Gautam could not sleep, tonight, because tomorrow he has to meet his wife, Nisha, on the court. They have not seen each other for two years. Yes! For two long years, they are living away from each other – Nisha with her parents and Gautam at his own house, alone. Tomorrow, after going through all the legal formalities, they would get divorced.
Gautam, a school teacher by profession in a government aided school, made it clear to his wife before
marriage about his limited earnings. Nisha agreed and they tied the holy knot. Soon, after the marriage, Nisha secured a job in a multinational company (MNC). She wanted her husband to leave his present job and join a better job – A job that guarantees a better salary and a secure future.
However, it is difficult for Guatam to even think about giving up teaching. He has done it for so many years and now teaching not only his hobby, but also his passion. He not only teaches the students for the sake of teaching, but also educates them so that they could secure good marks before leaving the school for colleges. He has the charisma to inspire the weakest of students in the school to secure high marks within a few months with his abilities and experienced guidance. Nisha tried her best to persuade her hubby to secure a better job, but failed in her initiative. Finally, one fine day, she left him and went to live with her parents.
Nisha is a practical woman of today while Gautam is someone who lives in the virtual world of dreams and theories. For instance, a morning dawn for Nisha meant a new day to work hard and earn livelihood where as for Gautam it meant hearing the cacophony of birds, glaring at the dew drops spread over the green leaves or an opportunity to walk barefoot on the green grass. Now, you may argue, both of them are right in their views, but believe me, there is a difference – Difference in the thoughts, ideas and approach towards life!
Next morning, Gautam and Nisha met at the court, as scheduled before. After getting divorced, they took their respective ways out of the courtroom. Gautam went to the spot, he used to meet Nisha before their marriage. He went under the tree where they used to sit for hours before their marriage dreaming and planning about their future. Perhaps, he was cursing himself by saying, “Hey! Look at me, I am the teacher who solved the most difficult problems for my students, but could not solve a simple problem of my life.” He thought, the leaves of the tree, unsettled by the breeze, teasing him by calling him a failure. He could not bear this any longer and left the spot, at once.
He came back home and saw the main door open. He went inside to find Nisha resting on a chair with his personal diary on her hand. He whispered, “Nishu – Sorry! Nisha-ji (Since they divorced) I have kept your jewelries safe.” He opens the locker, takes out the jewelry box and hands it to her. She kept the jewelry box aside and unfolds her palm, which has vermilion (the holy red Sindoor). She said, “Who cares for jewelries, success, riches and for a better future, when one has the gem of a person in her life.” Both of them broke into tears holding each other, and the words like … Divorce ... No more ... Never .., could only be heard from outside the room. In no time, their sobbing changed into high-pitched giggles that could be heard from a distance, outside.