27. Avinash comes to meet Shermi

CHAPTER 27

Avinash comes to meet Shermi

In the morning, Shermi was sitting in the hall reading newspaper.

Avinash stopped the car in front of the gate. He opened the gate and entered.

Driver Raju asked, “Who do you want?”

“I want to meet madam.”

“One minute. Stay here till I enquire and come.”

Raju entered the house. “Madam, that man we met yesterday has come to meet you.”

Shermi was shocked. “Tell him that I am not at home.”

Raju went out to Avinash and said, “Madam is not at home.”

“Don’t tell lies. I know that she is at inside.”

Avinash pushed him and went to the door. Raju stopped him.

“Sir, you should not enter without permission. Madam is not there. You please leave.”

“Eh! Who are you to stop me? You are only a driver.”

Shermi saw the commotion from the hall. She got up and went to the door.

“Why did you come here?”

“Shermi, please give me 10 mins time that’s enough. I want to talk to you.”

She looked at him seriously. “No. Impossible. You go away first.”

Avinash requested, “If you cannot talk here, let us go out and talk. I want just 10 mins time. Give me one chance to speak. If you say no afterwards, then you will never see me again.”

Shermi thought for a while. “Ok. Raju, you go out. Avinash, what you want to say, say it quickly and then leave.”

Raju went out. Shermi and Avinash sat in the hall. For a while they sat silently.

Shermi said, “Tell me. What do you want to say?”

Avinash started talking coolly. “You know how much I love you?”

Shermi said, “Don’t tell lies. You are a killer. You acted as if you loved me and then you deceived me. All lies. You told me you have interview and went to kill my uncle. You said you were going to America and you went to jail. You say that you are a software engineer, but you are nothing but an uneducated brute. A black ticket seller. A person who burnt my heart.”

Avinash listened silently. “True. I was a killer long back. But for this, the society is only responsible.”

Shermi said, “You came here to tell me that? You are a killer who came to kill my uncle.”

Avinash became serious. “Shermi, but one thing is true. Big people like your uncle make ordinary men like me to become killers. They act like big people and do unlawful acts and earn crores of rupees. To eliminate rivals they make us killers.”

Shermi closed her ears with both her palms. “Please do not spoil my mind by telling me such stories.”

Avinash said, “I will go. But please listen to my story for 5 mins. Then I will never come to trouble you.”

Shermi became cool again. She looked at his face.

Avinash said, “You know where I was born? In a dustbin. I don’t know who my parents are. I grew up on the road. As a child, I ate the food thrown away by people. When I grew up, my hunger directed me to bad routes of earning money. I started selling black tickets and later on became a killer.”

Shermi looked at him seriously. She tried to get up and leave. “Ok. Have you finished? Now you can leave.”

Avinash caught her hand and forced her to sit. “I want to tell you one truth. Believe me; ever since I loved you, I have changed completely. Today, I am living with respect in the society as a builder. All because of you.’

Shermi looked at him.

Avinash approached her. “Shermi, you are a married lady. I did not come to spoil your marriage. I would not even dream of it. I love you from my heart. You are the angle who changed my life. I am keeping you in my heart and praying to you. You have given a new life to an orphan like me.”

Shermi got excited listening to him. He came near her and grasped both of her hands. With tears in his eyes, he looked into her eyes. “You have stayed in my heart like goddesses. I want to thank you for making me a new man. That is why I asked you to give me 10 mins time.”

Shermi’s heart melted. His touch created a new energy in her body.

Avinash said, “Please forgive me for disturbing you. I am now leaving.”

Avinash got up to go.

Shermi said, “Avinash, please sit down for a minute.”

Shermi got up and opened the fridge. She brought a glass of juice and gave it to him. “Please drink this.”

She saw tears in his eyes. She started feeling somehow. “Where is your office?”

Avinash took out his visiting card from his pocket and gave it to her. “If you ever think of me and feel like talking to me, please call me at this number. I will feel very happy because you are the goddesses who gave me a new life.”

Avinash left. Shermi watched him went. Tears appeared in her eyes.