The Unventured Territory (Completed)

It was almost three in the afternoon, when Anirudh reached the medical camp. He had parked his imported Bentley half a mile away from the camp in order to avoid unnecessary attention. Intimidating the locals was never his agenda. He'd rather prefer to walk instead!

Nearing the camp, Anirudh saw Suresh readying himself into his car.

"Suresh.." Anirudh called out loud as he neared him.

Suresh looked up as a bright smile illuminated his tired face.

"Areyy... Barrister Babu.. What a pleasant surprise! Nice to see you here." Suresh had extended his hands to greet Anirudh.

"Good to see you too... Setting out somewhere?" Anirudh asked cordially.

"Work Barrister Babu... Work. I'm going to the Hospital. Duty calls." Suresh sighed keeping the smile intact on his lips.

"Call me Anirudh. Please, I insist." Anirudh held his shoulders heartily as he shook him in gentle friendliness.

"That's better.." Suresh reciprocated to his cordiality. "And you are probably a few years younger to me as well. You can call me Dada if you wish." He smiled.

"Suresh Da." Anirudh hugged him lightly. " It's settled then. Now you can't deny your younger brother." He said.

"Deny? And what is my younger brother asking exactly?" Suresh asked.

Anirudh's tone turned grave.
"Suresh Da. I want to support this medical camp and all your social endeavours financially. I know you receive fundings from the Sinha's. But, please allow me this opportunity, if you would..."
Anirudh folded his arms to join his hands together in request.

Suresh quickly held his joined palms.
"Anirudh!!" He exclaimed. " You don't have to request this. You have already done a lot for Mira... And I know you fund the Girls' convent as well."

"I'm a simple man Suresh da... But I was born lucky. Money has never been a concern for me." Anirudh paused. " You are a visionary Dada. What you are doing for the country is exceptional. I just want to be a part of your great journey... in my own little way... Please don't deny me!" Anirudh requested again.

Suresh thought for a while and nodded his head.
"I'll talk to the Sinha's. You may take care of the camp financially if you insist." He smiled brightly at Anirudh.
"Now if you would excuse me... "

"Sure Suresh Da... By the way, one more thing I was wondering... But should I say or not..." Anirudh hasitated with a thoughtful expression.

"You are my brother Anirudh. Tell me."

"Suresh Da, I was wondering, now that you won't have to take any financial aid from the Sinha's, would be still go into a marital alliance with the family?" Anirudh asked innocently.

Suresh smiled as he took a deep breath.
"I haven't thought about it... But probably I will think...!" He sighed. " Go inside, my mother is here today. And yes, be ready to meet a different Mira this time!"
Suresh smiled warmly as he got into his car. Anirudh stood there to see the car sped away into oblivion.

Anirudh's hearty request had filled Suresh's heart with compassion. 'The rich barrister was trying to do a little good to the society. He should be given a chance!' He thought.
But, what Suresh didn't know was the fact that, this medical Camp was just one of the umpteenth of Anirudh's charity ventures that he had undertaken for the welfare of his country.
Anirudh smirked as he turned around towards the camp. 'It's always so satisfactory to make people feel important', he thought!

As he slowly walked inside the shabby camp room, he was greeted by a familiar voice.
" Barrister Babu..." He heard the feminine voice calling him cheerfully.

"Mira...!" Anirudh looked at her direction and smiled.

Mira had recovered considerably. She was no longer that fragile little girl lying helplessly in pain. Infact, She now helps Suresh's mother to run the camp kitchen.
Anirudh walked towards her.

"How are you Mira?" He asked tenderly.

Mira smiled brightly as she quickly stooped down to touch his feet.
"Cha-ka-let?" She extended her hands in a sweet demand.

"Ohh... So it's all about chocolates, I see...!" Anirudh mocked her lovingly as he saw shades of red painted on her cheeks.
Mira looked a lot better than what he had seen before. Her dark eyes were sparkling in happiness. Colours had returned to her pale white face.
She was wearing a simple yellow saree with red checks on it. The loose end of the saree was plainly wrapped around her shoulders, covering the head partially.

"Barrister Babu, have you had your lunch?" Mira asked softly as Anirudh nodded his head in denial.

"To be honest Mira, I'm starving!" Anirudh confessed, pouting his lips.

Mira smiled bashfully as she slowly looked up to meet his eyes.

"I have cooked. Will you eat?" She asked eagerly. "But it's simple food... a little too simple for you perhaps."
Anirudh noticed a tone of disappointment in Mira's voice as he returned her gaze lovingly.

"Mira, I'll eat whatever you have cooked."

Barrister Anirudh Roy Chowdhury was probably one of those very rare breed of men on earth, who knew how to truly balance life. He was equally comfortable sharing a table with a bunch of English men, with his impeccable table manners, as well as sitting down in the mud clad porch of a small hut and devouring simple rice and dal from a plate of banana leaf.
The latter was probably his favourite!

Suresh's mother was a simple kind village woman. She loved Anirudh in a heartbeat! She made him sit near her, in the small mud kitchen, inside the camp, as Mira arranged a plate with the plaintiff meal.

"Eat son... Dal, bhaat and fried pumpkin flower." Suresh's mother told him lovingly as Anirudh started to gollop the food happily. Mira sat beside him, fanning him with a tainted hand fan made up of palm leaves.

Anirudh eat to his heart's content. He had skipped dinner the previous night and also, hadn't had time to eat all day.
Happiness reflected in his eyes. The days fatigue seemed to fade away as he relished the food.

"Barrister Babu..." Mira spoke softly as she poured water on his hand after the meal.
"Daktar babu told me that you would take me along with you once I'm fine."
Mira looked at him with an earnest expression.

"When will you take me with you?" She asked as she inched closer to Anirudh.

Anirudh wiped his hands in his pocket handkerchief and patted Mira's head lovingly.
"Soon Mira... Very soon." He smiled.

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