The Truth of Lie

By Dev Jadhav

Story imbibes the cultural drama between the Mothers affection, Fathers pride, the timid nature of the protagonist Son, and a mute servant girl from the dance bar.
The story also revolves around a guilt of the second protagonist and a bar dancer girls compulsion.
The story is knit with the delicate thread of logical, cultural, comical, suspense and thrill events.
The moral is that the power of love rides over all the boundaries, and if need be, its strength can create the power of a rock in a confused and a depressed introvert.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing India
• Release date: Jul 7, 2015
• ISBN: 9781482851120

Dev Jadhav

A passionate film director who observes people from inner lenses of his soul.

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Copyright © 2015 by Dev Jadhav.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Contents

Acknowledgement

Chapter 1: Innocent Life

Chapter 2: The First Adventure

Chapter 3: The Compromise

Chapter 4: The Musical Magic

Chapter 5: The Taste of Life

Chapter 6: The Promise

Chapter 7: The Controversy

Chapter 8: The Interrogation

Chapter 9: The Negotiation

Chapter 10: The Accident

Chapter 11: The Emotional Bond

Chapter 12: The Conflict

Chapter 13: The Resolution

Acknowledgement

To My Mother

Of whose instructions to pursue my talent nagged me at times. But today in her absence when I finished this book, I realized her inspirational lines which always encouraged to keep trying, and be focused because,

A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINS.

I dedicate my work to her sweet blessings. May God rest her soul in peace?

Chapter 1

Innocent Life

The Kanoj village, situated amongst the hills in Madhya Pradesh, was buzzing with sounds of drumbeats and the joyous screams of children. The main road passed through the heart of the village. Thru main village market was situated on both the sides of the road.

The residents of the village in high spirits had gathered around the colorful market area, applying colors and greetings to each other.

Children, in full enthusiasm, blindly ran hither tither screaming with the water guns, colors, and not at all bothered about any consequences on the road. The high-pitched laughter and joyous screams were the signature theme of the day near the market.

In a way, all the activities in and around the market place were justified, because, it was HOLI festival in India, a Festival of colors.

Because of Holi, the Kanoj village and the villagers were in different dimensions. Because of the crowd and the traffic jam, the vehicles on road were urged to move at the snail speed.

A Tractor loaded with a group of punjabi dancers, moved cautiously through the street. The vendors with the handcart, who sold fruits, sweets, dry colors and the variety of other items, had to make way for the tractor to pass.

Amongst the buzz on the village street, audible was the car horn, people casually looked at the car passing but never bothered to move aside. The sound of the car horn fell on deaf ears.

Julfikar a middle-aged around - 50, with a neatly cut bear and a knitted cap on his head, was in the drivers seat of the car, he seemed to be in hurry, he tried number of times to overtake the tractor in front, but because of the festive crowd all around, his efforts were in vain.

The car was the target for water balloon missiles and dry colors, but thanks to the rolled up glass window, without which Julfikar would have been soaking wet and also unrecognizable. Julfikar occasionally activated his windshield viper to get a clear view outside.

The anxious onlookers on the roadside were anxious to get a view of the drivers face, but hardly budged from their spot.

Julfikar knew the villagers tendency, but without bothering he enjoyed every bit rather than getting annoyed. Finally julfikar got a chance at a roundabout to overtake the tractor, as the car passed the tractor, the Punjabi dancers mounted on the tractor made a huge joyous sound. Julfikar waved at them and was on his way.

The car came on the private road going uphill; Julfikar passed a big hoarding on the uphill side of the road reading AASHIRWAD BABY NIPPLES.

Julfikar rolled down his glass window, took a deep breath of fresh air. He could see the path winding uphill to a palatial house; the faint sounds of joyous screams were audible from the bungalow’s direction. Julfikar knew that the screams and sounds were from the holi festival party thrown by his friend Mr. Pranab Roy. He smiled to himself at the same time was a bit nervous, for nearly after about more than seven years, he would see his friend Pranab Roy, his wife Minaxi and his son.

After few curves on the road, Julfikar reached a big gate. Pranab Roys name carved artistically in gold, outside the gate. The car entered the bungalow. After parking the car, Julfikar followed the sound of the party and walked in that direction. The back garden of the palatial house was fenced with colorful curtain cloth.

Julfikar witnessed a colorful but unrecognizable crowd. The loud sound of music was audible, people in joyous mood danced on the beat.

Julfikar walked passed thru the battery of chefs busy preparing snacks. His eyes tried to trace Pranab Roy. Suddenly from nowhere, Pranab a tall man, with robust physique around 48, jumped in front of him, the recognition wasted no time to hug each other.

Pranab after the initial emotions moved out of his arms and kept Julfikar at his arms distance. Looked at his clean attire from top to toe, Pranab mischievously looked around to his friends. The friends eagerly waited to get a signal, Pranab with a con smile, pointed his finger on Julfikar. The gathered crowd, understood the jester, without wasting a moment, attacked Julfikar with the variety of colors, in matter of no time, Julfikar was unrecognizable.

Amongst the big laughter, Pranab’s good looking wife Minaxi, clad in beautiful saree, around 40, entered with a plate of sweets and a glass full of Bhang (a traditional milky drink).

Pranab took few sweets from the plate and filled Julfikar’s mouth, before he could choke on sweets the glass of bhang was forced down his throat. Everyone around enjoyed and clapped. The Punjabi dancers, who were mounted on the tractor, entered the party and started playing the bhangra beats in a traditional way on their drums.

Amongst the big joyous sounds and shouts of people, Crowd pulled both Pranab and Julfikar to dance. Both the friends along with bhangra group freaked out and had the best of time whilst dancing. The childhood memories revoked. Julfikar got emotional and could not control his tears. They hugged each other, Julfikar shed few of his tears on Pranab’s shoulder, looking at this, Minaxi tried hard to hide her emotions, but her moistened eyes revealed the truth.

Pranab in the joyous mood, looked at Minaxi. He raised his arms, signaled music to stop, Pranab got attention of everyone, in a heroic style, he moved in circles around Minaxi, crowd enjoyed that but had no clue what would happen, Minaxi drowned in shame looked at the mischievous behavior of Pranab. Pranab took the dry colors, and gently painted Minaxi on her cheeks, her forehead, her back, the crowd started clapping for the couple, Minaxi immediately bowed down to touch Pranab’s feet. Pranab held her halfway hugged her; the atmosphere went electric when he pulled her to dance.

Julfikar who witnessed the best of sights ever, could not control his tears, came out of the crowd, wiped his tears and casually looked around, to his surprise, he saw someone hidden behind the balcony grill on the first floor.

The person behind the grill on the first floor was Shashi, the only son of Pranab Roy, a young handsome personality around 22, but because of his timid and shy nature, he felt nervous in front of outsiders and remained aloof from the crowd.

Shashi was an o.k. Child, but something terrible happened in his life, and he went into depression. He never disclosed the reason to anyone nor to his parents. He left his studies midway when he was about to finish the final year of his medicals.

After a lot of research, Minaxi could only find through few of Shashi’s acquaintances, that Shashi had only one friend in the university, and she had committed suicide. Police and girls parents could not find any clue for relations between Shashi and the girl. Police had questioned Shashi in private, but they got no reasonable answer from him.

After that incident, Shashi changed totally, left studies and was at home. Pranab went furious for Minaxi’s support on Shashi’ decision, he exercised all his efforts that shashi should continue his studies and finish the final year of medicals, but all his efforts failed. Apart from getting angry Pranab could do nothing. Shashi started avoiding him. He would hide himself indoors if any of visitors visited them.

For his introvert behavior Shashi was shown to the variety of Doctors and psychiatrist. Minaxi did Lots of puja; hawans at home, even took help of mantrik, tantric. But all efforts were in vain. Pranab had given up hope; he could see the light of hope fading away in front of his eyes.

Day-by-day Shashi would indulge himself with harmless pets, talking and playing like a kid with them. Pranab felt that Shashi’s matter has reached the point of no return, but because of Minaxi’s effort to protect her son, he supported her.

On the occasion of holi, Shashi had no guts to join the crowd, hence he felt comfortable with his pet.

Shashi was kneeling down in the balcony and was following his pet terrapin. Shashi hummed a song of Holi and patted gulal on terrapins back, and laughed to himself. At times, he picked his pet and made him peep thru the balcony to witness the crowd enjoying.

Down in the crowd Julfikar time and again would glance at the balcony on the first floor, he was trying to find Shashi, but was not able to spot him.

Julfikar sat on a chair and enjoyed the hot snacks from the plate he held, Minaxi brought some more snacks to replenish, Julfikar stopped her saying

Sister, the snacks in my plate, are more than enough, please don’t worry.

Minaxi kept the snacks plate by his side and said,

Dear brother, as you see the party will take long to wind, lunch could be late, so please help yourself.

Let the lunch be late bhabhi, that’s no problem, - but I can’t see Shashi, where is he?

Minaxi tried to hide her feelings, said,

He is not well and is allergic to colors so —! Minaxi excused herself and left. The experienced eyes of Julfikar noticed the avoidance of the conversation by Minaxi.

Julfikar quietly finished his snacks, later he was taken around by Pranab to introduce to his friends. The day passed with the accumulation of lots of pleasant memories for future. Slowly and surely the noise of the party mellowed down, the evening passed. Guests returned to their respective homes, the bungalow residents went to rest early due to tiredness. Minaxi was awake with Shashi for a while. She retired only after feeding Shashi and his pets.

Next day, the morning sun peaked in thru the glass window; Julfikar finished his morning prayers, casually walked to the window and looked out. Down in the garden Pranab and Minaxi busy with the newspaper, at distance workers were busy cleaning the party ground, the advertisement of AASHIRWAD BABY NIPPLES" hung all around. Pranab waved to Julfikar and signaled him to join them.

Julfikar affirmatively waved back and walked away from the window. As he walked down the stairs, he heard a scream, he rushed in the direction of the scream and found the door open, he entered the empty room, heard a muffled sound of a cry, from inside the bathroom door. He knocked and slowly opened the door, he saw Shashi stood shivering in a bathtub, holding a towel in front and eyes fixed on a centipede crawling in the corner of the bathroom.

It took no time for Julfikar to understand the reason of Shashi’s problem. Julfikar wasted no time, took out his sleepers and with one stroke brought the end of the tense atmosphere.

To console Shashi, Julfikar raised his hand, but Shashi in his shyness moved back a bit. Julfikar simply gave an understanding smile and left.

Down in the back garden, parnab and Minaxi were in discussion regarding Shashi’s appointment with Doctor, seeing Julfikar coming, Minaxi suggested that his friend should not know about Shashi. Pranab smiled.

Julfikar walked to the garden and joined the couple, after a few pleasantries, Minaxi offered a round of tea and left making hidden signals to Pranab.

Julfikar opened up the conversation about the party, how much he enjoyed, also praised Pranab about his cunningness to keep the people of the opposition to silence. Pranab acknowledged and said smilingly

That’s why I manufacture baby nipples, to keep the oppositions mouth occupied,

Julfikar went into big laughter. After finishing the tea, Pranab got up and invited his friend to see the garden. They both entered a small garden, the placement of plants and flowers looked very attractive, the garden had a definite feminine touch, Julfikar was inquisitive about each and every plant, his attention was diverted to four white rabbits nibbling in the green corner.

Julfikar went around, curiously lifted every rabbit by their ears, looked closely and kept down, after looking at all he turned to Pranab and said,

In all the four rabbits there is no male rabbit?

Pranab replied,

This garden is maintained by my son shahi, and I know nothing about it - but how does it matter?

Julfikar looked around and said,

It matters when these rabbits come in heat, and have no male rabbit around, they would probably die.

Oh dear, I never thought it that way,

Julfikar waited for a while, being concerned, he wanted to talk on Shashi’s subject. He said gingerly,

Maybe you have overlooked so many other things.

Pranab stunned by the remark said,

What do you mean?

Julfikar walked a few steps away, turned, looked at Pranab and said.

You know! What I mean.

Pranab thinking deep said,

I hope you are not connecting Shashi with this rabbits issue.

Julfikar had a smirk on his face; Pranab struggled to find the words, to ease the conversation he continued,

No, I have not overlooked, but rather, I was…

Julfikar interrupted saying,

Sorry my friend, correct me if I am wrong, as I understand and know you, you understood few things but never wanted to interfere

I could have but . . !

Pranab was fighting for words, Julfikar intervened and said,

But you were scared to accept the truth that your son Shashi is…?

Julfikar stopped - Pranab questioningly asked,

Gay – is that what you want to say?

Julfikar waited for a beat, looked at Pranab’s sorry state and said,

Not exactly gay, yes, but related to that you can say introvert and confused.

Pranab looked up in sky, shrinking in self, waited for a beat and replied

May be you are right, that’s why I called you, though I am the decision maker for all the happenings, but in case of shahi, because of Minaxi’s love, I have dropped my anger and do not interfere at all in his affairs.

Julfikar enquired

What about his studies?

Dejected Pranab