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Gungun

The world ,where generations of human beings are born and perish would have been a more beautiful, colourful, liveable,less complicated and painful if unborn children could choose their parentage. But, the ways of God are comprehensible to Him alone . The theory of Karma here mercilessly tags the masses in two groups- one the pure sublime souls who ride on the swing of general prosperity , and the other who struggle ,who suffer because it's believed that they must have done something punishable and offendable in their previous lives......

Supriya's worries multiplied with her daughter Priya's promotion in grade ninth. Priya had been a fairly good student till her seventh grade, as long as rote memorization was possible. Her cramming power yielded results even in a subject like mathematics. But, the trouble started in eigth standard. Her performance was going down steeply. Solving mathematics became Achilles hill for her. She became morose and her percentage came down. Anyhow ,she managed to pass . As Supriya didn't want to take chances in ninth so she tried one by one many tutors for Priya. Priya was also tirelessly working but still couldn't perform well.
One summer evening, Supriya as usual was busy in her street gossip with the ladies in neighborhood. She alongwith her friends was lost in conversation when a lady from the backlane of her house came  for evening stroll with her pretty daughter. She stopped to wish one of  Supriya's friends and threw a friendly smile towards rest of the ladies.
"Bhabhi, are you Priya's mother?" Amiable lady asked Supriya.
"Yes, do you know her?"
"My daughter Kirti was telling you are a teacher and teach tenth class ."
Supriya laughed in her heart as her teacher sense warned her of the favour most of the parents asked for once they got to know about her profession. She made up her mind to decline any attention demanded by her.
"Bhabhi, who teaches Priya maths?"
"In school?" Supriya spoke without any animation in her voice.
"No, tuitions."
"She goes to famous tutor mr. Garg."
"Are you satisfied ? Kriti also went to him in ninth but couldn't perform well."
"Oh ! Suddenly Supriya's interest was ablaze as she was sailing on the same boat on which Kriti's mom had sailed in her  ninth grade, "now who teaches her?"
"Gungun , a girl who comes from a very humble family. She is very hardworking . Kriti has improved a lot under her guidance."
"Can you give me her number ?"
Supriya was inquisitive , never before had the idea of home tuition stricken her . For the sake of her daughter she decided to give it a try as she didn't want to leave any stone unturned. She rushed inside and dialled the tutor's number .
"Hello", the receiver's sweet voice touched Supriya's heart.
" Is this Gungun ,the tutor ?"
"Yes."
Supriya then told her about Priya and asked her if she was willing to take one more tuition.Gungun was reluctant as she taught a group of girls at Kriti's house and wasn't habitual of individual tuitions. At Supriya's insistence she consented to visit her house with Kriti.
Next evening at around seven Kriti visited her with a slender girl. She appeared to be famished and was wearing simple jeans and T-shirt with a spectacles.
"Hi aunty, " Kriti smiled,"She is Gungun my tutor with whom you wished to meet."
For a few seconds Supriya was lost for words as Gungun was looking younger than her Priya. She wouldn't have believed that that meek looking girl was a student of final year B.Com if Kriti hadn't told her. She doubted whether that girl could manage to tackle teenagers. After exchanging a few pleasantries Supriya came to the point and asked her to teach her daughter. She was in for a surprise when Gungun spoke up. She was quite smart and confident person with a great and exceptional sense of business and management.
" If your daughter will study alone l will take 2500 per month. Aunty ,l hope you won't bargain as 600/-out of this l will be spending as auto fare. I can come for trial for a couple of days then you can decide."
Supriya smiled and was impressed with her confidence ," there is no need of trial .You can come from tomorrow but remember l won't tolerate any negligence and you have to make sure to  be present everyday. I won't bargain but be professional l won't give you any leave."
Next day onwards Gungun began Priya's class ,she was a very punctual girl. Supriya wondered as she won't even drink a glass of water at her home. Many times Supriya tried to offer tea and other eatables but Gungun won't touch anything. It took Gungun almost three months to be comfortable at Supriya's home. Supriya meanwhile talked to her mother thrice and assured her about Gungun's safety. Gradually Gungun began to accept tea and eatables . She confided in Supriya that earlier her mother had barred her from accepting any eatables and drinks from anyone as she feared someone might spike that. Supriya appreciated her mother for being so wise.
Supriya made sure to give her tuition fees every month before fifth . One day she observed Priya and Gungun discussing something other than the subject . 
"What the hell are you two talking about ? Priya, l am not giving tuition fees for gossip?" Supriya's rude tone was something new for Gungun .
"I am sorry aunty?"
"Mom, don't be so rude . Do you know Gungun di is so upset ?"Priya's empathetic attitude softened Supriya . She knew Gungun was a trustworthy girl and would never mislead her daughter.
Supriya then came to know that Kriti's mom and one more lady had not given her fees since last three months and Gungun was sceptical about payment because session was about to close as board exams were about to start. Supriya felt very bad for Gungun and asked her to dial Kriti's mom's number and to tell her to talk to her mother.
"Aunty ,my mom won't be able to talk."Gungun became sad.
"You dial the number and give me the phone. I will act as your mom."
When Kriti's mom came on the line Supriya acting as Gungun's mother retorted her and asked her to pay her fees.
"Kindly don't delay her fees . You are also a mother . How can you do this to my daughter? Have you ever thought why in winter or summer ,rain or extreme weather my daughter gives tuitions? Will you allow your daughter to do this. You must understand that no mother likes her daughter to work round the clock. It is the need that drives her out." Supriya tried to speak in a husky voice as she feared Kriti's mom would recognise her voice. But she took a sigh of relief when she promised to pay the fee the very next day. Priya clapped with zeal when Supriya told about the response of Kriti's mom , while Gungun just smiled. Supriya wondered whether she had touched the open wound of Gungun . She shivered at the possibility of what she had said . She questioned herself why she hadn't pondered over it earlier ? What made Gungun work so hard? Then she brushed aside those thoughts and got lost in her own world. 
Time flew Gungun was always in time and compensated for any leave if by chance she took. Soon she became an important part of Priya's life who would argue ,quarrel and share her thoughts with her. If ever Priya would refuse to follow Supriya ,Gungun chided her and mentored her to value her parents. Gungun's efforts yielded results as Priya overcame her maths phobia. Session changed . Priya entered her tenth grade and Gungun as usual came to their house. She had done extremely well in her B.com final year and was trying for admission in MBA. 
Supriya noticed that Gungun had become suddenly very reserved . It appeared as if some worry was consuming her spirits. Priya as well as Supriya tried to trace the reason of that sudden transition. Gungun on her part was a tight lipped girl who refused to share her woes if there were some. 
"Gungun ,why are you so worried ?"Supriya asked Gungun affectionately one day.
"Aunty, tomorrow is my counseling for MBA. God knows whether l will get seat in university or not .,"
"You are so intelligent . You will definitely get a seat."Supriya patted on Gungun's shoulder.
"Aunty l must get seat in government college . My parents won't be able to afford my fees. I have to manage myself. I don't have 70,000 to pay in a private college."Gungun sighed.
"Ofcourse , you will get seat. If you won't we will see what we can do."
"Thanks aunty ."
Priya had told Supriya that Gungun was eldest of three siblings . Her father worked in some private company and mother did a little bit of stitching. Supriya could make out that Gungun's family was hand to mouth . Gungun on her part was a lovable girl making her dear to both Priya and Supriya.
As was expected by Supriya Gungun got the seat in government college. She was very happy . She would work tirelessly with Priya . Then all of a sudden for consecutively three days in a week Gungun didn't turn up for Priya's tuition. Supriya called her and rebuked her for being so unprofessional . She told her straight away that she hadn't bargained for money and expected her presence every day. She warned her about changing Priya's tutor. Gungun made a plea that she wasn't feeling well but somehow managed to make up for Priya's tuition the following day . At that time Priya wasn't at home as she had gone out with her father to vegetable market. Supriya had thought of tackling Gungun sternly but when she saw her withered face she reined herself.
"Gungun are you ok?"Supriya offered a glass of water to Gungun.
"Yes aunty. Actually l am having fever since couple of days."
"Stop lying, Gungun. You can tell me if you are perturbed." Supriya had got the teachers's sixth sense which had the capacity to nab the liars.
Gungun avoided eye contact and tried to distract Supriya's attention . Meanwhile Gungun's phone rang and she scolded one of her friends.
"Gungun what's the matter dear. You are like my own daughter . Tell me please."Supriya's soft motherly attitude filled Gungun's eyes with tears.
"Aunty , why did my parents give me birth? They should have strangled me." Gungun burst .
For another half an hour Supriya could not believe what she heard. The pain ,the misery that was covered with a smile by Gungun was terrifying. At a very tender age she had witnessed the worst .Since the age of ten she had witnessed her mom as a victim of domestic violence. Her father never had a stable job . He would switch from one job to another . At home he was always yelling at his wife and children. Gungun remembered a time when her father had almost ripped an eye of her mother out of its socket. Since then on one hand she nutured a feeling of disgust for her father and on another a strong urge to stand on her feet. Often she and her younger sisters were also recipient of smacks and abuses of her father. She told about a time when her family could not even afford to buy vegetables and with salt they ate chappaties twice a day. They had to skip at times one or two meals. As a girl of ten or twelve she wouldn't understand what was happening,the moment her father would enter home she would hid with her siblings. The shrieks of her mother made them all tremble. But with age she started to intervene inviting trouble for herself. As her father would direct his ire towards her and would mercilessly thrash her. Gungun tried to wake up her mother ,to try to make her take stand for herself and her children. While Gungun's mother would hush her voice as she knew well that she wasn't going to get any support from her family. She wasn't very educated and had three girls who needed to be protected. Gungun as a result totally diverted herself to studies . She got above ninety-five percent marks in her matriculation but there was no one in her family to pat on her back. 
The atmosphere in her home became even more stiffling. She with age realised that her father was a suspicious man and wished to control his wife's  breaths even. Gungun knew her mother was a chaste God fearing person . One night there home was in chaos as Gungun's mother was blaming her father of infidelity as his certain letters were found. Gungun at times thought of extreme ways to get rid of all that trauma but then she stopped herself feeling worried for her mom and sisters.
Gungun's study was stopped as her father claimed that he didn't have money to pay for her plus one fees. Gungun begged from her relatives but no-one was willing to help her as all had maintained a distance from her family due to her father's ruthless nature.
Gungun's monthly fees was hardly two hundred fifty rupees and there was no one in the world who could help her.All her classmates got admission in plus one while she stayed at home for three months. One day she went out for a stroll with her best friend who had taken commerce stream . Her friend would share whatever she learnt in the school . They went into a stationary shop as Gungun's friend had to buy something.ln that shop they saw a few parents ordering some science files and models to be made in a short notice. The shopkeeper was referring them to some other shop as the person who did that job for him was on leave. Out of blue an idea struck Gungun ,her drawing and handwriting was always praised by her teachers. She requested the shopkeeper to accept those orders and offered to work for him. Thus she got her first earnings though she received only fifty percent of the payment that the shopkeeper got. In a month she managed to save her fee amount and persuaded her parents to get her admission. She promised that they won't have to pay for her fees. 
Gungun worked for hours . Contacted many other shopkeepers and completed her twelfth with first division.
Gungun got scholarship after twelfth and got herself enrolled in a college. Her earnings multiplied. She began to give tuitions to girls till tenth. Gungun in order to keep herself aloof from the stress at home would wake up at five in the morning ,then studied her course books ,at around eight with a tiffin that her mother packed left for her college . After college she rushed to two houses to give tuitions and at eight in the evening reached home and till twelve at night made paintings,models or files whatever work she got.
"Gungun ,l am proud of you."Supriya found it difficult to  further hear the tale of Gungun the warrior.
"Thanks aunty. Priya is lucky you are her mother and it's her home."tears welled up in Gungun's eyes.
"Gungun, were you really sick?"
"No,aunty."
Gungun then told Supriya that her father would stealthily follow her to college and everywhere. She had to maintain a distance with most of her classmates. She had only one friend who knew everything about her. Four days ago her friend had sent her elder brother to bring a book from Gungun's home. Gungun wasn't at home at that time. Her insensitive father had used foul language with her friend's brother and when she had reached home he had beaten her mercilessly for talking to boys. Gungun showed the blue marks on her feet,arms and legs created after her thrashing. 
"I am sorry child. I was so rude to you. Then how did your father allow you to come here today ?"Supriya held Gungun's hand in hers.
"He had to. I am the only earning member. Every other day he takes money from me on pretext of going for job interview. Aunty ,l forgot to tell you a good news . Second installment of my scholarship 20,000 rupees has come. "Gungun smiled hiding her woes.
"Congratulations dear."
Priya returned home carrying a huge packet of vegetables.
"Mom, papa is very bad. He made me carry so much of weight . He said you are no less than a boy. Look at the condition of my hands."Priya said.
"You don't know how lucky you are ." 
"Gungun di "Priya shook Gungun's hand forcefully, making her sigh with the pain she had on her arm due to being twisted by her father.
For next two hours Gungun with dedication took Priya's tuitions , while Supriya was engrossed in her thoughts . Supriya's attention was caught by horn of Gungun's activa.
A man in late forties was on it.
"Is Gungun here?"the fellow addressed Supriya.
"Yes papa", before Supriya could answer Gungun was there. She was trembling with fear. Supriya's first instinct was to question that fellow for the callous treatment he had towards his family . But her heart warned her not to add on Gungun's troubles. 
"Your daughter is an excellent , hardworking girl. I really appreciate her."Supriya spoke much to Gungun's relief.
"She is not my daughter but my son. Can I take her home."Gungun's father spoke.
"Mom, Di's father seems to be a great person."Priya spoke absentmindedly while surfing Supriya's cell phone.
"All that glitters is not always gold" Supriya spoke while thinking about the pretentious mask that Gungun's father was wearing constantly outside the four walls of his home.....



 







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