The Moonchild : Part 2

The guests arrived at Chatterjee’s house in the late evening. The person who suggested the boy to Mohandas also accompanied them. Lakshmi, along with her sister-in-law, Pooja, gave them a warm welcome. Pooja murmured in her ears, “Just look at the boy. He’s a perfect match for our Kalyani.”
“Keep quiet, Pooja. They will hear us.” Both of them smiled, and everyone sat on the sofa. After drinking water, they started conversing.

The main boy’s family introduced themselves to everyone.
“I am Hemant Sen, my wife Mithila. Basically, I am a judge in court, but she takes all decisions for me.” Everyone giggled at Hemant Sen’s remark. ” These are my elder son Anurag and younger one Karan. Anurag is married. Karan is a lawyer, and Anurag is a doctor.”

“Where in Kolkata exactly?”
“Park Street.”
“Your family values education very much, Hemant da.” Mohandas could not hide his joy. “It’s a pleasure to see how graceful and well-educated your sons are.”
“Thank you. Tell me about yourself now.”

“Excuse me.” Lakshmi gestured to Pooja to get some snacks for the guests. “We will be back.”
“Hemant da, I have been based here in Durgapur since birth. We have a factory manufacturing earthen pots. We believe in simplicity and commitment. My daughter Kalyani has just graduated. She is an excellent cook.”
Lakshmi and Pooja entered with trays loaded with snacks.

Mithila uttered with surprise. “These are not snacks, Di. This is dinner.”
“Not at all. Till dinner, these all will melt. Please have.” Pooja persuaded.

Anurag spoke at once.

“This chomchom is very yummy. Are they homemade?”
“Yes. My niece has prepared these.” Mohandas replied proudly.
“Karan, just have these. I have never tasted more delicious chomchoms anywhere else.” Karan had one and nodded to his brother.

“Mohandas, we have to leave for Kolkata tomorrow. Let us meet your daughter and then see how things work.” Hemant Sen said politely.
“Yes, why not. Lakshmi, go and bring Kalyani.” Mohandas told his wife happily.
“Please finish these snacks until I bring her,” Lakshmi said with a broad smile and left the room.

“So Hemant da, Kolkata is the same as before? I visited nearly five years ago.”
“Almost the same. The beauty of a place lies in preserving its traditions and culture. Everything there, talking about places, is well maintained. Now you will be visiting soon again, I think.” Everyone giggled, thinking about the possibility of this acquaintance working out positively.

Lakshmi arrived with her daughter Kalyani.

Kalyani was dressed in a traditional saree, her eyes towards the floor. She offered Namaskar to all and sat on a chair nearby.
“So, Kalyani, you love traditional outfits like these?” Mithila asked Kalyani in a loving tone.
“I love traditional clothes, but prefer other comfortable ones too.”
“Good. Nowadays, girls just don’t like our old, rich culture. I am glad you love sarees.”

A phone ring interrupted the ongoing conversation. It was Karan’s.
Hesitantly, Karan said, “I am sorry. I need to take this call. May I?”
“Of course, son. Take the call.” Mohandas made him at ease with his reply.
Karan had difficulty hearing the person on the other end as he started talking. “Hello, hello.”

“Karan, please come with me.”

Pooja’s husband immediately said, “There is a network issue in the evenings at times here. Let us go upstairs. The network is strong there.” He accompanied Karan upstairs and led him to a passage. “Here, you can reconnect.”
“Listen, just come here for a minute,” Pooja called her husband and took him aside to discuss something. They went to the left side of the passage and disappeared. Karan reconnected the phone and talked to his client. As he was about to turn, he heard a giggle nearby. Curious to see the owner of this giggle, he craned his neck. The giggle came from the end of the passage. He slowly walked towards the voice and found a big glass door that opened to the terrace.

On the terrace, he noticed a beautiful girl smiling and murmuring something. He was eager to see the other person there but found none. Then he saw her looking at the sky and talking. He slowly pushed the door to overhear the conversation.
“Bandhu, you have no idea how beautiful you are looking today. Let no evil eye fall on you.” She made a sweet gesture with her hands to remove any possible harm from the moon lovingly.

Karan was intrigued

by the unusual visual he witnessed. How can someone be so comfortable talking to a nonliving thing? He could not take his eyes off her. He saw her looking at something keenly on the wall. It was a small, beautiful butterfly. She gently picked it and placed it on a tree branch on the terrace.
“Stay between the flowers, OK. Do not fly towards the wall again. It is very rough for a beautiful, delicate person like you. Stay here.” She gently blew a flying kiss to the butterfly. Once again, she looked up at the bright moon in the sky, a smile never leaving her lips.

Not taking off his eyes even for a moment from her, Karan thought, who is she?

Stay tuned for Part 3…

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https://blogbyhema.com/2023/10/26/the-fairy-tale-love-story/