.....continued from part III.....
The people on the car were,no doubt,very generous.They immediately got hold of the master(Ansh told them what this man was doing),assured Neetu's mother and decided to admit her in a hospital in Darjeeling.They were from the city,they were from Kolkata.They were rich,as it was evident from both their outfit as well as their behavior.They had told Neetu's mother that she was admitted in a government hospital and they would be treating her well(the Calcuttans had a doctor they knew working there).Neetu's father was also informed of the situation,and he,judging the conditions,made privilege for the tourists to stay in Darjeeling.
Neetu was treated by Dr.Sriman Rakshit,a renowned doctor of Kolkata,who was in Darjeeling holding a medical health camp.He readily agreed to help Neetu.Her injuries were thankfully minor.Just a fracture in her left hand,which was not much serious.But according to the doc,serious treatment was necessary for even a small cut because small injuries lead to bigger ones,as drops of water make the ocean.It was not possible for Neetu's mother to visit her.She was also not in a good state after what happened back that day .Ansh was taking good care of her.Neetu's father used to occasionally visit her,but he too had a busy life.So Neetu practically spent her time staring out at the road,observing the passer-by's.There were people of Darjeeling,and from villages too.There were people from Kolkata,and even foreigners who always had maps in their hands.Neetu felt curious about the life outside,and more she wondered,the more she wanted to venture out of the small house of hers.One morning the doc brought her some books.This was the best thing of all time.Neetu loved reading books,and she had hardly read any good book.And moreover,where was her time?She helped more in household activities than read.She went through the few books she was brought.The doc said they were the best teenage books in the market at the time.She wondered what made them so special.
Time passed rapidly after she got those books.One after the other the books were completed.Pages turned,the story proceeded,and Neetu got into it.She started to imagine that the fantasy was true.She thought herself in the place of the protagonist.More and more it ate her up,and it was for the greater good.
After few weeks,the doc thought that it was a perfect time for Neetuto be released.Her father was gone to her mother and brother outside Darjeeling.So for the time-being,she had to stay in the hospital.Meanwhile,the family from Kolkata (who had became quite close to her) proposed that they could take Neetu to Kolkata and give her better opportunities to study,seeing her enthusiasm in reading the books and how enthusiastically she read them all up and wanted more.Neetu wanted to go at once,but needed her father's approval.There was no telephone in the village house,so letter was the only way.But letters reach such places after seven days or so,and father would return much before.So they had to wait.Neetu's sleep was gone.She was often so excited at the thought of the visit to the city that she almost forgot that she had a broken hand.She wasn't assured if her father would give her permission,but she thought to nag if he denied.
Strange enough,father gave her permission.Actually,Neetu didn't know a part of her father.He was not what he seemed to be.He wanted his children to become good humans and make money,but a girl in this society is always taken as a burden.Neetu's father somewhat saw Neetu as a burden.When he saw that his daughter's education could be done so easily,and he would get rid of her as well,he at once agreed.Although,this was the truth,Neetu didn't realize it then.
So,plans were made and bags were packed.Mother was a bit sad(a mother's heart can sense things beforehand) and Ansh had to admit that he would miss the daily fights he had with his sister.Father seemed unexpectedly happy at Neetu's depart,but didn't express it too well.Neetu was going to depart on 7th,and there was still three days left.Her sleeps were gone,her hand much better now,and she kept on reading magazines and books.The subject which she liked the most was Geography.She liked the way it explored round the world,and yet say there are still mysteries of nature to be solved.She had decided that in Kolkata she would read Geography.
.......to be continued in next part.....