"Paper"....Dina shouted. It was his daily routine to distribute news paper in that area.
He was always late to distribute them also. Still people used to take newspaper from
him only. Reason? His regular chats which ranges from regular household topics
to personal ones. He had time for everybody. People just loved him.
Today there was an unusual person to collect his news paper. A very small girl of
hardly a year, just somehow able to crawl and get the paper he threw at the gate.
"Baby" He said..the girl just looked at him and smiled. A smile that will lit thousands
of hearts..an innocent one...books can be written about that great smile. Dina felt it
that day and from then onward he was always greeted with that great smile. He
could not talk to her and so he would bring many small things for her which his
income allowed.The only thing that he would get in return was the smile.
Time flew and the girl grew to the point that she could talk. "Dina uncle...how r u..paper?"
The few words she would say as soon as he arrive. She would know his arrival by the
sound of his cycle. She would give him some delicacy prepared at home and ask some
questions. Dina would be happy and will ensure that he devote some time for her and
in his simplistic tone teach her the lessons of life. The bond grew strong each day.
As soon as she started going to school, he used to give him child magazines.
He would inquire whether she has read it and tell him a story if it was affirmative. She
would say no and often her family members used to read it. It took her a long time to
understand stories and further later after repeated requests she narrated a story to him.
People remember the light in his eyes that day because he told almost everybody
about it.
Then a time came when her father shifted to a new place. It was
time for separation. The day they shifted, dina personally came and helped them in
shifting. He gifted her some magazines and she looked at him with her deep eyes
not knowing that she wont be able to see him again. "Why you are giving me so many
magazines?. I wont be able to tell you so many stories Dina uncle. And anyways you
will be coming daily then what is the point." Dina informed her in his style that this
maybe their last meeting. She was more puzzled. He had to tell her that you are going
to a place which is far away and his cycle can not travel that distance. And then she
became very emotional. Poor Dina. Somehow controlling his emotions he carried
his duty well and gave a farewell to her.
Several days after she left...Dina would reach that house and say "Baby!!" just to
realize that she is gone. People would look at him and smile. But that smile wont be
able to console him.
After several years, Dina got a marriage invitation from the parents of the same girl. It
was also having a ticket for that place. He went to many shops and bought the best
sari for her. And the day came when he met her at her house clad in a beautiful sari.
After deep silence their faces lit. The eyes were saying everything.
Somehow Dina started the conversation
Dina: "How are you baby!"
Baby: "Good...But I am very angry with you!"
Dina: "Why Baby!?"
Baby: "You never met me after that day and today also you brought me sari and no
magazines!"
Dina laughed loudly...Both laughed...In their laughter the whole environment became
more lively than the marriage environment.....
