eFiction India eFiction India Vol.02 Issue.09 | Page 80

79

STORIES

TRYST WITH DEATH
    ANANYA S. GUHA                                   

Ananya S. Guha lives in Shillong and
works in the Indira Gandhi National
Open University, where he is currently heading the IGNOU Institute
For Vocational Education & Training
Shillong. He has over thirty one years
of academic experience. He is a poet
and writer. He also writes for children.
Prior to joining IGNOU he taught
in St Edmund’s college Shillong. He
holds a doctoral degree on the novels
of William Golding.

To the people of the locality she was “Miss.”

a doctor came out grim faced.

One day while playing cricket, the ball
soared into her house. But no one wanted to
go and retrieve it. I boldly volunteered with
trepidation. As I opened the gate stealthily
Miss was tending to her flowers, with care
like a doctor attending to a patient.

My worst fears were confirmed. Miss
was no more. The little girl was crying
inconsolably.

“The ball,” I whispered. “I came to take
it. Sorry.”
Miss smiled and handed it to me. “Playing
cricket?” she asked.
“Yes,” I mumbled. “Thank you.” And I
scampered back.
One day there was commotion in the
house. Voices could be heard and that of
a lady; Miss was chattering excitedly. The
next day things were quieter but there was
a child in her house, about eight years old,
a pretty little girl, rosy cheeks, dark-eyed
and pigtailed.

S

HE LIVED IN a cottage down the
lane. She was middle aged, with
greying hair, and looked a martinet, which indeed she was, because she
was a school teacher. She lived alone, a
doomed spinster. Her routine was predictable, morning to school at 8.00 a.m. and
back by 4.00 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays
being holidays, no one saw her. She lived
alone, cooked alone, and when she came
out in the morni