given to the café was not making her doubt him completely, as well. She picked up her bag and walked towards her flat, once she reached she found her father sitting on the couch, she took a pause and then rushed towards him, she sat on the floor burying her face in the lap of her father and cried loud, she kept on crying for a while, her father did not try to calm her up but kept on patting his palm gently on her head. Once she composed herself and got up she questioned her father-

‘Dad, when did you come?’

‘I will tell you everything, first you go and wash your face and then come.’ Her father replied.

Esha went to wash her face, after splashing many times on her face she rose up to look into the mirror and her swollen eyes and dull face made her more depress and she felt “aged” for herself, the glow she was having for becoming a bride in few months has vanished and something else has spread on her face, she just wished that it does not become a permanent expression and if Rohan can come to beautify her again. She went back to the living room and adjusted her on the couch in front of her dad. Her dad continued-

‘Take the cup of tea, have some and you will feel fresh.’

Esha did the same. And then her father spoke again-

‘I have gone to meet Rohan, in the police station.’ Esha who was sipping her tea, kept the cup back and slipped forward on the couch and asked in surprise and tension-

‘When dad? Why did not you take me?’

‘I landed in the morning from Goa and went directly to the police station to visit him.’

‘Did he talk to you dad?’

'Yes, after I convinced him that he is answerable to Esha, whether he is the culprit or not, he should not leave you on the edge and hurt you this way.’

‘Oh dad, thank god he spoke to you, finally.’ Esha said with a sigh of relief and slipped back on the couch and continued-

‘Dad, is he the culprit? What did he tell you?’

‘Oh no no, he is not. He is caught in some stupid trap because of his carelessness.’ These words sounded like a meditation chanting to Esha and she felt light, a lot more relaxed. She asked her dad-

‘Dad, what is the matter, why was he arrested?’

‘I will tell you everything and try to solve this matter as soon as possible but right now my question is- why his father is behaving this way, till date I did not feel any tension in their family of any kind, and today despite being in a powerful position he is disowning his son? What is the matter, do you know anything?’

‘No dad, I don’t know and I am equally surprised to see his reaction.’

‘Well, if there is any big reason I will revise my decision of your marriage with Rohan because I cannot take the risk of giving away my only child in hands which are engraved in some criminal history.’

Esha went blank to listen to this, and she was again in the position of tension, now not only Rohan but also her marriage was at risk. Observing her expressions, her father said-

‘Oh you don’t worry, I am not going to break this relation for some stupid reasons but for sure I will revise it after knowing everything.’ This made Esha no less worried and her tension remained the same. But she asked again-

“Dad, what is the matter please tell me, what did Rohan tell you?’

‘I will tell you everything later’ and he dialed a number to talk with. And said on the phone-

‘Hello Mr. Kapoor, how are you?’ Her father has called Rohan’s dad. Esha could listen only what her dad was saying and continued-

‘Oh Kapoor Saab, what is the matter with you? Why are you so upset with Rohan? They are children and end up messing sometimes, we as parents have to take them back on track.’

For quite some time her dad remained silent and just listened to Rohan’s dad. And then finally the silence broke up and he said mockingly-

“See Kapoor Saab, whatever you have said sounds to me like something any young brats could do in his school or college days and belonging from a political background, sometimes children take the advantages and try to show power as if they have earned it. But now, we both know Rohan, he is a nice man who is tangled into a wrong charge sheet imposed on him, we have to take him out and assure his life to be safe and full.’

His father said something from that side of the phone and then came the main part Esha was waiting to listen. Her dad continued-

‘Kapoor Saab, Rohan needed some money and the loan he has applied was taking a long time to pass so he decided to raise money from the market and pay it back once his loan is approved. He invested in a restaurant or something and wanted that to be complete before his marriage but he wanted to do it on his own without asking for the money from you. And in this process he ended up meeting an old class fellow, Veer, who is somewhere involved with money laundering market, Veer gave him immediately a bag full of 1 crore rupees which Rohan took without knowing the amount inside the bag, Rohan has already collected a handsome amount from other lenders in the market and did not need this much cash but few lakhs. Once Rohan opened the bag at home he realized that it was too much and decided to return him the extra money. In the next few days, he could not meet Veer as he was out of the country but came to know much more about the crime that man is involved in and how dangerous he is. After that Rohan has made up his mind to give back all the money to him. Police were already in the hunt of such money and crime behind it and landed on Rohan’s place and arrested him with the bag. Rohan is aware of the fact that how intimidating Veer can be, he was saving us from any predicament because of him.’

Esha stayed quiet and came to know everything Rohan has been through, her Dad and Rohan’s Dad continued talking on the phone for some time and her Dad said-

‘Yes Kapoor Saab, I believe that you are a man of principles but right now only you can save your son who is innocent and use your authorities to catch that Veer, who is the real criminal and has become the reason for our miseries.’ They exchanged wishes and disconnected.

Esha’s dad looked at her, she was quiet but the relief was evident on her face. He said to Esha stretching one of his arms-

‘Come here.’

‘Oooooh Daaaad, I love you.’ She said while coming to her dad and embracing him.

After they had dinner, Esha lied on the bed folding back her arms and putting the palms under her head and looked out of the window, the crescent moon in the sky the breeze of Hyderabad in the night and fluttering curtains, made her miss Rohan even more, she wanted Rohan to see the sky and look at the moon from somewhere making a connection between them, naturally but it was not possible behind the bars. She was so relaxed and thought that Rohan was being really insecure and costing his life for the crime he never did or can do. Though the problem was not yet solved, she believed in Rohan’s father to save his son, save her Rohan. Amid all this, she went on to think of the day when Rohan and Esha were in her café and he has suddenly gone out to pick a call. After he came in Esha asked him-

‘Who was on the call?’

‘Nothing specific, just a friend.’ Rohan replied and it was evident on his face that he is hiding something from her. She asked again-

‘No, you tell me, who was on the call.’

‘OOOOOh god, I can’t hide anything from you.’ He replied in dragging tone with a smile on his face.

‘Yes you can’t, so tell me.’

‘I have taken a loan from a friend, and he was calling for the same.’

‘Really, a loan? If you needed money, I am here, first, you should ask me.’

‘But I can not ask from you.’

‘But why? Male ego?’

‘OOOOOh no no no… Actually, I am buying a wedding gift for you so can’t take money from you to gift you.’

‘Rohan! What are you going to gift me, for which you have to borrow?’ She said smiling and inquiring mischievously.

‘That you will come to know later.’ And they both laughed

Esha was smiling on her bed, and shed some tears, she missed Rohan and that half build café “ROSHA” came live in her eyes, and yes before their marriage she was knowing what the gift was But she decided to pretend alien in front of Rohan when he would gift that to her. The next two days were not easy, she and her father became like a pendulum between this office to that while Rohan’s father was executing it on phones from back in Himachal Pradesh. Finally, things got sorted and Rohan was coming back the next day. That night Esha could not sleep because this generation of a week she has spent without Rohan was going to end and she could not hold back the relief in her heart. In the morning she and her father dressed up to go and bring back Rohan, her dad told her that Rohan’s dad has also reached Hyderabad and will join then in the police station. While they were in the cab, Esha asked her dad-

‘Dad, what Rohan has done for that his dad is so furious with him?’

“Oh, absurd things. Bunking from the hostel, stealing exam papers, fighting in school and all…’

‘Really!’ Esha said in disgust because these things are too small in front of an innocent being jailed for a lifetime. But her dad said something very deep-

‘Mr. Kapoor is a politician, always in the questions if not being fair and just. In such circumstances nothing is normal or easy, they have to sacrifice a lot to prove them a beholder of principles. Some small things you can do and get away with it but for a child as Rohan, these are judged on the page of crime.’

Esha was driven with the challenges power brings with it and came to reality only when Rohan came in front of her, without handcuffs, his face has become pale, dirty clothes and grown beard, he was looking weak. While she was observing him, he came and locked her tight in his arms, he whispered in her ear, “I am proud that I am marrying you”. Esha tightened the arms a little more and they shed few tears.The moment of the day came when Rohan walked towards his dad and he pulled him to hug and saying- “I am sorry, Rohan, I really am.’ Esha was standing holding one arm of his dad, leaning her head on his shoulder and looking at Rohan with his father, she wanted to whisper in his ear too that- “I love you, and you are stupid’. When suddenly her dad said to her- “Don’t worry, I will not stop you to marry him.’ And they both laughed.