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Love's Labours Never Lost
10 | Dr. K.C. Sethi & Sunita Sethi
Rajni was not that curious to know her result as Avni was .The week passed
and now it was the day of result. Avni had a very important meeting with
overseas clients. Today's presentation will be a landmark for career growth.
The last streak of sunlight was sinking in the west. Avni was sitting in her river- Being a spinster — and twenty-five — she was the most eligible bachelorette
facing balcony. This was the most relaxing time for her. After mayhem of the despite being dusky. Her presentation in the meeting ended and she sneaked
whole day's online work from home and household chores with the help of her to open a new tab in her MacBook and searched for Rajni's result. She jumped
house-help Rajni, this was the 'me-time' for her. with joy to find the unprecedented on the C.B.S.E portal. Rajni's photo was
She was relaxing and with the sip of the evening tea she was reading the there as the topper of Arts Stream, 2020. She screamed 'Rajni....Rajni…' even
newspaper. One news attracted her attention — it was a piece of news related forgetting that she was still logged in with her clients.
to the arduous journey of a girl from Bihar who cycled from Delhi to She calmed down in a few seconds and continued her meeting which ended
Darbhanga and reached there in only three days. This news reminded of the almost at 1 p.m.. At this time of day Rajni was usually in her neighbour's flat
daily routine of Rajni — she is in her teens and juggling the household work in No-28. She called the owner of flat No.28 and asked him to send Rajni
five homes and her Class XII studies. Avni was always amazed to see the immediately because there was an 'emergency' in her house.
optimism and zealous fervour with which she completes the household
The door-bell rang in a few minutes. Rajni hushed in hurriedly asking in a
chores.
breath, “Is everything o.k. Di, why did you call me so urgently? What
Rajni comes daily to her posh colony on bicycle from her home on the happened?”
outskirts of Delhi which is almost 25 km away. She earlier came by bus but
Avni still made a flat face and said, “You know.... something has happened...”
aware of the life-threatening danger of the fast spreading corona, she had
and continuing her suspense she pulled Rajni to the table and showed her the
chosen to travel by her own. However, she never complains about this. She
slice of cake and biscuits and said shouting, “You have made it … you are the
comes to Avni's home at 7 a.m. and after completing her work by 8 a.m. she
topper of this year.
happily leaves for the other four houses. She comes back to Avni's home daily
by 2 or 3 p.m. Rajni's love for labour as well as for study was not lost!
Avni has special attachment with Rajni who, she feels, is like her sibling. She She took some drops of sanitiser in her hands and then touched Avni's feet.
gives Rajni lunch which is of course prepared by Rajni, but Avni always made There was a stream of unsaid joy brimming over their faces.
it sure that it was of choice for both. Avni never forgets to make Rajni drink a
glass of milk and take some almonds in the evening.
At dusk they both sit together for almost half an hour. Avni also guides her in
the studies. She gave her notes and encouraged her to study for the remaining
two hours.
~ Arpana Kumari ~
It was almost three years of their acquaitance. Avni has seen her growth from
Class X. Class XII results will be published in a week. When today she looks
back, it was a difficult journey and wonders how fast time has flown.
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