15
Love Across the States
Later that night,
as Anjali lay thinking about the turn of events, Sonia walked into the room,
looking a little sad.
“What
happened, Sonia?” Anjali asked..
“The same
that’s happened with you. Balu got a job in Bangalore, and I spoke to my
parents about him. They refused.”Sonia began to cry.
“Why?”
“Because he
is South Indian.”
“Oh, it’s a
two-state problem. I think your parents are conservative.”
“Yes, which
is why I need your help.”
“It’s all right. They’ll
come around to it. Convince them. And how can I help?”
“I want Sameer and you to
arrange our marriage.”Sonia explained how that would work.“What about
registering, though?”
“We spoke to a lawyer, and he
said it will take two months. I can’t wait so long, my parents will find
someone else.” Sonia cleared all her doubts.
“Okay, we will do
something, don’t worry,” Anjali assured her.
Sonia had always trusted
Anjali to get things done, and she felt considerably less worried now.
***********
Anjali met
Sameer the very next day and explained the Sonia situation to him.
“I will do
something,” Sameer said.
For the
next week, they got ready to prepare for their friend’s wedding. From going
to the temple and arranging for the ceremony, to shopping for the outfits,
Anjali was determined to make this an affair to remember. Every girl deserved a
happy, dreamy wedding, and she tried her best.
A week
later, the four of them, with a few other friends, stood in the small shamiana
erected in the temple foyer and took vows, becoming man and wife. Sonia and
Balu glowed just a newly married couple. She would have wanted her mother to be
there, and she missed her a lot on this special day of her life. She was in
tears as she hugged Anjali.
Sonia and Balu were to shift to
Bangalore that very weekend. Anjali knew, with her own wedding coming up, she
would miss her friend dearly. But today was the day to participate in the
festivities, in the happiness. There would be time enough for everything else.
“I don’t know how we will
ever repay this debt. I really did want my parents to be here, but all your
effort behind this, Anjali, thank you so much.”
“Sonia. Balu. Shut up with
the formalities. Be happy and take care. And don’t forget, there is still one
more wedding we have to accomplish,” she added with a wink.
16
Rebellion
Mrs.
Colonel finally found Mr. Colonel sitting in a corner of the house, without the
lights. She placed the tea on a small table and sat next to him.
“I’ve been looking everywhere for you. How long have you been here?”
“I don’t know. I came here
for some fresh air and got lost in my thoughts,” Mr. Colonel said. He sipped his
tea.
“What thoughts?” Mrs.
Colonel looked into his eyes.
“What else will I think
about at this point?”
“How quickly she grew up.
And here she is, fiery-headed and determined to make her own decisions,” she
expressed her doubts.
“Well, she is my daughter.
She won’t go against my wishes.”He trusted his daughter.
“She has made up her mind.
And I saw rebellion in Anjali’s eyes.”
“Are you trying to scare me?”
“No, but it’s true. Sameer
is not a bad guy. Think about it.”
"Why are you taking his side? He is a careless boy." Mr. Colonel’s eyebrows arched in annoyance. His
opinion of Sameer had not changed.
“But he loves our
daughter. Speak to him once. Decide then,” Mrs. Colonel politely said. She wanted
to support their relationship. She had known, if she did not favour Anjali’s
love, then she wouldn’t wait for their permission. And as a mother, she would
not like that.
“What do I speak to him
about?” The colonel asked like a student.
“His future, his plans.
Whatever it is you are concerned about. But you’ll have to make an effort.” Mrs.
Colonel explained to him, like a teacher, a mother’s many roles. And she knew
Anjali and her husband. She had to intervene.
“Stupid love,” Mr. Colonel
murmured as he went to the bedroom. Night was here, and he could do with a
peaceful sleep.
***********
Sameer and Anjali
continued to meet, hoping that some solution would come about. They would talk
of their happy future, and for a while, forget their problems. One day, they
went to the Haji Ali Dargah, where the peace of spirituality calmed their
spirits. After visiting the shrine, they sat listening to the qawallis being
played. Anjali, who wanted a little quiet, walked away after a bit. Sameer
followed her.
“Why did you come here?”
Sameer asked.
“I can’t seem to stop
thinking about Sonia. Did she make the right decision? And will we have to take
the same route?” Anjali thought aloud. She had been stuck with Sonia’s wedding, and now she could not help but wonder if that was the only option available to
her as well. ,
“Anjali, let us not overthink and go so far ahead. I will speak with him, and then we can think about
the next step. I am worried too, because my father spoke to my uncle and nothing
came of it. But we must keep trying.” Sameer tried to explain it to her.
“That’s true. I cannot
bear the thought of going against my parents. Broken relationships are so
difficult to mend.”
“I agree. But you must
prepare yourself for a no. The choice will then remain yours,” Sameer said.
“Yes. I have made up my
mind. But I want my father to meet you once. Then he has to agree.” She wanted
to try for the last time, and if they didn’t agree, she would be content with a
registered marriage alone. At least he lived in the city itself.
After the dargah visit,
Sameer took Anjali to his house, a massive mansion of three floors. Yellow lights greeted them as they entered.
His mother was sitting on the sofa, expecting her daughter-in-law to-be.
“You are even prettier
than in pictures.” Sameer’s mom said, smiling.
“Thank you, aunty,” Anjali also smiled.
“Don’t look so stressed, beta.
Sit down, have some juice. Relax. You’re here for the first time.”
Anjali sat down, a little
hesitant at first. It was weird to think that very soon, she would be welcoming
guests at this house and offering them something to eat and something to drink.
“May I show her our home
Mom? Sameer asked.
“Why not?”
Sameer then took her on a
tour of the house. He showed her the lawn and the pool and the various nooks
and niches where he spent his time.
Eventually, they went to his room. There were
lots of photos of Sameer pinned up everywhere, from his childhood to very
recent pictures – she even saw a few with her, and her heart elated with joy.
Then suddenly, she burst into laughter. She took a small picture, hidden behind
others, and continued to laugh.
“Okay, okay. I was a kid then. All kids have naked pictures.” Sameer also
smiled.
“I’m keeping this with
me.”
“For what? Wait a while
and you’ll get to see the real thing soon enough.”
“Well, but the world
deserves to see this, too. This goes right up on Facebook.”
“Oh no no no…” Sameer did
not like the sound of this.
“Your real picture should
come in front of the world.” She was laughing now.
“No, no, this is not fair.
I don’t have any picture of you.”
He tried to snatch it away
from her, but she was too quick. She dodged him, missed a foot, and slipped on
the bed. Sameer fell on top of her, and in that moment, the photo was forgotten.
They shared a long kiss, and Anjali found herself unbuttoning his jeans.
“Are you sure?” He
whispered in her ear.
“More than ever.”
Sameer climbed over her
and kissed her. He entered her gently. They were finally having sex.
It was Anjali’s first time, and he was extra careful and as gentle as possible. In the end, she looked
happy, and he was satisfied.
***********
Sameer, a little nervous
for his meeting with the Colonel, got up extra early that day. He wanted to
reach before the two and warm up before the big task was at hand. When the
Colonel and Anjali arrived, Sameer was on his last lap of jogging. He saw them
and went to greet the Colonel.
“Namaskar, uncle.”
“Namaskar,” the Colonel
replied.
“Uncle. I want to just
tell you one thing. I know you think I am a lazy boy, reckless. I have been.
But with Anjali in my life, a lot has changed. I want to work hard and make
sure our future is a happy one. We love each other, but don’t want to marry
without our parents’ consent. Please accept our relationship.”
The Colonel saw the
sincerity in Sameer’s eyes, the same that his father had seen. But he couldn’t
answer right then. He kept shut.
Just then, JD too walked
in. He understood what had transpired and joined the two children in waiting
for Kailash’s reply. Kailash got up, serious.
“Okay, I will accept your
relationship, but I have one condition,” the Colonel said.
“Condition…what
condition?” Sameer’s eyes widened.
“You will have to complete
one task.”
“Task?”
“Papa, I’m not some trophy
to be earned after a task,” Anjali said.
“Well, be patient. Hear me
out. Sameer has to spend one month at a military training academy. ”
“Papa, this is not fair. How can you send Sameer one month in a military academy?” Anjali contradicted her Papa’s
task. Sameer and JD were silent.
“Sameer has also accepted
that he is a lazy, reckless boy. That place will teach him discipline. My
friend Colonel Rathi has a military academy in Mhow. Sameer will live as a
normal boy in the academy, without his money, his phone or his father’s
help. He will have to go to Mhow if he wants
to marry you,” the Colonel explained.
“No, Papa, he will not go,”
Anjali said.
“I’ll go to a military
academy,” Sameer said seriously.
“What are you saying, Sameer?” Anjali looked at his face.
“I will have to go because
I love you, Anjali, I can do anything for you, and my love.”
“Are you sure? I am so
proud of you, Sameer. I love you.” Anjali hugged Sameer.
“It’s fifteen December
today, we will meet fifteen January 2017,” the Colonel said.
“Let’s go, I have to
prepare to go to Mhow.”
Sameer and Anjali left.
“Thanks, Kailash, you’ve
done what I couldn’t.”
“What?” Colonel asked.
“I wanted to teach him
punctuality, awareness, and hard work. but I could not. I hope he will learn all
this at the academy with your help,” JD. said. He was concerned about Sameer’s way
of life. JD had told Sameer several times, but He had shown not an iota of sincerity. And no, it looked like that was
about to change.
“ I hope so.”
Next chapters soon......
Thanks for reading.
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