THE STRANGER.......

Ridhdhi was too excited to contain it; it was all about her forthcoming trip to the Blue Mountains.  And why wouldn't she be!  She hardly visited new places like her hostel mates did, every summer.

Uma’s heart filled with joy when she witnessed the mad mad gleam in Ridhdhi’ s eyes.  And why wouldn't she be!  In many years, this time she could find out some opportunity to take her teenager to a vacation.  

Ridhdhi’s vacation was usually spent at her hometown Bhopal, while Mum worked hard.  A busy corporate officer, Uma found little time for her child who visited her during her summer vacations.

She, in the first place, always felt guilty about packing her off to a boarding school, since she had a transferable job and a job which demanded a lot of travel across the globe.

This time Mum and Child duo were escaping to the Blue Mountains, away from the city smoke and noise.  Being a meticulous person that she was, Uma had taken care of all the details, including the lodge, the places to be visited, doctors’ numbers, pills, first aid, different types of shoes..everything.  She was ready for the travel.  Nothing, however could have prepared her for the surprise she was to receive at the Blue Mountains!

Uphill, Uma’s energy could not match  that of Ridhdhi’s.  She often missed the sunrise and the morning tea whereas Ridhdhi helped herself to the Sunrise Point and jogged back to her waiting mother, who was often found snuggling inside the quilt, reading Business India.  Ridhdhi would soon snatch away the newspaper, push her mother to the dressing room and pull her out to the beautiful whispering hills.  “Age..” Uma thought.  “Age…” Ridhdhi thought, too.

It was one such evening when Uma decided to stay in, finding a warm place in the library of the lodge,  Ridhdhi took off on her own, on the hired bi-cycle. 

(Since past five years, Ridhdhi had been staying in a boarding school and managing quite well, on her own; that was reason enough that her Mum allowed her to move on her own even in an unknown area.  After all, she was all of 15 now!)

Ridhdhi reached her favourite spot, the Echo Valley and sat there, admiring the hills, the chill, the flowers, the far off stream and everything in general.  There were not many people around, except for a few couples with children and a person who seemed to be working on his canvas.  Ridhdhi’s interest grew.  She approached the man, who was lost in the painting.  She could see an amazing play of colours on the canvas.  The man was distracted but not annoyed. He smiled at her and continued his work.

Ridhdhi gathered enough courage to go closer and examine the work.  It was a beautiful oil-paint, almost done.  The beauty of the surrounding hills was magically translated into the painting.

“Very very beautiful, Sir.” Rihdhi said.

“Thanks that you liked it.”

“You are from this place?”

“Yes my child, what about you?”

The conservation warmed up and now the stranger had pushed aside his paint brush to listen to Ridhdhi.  Where she came from, why her Mum is not with her, how she manager to move about on her own.  Uma’s advises about not be-friending strangers never was effective enough with this vivacious teenager.  It was clear that the stranger totally enjoyed the conversation.

They found a place to sit near the fence, overlooking the beautiful misty valley.   He told her about himself, his love for painting, that he did painting for earning a living too and about this little town embraced by the mesmerizing hills.  It was clear that this man was in total love with this place.

And then, suddenly, without much warning, the clouds gathered fast and sharp, icy rain drops came down.  Ridhdhi hurried towards her bi cycle but before that she thought of helping the stranger in gathering his things, lest the painting is spoiled by the water.  They successfully put them inside his car.  “I must rush now.” Ridhdhi said.

“No, wait, you will be drenched fully.  Come to my place and wait for sometimes.  Once the rain stops, you can go back.

“What about my bi-cycle?”

“Nandu will take care of it”.  While saying this, he took the bicycle to the nearby tea and snacks stall and asked the owner to guard it till they come back.  Ridhdhi could see that this person and Nandu knew each other well.

Nandu agreed and so Ridhdhi jumped into the car.  “Have a cup of hot chocolate in my place.” He said.  “I am not a baby anymore. Can you make some coffee?”

The stranger smiled at her.  He wondered, whether he should drop her to the lodge where she was staying, but then what about the bi-cycle? And moreover, some precious time over coffee, celebrating the new friendship was not a bad idea.

In 5 minutes, they reached his place.  It was a small little cozy cottage with lots of flowers and a small fountain.  Ridhdhi liked it immediately.  They rushed in to avoid getting drenched further and once they were quite settled, Ridhdhi took out her mobile to inform her mum.

“I must call Mum.  Her Highness, Uma Singh will be, otherwise fretting and walking up and down.”

“Uma Singh? From Bhopal?”  The stranger’s eyes broadened to reflect some familiarity.

“Yeah, my mum.”  Ridhdhi answered and walked towards the large window, while dialing her mum’s no.

From a distance, he could see that Mum and daughter were having a long and somewhat frantic talk over the phone.  Obviously, thought the stranger; her Mum should be worried about her little one spending time with a stranger.

“Mums are like that you know.”  Ridhdhi explained as she came near him.

“She wants to have a word with you.” Ridhdhi handed over the mobile to him.

His hands were already shaking as he took the mobile.  Uma Singh’s mention had sent known thrills and unexplained doubts throughout his mind.

“Hello…” he somehow managed to speak.

“Listen gentleman.  I request you to drop my child to the lodge NOW.  Her bi cycle, we will pick up later.  I want her back in 15 min or else…you know what..”  Uma switched off then.  The emergency was now strongly felt between the strangers.  Both hurried towards the gate.

“Uma…from Bhopal.  By any chance, is she from Academy of fine Arts?

“She is…” Ridhdhi said; not yet recovered from the reprimand she just received from her mum.

He knew Uma was from the Academy of Fine Arts.  Her voice had not changed through the years. She was the same Uma.  He just wanted to be reassured, by Ridhdhi.

Angry Uma.  Super Confident Uma.  Uma, who did not give this man a second chance when he was in doubt about walking into matrimony.  Uma walked off, instead and was lost in time.  He never could find her.

But what about Ridhdhi?  “What you said, was your dad’s name?”

“I said I never HAD a dad.” Ridhdhi was evidently very disturbed.

The stranger’s thoughts took a trajectory straight towards what he feared it would take him to.  He shivered now and almost lost the control of the car.

“Watch out..sir.”  Ridhdhi cried.

He looked at Ridhdhi.  So, this the THE child.  She never HAD a dad, she said.

 

He looked at her searching for his own reflection in her.  But this child was completely an image of the same Uma.  He felt a fierce pang somewhere near his stomach which moved up and up to almost choke him.

And he was now about to meet her!  He could feel his limbs going totally numb as they approached the pathway leading to the lodge reception.  There he knew, would be Uma, ready to shower her rage on him.  He wanted to turn back and leave but then there was this little one who had to be safely placed back into her mum’s lap.  After all, that is how she had brought her up.

What would be Uma's reaction when he saw him? Clouds of doubt gathered inside his mind.

Once they reached, Ridhdhi rushed towards their room.  Thankfully Uma was not waiting at the reception.  This was a God sent moment for the stranger to regain some of his senses. 

He was still in a complete dilemma, confusion and haze in the mind as Ridhdhi went forward and pushed the door bell…………………………………………