Flowers were strewn everywhere, the holy fire still smoldering in the havan a little away and amidst the small gathered crowd, they sat. She sat tugging at the coconut with both her hands while he trying to withhold the fruit escaping from his grasp...It was the nelangu function or the wedding games between the newly weds. More so a kind of amusement for the guests who are waiting for the lunch to be served.
"Whatever was I thinking at that moment?" wondered Sharanya. "I was supposed to be this demure shy bride and instead I seem to be wringing the coconut as though my life depended on it! Thank god for small mercies, at least my valiant efforts are not showing in my face." "Sharanya Manni, I had bet Rajeev that you would win at the nelangu function. I lost Rs.100 on your account" Sanjiv was grinning sheepishly. They were sitting watching their marriage DVD on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
Quickly coming out of here reverie she caught Kishore looking at her quizzically. He still seemed a complete stranger at times. The slight bond that had developed while they went through the various rituals of marriage, sitting hours in front of the holy fire among thronging relatives, the occasional touch of their hands, the few words during introducing unknown uncles & aunties, seemed to have vanished. And there wasn't even a comforting presence of any known face around.
Saying "I'll get some juice for all of you" she managed to slip away into the kitchen.
Nothing is the way I want here. For a start, the refrigerator is red. We used hate red at home, white it had always been. The cooking utensils are so unfamiliar; the wash sink is at the wrong end. Lord! how ever am I going to adjust to this mélange. I wish this whole drama came to an end soon. Why can't he go on to live with his parents and me with mine as before? Oh Bhagwan, when can I go on to being normal without having to keep smiling at each and everyone I meet at nook and corners? Kishore slipped in from behind on the pretext of telling that his appa wanted his juice without sugar. Just as he advanced to engulf her in a hug or at least it seemed that way, she turned around. With color rising in his cheeks, his hands went on to pick up the apples from the fruit basket. Not meeting his eyes she just nodded to say she got the message while he made a quick depart from the scene. She heard peals of laughter from the corridor.
"This is all so silly” she thought defiantly. He is trying to romance a girl he hardly knows anything at all! Does he know I prefer Keats to Wordsworth? Does he even know that I like phulka's over paratha's?Donning the smile reserved for guests, she went about distributing the glasses of sweet lime juice. The video had progressed to their reception. "It's so embarrassing watching yourself on the TV screen. And especially when one doesn’t realize it then, standing there on the stage, flashing your best smile at everyone who cares to walk up to you." she thought bitterly.
Oh! Appa you had said marriage will bring love and I had foolishly agreed in a bid to experiment your word. And now I am stuck with this family and a dork for a husband. Why did u do this to me appa?
"Sharanya, you look tired & worn. Go up to your room dear and take some rest." said her father-in-law looking at her kindly.
"Yes, Unc-papa", I have to be calling him 'papa' but "uncle" is what sounds more right to me, hissed her mind.
Within a few minutes Kishore followed her to their room.
“What happened Shannu?”
“Nothing” she said sulking.
“Oh c’mon, you can tell me. Didn’t we decide to be friends in the least?”
“Is something upsetting you? What is it, Shannu?” he gently goaded her.
“Don’t call me that please”
“Ok…” and he looked at her expectantly to go on.
“Its…its just that I don’t like anything here. I don’t like you. I just want to go back home,” she stated rebelliously. Unwanted tears welled up in her eyes and made her choke on the words.
Kishore tactically walked towards the window giving her time to regain her composure. "I don't like you too" he said softly.
Sharanya looked up shocked. He had been so nice to her till now that it never occurred to her that he could make such a harsh statement.
He turned around and smiled, "Just kidding. There you see, I can't even say that convincingly."
He came across and sat next to her. "Sharanya, I liked you the moment I saw you at your house. I am not saying I have fallen madly in love with you, but I felt there was an unexplainable bond between us that I felt would turn into the love that we all seek. I am sorry that you do not feel the same."
She was feeling terribly miserable and could not meet his eyes.
Kishore was leaving for his onsite assignment to the US soon so they had not planned for a honeymoon. Just after their engagement when he had been informed of his impending trip Kishore thought he would take his wife along. But Sharanya flatly refused to go anywhere and was stubborn that she would spend those few weeks with her parents.
The next day Kishore dropped Sharanya at her home. She almost alighted before the car to come to a halt. Sprinting through the familiar gates she could not wait for the door to be opened. Kishore followed looking bemused.
“Hello Amma, I am here” she cried joyously. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Kishore left. Sharanya was all smiles even as she waved him an enthusiastic bye. He felt a pang of guilt for robbing the happiness of such a lively girl as Sharanya.
Carrying her bags Sharanya made her way to her room but just that it no longer looked like her room anymore. Her younger brother had lost no time in converting it to his own little haven. Now it contained giant posters of WWE stars and looked like a hurricane had just visited the wardrobe throwing its content all across the room.
“Ammaaa…Ammmaaa.”
Her mother came running, “What happened, Shannu?”
“Amma, look what has happened to my room? How could you allow that little devil to take over my room?” she demanded.
Striking a truce between these squabbling siblings had never been easy. She tried tact, “Shannu, since you got married he decided he would…”
“He would what? How could you let this happen?” Sharanya could not believe this was the same house she had grown up in anymore.
“Sharanya, now that you are married you cannot expect us to keep your room the same, dear. And moreover he is in his 12th now and needs a little space of his own.”
She could not believe her ears. Tears pricked her eyes but she managed to nod her head and made her way to the tiny guest room.
Muttering, “Mothers are the most tormented lot”, her mother walked towards the kitchen.
Nothing is the same anymore. Can just one decision turn our lives so topsy-turvy? Am I no longer the darling of the family?She was feeling cheated, robbed of everything she had held dear and left all alone in the world.
Her mother noticed that she was unusually quiet during the lunch but simply did not know how to cheer her.
“Amma, you have changed the table cloth?” she suddenly exclaimed
“Oh yes, Shannu. The other day we went to this Home Store where they had several such good stuff. You should visit it some time too.” Happy that her daughter had attempted at a conversation, her mother went on to describe the place and the various things she had purchased.
So they have also been renovating the house and Amma did not even bother to tell me! Now I am being given a review of the place and asked to go there as though I am some outsider. “You never bothered to tell me all this...” accused Sharanya.
“Oh, well..C’mon Shannu, what all can we keep telling you?” her mother was aghast that her daughter was finding fault at such small things.
That evening there was a call from Kishore. For some strange reason, Sharanya was elated. The call was the longest she had ever spoken to him but it made her feel as though she was just reunited with someone long known.
At the other end, Kishore was happy to note the warmth in his wife’s voice.
“So Sharanya, you seem to be very happy. How was your day?”
There was a smile in her voice, “It has been very good. So when are you coming to pick me up?”
