"Why Blue?"

Mira was smiling, a smile that's worth a rainbow, a smile that's worth a hundred butterflies, and Batuk adjusted the sideview mirror of his car to capture that unblemished smile in his mind's eye.

"What do you mean why blue? That's my favourite colour!"

He was smiling too, and it came from his heart, just not the lips.

"Is there no reason?" Mira bit her lips bashfully and stole a glance at Batuk, and he smiled again, gauging the amount of courage that the woman might have mustered to speak those words. Batuk looked at the mirror and tried to study her face, her exquisitely beautiful face, and somehow it made his heart flutter and throat dry.
He smiled again, to himself, and then turned to look at her.

"Let's see..." He narrowed his eyes, determined to ease away the rigidity in her, and that's what he had been trying to do for the past hour, driving her around the city and showing her it's wonders.
"Blue is the colour of the sky, and endless oceans, and it has the depth of life... it's infinite mysteries, and it's forever!"
He recited the words as Mira casted her shy eyes up on his face and stared at him in wonder.

"Wow... Was that... " She gulped, "was that poetry?"

Her words were a mere hush, and suddenly it made Batuk gasp, as if remembering an old memory, and old forgotten moment, a moment where he had ridiculed the language of love, the language of life.

"Was it?" He asked her back, and Mira smiled again, looking away.

"I don't know... You tell me."

"May be it was Mira... May be it was poetry..." He exhaled, but a happy one, and then took another sharp turn to enter into a by lane, crowded with tall stores selling clothings.
"You know it's strange that once I had told someone that poetry isn't my thing... I don't understand it, but somehow...", he chuckled, and looked out from the window, the glass on his side was now half drawn.

"But somehow?" Mira caught the trail of his incomplete words, and Batuk turned to look at her with curious eyes, amusing at this newfound courage of asking questions.

"Well somehow, life taught me to appreciate poetry the hard way... May be... I don't know!"

"But endless sky and the blue oceans never meet!" Mira sighed, muttering the words almost inaudibly, and then she smiled happily to herself, her eyes busy looking outside from the dark tint glass.

"What are you looking for Choto Zamindar Babu?" She asked softly, and Batuk honked twice to make his way through the narrow lane.

"Umm... A place called Dhakai Gharana Saree Center."

"It's there..." Mira listened to the name and eyed the street once, on her side, before pointing her finger to a particular direction.

"Where?"
Batuk frowned and leaned to his side, his face down to match to Mira's height and he followed her gaze.

"There..." Mira turned to guide him better, to make him see through her ways, but instead she ended up gasping loud as her nose touched Batuk's cheek, sending an electrifying impulse down her body.

"What? Did it break? You nose!"
Batuk had sat upright, her gasp had startled him too, and he was frowning at her, his lips pressed in an amusement.

Mira nodded her head in a no, and keeping her head lowered, she murmured slowly.
"The red building that says Aligarh Suitings, look beside that, on the top, behind that tall pillar... it says Dhakai Gharana, in blue."

Batuk widened his eyes as her direction made him see the way, finally, inciting his curiosity about this super shy naive women sitting beside him, spreading her intoxicating fragnance all over his car.

"How do you..." He blurted out in disbelief, "You can read? English?"

"A little... Lenny Madam taught." Mira nodded, her cheeks already had a deep crimson hue.

"Wow... and what else Mira?"
He took another turn and prepared to park the car in an empty space beside the store.

"Just that, and Sanskrit, and counting."

"And Bangla?"
Batuk asked getting down from the car, as he walked around and held the door open for her.

"It's like Sanskrit, a little different, and easier... I can read." She murmured, and Batuk smiled at her in approval.
"Why are we here?"

"I told you... Shopping..." Batuk remarked happily, but Mira looked down unsure of his words and he held her hand gently, making her look up.
"Haven't you ever gone for a shopping?"

"No."

"Seriously?"

Mira nodded, confirming, and Batuk let out another sigh, gripping her hand tighter.

'Dhakai Gharana Saree Center' was an old boutique store, a famous one too, and the Roy Chowdhury's were a regular customer, although the only person they mostly bought for was Bondita. The gate was manned by a guard, as he greeted Batuk with his ever smiling face.

"Arey... What a pleasant surprise, Barrister... Err... Daktar Babu... please come in... Please..."
The veteran shop owner Protul Gharai approached them to greet, mistaking Batuk as his elder brother, but was quick to rectify his mistake too.

"So... How would you like me to serve you Daktar Babu? What would you like us to show you today?"
He joined his palms and bowed with modesty and Batuk nodded, stealing a quick glance at Mira's awestruck face.

"Show us what you got in blue... The royal ones." He smiled.

It had taken a second or two for the new information to sink it,
"It's for you Mira!" Batuk had hushed into her ears, winking at her, and even though it was right before her eyes, everything larger than life, everything new and exciting, Mira felt a hammer in her heart, her mind fearful of the consequences of his unwelcomed happiness. But yet, she felt her lips stretch wider into gaping grin and her eyebrows arch for the sky. She was happy, for once she was, and someone was caring for her, even for a moment!
Mira felt overwhelmed, full, her eyes burning, and any moment they would pour down as fresh showers on a sultry summer day.

"Mira?" Batuk turned a beautiful blue saree and looked at her, and in the seconds that followed he felt her squeezing his arms, hiding behind him, and ever so gently Batuk pulled her around him and her arms reciprocated at once. Their eyes met, and melted, hers in gratitude and his in tenderness, and no longer she was that alien mountain girl, but a real woman, with a heart and a soul; warm, fragranced and soft.

"These... These are beautiful... " Mira choked with happy emotions,
"But... But, I can't take them... Please... I can't wear these..."

"Why?" Batuk asked, earnestly, although aware of the answer, and Mira too probably didn't wish to repeat it.

"Take for Bhaggu instead... She'd love these."
She smiled and Batuk frowned, before lowering his face once again to whisper in her ears.

"I'm here for you... " His words had a subtle demand, and it made Mira's heart flutter once again.
"And, I'm not taking a 'no' today... So either you choose one, or we're spending the night in this store, decide fast."

The threatening worked, and after seeing a few dozens, Mira finally nodded her head at one, although not looking at it directly, and Batuk held the saree up and gasped at it, an offwhite Dhakai Jamdani with a thick royal blue border, with intricate golden thread work all around, subtle yet elegant.

"This is beautiful Mira!! Although I'd prefer something darker, but this would do perfectly."

Batuk had turned towards to salesman.
"Dada... Do you have any blue shawl to match with this?" He grinned happily.

***

It turned out that Mira wasn't an enthusiastic buyer, infact she was far from it, and the shopping ended quite fast than Batuk had anticipated.
Hardly a shawl and a saree, and that too he had forced her for it.

"Did you like it Mira?" Batuk was excited, back in his driver's seat and was referring to the shawl, but Mira only nodded her head in approval, pouring a little water to his enthusiasm.

"Why don't you speak much Mira?" He suddenly asked, and Mira smiled, casting her eyes down once again.
"Were you always like this?"

"No." Came a prompt reply, but very faint.

"Then?"

Mira took a deep breath at his question and looked out of the window, her eyes trying to find the blue sky amidst the tall buildings of the city.

"I was three when I was married", she pressed her lips and sighed, recalling her old life, "and, I was told that I speak a lot, so Shalu used to gag me with a salt sac, so that it'd burn my mouth and make me quieter."

"What?" Batuk almost jumped in seat, pressing a honk a little longer than needed, as her words sent his thoughts into a frenzy for a moment.
"What the hell? Who's this Shalu?"

"My eldest sister-in-law... And there was Moina, that old man's second wife!"
She gulped, shuddering a little at the mention and Batuk placed his hand on her palm and squeezed her a little.

"You know, I was his fourth wife, the first one was already dead, and the remaining two also didn't have any children." Mira continued, and for the first time Batuk felt a real human connection with her, as if she wasn't just a pretty face, but a real human being with real human emotions.
"And, then he married me because they wanted a baby, and I too couldn't have it... But then, one night..." Mira gulped nervously, pressing her eyes closed and shuddering at the thought, and Batuk let out another deep sigh, before turning towards her.

"Get it out Mira... Let it go..." He handled the gear and again placed his hand on hers, and it was as if through the warmth of his touch Mira was drawing her much needed strength, her courage to fight her traumas.

"It was one night when his second brother, and the youngest, and Shalu Bhabi's brother beat me to death, with a burnt wood stick, and they tied my hands and mouth and forced themselves..."
Fresh drops of tears started to pour down her eyes, and Mira whimpered, hiding her face in her cupped palms and Batuk pulled the car at a side.

"Mira..." He called her, but his voice was choked too, his heart tattered at her sufferings, and his left hand moved up to touch her shoulder, unsure of how to sooth these deep-set wounds inside her heart.
"No one would hurt you anymore Mira... I promise!" He pulled her a little towards him, and she bridged the remaining gap between them herself, almost jumping on his chest like a wounded doe, seeking desparate refuge, and Batuk too touched her head, running his fingers along her hair, caressing her with all the tenderness that he could ever bore in his heart.

"I wanted to go to a mela once, and you know what they did?"
Mira sobbed in his shirt, as if complaining and Batuk continued to caress her hair.
"He broke my leg, and two of my teeth came out."
Her sobs grew louder. It was the first time she was sharing her life with someone, all the hurt, all the pain, and it was for the first time someone was listening to her with all attention.

"How old were you?" Batuk murmured, his eyes burning too, and the hard lump formed in his throat was making it impossible for him to speak up.

"Seven!" Mira sniffed.

Describing the time as agonizing would perhaps be an understatement, but what the duo felt in their heart inside that car, sheathed from the blues of the city by the tinted windows, it was much more!
Mira was reliving the trauma, shaking and quivering with emotions, but the sharing helped, the burden in her heart weighing a little less perhaps, and Batuk soaked up the leftovers, his heart heavy with her sufferings, tattered, and eager to shower her with everything he had, all his goodness, and all the goodness of the world! And suddenly his own sorrows seemed petite, irrelevant, meaningless!

"Want to go to a Mela?"Batuk cleared his throat and held Mira's chin up, making her look at him with puffed red eye...

God she looked pure... irresistible!

Batuk gulped and asked her again, and Mira refused, fearful of embracing the good, lest it leaves her in shreds once again. But, eventually Batuk's insistence had made her give up, and after another fifteen minutes drive they reached Maidan, infront of them was the biggest winter carnival of the city!

"This is....!"
Mira gasped at the sheer magnanimity of the fair, and Batuk helped her out of the car, the blue shawl was now wrapped around her shoulders on his repeated insistence.

"Yes, this is a Mela... Not like Dehradun perhaps, but I'm sure you'll like this one too!"

Mira gulped and followed him inside, with awe in her eyes and butterflies in her stomach, her heart thudding in fear the entire time.

Mira looked around, with astounding eyes, the row of stalls and the ocean of visitors, her lips rounded into an innocent smile unknowingly. The vendors called out, and the children nagged to their parents, the men laughed, and the women laughed louder.

"Did you like it?" Batuk asked, and Mira didn't respond, her mouth opened and eyes widened, and in her fingers was the hem of Batuk's coat, clasped tightly.
Batuk smiled and walked ahead.

The ground looked magical, as it aways was, and Mira stood infront of a trapeze. Upon the trapeze were the most stunning athletes one would find anywhere. They made it appear that humans really were born to fly, born to do so much more than most believe. Each of them was dressed in sequins, the boys and the girls, and they reflected the light as if was drawn to them, as if it took the same delight as the dawn does in igniting colours to maximal brightness.

"Gymnastics!" Mira gasped and Batuk nodded in agreement.
"I read in books!" She murmured.

The next stop was infront of a giant ferry wheel, and despite Batuk's insistence Mira vehemently refused to go up on it.
"One day Mira... One day I'm gonna drag you up there and..."
Batuk had hushed in her ear and Mira had slithered away, laughing.
"One day..."

The air was light, and the heart felt lighter, and Batuk saw a different version of Mira, the scared girl who would always cry!
She was laughing, she was giggling, and didn't hesitate to stand infront of the vendor selling Batuk's favourite street food, though he had to drag her first.

"How is it?" He was sizzling and had smiled with pride in his eyes, ever ready to tend to Mira's needs.
"It's called Puchka!" He proudly announced, wiping the tamarind water from Mira's lips, boasting as if he himself had invented that wonder!

"It's... It's golgappa." Mira murmured, but Batuk rolled his eyes at her, as if in disbelief.

"No it's not... It's Puchka!"
He had insisted, and Mira chose not to argue further.

"Have this!" He had held a kulfi stick at her lips and Mira had turned away bashfully, making him rub the icy cold stick on her lips naughtily.

"Choto Zamindar Babu!"
Mira pouted her lips and at once he had taken out his handkerchief to wipe her lips, very gently.

"I have a name you know..." Batuk was munching on a hot jalebi as they strolled together, through a less crowded place, their heart full with the fun and frolic and yet wanting more.
"And it's definitely not Choto Zamindar Babu!"

"I know."
Mira muttered slowly, and looked up, only to smile at him once.

"You do? Tell me what it is!" Batuk smirked, trying to entangle her in his words, and Mira pressed her lips together mischievously.

"One day!" She had murmured.

Time had flown like a long lost bird, like an endless loop of waves crashing on the shore, everytime leaving behind some reminisce, yet every time unfulfilled, wanting more!
It's been three hours they were roaming the carnival, tired and happy, and yet none of them wanted to let go.

Mira was opening up, and that's exactly what Batuk had wished for, after knowing her, after feeling her sorrows and knowing her past, all he wanted to make her feel lively! Mira was alive, but she wasn't living, and somewhere Batuk felt that not by sheathing her from the surroundings, but probably by letting her be free, even if it's only for a while, could be a way to make her feel alive... alive and responsible for her own happiness!

"Mira... Wanna play a game?" Batuk had suddenly asked, startling Mira, and swallowing hard, she had lowered her gaze, half consenting to his proposal.
No one had ever empowered her to express herself, and she hadn't learned to do so either. No one infact had ever asked for her opinion, and in a way she had forgotten how to give one.

"What game?"
She had asked, and Batuk quickly took out a two rupees note from his pocket and shoved it into her hand.

"Here, simple game... You take this money and take the right side of the ground, and I'll take the left, will meet at the kulfi stall at the centre, and with this money, you'll buy whatever you like, and I'll do the same.... Deal?"

Mira hesitated for a moment before nodding slowly.
"Deal!" She smiled.

................................................

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