Murmur of the Lonely Brook by Debashis Dey Page A

came home. Parvati had gone to the temple to make poltus (fried pancakes) and Ria was at school.
    “Where have you been? Aama was worried.”
    Diwakar smiled and waved her inside. Nisha came in and he placed the fish on the table and looked at her. She had never seen trout but knew it required great effort and pain to catch one.
    “Why did you go to so much trouble?” she asked with a combination of admiration and genuine concern.
    “For you,” said Diwakar with a contented smile.
    “Let me see your hands.” She covered his hands with her own.
    Diwakar felt the comforting warmth and wished she would hold his hands forever. Nisha had a sisterly affection toward him while Diwakar was stumbling in love.
    Nisha pulled back after a few seconds and said, “I will make tea for you.”
    “No tea for me, I am going out. Cook the fish well and we will have tonight.”
    Diwakar went out. Very soon he was on the road walking aimlessly. He was in high spirits.
    Nisha looked at the fish—she knew that Diwa must have gone to great lengths to get them. She smiled to herself as she remembered Pravin giving her a bunch of flowers at Peo during their second meeting. It was a simple bunch of dahlias but she kept it close to her all night, and the night after. It was her first gift from a man, a special man, with whom she would spend the rest of her life, to whom she would dedicate her body, her soul, and her thoughts—around whom she would build her own special world of love, happiness, and more. After the flowers dried, she kept them inside her very special book—a thin, worn-out book given to her by her aaya—a book on mythology—the story of Lord Shiva. She had taken the flowers out only a few times and held them close to her bosom, closing her eyes while thanking her gods for helping Pravin to find her.
    Ria came back from school. She changed and came to Nisha.
    “Is it true that boys only prefer fair girls?”
    “Who says so?” said Nisha with a smile.
    “Most of my friends tell me that.”
    “They are wrong, Ria. Girls who are dark are equally desirable.”
    Ria gave her a doubtful glance and walked away. She looked at the peaks far away. She knew there was a land beyond the peaks at the end of the road. She knew that one day she would meet her love and he would take her out of this place to that land where there were cars, fairs, girls in jewels and constant fun. So far, she hadn’t met him, but there was a young man who often stole a look and even smiled at her once. He was in standard ten and had long hair. She made it a point to wait outside school everyday until he crossed her path. He was normally in a group but Ria knew that he would glance back. She went inside and switched on the TV.
    Parvati reached the temple. A puja occurred nearly every month and everyone shared the work in turns. Parvati was spiritual to the core and never missed such chores. Moreover, the family earnings were not enough to substitute such duties with donations like many did. She met Jayshree at the temple who smiled and greeted her. Jayshree was close to her and was married to Shevak’s second and fourth brother and the mother of four children, two by each of her husbands. The family had the largest portion of the land among Shevak’s brothers. In the village, common marriage was still in practice among many families and a custom followed since primeval times.
    Parvati returned from the temple with the lamb and kid following her. She entered the kitchen with a few poltus, which she had brought for everyone. Then she noticed the fish. It was a welcome sight, a break from the pancakes and cabbages and radishes. She could figure out where Diwa had been all morning.
    Nisha entered the kitchen with a worried look. “Aama, I have never cooked fish before.”
    “Not to worry, I will teach you. But first we need to clean them.”
    She got on the job and very soon, the fish were cleaned and cut into pieces. Parvati cooked a delicious curry with