Lost in random thoughts, while I was doing the dishes, the shrill sound of the doorbell almost kicked me out of my skin. I did not expect anyone at 2 PM, my time for a siesta, but the continuous ringing sent an emergency signal to my brain as I rushed to open the door. Least did I expect to see a lean well-dressed lady greet me by my first name. “Hello Judy, you look the same,” she exclaimed in a breathless excited voice. I looked at this stranger in surprise with my tilted head as if to ask, how do you know me?
Without further ado, she hugged me warmly and I welcomed her in. I had set the kettle on for some coffee so I asked if she would like to join. She seemed more than happy and made herself comfortable in an instant. As I went to the kitchen to fetch the coffee, I tried hard to recall who this stranger could be. I was embarrassed that she knew my name but I failed to recognize her.
I returned to the living room with the coffee and biscuits. The aroma of the coffee engulfed us as we sat looking at each other in silence when suddenly the stranger laughed heartily. “Judy, I know you tried hard to guess who I am. We have aged now and its almost 45 years since we parted after high school. Does it ring a bell?”
“Yes, I am almost 60. I have few grey hairs but not like you. You are totally grey so pardon me I find it difficult remember to get your name” I said. Then the stranger, my friend, told me that her hairdo was a recent trend among the young and old. Everyone wants to have highlights so she opted for her totally white crown. She then revealed her jawline has changed since she had recently got a whole set of new teeth implantation. “I am Diya” she said. “I arrived at Kota for a conference. Donna gave me your address and insisted I meet you.”
What a difference a name to a face could make. We did not feel strangers any more. In fact, I shed all my inhibitions as all our boarding school days came to life. It was like watching a matinee show over our coffee which was slowly turning cold. All. The areas where we shared time day in and day out during the 10 years of our childhood unfolded as small slides. The big huge dormitory with six rows of 20 iron beds with coir mattresses and the refectory were lined with long tables and benches parallel to each other. We had designated places in the dormitory and refectory and if we changed we were penalized. The study hall was the best as we were free to sit where we wanted. So here we changed places as and when we changed friends. We shared so much love and fun without any discrimination. Now I understood depth of the phrase “as innocent as a child”. I told Diya how I waited for her grandmother’s visits on Sunday. She would get so much tuck and feed us. Diya recalled, how I climbed trees to pluck tamarind and always got into trouble with the warden. Also how her family felt sad for me as I was an orphan and referred to me as a “Happy child.” Diya said that I still seemed to be the calm and happy person. To which I confirmed that it was my simple way of life.
I learned that Diya was a renowned pediatric doctor serving the community in her own small way and wanted to meet the families living in this remote town of Bundi.. Immediately, I called Lale, the man who was always ready to get things organized. I told him of our plan to meet the poor families and also wanted my friend experience the rich heritage of Bundi, the small town in Rajasthan. Diya was most excited to see the ancient palaces, the forts and the most prominent stepwell, called Bhorajii Ka Kund built in the 16th century by Rani Nathavatji, the Queen of Bundi. Since it is considered very sacred, Diya went down the few steps to wet her feet and experience the healing properties of this small man made lake.
While we went around, we got to know each other better. She was happy to learn that I was a teacher by profession. I taught children of the lower grades in the government school. I enjoyed the simple life of this place though I lost my husband due to COVID in 2020, I never felt alone because the community was very homely and loving. She disclosed that her husband met with a freak hit and run accident in 2008 right in front of her home. He went to get some bread for dinner from a shop across the road and while returning a speeding car hit him and drove off. She said that she came out because of the commotion and noise and was shocked that her husband lay motionless with the bread clutched in his hand. The good Samaritans helped her to take Rakesh to the hospital. The doctors declared him dead on arrival. She revealed it was a difficult period as the children were too young but now the children are well educated and settled.
We discussed the wellbeing of our children, who have all moved out of India to look for better opportunities. Diya said “Both my girls, Rhea and Ryan are in Toronto, Canada. Life is very tough out there.” I agreed and said, “My daughter, Ales is in Dubai. I have visited the place but I prefer life here. It’s way much cheaper but for the youth, they will learn but not the hard way as we did. They are so fortunate to be connected to the world through the internet. They can reach us at anytime. But for us as children, we believed that we were treated rudely during childhood at the boarding school. We had to follow the rules and were given responsibilities to keep our environment neat and clean. We had special days and timings when our parents could telephone us. Most of us communicated only through letters. Life has changed drastically between then and now.”
Diya laughed saying “Hats off to the mean wardens of our boarding school who need to be appreciated. It is this discipline that has conditioned us to become mature and well grounded human beings.” Diya was then concerned when she said “I still follow time management. But I did not realize how 5 hours elapsed. I need to reach Kota by 8 PM.” Lale, insisted that he would be able to reach her well in time. It’s about 55 mins from Bundi to Kota. Diya was calm as we saw her off. It was goodbye until we meet again. Who knows when?
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