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“Maa!  I am going to Granma’s Room for a Story,” shouted Chintu.

“Okay, but go to bed early and don’t trouble Nanima too much,” answered Renu, Chintu’s Mother. 

Chintu loved his Nanima, as he affectionately called his grandmother, and her bedtime tales.  She was an expert story teller and could spin a yarn out of practically anything.  In fact Chintu’s cousins swarmed his house during summer vacations just to listen to her stories.  Chintu was very proud and possessive of his Nanima.  He would always remind her to sleep if the clock struck ten, even when his cousins urged her to go on.  “Nanima needs rest. So enough for today, let’s go” he would chase them all away. 

Nanima had a childish face, an innocent smile and looked so much like a child herself that the kids took to her like fish to water.  She had an early dinner, as Renu liked to serve her first, wait till she finished eating and then call the rest of the family for meals.  After Renu left, Nanima would keep singing some devotional songs and wait for the kids patiently.  If the kids were late in coming, she would pause midway in her song and enquire, “Did Chintu finish eating? Is everyone well? Are they coming?” and so on.  But Chintu was the only kid at home today as his cousins left a few days earlier after schools reopened. “Nanima!” exclaimed Chintu, jumping onto her straw cot.  “Tell me a new story today,” he said. “Let me think,” said Nanima, wrinkling her eyes in an effort to remember.  “I will tell you a true story, the story of Nainsika”, she said. “Nainsika is a Nepali girl who moved to India along with her parents several years ago.  Her father was a carpenter and settled in Old Delhi, quickly earning reputation as an expert in his profession. Shikha, as she was affectionately called, joined a small school near her home.  On the first day, she saw another girl in her area going to the same school. The girl smiled at Shikha and walked beside her, talking all the way.

“I am Rajani,” the girl said, asking “What’s your name?” “I am Nainsika, you can call me Shikha”, Shikha replied.

They made friends easily and chatted all the way to and from school.  Soon their relationship strengthened and over the next few years, they became almost inseparable.  They would eat together, study together, play together and also sleep together.

“Didn’t their parents scold them, Nanima?” asked Chintu.

“No, in fact their parents also approved of Rajani and Shikha’s friendship.  Their friendship grew as the years passed, until Rajani’s Marriage was fixed.” Nanima paused. 

“But wasn’t she in school?” asked Chintu.

“Yes, but child marriages were quite common in those days.  Rajani was just out of school when their relatives came with an alliance.  Luckily, the boy was also in Delhi, so Shikha could still meet Rajani whenever they wanted.  Shika went on to college, when Rajani gave birth to a girl.” 

Chintu was nodding his head and listening with rapt attention trying to guess who Nainsika Could be, since Nanima said it was a true Story. “But then, fate dealt a cruel blow and Rajani passed away during her delivery.”  Nanima’s voice broke a little with emotion.  “Rajani’s in laws disowned the girl child and Shikha adopted the baby as her daughter. Shikha’s parents objected initially, but she was steadfast in her resolve.  She joined a job and started taking care of the child.  Whenever her parents come up with a marriage proposal, she gently refused.

“But what did people say, Nanima?” asked Chintu. “Oh, people had a lot to say, but she never cared.  And after her parents died, Shikha only lived for her friend’s child.  She raised the girl though school and college and fulfilled her every wish.  When the girl came of age, she fixed her marriage in a good family.  Strangely, the girl’s husband also had great regard for Shika and affectionately called her ‘Amma’ or Mother.  Since the man was an orphan, he insisted along with his wife that Shikha stay with them.  Reluctantly, Shikha agreed, but very soon became part of the family.”

Nanima would have gone on, but Renu came and said firmly, “Enough for today, both of you.  Its bed time now.” Chintu would have loved to hear till the end, but knew better than cross his mother.  “Goodnight, Nanima” he said and left. 

In the early hours of morning, Chintu awoke to the loud cries of Renu and the other family members. He went into the corridor and found Nanima sleeping on a mat on the floor and the entire household sitting around her, crying.

Renu hugged Chintu and said, “Nanima is no more, she has left us”, sobbing loudly.  Chintu sat quickly, dazed.

The entire might he was wondering who Nainsika could have been, but now, the only person who could answer him was dead. Would he ever be able to find out who she was? But a small voice inside was prompting him that he already knew...