DOEL

Dolu," I called my daughter in a loud, but tender voice. 

No response whatsoever, in spite of my knowledge that she has locked herself up in her room. It was early evening; not her usual hours to bolt herself.

"A strange man you are," Sulata, my wife, crept in from nowhere, and hurled her characteristic incriminating tone at me, with suitable mix of similar glance, "the girl has to leave for her college and hostel tomorrow. This is the first time she'll stay away alone. She deserves some space to reflect up on."

I considered this. It had to happen. Doel has completed her school this year, and got admission for un undergraduate course in architectural designing in an institute of repute. She will be moving tomorrow. We intended to accompany her on this initial trip, but she refused citing it would amount to being mollycoddled, and she'd be laughed at by such a move.

Our time was different. I still remember how secured I felt in my father's presence on my first trip to mining school. Times have changed. I sighed. Sulata sighed as well. But her moist eyes told me the reason was different from that of mine. 'How our li'l gal will face an alien world devoid of parents! She can't even take care of her basics!' She must be wondering.

I put my gentle hand on Sulata's shoulder. She sobbed, almost silently. Her large eyes still looked as beautiful as they were in their younger days. 

"So, having a cozy time guys!" Doel sprouted a naughty smile on her lips, as she emerged out of her room all of a sudden. It was bit of an off-guard situation for us. All three of us settled on the sofa of the living room. 

Doel was trying to look normal, as if she was just going on a little vacation. Dimpy came wagging her fluffy tail and took her rightful place on Doel's lap. She caressed the drooped ears of the brown cocker spaniel lovingly. Dimpy gargled with gratification.

Dimpy, like most sensitive bitches, has got her instincts to go by. She has realised in last few days that something is going to change drastically. Her constant companion of last eight years is to part with her. She must be pondering, who is going take her to bed? On whose lap she is to jump upon? Who is going to tie a friendship band on her paw on a particular day?

Dimpy feels for Doel. So do we. 

"Did you meet all your friends, Dolu?" I asked. 

"Yes, I did." She grinned. She has a lot of friends, and she cares for them.

"Let me show you something," she said, and went back to her room to return with an album. She handed it over to me. 

I passed it on to Sulata. I looked at my daughter instead. She exuded confidence in her lithesome body clad in summer casuals. Her heart-shaped face emanated a smile that hovered between pleasure and uncertainty. I kept my hand on her head and ruffled her hair. She squeezed my arm and wiped off her moist eyes with a quick swerve of her hand. 

I looked at the album. It was a handmade one, prepared with all possible love and care. Doel has a penchant for design all along, and she has poured her heart out in her latest effort. 

Teardrops were dripping down Sulata's eyes. I turned the pages of the album leisurely. On the front page stood Doel with her inter school badminton trophy in hand, attired in white shorts and tee shirt. A smile of achievement adorned her face. The caption below intrigued me. 'Nothing succeeds like success. Let's go on.'

It made me proud. Never did I know when my little Dolu grew that big!

The next few pages contained pictures of her friends, alone or in combination, with cannotations to the effect of encouraging or remembering their dear old Dolu. An entire page was dedicated to Dimpy, at her purring best. It had a caption too: 'Dimpu, my kuchoo puchoo...' Whatever that meant!

Since last few days she had been out for quite a bit of time thereby arousing my ire. Now I understood. 

The last page bore a conjugal photo of me and Sulata that quoted: 'You are my guiding lights.' 

But to a disturbing extent, it also had a passport photo of Ajinkya, without a caption at all. 

This boy, a classmate of hers, had always been a source of pain in my neck. Dolu has had her share of soft corner for the boy. Not that the boy is bad, but the rumour surrounding the two has irked me to no end. I have been stern to the issue time again like any responsible father would. 

I looked at Doel with an inquisitive glance. For a change, she was not adamant as she used to be. "I understand my responsibility, Dad," said she, with a winning smile on her face. 

I got reassured. With a guilty conscience on, she would never let us see the album. I nodded, and smiled understandingly as well.

Doel reached us and kissed both of us in turn.

"I love you two." We embraced her with all our warmth. Perhaps next time she'll outgrow us!

She took out her Nokia N72 from pocket, and threw us a mischievous smile. "I'll be in touch."

I remembered the history attached to it. The phone was meant to be a gift to Sulata a couple of years back on her birthday. But as soon as we displayed it to Doel, she had snatched it away from my hand with the words, "It's mine from today. Thanks Mom, Dad!"

She had been like this; possessive, passionate, naughty, and yet adorable.

        *********

Twenty years have passed since then. Many things have changed; I've retired, I and Sulata gulp more pills than food these days, Dimpy has died of old age. Our young Dolu has transformed into a much sought after designer who keeps trotting the globe with Sumesh, her husband and colleague. They also are parents to a boy. Ajinkya is passe.

Doel keeps visiting us occasionally like a zephyr. She wants us to stay with her, but we deny. Maybe a day either of us will, as the other leaves for heavenly abode. But we resist, as long as we can. We'll preserve our independent ways to the last possible limits.

Our Doel remains with us forever though, through her album that was scripted long back. Sulata had snatched it away a day from Doel, much the same way Doel did for the phone, from me, years ago. We go through it every day. It reminds us of her, and our, past, that once was golden!