You are mine...

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I switched off the television. There was nothing more to
see. Malhar had been adjudged best actress yet again. Though she has
never won a government award, the popular awards seem to be reserved
for her. She is indeed darling of the masses. As she was mine when we
lived in the same apartment house.

style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">That was fifteen years back. We used to
live in Bombay. Our building was called Bonnie Apartments. We lived on
the second floor while the Patans resided on the fourth floor. Mr MK
Patan was general manager of india's largest oil company. He later
became its chairman. He had two children. The older called Mohit lived
abroad. Mr Patan's second child was Malhar. I was then in the fourth
grade while Malhar was in the tenth grade. Malhar's mother was called
Soba. In her day Soba was among the most popular ladies in Bombay city.
Even now when she appeared before you she left quite an impression. Mr
Patan was busy in office most of the time. So we saw very little of
him. The person we kids at Bonnie saw most was Malhar. And what a gem
she was. It would be wrong to call her pretty. She was not all that
attractive. However she looked at you with such utter disdain that you
were forced to take notice. She had waist-length hair which was always
lustrous. What clinched the issue for Malhar was her voice. It was
high-pitched and full of contempt for the listener. Whenever you met
Malhar she would look at you with smouldering eyes. If that did not
make you nervous she would toss her hair from side to side. The last
arrow in her quiver was the throw of her voice. Even as a young girl
she could stun a room full of people into silence with the ripple in
her words which reminded you of a rampaging waterfall. Her charm could
not be missed at all.

I recall the first time I saw Malhar. We were playing cricket
in the lawn. I had managed to score a half-century when she suddenly
appeared in a blood-red dress. 'Hello', said she, 'I am Malhar. You are
very good at batting. Can you pick some tuberoses for me?' The slight
tremble in her voice was unmistakable. Her smile too was in place. I
really did not know what hit me. But there I was moving all over the
lawn picking flowers for her. She appeared to take little notice of me.
When I handed her the flowers she barely smiled. All my playmates were
making fun of me but they too were distracted. Malhar appeared to think
that she was the most superior person in the wide world and we were
mere mortals.

However there was one person who managed to impress Malhar. He
was Rohtas Segal. He was a student of Computer Science. He was a bit of
a pushover. Even the little girls in our building made fun of him-all
the time. But he was sweet-looking and this seemed to work for Malhar.
We lived near the sea and Malhar and Rohtas would take long walks on
the sea-side. During these strolls a lot of people would pass remarks
at this ill-matched couple. Malhar was the very picture of smartness
while Rohtas seemed to droop a bit. Malhar would take one hard look at
the troublemakers and they would flee instantly. Why she even threw
rocks at a few chaps. Within Bonnie Apartments a lot of young men
wanted to go out with Malhar. Or so the graffiti on the walls of the
lift would indicate. But she was only interested in Rohtas. As for me I
would meet Malhar on my way to school. But she never seemed to notice
when I passed by. I attributed her brusqueness to a wealthy
background.

We
had all known that Malhar was a very snooty person. And that was that.
Our building board had decided to hold a charity event. All residents
were asked to attend but no one turned up. It was then that Malhar
swung into action. From the lawn she summoned every flat-owner and
tenant. Her voice and its magnet must have done the magic. One by one
the people came and purchased the charity tickets. Thanks to her the
event was a mega success. I was really impressed. Never had I seen such
gentle but firm persuasion. She spread the message as if her life
depended on it. Yet she seemed so casual. Of course I had typhoid and
could not attend the event at all.

style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">A year later Soba Patan took her own
life. The Patans left Bonnie Apartments never to return. I have tried
to follow Malhar's life thereafter. That job was not too difficult.
Malhar went on to win an international beauty contest and is the most
sought-after actress in india today. I read about her in the papers.
Its all I can do.