Vishwas pedaled at an incredible speed, the rickety cycle groaned under his weight and cried for mercy. But, Viswas oblivious to the misery of the metal’s wretchedness sped on. The hot summer afternoon bore on him and a fresh rivulet of sweat drops flowed from his young forehead and rushed down his angry stubble and vanished into nothingness. He felt the journey from his home to her house was like for eternity. The distance in fact was hardly half a kilometer away, and yet it appeared like miles and miles away. Finally, he spotted the tiled roof and the open veranda sprouting on the horizon and he just let go of himself. As if in a surrealistic sequence of events he now stood in front of her, the twinkle in her eyes, the inviting smile on her lips and the challenge her young body offered, provoked him and that was all that mattered. It did not strike him that he had not referred to her as a person, neither her name nor she as a lady had made any impression it was just the young body that was on his mind. He had suddenly found himself introduced to a new world, a world that had transformed him and converted him into a man. He felt a new sense of power surge through him. And excitement filled his very being.

He dumped the cycle into the doorway and ran in, as always, there was absolutely no one in the doorway or in the house. He was aware tucked somewhere in the nook of that dwelling, an ancient half blinded cook cum maid would work in the shadows oblivious to the environs .Not that it mattered to him. Since, the house too was away from the village there was no fear of any peeping toms. But, he stopped as suddenly as he had rushed, the wedding photograph of the young bride with her man always picked at his soul. But come to think of it, he had no qualms what so ever not when she had none, she was the one who had had her vows and chastity to take care of and face her naļve husband who had left her behind and gone off to fatten his bank balance. In no way was Viswas a cognizant party to any pandemonium that was bound to erupt someday. Once again a small voice seem to caution, plead and then threaten him . Ever so again with equal vengeance he hushed that voice and concentrated on the figure that appeared magically at the door.

She looked so very ravishing, so appealing, and suprisingly he laughed at himself. He had known her since high school she was in fact senior to him by a couple of years. A plain Jane, none of the boys in his right senses would have ever bothered to give her second looks. And then strange are the ways of mother nature, he was surprised how that ugly duckling was transformed into an irrisistible swan. He could not believe that he had actually fallen for her and her soporific ways. She had the key to calm his nerves and make him feel wanted in so many ways. He was her man Friday, he smirked.

Vishvas was a school drop out, a village bum, with no job, nor ambition he had just drifted like a dinghy without a rudder, a mongrel without a collar she had once remarked. But, pleasantly the voyage had concluded into her young convivial arms. She had nestled her head on his broad shoulders, and as if they had signed some secret pact they moved in unison into the adjacent room. Her better half had left the very same morning not to return for a year or two.

Days flew and their bond strenghtened she looked contented with each passing month. Her skin glowed and she radiated an aura that was perplexing, and his heart swelled with pride as he watched her middle grow. She had ruined her perfect figure, but never had he found her more appealing. He had called the cab and watched her leave for her mother’s place. Suddenly, he realised the lust that had once possesssed him had someday been replaced by love. He had learn to love this lady, who was nourishing a part of him. His entire being now seem to exist for that new life that would spring forth.

The few months that they were seperated were indeed unbearable. Finally, when she returned she had the worlds most precious gift, the most beautiful angel nestled in her arms. One look and Vishwas knew that tiny being was indeed a part of him. He forgot his lust, his obsession and the lady who had mothered this miracle. He watched his tiny fairy bloom and blossom.

He would pedal on his rickety cycle day in day out, rain or sun could not stop him. He never felt more joy than to bundle the little being in his arms and play with her. Her gurgles, her laughter, her babble all seem to transform him into another world. But, slowly he realized the door was shutting on his face and one fine day he was informed in no uncertain terms that the head of the family was coming down for good, and the lady had nothing to do with Vishwas. The child was a product of her wedlock and he had indeed no role in it. He had made a fool of himself, he had become a laughing stock.

He despised her, but, more than that he despised himself.

Humiliated,listless and totally helpless, he had taken up to drinking. But, like a lost puppy, he would eventually come to the doorsteps of that house and whimper for his child, he could cry and plead and beg to the steel-hearted lady to permit him to have a look at his own flesh and blood, and the door would be shut on his face. Pretty soon he realized he was fighting a loosing battle, he saw his tiny angel in the hands of a well-settled man, a man who had come from a different world to claim his wife and child. It was a nightmare that was set loose. That night on his way home he was beaten black and blue by some miscreants. In his heart he knew the source.

Suddenly the very reason of his existence seemed to weigh on him. It was a cold night. He felt too tired to cycle any longer. He stopped awhile and sat at the rim of the village well. It was a deep well too deep for anybody’s good. But, in the dead of the night nothing seemed more inviting. He found himself hurled into the dark abyss and hit the cold waters, he struggled to free himself from her grip and than to his surprise he found the cool grip as inviting as the embrace he had experienced the very the first time. the world whirled deeper and deeper into a void a little angel stood at the other end gurgling, he heard her say ’papa, pa…. a faint echo and he was almost there, never to let go this time not now not ever.