All the beautiful daughters of Mara by Ashok Aatreya (books to read for 12 year olds .TXT) 📕

also joined him with a good laughter.
“Minister Sahib…after your induction as Minister you met a lady in burqua and in the V.I.P chamber you did not attend to any one else…was that a personal meeting…”? A lady journalist from the Urdu daily, Jung asked.
“Ma’am I am free to meet anybody in this country…Like how you are here to see me, I am accessible to all. I also know that my freedom ends, where your nose begins…I do not think this question is too relevant.'' Anand replied, instantly.
He had not anticipated that the Daily Jung journalist would be a little ahead in her investigative journalism. She immediately posed another (next) question,
“Correct me if I am wrong sir! That lady is from Pakistan…”
“You are right ma’am…but I am sure she holds a valid passport,” he again smiled.
Before the journalist could ask something else, Anand got respine from a fellow journalist. That changed the course of the press meet, positively.
“Hope your induction in the Ministry will curb the terrorists’ activity in the country…since you have experience in...”
“I am happy I have been given a portfolio of my choice. We''ll soon come up with a plan; do our best to attack terrorism…fundamentalism and adventurism of any type.”
The Press meet was concluded. Anand’s special secretary Mr. Nair and Press Information Officer thanked the journalists and other media crews, invited them for high tea.


2/ THE BURQUA WOMAN
Anand could not sleep through the night. Something was pining him,and striving to forget his old love,- all in vain as he became the slave of his old memories. He was anxious about the coverage media would give, the morning after. Although, the electronic media was generally supportive… some reporters still wanted to create a controversy out of his meeting with the ‘burqua woman’ that did last for even three minutes.
Not only were journalists probing, PM’s Official sources were also speculating about his association with that woman. Early next morning, Anand left for the P.M. residence to give his version. On the way, he got a call on his mobile. It was Shaheen.
Anand’s meeting in the P.M.O took about an hour and since it was very urgently called by the Secretary of Home Department on the instructions of P.M. himself, it had its priority and timely need .The news papers' reports and his earlier connection with the security matters were also closely discussed. Anand had to specifically give all required explanations…He was also questioned about his meeting with the Pakistani woman…the officials were perhaps unnecessarily delving too much, Anand thought. He was also a little touchy about the issue as Shaheen was his ex love.
After the P.M.O. meeting, Anand went to his Ministry’s reception lobby, where his love was waiting again for him. The two went straight in the guest room to avoid being in public eye…just as Anand’s personal secretary had suggested.
“Anand, I don't want to cause any discomfort to you… I am here as I wanted to share my grief with you over the death of my son…our son…Ahsaas,” said Shaheen with tears in her eyes.
''I know Shaheen. And I don’t know if u knew, Ahsaas was killed by my bullet. I took his life in the encounter when I was in ATS. I am extremely sorry about that…and…
“You don't have to be sorry…unfortunately, he had become a tool in the hands of some people”… she said. Her voice was meek and sombre.
“..I can't say how it all happened, but we have strong evidences about his links with the terrorists. And I did what I felt was right”. Anand said.
“He also used to meet your daughter whenever he was India? Were you aware of that”?
“Yes I knew...they were close. But I never approved of it since I knew he was working for Pakistani Intelligence Services.
“So? Wasn’t he only serving his country just like his father”?
“May be, he was… But to me, he was my country's enemy…Unfortunately he became target of my pistol…He was killed in a very close encounter. It was a point blank distance…’’ Anand disclosed to her.
“A night before the fateful day…he had met my daughter in Connaught Place…”
“Shaheen, I am sorry for our loss. It is irreparable to me. I had warned him several times before shooting at him. I urged him to surrender but he wouldn't’t give up…he was frantically firing at my men...We tried to control him…and one point, we found ourselves facing one another, Before he could, I killed him from point blank distance.”
“I am sorry. Perhaps, I have hurt you”.
‘We both are hurt... He was our son…!
There was a long pause…For some time; there was no exchange of words between the two… A deep rooted silence grew between them…a silence that evoked countless emotions…a silence that spoke a thousand words…a silence that only they two could comprehend. Anand just wanted to embrace and shower all his love on Shaheen…He felt a gush of emotions…but managed to hold himself back. Past memories were resurfacing…how beautiful Shaheen looked then…even now she looked as beautiful…just that she seemed a little tired of something…what? He did not know! They two fixed the next day for a meeting… Shaheen was to leave for Jaipur in the coming days to attend a wedding in the family. Anand had to sit and plan for his Ministry.Attending to new responsibilities, was a tough job.
It was time for her to leave now. So, they decided to go to a promenade. Anand was still amazed by Shaheen’s sudden come-back in his life after years of separation. He still felt that longing for her. During the walk, she spoke a little about her life in Pakistan. It seemed life had not been too easy on her…Anand was quietly listening to her…a little excited, somewhat nervous. She told him about her ‘on the rocks’ married life. About how things shaped up since the day, she left India. During the conversation, Shaheen also mentioned that she wanted to move back to India.
Anand was listening to her…many questions popped up in his mind….How did all this happen? Why did she have to go? Now she has come back, like this suddenly. Such questions were haunting Anand…And he did not have immediate respite from them. He would eventually find all his answer. However, this was not the right time perhaps. For now, his new job and responsibilities demanded his attention, so he let his questions take a backseat.
Before he left, Shaheen handed over a piece of paper to Anand…that was an application for change of citizenship.
“Oh ok... I'll do my best but you have to wait’ Anand got a little closer to her… Shaheen was silent. She just nodded. Shaheen moved away, went a few steps further, then turned back to ask, “I hope you have my cell no”.
“Bye”, Anand happily gestured at her. He wanted to assure her that everything would be just fine as before.
It seemed a new chapter of his life had opened up… The changing time was casting some shadows… His shooting of his own son point blank in an encounter, then coming to power…Shaheen’s sudden appearance….these events were indicative of a big change that was to happen in Anand’s life. There was something altogether different in store for him…something, he had neither anticipated nor prepared for.
Anand knew just as much that Shaheen would not ever harm him. By the way, she could approach him just after his induction, it was apparent that Shaheen had some good diplomatic connections…For all one knew; she had some hidden agenda?
Now, in the meanwhile, whatever happened in his life till the day of his induction as Minister in the Cabinet and allotment of a special porfolio in Ministry of Home, and then a sudden appearance of his old love Shaheen ,his short but sweet meeting with her made him little disconfit and discompose.Shaheen was dearer to him than his own soul..and he was prepared to go to any extent even now, when he is a husband of Bhairvi and father of two beautiful issues by her.At the time he had to leave her and come to Bombay without knowing of any consequence, he was then in deep love with her and was not at all prepared to forget her for single moment but the wrath of society had broken up everything of his life and shattered his innocent love , disgusted at being turn to shame by her permanent departure from his life...her going away from his heart,unable to endure the fiery torture of separation any longer.Perhaps in protest, pretex or for his own helplesness he again and again thought within himself: I will return...very soon. But that all was llke a philosopher's wool or an exaltation of his mind, never a reality became.
And now again when all that was over, everythng almost buried in dejection on the slopes of the shifting sand dunes, her coming back at the time of another climax of his life perturbed him, it was perhaps an inbred moment.
3/THE FORGOTTEN DREAM
A young and pretty girl, Shaheen was Anand’s love since adolescence. The two belonged to the same city and her house was in the narrow alley of Peeraji, just a few houses away from Anand’s house. His infatuation with Shaheen started from their school days. He studied in a Government run school where as, Shaheen studied in Lady Elgin Convent. Every morning, she would cross his galli in a Tonga, covered from two sides with a black cloth. Anand would wait outside his house everyday to catch a glimpse of her. Shaheen came from a conservative Muslim family and was supposed to wear a veil in public. Anand had no idea how beautiful girl was really. He could fancy her….merely by looking into her dark, easy to read eyes. Probably that inquisitiveness to find out what beauty lies swathed in the burqua; drew Anand closer to Shaheen. He longed to see her everyday. And waited patiently everyday, for the Tonga to cross his house. Everyday, to catch a glimpse of the girl, Anand would sit outside with a manjan, to brush his teeth or would sometimes even pretend to read in the Angan. And when Shaheen arrived, he would keep looking at her in admiration. Shaheen also started to enjoy the attention. She would look forward to see that handsome boy every morning…
Soon as Shaheen’s Tonga would pass Anand’s house, he would take out his bicycle to follow it. The school was a bit far from residential area. The moment the Tonga would cross the potter’s hamlet; Shaheen would pull the curtain and take off burqua, giving Anand the much sought after opportunity to see her beautiful face. The routine continued. And infatuation between the boy and girl grew stronger. Just in case, Anand saw some relative with Shaheen, he would immediately change his direction. At times, he would have to make do with the veiled beauty ….that day he considered as a total waste. Nevertheless, he would eagerly wait for the next day…For many a days, the hide and seek game continued between the two… and they enjoyed it silently.
The Monday close to Shivratri, after crossing the Potters’ hamlet, Shaheen suddenly asked the Tongawalla to halt. She also waved at Anand asking him to stop Anand and since he was riding the bicycle; for the moment, he thought instead of stopping, he must run from the sight. His face became almost pale and he was tense… What would she just say to me? Anand wondered. Shaheen on the other hand, intended to talk to him. They had had their share of discreet