MAYA REMAINS A MYSTERY

When Hari told me about his impending foreign trip in a few days, I was really elated. I immediately told him that I would go to Hyderabad to my parents during his absence. It was almost six months since I visited them. I called mummy to convey the news. But my enthusiasm was dampened by mummy's unexpected response.

"That means you'll not be able to meet Maya this time too, then!" She exclaimed with disappointment.

I frowned at this unusual reply. Perhaps she could guess my irritation. So immediately she checked herself and enquired "How long Hari will be away? Hope you will be here at least three four weeks." It was more a question.

I controlled my anger and said in as pleasant a tone as possible, "Exactly, mummy. He will come back after three weeks. Hope by that time your Maya Memsahib will appear for me!" I could not resist being sarcastic.

Mummy laughed. "You, my weepy little baby! Not at all changed a bit! Still continue to be sulking at mummy at the smallest pretext?" I too laughed and hung up.

I first heard Maya's name two years back.

After retirement, my parents bought an apartment in a newly constructed complex. Mummy did not like the environment there right from day one. In our earlier rented flat, we used to have good company. All the neighbours were friendly and lively. Mummy used to be very active in community activities there with a bunch of lovely friends. My younger sister and I also enjoyed our life there.

I was in my degree second year when we moved to the new apartment. It was very thrilling initially, living in our own spacious flat. Mummy tried to strike friendship with other inmates but in vain. The people here are very different from our previous lot. There are thirty apartments in our building. Everyone confined to their own homes without any interaction with one another. And though mummy is friendly and social, she is never too pushing or enterprising. She abandoned her efforts and became morose and lonely and moody. Bhanu and I also failed to cultivate any friends there.

When I got married four years later, she refused to invite the other occupants to the function.

"They have no such practice here. In all these years we are here, we never got any invitation from anyone, though marriages were performed now and then and functions took place." She reasoned.

But daddy persuaded her. Very half heartedly she obliged but no one bothered to attend the marriage. And we were not surprised either. In fact if at all someone made his presence, we would have been shocked beyond words!  For Bhanu's marriage later, daddy also did not insist on inviting anyone from the flats.

All that changed drastically.

Two years back, I called mummy one day to enquire welfare. She spoke briefly and saying, "I will call you later. Now we have to go to some function in second floor.", she hung up.

I was surprised. The next day she called and said, "Sorry, Renu, could not speak then. A new family came on rent in second floor. Yesterday they had some puja and invited all over. It was good. They are very friendly and courteous. The lady, Maya is her name, is very active. I liked her friendly nature."

"Really! Very nice, mummy. Did all others attend?" I asked curiosly.

Mummy said " Well, only half came and a few just showed their face and left and some others did not bother."

But later mummy told there was a change in the people there. Maya dragged everybody out of their cocooned homes. Mummy and some other ladies who are social by nature, easily got attracted by Maya and they formed a close group. And became proactive. For festivals, Independence day, Republic day, New Year and the like, she started to coax everybody and organised some celebrations. She made a practice of holding bhajans and chantings at her home and slowly more and more women developed an interest in meeting others.

Occasionally she organised some games and events for residents of all ages and picnics and outings too. And now as mummy says, the building throbbed with life and spirit.

I developed some curiosity to meet the lady who revolutionalised lives there. Mummy added more colour to it.

When Hari went out of station on an official tour two three months later, I landed in Hyderabad. I noticed a new enthusiasm in mummy in contrast with dull and morose attitude of before. After I rested a little and relaxed, the doorbell rang.

It was Durga aunty from third floor. I remember her vaguely. Not very communicative. But now she is different. She brought some sweet dish especially for me. Then Vimala aunty from fifth floor, Sujatha from second floor, and many more whom I never knew. Now they are all very chummy chummy and interactive with one another. Earlier we didn't even know the names of many. Now all are very familiar with one another, their families, tastes, preferences, habits etc. I felt very happy with the changed atmosphere.

But as fate would have it, Maya was out of station visiting her parents throughout my stay there. I had to return to Delhi without meeting her.

Last year also when I next visited Hyderabad, she was away on a vacation tour in Europe and from there to their native place later with her husband. I stayed for two weeks. And had to come back before her return. But to my delight, things were same there, a happy and well interactive occupants ever loving and helping one another. And again six months back I went there on a short trip of 3-4 days to attend a marriage. Then she was away to attend some function in their family.

Like that it so happened I missed her on my every visit.

Now this opportunity! And mummy says she is not there!

"It seems she is also in the habit of running to her parents frequently, just like you!" Hari laughed and teased me. I shrugged and commenced my preparation for my journey.

I inquired about Maya after reaching Hyderabad.

"Vivek, her husband has gone abroad for a six week training and she has gone to her parents' and inlaws' places. They could be back by month end."

I was disappointed because I will be going back by then.

A couple of days after that, the ladies of the apartments planned a weekend trip to some tourist place nearby. We had a grand time there and came back very exhausted but happy,

Next morning Sujatha came running. "Do you know, aunty. Maya met with an accident and..and..."

She broke down sobbing. She stays in the same floor as Maya. Mummy and I ran to her puzzled.

"What, Sujatha, what are you saying?"

She tried to control and collect herself. "Just now I saw her cousin getting the things packed in her flat. He came yesterday, it seems. He told me that last week, Maya and her parents were going to visit some relatives and their car met with an accident. She died on the spot and her parents were injured. Vivek came for the funeral rites. But he did not feel like coming here. He told this cousin to vacate and hand over the flat. He will settle the dues and shift the luggage to their parents' place. Vivek may go back abroad or look for some other job somewhere else."

Meanwhile four five other ladies also gathered and some men too joined. Almost all were equally shocked.

"How shocking! Very unfortunate. Poor Vivek! Must be very difficult for him. They are such a loving couple."

"She is so young and active. Look at her fate! So untimely end! God is really cruel."

"We can't believe. How can she...? How could this happen so suddenly? Quite unbelievable indeed!"

"That's why I could not reach her number lately. And no reply to my emails too. I thought she must be busy with her people. But never even thought something might have happened to her."

All were very much moved and there were tears in everybody's eyes.

I came inside while there was still animated and emotional discussion outside.

After sometime mummy came inside, dejected and serious. Her face is tear stained.

"Mummy, show me her photo at least. I could not meet her in person. Now there is no chance of that any more." I asked.

Mummy looked at me blankly. "Photo? I don't have any. She used to carry a digital camera and go on clicking left and right. She showed the snaps to us later but I never thought of keeping some. I will enquire whether anyone else have any copy."

But surprisingly no one has any photo of her, not even in a group!

I was surprised. No photo even! Amazing indeed that nobody thought of keeping one as a memory.

I felt sort of empty inside. What happened? Who is this Maya? Came here two years back and changed the entire scene. Where did she come from? She made such an everlasting impression in the minds of these people. And now disappeared so suddenly. I did not have a chance to even to meet her! She remained a mystery for me.

Forever!