It was the day of my son’s XII results and I was so tensed. I sat beside him
while he logged on the website with his registration no.
" Ma" , he screamed in excitement," I scored 1191, with centum in 4
subjects. I cant believe it. "
I kinda became numb in my excitement. My eyes became wet.
I kissed him on his forehead and smiled. My husband had gone out of
station on some business trip and my son immediately called him on his cell
and told him of the news.
Soon we realized that he stood first in the state. Oh, my joy knew no bounds
when Reporters and media persons soon swamped my house for interviews and
photos. I was so honored to join him in the snaps.
I wanted to call my "wrong-number-friend to tell him the news…I was so
excited.
He was someone whom I have known for more than 20 years.
I still do not remember when we became friends, but certainly cannot forget
the first day he called me when I blasted him for giving me so many wrong
calls…after that he had called up a week later asking apology, for he
had now got the right no of his friend whom he wanted to talk to .We spoke
for an hour that day…even without knowing each other’s names. Though he
kept pestering me to reveal my name I never did and so he kept a
name…Sweety. I used to get so shy whenever he called me ‘Sweety’. I was
doing first year of BSc. Maths then, and he was a Computer Engineering
student.
From then he used to call me very often. We almost discussed everything..
By the final year of my college, we probably we were in love, but I had been
cautious. I was in a dilemma whether to tell him. But what if he was of a
different religion? Do I have the courage to talk to my parents about it?
…all these questions ran through my mind.
I decided I’ll not talk to him thereafter. When he called next time I told a lie to him I that I was going to Karachi for my studies.
He gave me his office number and asked me to ring him up once I reach there.
I never called…
A couple of months later my marriage got fixed with a guy of my parent’s
choice. I was not happy but I did not complain; rather accepted it as an
obedient daughter. At times I felt I missed my wrong- number- friend…
My hubby was a moody person; I have hardly spent any good time with him- but
he was genuine indeed and never bothered my personal space. After 2 years we
had a boy…Yet, I was not very happy with my married life…One day I
happened to browse through my diary and found I still had my old friend’s
office phone no that he had given me. I dialed it and spoke with him.
He said he was married and got a kid too. I was happy for him though in the
bottom of the heart I felt bad that I could not marry him.
From then I used to occasionally call him on that number. I never gave him
mine as I felt that would put me in trouble…
And till today I almost shared everything with him including my relationship
with my hubby…today I was so happy and I wanted to call him.
Just then I got a call.
“Your husband met with an accident and died on the spot”
I banged the phone down. I broke. I did not call my friend…I somehow
started feeling guilty. I have never tried to talk to him properly when he
was alive or moved close with him…
I felt I had been a bad wife…
A couple of years passed and one day my son brought home a Bengali girl and
said they wanted to get married. I got them married as I did not want my son
to go through what I did.
I decided to give my son his father’s room and started clearing it. There
was a phone book. I gently opened it and find, " Wrong No: Sweety -XXXX XXXX
how are you jee i always confuse you with SHeeN..are you both twins:hmmm:
