My- Nu Shu

My-Nu Shu --Titli

Titli (Butterfly)woke up early at 5:30 am, thinking about the lost time she had to make up for the presentation scheduled post-lunch. She hurriedly started working and was all set to go for work by 9 am.
Post- lunch the presentation went well, she was applauded for the first time by her new boss.
Titli thought "Oh a wonderful day, i also got my first appreciation letter".
She went back to her desk to meet her colleagues, but there was stink of jealousy & ignorance from everyone even from her so called "budd-friends".
Titli thought " Why are my friends ignoring me instead of sharing my happiness, no one is now even talking to me"
She went back to her desk to call her parents, but then again there was stink of ignorance & irrelevance.
Titli thought " why are my parents always unhappy with me no matter what I achieve".
She was very disappointed, there was no-body she could talk & understand her.
Titli thought " I am not going to cry today, not at all it is my day and I have earned it, neither will I talk to myself in the mirror"
She boarded the work bus back for her apartment, she had tears in her eyes but was holding back as she had promised to herself to be happy. Walking back to her apartment she saw the old woman who has been begging for months near the lane. The old-woman was abandoned and no-one knew wher she came from.
Like everyday Titli dropped the one rupee coin in the old-woman's bowl and for the first time the old-woman spoke and said--" Khush raho ( Always be happy)".
Titli walked away still with the tears sitting on the edge in her eyes, suddenly she re-called that everyone says the old-woman is deaf and dumb.
She quickly paced back to the old-woman, squatted on the lane and looked at the old-woman in the face and held her hand.
Titli said " Amma, tum bol sakti ho, sun sakti ho" ( Amma, u can talk and hear).
Old-Woman just nodded her head.
Titli said " Amma, fir tum bolti kyon nahi ho, sab ko lagta hai ki tum behari aur goongi ho" ( amma, then why dont you talk, everyone thinks your are deaf and dumb)
Old-woman again just nodded her head.
Titli still with tears on the edge making sure they donot fall said " Amma fir aaj kyon boli tum" (Amma, why did u talk today)
Old woman said " Beti kyonki aaj tumne paach rupiya ka sikha diya and poori do rotiyan bhi, par fir bhi tum roz ki tarah mujhe--- apna "ello" nahi kaha, tum bhi mujhe bhul gayi"( Beti, becos today you gave me 5 rupees and two rotis, but u didnot greet me, I thought you also forgot me).
Titli with tears flowing on her cheeks said- " Amma, I am lonely, no one needs me, my parents,friends, my boyfriend everyone ignores me no-one cares for me, they have there own worlds and I fit in no-where in theirs, they dont even have time or interest in living with me,
no one to share even my happiness, let aside my sorrows. I am very lonely and empty and worst no one sees it. '
Tilti was endlessly crying on the lane in front of the old-woman with a bowl. Suddenly she realised after a few mintues where she was sitting, and lifted her head
facing the Old-woman who was in tears saying " Beti, sab theek ho jayega, sab yahin is sansar mein hai ( everything will be okk, everything is here in this world .
Titli walked back to her apartment and first time in days together slept off without talking to herself and reading about Nu Shu.
In the next apartment, a little girl of 9 years who heard and saw the incident thought " Why are people unhappy, why do people stop valuing the person they love the most, why do we stop loving and giving as we grow old". " Here who was worse- the smart Titli Aunti or Quiet old- Amma".
She again got back to reading about Nu Shu in her bed.