Nandini

Dr. Chatterjee hurriedly went inside, brought a small scarf of Nandini and rolled the puppy just like a baby and held her in his arms, remembering the first time he had held Nandini.

He calmly closes his eyes.

It was spring in Kolkata. Dr. Chatterjee was returning home from a nursery, his only daughter Nandini has asked him to bring two pink rose plants and one yellow chandramallika (chrysanthemum).

Nandini is a small kid. She has interest in gardening. Dahlia, hibiscus, marigold, chandramallika, and huge varieties of roses filled in her garden.

Nandini is seven. But Dr. Chatterjee is not sure of sending her to school till now. Nandini was born with a very weak heart.

Dr. Chatterjee used to look at her and say, ‘Nandini is a nature’s child, she has been compassionate just like her mother; and that’s the only quality I dislike most, as because of this compassion I have lost my wife…’

It is a long and tiring journey that Dr. Chatterjee has been carrying all alone, he has been a single parent to his daughter Nandini.

Earlier Dr. Chatterjee used to send Nandini to play with neighborhood kids, but one day the Doctor could not find his first-aid box. To his dismay he saw, Nandini was rubbing ointment and putting bandage to a little injured cat that was hit by a moving car.

The doctor’s fury knew no limits. Fuming, he rushed outside and brought Nandini dragging in the house. Though he didn’t hit her, he shouted at her; ‘So many times I have said no need to extend your compassion and so-called kindness for people out there!’

Because of difficult heart conditions, Nandini was unable to take exhaustions.

For this Dr. Chatterjee for long decided to help keep calm in the middle of loneliness by imbibing in her the love for gardening.

Once little Nandini saw their old cook’s finger got cut by a kitchen knife. Dr. Chatterjee looked at him and said, ‘Go wipe clean your fingers and prepare cheese balls for us.’

Nandini protested, ‘Baba, uncles’ fingers are hurt!’

Dr. Chatterjee sternly said, ‘So? Be out of this, no need of sympathy. He is a cook that is his duty.’

One night it was raining severely. Dr. Chatterjee took Nandini outside on her birthday for treating her with her favourite sponge rosogolla, from Kolkata’s best sweet shop. Still in the sweet palate, while returning, they started walking down the footpath. It was pitch dark and pouring heavily.

Cars were moving madly; one such speeding car just missed hitting little Nandini!

Dr. Chatterjee could see it coming, but he was too frozen in awe to react and stood motionless. At that same time a mother dog with her puppy were crossing the street. The little creature came in the middle. She was badly hit, and within no time she was no more.

Dr. Chatterjee witnessed this and told Nandini to walk fast home. The doctor was trembling. Holding firmly, he took little Nandini home. While Nandini reached home, she ran toward her garden. After a while Dr. Chatterjee, unable to find Nandini, started walking towards the garden when he saw little Nandini was hiding something near her flower plants. Dr. Chatterjee didn’t worry much.

After sometime she came inside, and seeing her father came and hugged him tight, ‘Baba is life important or love?’

‘Love is important’, Dr. Chatterjee took her in arms and made her sleep on her bed.

Nandini said, ‘Baba, if someday life is lost, love can be found in my garden’. She closed her eyes and fell asleep.

Next morning Dr. Chatterjee kissed her daughter’s forehead, and said, ‘Nandu get up. See, its beautiful morning, I need to go to my clinic.’ Daughter still in bed.  ‘Nandini… Nandini…Nandu.’

He understood, life has stopped.

The doctor sat motionless for some time. He remembered what Nandini had said,’ if someday life is lost, love can be found in my garden.’

Dr. Chatterjee rushed to Nandini’s flower garden. He saw a small puppy was kept below a Chandramallika bush. The doctor realised, this is the puppy of the mother dog that met with the accident. Nandini took her home last night and hid it here, fearing her father won’t like it.

Dr. Chatterjee hurriedly went inside, brought a small scarf of Nandini and rolled the puppy just like a baby, closely holding it in his arms. Eyes closed, the father remembers the first time he had held Nandini in his arms.

Sometime after, he opens his closed eyes ‘Nandini you won, compassion and love can never die!’

Also Check : Mother Rose