Piu screamed with delight. Her soft hands grasped the sides of her wheelchair tightly. Her expressive face was wrinkled with lines of wonderment. In front of her stood a huge black couch decorated with glitterati. The couch was also comfortably embellished with several squashy pillows fitted with golden covers. Two small boys stood on either side of the couch wielding large fake spears. ”Is this my throne??? Is it??? tell me that it is…Please…Please…mommy…tell me that it is…”,exclaimed Piu impatiently tugging at her mother’s arm.
A large burly man walked up slowly towards Piu’s mother. He had twinkling blue eyes and a face that was writ with lines of experience and honest hard work. ”Good Evening Surangana…”, he said tipping his hat to Piu’s mother. She responded with a nod of her head. “Welcome Mayor Sahab…welcome.. ” , said Ratan, a small wizened old man.”Aah Ratan…how are you holding up???”, asked the mayor. ”I am doing well Sir…very well.. thank you..”, said Ratan. ”Good Evening Joydeep .. ” ,greeted a tall handsome man who walked over to shake hands with the mayor. ”Shuncho go…could you please help me some of these decorations??”, asked Piu’s mother who had begun to put up ribbons. Piu was zooming about in the well manicured lawn which was buzzing with people on her wheelchair. ”Bas beta…beta …bas…”, said the tall man. “Daddy….did you see my throne???”, gasped Piu as she zoomed towards the tall man. “Yes shona …I did see your beautiful throne….but please do not exert yourself…it is bad for your delicate health remember??” ,said Piu’s father gently. “It is time…..everyone gather around”, shouted Piu’s mother.
“Esteemed ladies and gentlemen and my dear friends…”, began the mayor taking his place at the center of the lawn, “we are gathered here today for a very important occasion. Today we will be anointing the very first duchess of our small and humble town. Since you all know that having our very own duchess will take our town to dizzying heights without any further delay let me introduce to you …our duchess… our very own Piu!!”. The small crowed clapped and applauded wildly. Piu, beaming and smiling was helped by her father and mother onto the large couch. “I now anoint you………Duchess of Mishtinagar!!!”, exclaimed the mayor and placed a glittering crown on her head. The crowd clapped louder and louder. “Mommy…why is my throne black and not golden???”, whispered Piu into her mother’s ear. “It’s the new fashion darling….all the new queens and duchesses prefer black thrones nowadays”, her mother whispered back. Satisfied Piu settled back into her couch to savor the crowd’s reaction and the chants of “All hail Duchess Piu!!!” which had just started to ring out.
TWO WEEKS LATER……
Piu’s mother wiped her eyes. Her husband stood by her side his face buried in his hands sobbing loudly. The mayor walked up to them and said “ My deepest condolences to the both of you ….she was a lovely child…”. “We cannot thank you enough Joydeep…”, said Piu’s father in slurred tones, “ you helped us to fulfill her last wish …her last fancy…..She wanted to become a duchess and you helped us to make her believe that she was one. She was very happy you know….she really did believe that she was a duchess…My beautiful girl…only 12 years old…I thought God had punished her by making her a cripple but then as if it was not enough…blood cancer!!!! My poor daughter Joydeep!! She never stood a chance….she left us Joydeep…”. He broke down completely…sobbing piteously. ”She was not a make believe duchess…she was a real one…she will always be remembered as the girl who dared to dream …..dream of becoming the duchess of our small town..”, said the mayor. He eyes wondered for a moment towards the huge sign across the road which proclaimed “DUCHESS PIU ROAD”. Then his eyes shifted back to focus on Piu’s parents….the parents of the first duchess of Mishtinagar….
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