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SNEHAL
Snehal heaved a sigh of frustration. Her parents were determined and were a hard nut to crack. What should she do now? She didn’t have any option, but to agree with them.
She had found Ranjit very approachable when she last met him. He spoke heartily and treated her well. But his dark complexion and manly behavior had irked her. She feared Ranjit might change his good attitude going further.
Her in-laws were more affluent which lowered Snehal’s self-esteem. Even though Snehal had her parents’ support, she didn’t want to risk her career. She feared her would-be-in-laws might put the brakes to her profession, and they might not allow her to work.
“You don’t need to work. Ranjit is earning well out of his business,” Snehal’s father said. “They’re rich and famous, and want you to be a housewife.”
“I don’t agree-”
Before Snehal finished talking, her mother said, “Don’t worry. We will talk to your in-laws about the matter before your engagement.”
“Her in-laws may not agree with you,” Kailas said, his tone raised.
“I know they won’t listen to my concerns,” Deepali said. “But there is no harm in speaking with them.” She looked at Snehal with a questioning appearance.
Snehal nodded. “I’ll be grateful if you do so, Mum.”
“All right,” Kailas shrugged. “I’ll also talk to Ranjit and his father.”
He avoided Snehal’s gaze. He would never speak with his friend about the matter. Snehal didn’t want to argue and go against her parent’s wishes; she was dependent on them and would get into trouble if she refused to the alliance.
“That makes sense,” Snehal said, her voice lowered.
“When are we arranging the engagement?” Deepali raised her brows.
“I’ll talk to Ranjit’s parents today and fix a suitable day,” Kailas said.
“Dad, you don’t hasten the engagement ceremony as I would like to shop,” Snehal said.
Snehal’s father nodded. “Okay.”
On her engagement day, Snehal stood beside Ranjit on the stage inside a function hall of The President Hotel.
The hall was lit with bright blue and orange lights. It was decorated with balloons and colored papers. The smell of jasmine wafted over.
The food was served on the right side of the hall, and the dishes were placed on the burner to keep the food hot. Children played in the hall and jumped to pluck the balloons from the ceiling.
“Congratulations.” One of the invitees greeted Ranjit and Snehal.
Ranjit smiled and looked at Snehal. “He is my classmate and ex-colleague, Pradeep.”
Snehal smiled back.
After standing for half an hour, receiving greetings from the guests, Snehal and Ranjit sat back on their chairs.
“I think you’re tired,” Ranjit said.
“It’s okay. I’m not,” Snehal said. Her chest constricted when she looked at his dark face. She shifted her gaze to the floor.
“Would you like a cold drink?”
“No. Thanks.”
“You must drink something. A lemonade?” He smiled. “Or a tender coconut?”
“I’m not thirsty.” Snehal leaned back.
Despite her repeated refusal, Ranjit ordered two lemonades. His forceful and dominating attitude disappointed her.
Perhaps, he was thirsty and didn’t want to drink alone.
Snehal drew in a heavy breath to conjure up enough courage to ask something imperative. “Ranjit,” she said and grabbed his attention.
“Yes, tell me.” Ranjit smiled, looking at her. He sipped the drink.
“I would like to continue working after the marriage. And I also want to study M Tech.” Snehal waited for him to answer with her chest tightened.
When Ranjit remained silent, her heartbeat increased.
“What do you suggest?” Snehal asked with her voice shaky. Will he allow me to work?
“Why do you want to work?” Ranjit sighed. “I make enough money from my business. You can look after my parents and be a housewife.”
Snehal swallowed a lump in her throat. She didn’t want to become a puppet of her in-laws. She had passed her engineering course with distinction; she should stick to her decision and needed to progress her career.
“Ranjit, I’m not working for money,” Snehal said with her voice raised. “I want to continue with my career and don’t want to waste my engineering degree. I have already gained two years of teaching experience. I didn’t want to waste it by being idle.”
They remained silent. Snehal looked forward to hearing from Ranjit. What will he say? Is he afraid of my career growth? Is he hurt because he was a commerce graduate and not an engineer like me? Is his low self-esteem making him remain silent?
“Well,” he said, eventually. “If you’re really interested, go ahead. But you may need to convince my parents’.
Why should I ask them? It’s your duty to convince your parents, right? “What would they say? Do they say no?”
“They might. Our family name is well known and they might like their daughter-in-law to remain at home.”
Snehal coughed.
If they wanted a housewife, why did they choose me? Aren’t they going to waste my career?
“But you can convince them.” Snehal straightened in her seat. “Can’t you?”
“I can, but I doubt if they will agree to my request.” Ranjit looked away from her towards the guests seated in the hall.
Snehal controlled her urge to argue with him. She would speak with her parents and let them know what Ranjit had said. She would ask her mother to convince her would-be in-laws. If they remained adamant, she would break the engagement.
I made a wise decision to date Ranjit for six months. Otherwise, I would’ve gotten into trouble after the wedding.
Ranjit seemed friendly to her while they conversed, sipping cold drinks. Though he wasn’t a good looking person, he was emotional.
“So, how often do you visit Hubli?” Snehal asked.
“Once or twice a month,” Ranjit smiled. “It depends on the business requirements.”
“I would like you to come home whenever you visit here.” Snehal needed to know if he still loves her even after their engagement.
“I will.” Ranjit nodded. “In fact, you need not tell me. I’ll see you whenever I’m here.”
“So, what are your hobbies?” Ranjit asked.
Snehal’s chest lightened. Ranjit took an interest in knowing her, and he surely liked her.
“I read romance novels and often play tennis. Sudoku is my favorite game.”
“Wow, that’s good to know.” His face lit with a smile but quickly faded.
Why did Ranjit’s face fade? Didn’t he like my hobbies?
“What about you?” Snehal asked with her voice low. She needed to know why Ranjit became silent after he heard about her activities.
“Well, I also read many novels. But I don’t get any time to play any sports. I’ll be busy with my business, you know.”
Snehal understood his situation. Being a businessman, he would no doubt be busy. Snehal was attracted to him barring his dark complexion. She wondered if his parents would allow her to work and study. And would they treat her well because she belonged to a middle-class family?
At least, Ranjit removed the fear Snehal had been experiencing about his love towards her. Ranjit seemed open-minded to her.
Arjun approached Snehal on the stage and wished her and Ranjit well. He gave her a bouquet and shook her hand.
Snehal looked around for his wife. “Where is Surabhi?” she asked.
“She’s been unwell for two days,” Arjun said.
“Why? What has happened to her?”
“A mild fever. She should be all right in a few days.”
“Let’s hope she recovers soon,” Snehal said.
Later in the evening, when all the guests returned, Snehal sat with her friend, Priya. Priya had been with her since morning, supporting her.
Ranjit sat with his friends, away from Snehal.
Snehal wished to know how Priya felt about Ranjit.
“Priya,” Snehal said.
Priya shifted her gaze from her phone screen towards Snehal. She glanced at her with a questioning look.
“How do you feel about my fiancé?” she asked, smiling. Though Snehal was afraid to talk about the matter, she couldn’t control her urge to speak her mind.
“You must tell me about Ranjit,” Priya said, her tone chiding.
“I know. But I would like to hear it from you.”
Priya remained silent, contemplating. “He is a good partner for you.” She looked at Ranjit then back at Snehal. “Why did he leave you after everyone left? Didn’t you feel alienated?”
“That’s what I thought,” Snehal said. She wished to join him and friends, but her self esteem and ego prevented her from going to him.
“It’s all right, Snehal.” Priya put her hands on Snehal’s shoulder. “You mustn’t sweat the small stuff.”
“Yes, I too think so,” Snehal said. She didn’t put anymore blame on Ranjit. He did behave well when the guests greeted them.
“Ranjit is not sure if his parents will let me work.” Snehal heaved a sigh.
Priya waited for a few seconds. “I overheard your conversation. He wants you to be a housewife. What do you want; career or a peaceful life?”
Snehal drew in a heavy breath. “Come on Priya, You know how hard I worked at my engineering. Don’t you think my career will be wasted?”
“But Ranjit wants you to ask his parent’s opinion, right?”
“Yeah, I know.” Snehal paused. “I’ll talk to my mother about the matter. Let her convince Ranjit’s parents.”
Priya had made a wise decision to take an M Tech course after completing her bachelor’s degree. She now worked at an engineering college. Had Snehal’s parents not prevented her, she would’ve finished studying her masters.
Snehal’s phone rang. Arjun’s name lit the screen.
“Hello, Arjun,” Snehal said with her pulse quickened. She had met him on the stage in the afternoon. Why had he called now?
“Hi, Snehal. I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
“No, you’re not,” Snehal said.
“How is your teaching work going?”
Why was he asking this? “Going on as usual.”
“My close friend Vivek is starting a coaching center. He needs some faculty members to teach.”
“I’m glad to know it,” Snehal said. She wanted to switch her job and looking for someone who marketed their brand.
“What subjects have you handled in your current institution?” Arjun asked.
“I’ve handled C and C++ languages.”
“Okay, I’ll let him know. He may conduct the interview shortly, and I’ll recommend you.”
“Thank you, Arjun. Convey my wishes to your wife.”
Snehal’s mind was filled with yesterday’s engagement ceremony. She was tired because of the daylong hectic activity. Ranjit spoke to her until he left her late in the night.
“Mum, I spoke about my career to Ranjit, yesterday,” Snehal said, sharing breakfast with her mother.
“What did he say?”
Snehal was ashamed to say what Ranjit had said. “Mum, he wants me to talk to his parents. He doesn’t seem to have any control over the matter.”
“Let your father come home. We’ll speak with him, and let him talk to your in-laws and Ranjit.”
“But you told you’ll speak with Ranjit’s parents?”
“Yes, but I want your father to take initiative first.”
Snehal remained silent. She never expected her mother would say this after the engagement.
Did Mum already speak with my in-laws and got a negative response? Is she hiding the truth?