Chapter -29 (Surprises For Anushka)
"For one's happiness .... lies in making the loved ones truly happy."
The words of her father were still ringing in her mind as Mrs. Sania looked back to the day she had informed her in-laws about her decision not to accept the job. She would rather stay with her in-laws and dedicate herself to winning their love and trust, she had told them.
So long as her in-laws were alive, she never brought up the topic once again!
Now, sitting at the table, as she recollected her late father's words, she thanked her lucky stars. Her in-laws couldn't stop praising her to the skies till the very end.
It was right then the sight of Anushka stepping out of her room upstairs, brought Mrs. Sania out of her reverie. Anushka came down the steps to her mother.
"Why are you still here, Ma? Isn't it past bed time already?" She asked her mother curiously.
"I was thinking of asking you the same question. What brings you here, Anu?" She asked Anushka.
" I am thirsty and there was not a drop of water in the jug. So, I've come to fetch some water. Besides, Akku's already asleep and for some reason, I don't feel sleepy at all, Ma." Anushka told her mother.
"Come, sit by me, if you want to talk to me. I know you didn't tell us everything during dinner."
Among all the things that Anu liked about her mom was her ability to see through her daughters' exteriors to get straight to what lay at the bottom of their hearts.
"Ma," She began,"Till date, I never took myself seriously, never thought I could be good at anything. You know, I love listening to music and humming some of those catchy numbers to myself. That I could sing on stage to a packed auditorium, that people could scream and clap for me one day, was something beyond my wildest imagination.So, what happened at MACFEST today was nothing short of a shocker, beyond my wildest imagination! Those words of the CEO in the end, were the icing on the pudding. You can't even imagine how happy I's then, how very proud of myself. It is like a dream come true for me, Ma," she cried out, joyously.
Mrs. Sania ruffled her daughter's hair and said, "I am happy for you, Anu. But remember at the same time that patience is the hallmark of the successful. There's never a doubt in my mind about you being a talented girl. Listen to your heart always, and success will be yours."
She pulled her younger daughter's head towards her and planted a kiss on her forehead.
"Thanks, Ma. I do hope you people aren't unduly worried about me. I ain't in such a hurry to call the CEO. My first priority will be to graduate from college with distinction. If other avenues start opening up in the process, that's fine with me."
She put her arms around her mother's neck and concluded, " On no account, I want you, Baba or Akku to be worrying to death about me. Ma. Because no one else in the world matters more to me, you understand?"
The way Anu said it, made Mrs. Sania laugh out, despite herself. She was still so innocent in many ways that she (Anu) reminded her of her (Mrs. Sania's) teens. But, she will grow out of her innocence soon like Mrs. Sania herself did. She was not sure though if growing out of innocence was a blessing or curse. She heard her husband coughing up in their room and rose from the chair.
"I think your baba needs me, Anu. I've to go. Don't you forget what I told you a little while ago, my dear." She stepped across the table to the bed room.
"Good night, Ma. Love you." Anu cried out from behind as she brought out the bottle of cold water from the refrigerator, having pressed the door shut.
"Don't forget to switch off the lights as you go up, Anu." Her mother called out from outside the bedroom door.
"No worries, Ma. I'll," Anu replied and started climbing back up as the room downstairs got engulfed in darkness.
Mrs. Sania was busy in the kitchen at around 1 p.m. when her mobile on the dining table, started ringing. Having come out of the kitchen, Mrs. Sania picked her mobile up and spoke into it, while the pressure cooker on the gas oven, whistled for the third time.
Anushka was on the other side. She sounded excited as Mrs. Sania asked her to hang on for a while. She got back into the kitchen, the mobile held against her left ear and put the burner out.
Luckily for her, the pressure cooker with the stew in it for Mr. Rajan, stopped whistling and hissing right then. She switched the phone over to her right right ear and heard her younger daughter exclaim :
"Ma, can you hear me now? Good. Is it all right if I get back home late? There is something going on and my friends want me to join them. May I? Please Ma, say 'Yes', please, please."
"Where are you going, Anu and when are you coming back?" Mrs. Sania asked in reply.
"Ma, we're going to Brabourne. There is an Open to All singing contest. The show is supposed to be over by 5 p.m. I expect to be back home by 5.30. Is that OK, Mom? Please, Mom?"
Mrs. Sania couldn't help smiling at the childish way her daughter kept on pestering her. Finally, she said, "Try to be back by 5.30 then. This is no time for fun as your Baba's only recently recovered from the attacks. I don't have to remind you of that, do I, Anu?" She asked her daughter with what Anushka thought to be some kind of anxiety in her voice.
"You don't, Ma. I'll be home right after the program. Love you, Mom." Anushka responded cheerfully.
"Love you too, Anu. Take care."
And the line was disconnected.
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"As The FunFest at Lady Brabourne College, Kolkata, nears its conclusion, an open to all singing contest, has been arranged as the final event. So, may I, without any further prelims, call upon stage the first participant, Ms. Sweta Gupta from Gokhale College, Kolkata, to set the ball rolling? Please put your hands together for Ms. Sweta Guptai… .
A dimunitive girl in shalwar kamez was seen heading upto the stage amidst clappings and shoutings.
Anushka sitting in the back row of the Hall, got up angrily and said:
"No way, man! I'm leaving." She pulled her hand out of Richa's and walked past Divya to get to the door on the left. She found Srija, another friend, in tears, with folded hands, begging almost!
"What kinda madness is this? Are you telling me Sri, that you entered my name for the contest without bothering to consult me first? Do you think singing is such a child's play? Do you want me to be the laughing stock of all present here?"
Richa, finding the pitiable look on Srija's face, cut in in a conciliatory tone, " Don't look at it that way, Anu. It was our collective idea. We all know how good you're as a singer. We thought it'd be great fun. But….. but", in the end she could stammer out the line that they'd chalked out earlier for such a reaction, "if you don't want to sing, there is no forcing you."
The voice of the DJ, anchoring the show, could be heard next amidst clappins of appreciation for the previous contestant.
"Our next contestant is Ms. Anushka Banerjee from MAC, Kolkata. MS. ANUSHKA BANERJEE
Anushka cast a ferocious look at Richa and walked down the carpetted way in between the rows of chairs on either side, to the podium. She took her time to go up to the stage.
Standing in the middle next, Anushka looked like a fairy in the glaring spotlight. She put the microphone closer to her mouth and took a long breath before uttering:
"The song I'm gonna sing is entitled "Hunger" by Ross Cooperman. This is dedicated to all my wonderful friends from MAC."
'Cause I'm on fire like a thousand suns
I couldn't put it out even if I wanted to
These flames tonight
Look into my eyes and say you want me, too
Like I want you..
There was a pin drop silence as she came to the end. Fortunately for her, she couldn't make out anyone in the dim light of the Hall. The silence was terrifying. Couldn't she render it properly? Didn't they like her rendition of the popular song? Anushka found herself biting into her lip with her teeth, when it all began. The rapturous scenes of adoration and appreciation.
Her friends were shouting and dancing, clapping and crying! They were acting like mad! As the lights came back on and Anushka bowed down to say a brisk "Thank You", the person sitting on the second row caught her attention. It was Jishnu staring up at her, clapping!