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SNEHAL
Snehal needed to meet Vivek at the institution and to see the projects he had developed. It was Sunday and she didn’t have a class to teach.
It would be difficult to convince her father about where she was going. She would lie to him, saying she needed to meet Priya. Her dad might protest and ask questions, again, but Snehal wouldn’t budge to his authoritative behavior. She wouldn’t let him talk down to her like a child.
She made sure everything was correct with her dress and then went to the living room.
Her father shifted his gaze from the television to Snehal. He raised his glasses and took her in from head to toe.
“Hi, Dad.” Snehal forced a smile.
“Hello, beta.” He motioned her to take a seat beside him. “Where are you going?”
“Well, I’m-”
Before Snehal completed her words, her mother arrived, holding a tray with cups. She looked at Snehal with a questioning expression.
Snehal’s phone rang. It was Ranjit. Why was he calling at this time? She should answer him as her parents were with her.
“Hello, Ranjit.” She looked at her father, faking a grin. “How are you?”
“I’m doing well.” Ranjit cleared his throat. “Where are you now?”
Why did he want to know it at this time? “I’m at home with my parents.”
“Okay. I’m coming to Hubli in the evening. Thought of meeting you.”
“Um...All right. But I have some classes scheduled.” Snehal paused. “I’ll try to spare some time.”
Ranjit cleared his throat. “This Friday is my birthday. I want you to attend the party at my place along with your parents.”
Snehal’s chest constrained, but she controlled her urge to reveal her disappointment. She had more work on Friday. If she applied for time-off, Vivek would ask her the reason.
She hadn’t told Vivek about her engagement. Should I tell him? Will he accept her as she is already engaged? What if I hide the fact about her engagement and propose him?
“Snehal, are you there?” Ranjit asked.
Snehal was alerted to his raised voice. “Yes, I am.” She would tell him she had appointments on Friday. “Must I attend the party?” Snehal said, her voice lowered
“Yes, you must,” Ranjit said, sounding authoritative. “Is there something preventing you?”
“Well, I had some...” her glance shifted to her father. She controlled her urge to speak about her work in his presence.
Her father asked her who she was speaking with. Snehal told him it was Ranjit, and about the invitation to his birthday party.
“Snehal, you have to come to the party,” Ranjit said, his voice soft. “I’ve invited all my colleagues and friends. They may ask why you haven’t attended.”
She had an opportunity to show her disappointment towards Ranjit. He would assume she was not interested in him. But would her parents agree if she decided not to go to the party? Her father would definitely ask her to accompany them.
“All right,” Snehal said. “I’ll discuss the matter with my parents.”
“Is your father at home?”
Why did he want to speak with her parents? “Do you want to talk?”
“Yes. I’ll invite them, too.”
Snehal handed the phone to her dad and then finished the remaining coffee.
Her father spoke with Ranjit, staring at Snehal. His face became red. Snehal understood Ranjit had complained something about her. Kailas convinced him he would bring Snehal with him, and apologized for Snehal’s distant behavior. He gave the phone to Snehal’s mother, then looked at Snehal, his eyes narrowed. “Snehal, why did you tell Ranjit you’re not interested in attending his birthday party?”
“Dad, I too have something to work on, correct?” Snehal grimaced. “I’ve many classes scheduled on that day. It will be too late for me to come home from work.”
Snehal’s father straightened in his seat. “Your marriage and relationship with Ranjit comes first, and not that damn work. I’ve told you many times not to work in that small center for a pittance. It’ll bring no good for you and your future,” Kailas said, his nostrils flaring.
“I know what comes first and what doesn’t, Dad.” Snehal tried to calm him down. Her wrong response in anger would get her in trouble. Her father might not let her go to work permanently. “I asked Ranjit politely, but I never thought he’d complain about me.” It was an opportunity for her to showcase Ranjit’s ill manners.
Her mother finished speaking with Ranjit. “Snehal, we are all attending Ranjit’s birthday event. He told me to bring you along. You can’t miss it.” She came and sat beside Snehal.
“It will be so nice seeing you with Ranjit, and talking to his colleagues and friends.” Her mother ran her fingers lovingly through Snehal’s hair. “You’re so lucky, dear, to have Ranjit as your fiancé.”
But Snehal didn’t think so. She wanted an engineer, and of similar family status. She had started loving Vivek and she would better get married to him. Everyone in her family had fair skin. Snehal wanted to carry it onto the next generation by marrying Vivek.
“I wonder if you’re in love with someone else,” Kailas said.
Snehal’s heart throbbed in her chest. A sense of guilt and humiliation crossed her mind. She did love Vivek. Should she tell her parents about her interest in him? If she did, the consequences would be severe. She would propose Vivek first. After he agreed to accept her and was ready for the alliance, she would convince her parents.
Snehal’s mother turned to her father. “Don’t make all those assumptions.” Her face lit up with a smile. “Snehal will not go against our wishes, and defame us.”
“You’re correct, Mum.” Snehal turned to her mother. “I’m attending a party with you.”
Her father smiled. “I knew you won’t disappoint me.”
But Snehal wanted something in return. “Let me go to the institution. I can’t miss today’s meeting.”
“Sure, you can,” Kailas sounded cordial. “Go by car with a driver. It’s already late.”
“Hi, Vivek.” Snehal entered Vivek’s workplace and sat in front of him.
In his white-blue checkered shirt, Vivek looked handsome. His neatly shaved face glistened in the daylight, streamed through the ventilator.
He inserted a bookmark in the .net book he was reading and smiled at her. “You’re late. I wanted to call you, but immersed myself in the subject.”
Snehal’s heart raced. Should she tell Vivek that Ranjit spoke to her? She wasn’t sure if Vivek knew about her engagement. “Oh, yeah. I had to spend some time with my father.”
“How are your parents?”
“They are doing well. Dad is busy these days.”
Snehal needed to ask for time off on Friday to attend the birthday party. What should she tell Vivek if he asked the reason? “Vivek, I have scheduled a couple of classes on Friday, but I need time-off on that day.”
“Why? Is it very important?”
“Yes, I need to attend my friend’s function.” Guilt coursed through Snehal’s mind, but she composed herself. She would eventually tell Vivek about her engagement. She needed to wait for some more time to see if Vivek gets attracted to her.
“You can,” Vivek said. “But make sure that you reschedule your classes and inform your students.”
“Yes, I will.” Snehal heaved a sigh of relief.
Vivek showed her the projects he had developed in the last few days, and sought her feedback. They spent some time together until Snehal received a call from her mother asking her to return home.
Snehal chose to wear simple tight jeans and a T-shirt instead of wearing a gorgeous Mysore silk sari or an intricately patterned salwar kameez to attend Ranjit’s party. She wanted to annoy him, and eventually, make him averse to the marriage. Her parents might express disappointment over her dress. She would change it to something more attractive if her mother insisted.
She applied the lip gloss and mascara and avoided using perfume. She made sure her attire was perfect in the mirror and stretched the T-shirt down to cover her navel.
The doorbells of her room jingled. “Snehal, are you ready?” Deepali said.
Snehal glanced at the entrance. Her mother, clad in a grand green mixed yellow silk sari, hurried towards her. She checked out Snehal from head to toe, but the smile on her face soon faded.
Snehal realized her mother disliked her dress. “What happened, Mum?”
“What are you wearing, dear?”
“Why? It’s the new pair I bought a few weeks ago?”
“Snehal, you’re meeting your fiancé at his birthday party. It’s as good as your engagement, you know.”
“So what?” Snehal asked.
“You must change your dress.” Deepali grimaced. “Wear good silk sari like mine.” Her mother walked towards the closet and opened it.
Snehal didn’t want to upset her mother. She cared for Snehal and thought of her well-being. Snehal was going to wed Ranjit, and her mother wanted to see her daughter happy with him.
Snehal went to her wardrobe and picked a dark blue Mysore silk sari. “Mum, how about this?” She pulled it off the steel bar and showed it.
Her mother glanced at the remaining dresses in the closet before shifting her gaze to Snehal. “Yes. You look beautiful in this.”
Her mother helped her to put on it. “It’s getting late, and your father must be tired of waiting.” She ushered Snehal to the living room.
Her father, clad in a light grey safari suit, rose. “Are you both ready?”
“Yes,” Snehal smiled.
It was dusk when the driver parked on the hotel premises. The orange sun was descending on the horizon, and birds chirped in the nearby peepal tree. A few customers entered and a few left the hotel, carrying their luggage. The flowers – daffodil, daisy, and fresh roses were in full bloom. The smell of jasmine hit Snehal’s nostrils.
Snehal followed her father into the party hall.
The hall was lit with yellow and red lights. It was decorated with green, yellow and purple streamers; balloons swung in the air from ceiling fans. The air conditioners kept the inside temperature cool and comfortable. Dishes containing hot food were placed on the right side of the hall. Invitees were speaking with each other in groups, holding drinks.
Snehal’s eyes searched for Ranjit. He stood near a woman, who was wearing a one-piece mini; she held a cocktail glass filled with white wine.
“Welcome,” Snehal’s father-in-law approached from behind. “You’re late for an hour.”
Kailas shook his hand. “We got stuck in traffic near the city entrance.”
Snehal’s mother-in-law smiled at Snehal and her mother. “Ranjit is with his colleagues. I’ll take you there.” She walked Snehal towards Ranjit.
“Hey, Snehal. Welcome,” Ranjit said, his voice slurred.
He was intoxicated with alcohol.
“Leela, meet my fiancé, Snehal.” he held his glass high and cheered.
Leela smiled seductively at Snehal and Ranjit.
Snehal’s pulse quickened. Why didn’t he introduce her to others in the group? Who was Leela? Was she his secretary? Or something else?
“How was the journey, Snehal?” Ranjit asked.
“It was good, but the traffic was heavy,” Snehal said, her voice trembling. She indeed was scared about Ranjit’s situation.
Ranjit continued speaking with Leela and others in the group without caring for Snehal. Snehal was astonished by the way he acted. At times, he spoke loud and laughed hysterically. He discussed mostly the political matters, and Snehal realized Leela and the others weren’t his colleagues.
Snehal surprised when Ranjit glanced over at another group in the distance. “Excuse me.” He winked at Leela then went.
Snehal’s chest constricted. Ranjit didn’t even tell her he was leaving. And he spoke with his friends without looking at her. He showed his real attitude when he was intoxicated. We’re definitely not made for each other.
She looked around for her parents. They were standing together without her in-laws. Why had Ranjit and his parents behaved so distant? Snehal wanted to know who Leela was.
She turned to Leela and forced a smile. “Hi. Do you work with Ranjit?”
Leela smiled. “Well, Ranjit is my childhood friend. I worked with him for a couple of years until last month.”
Was Leela really his childhood friend? Did they have an intimate relationship? Her glance shifted to Ranjit again. He was standing beside a woman, who wore a sleeveless blouse. Was Ranjit a womanizer?
She went to her father to make him realize how Ranjit and his parents behaved.
“Hi, Dad,” she said as she approached.
“Snehal Beta, did you meet Ranjit?” her mother asked.
“Yes, I did.” She looked at the group where Ranjit was standing. She waited for a moment to conjure up enough courage then said, “He is quite busy speaking with other women.”
Snehal’s mother looked at her with her eyes wide. “What are you saying, Snehal? You must go and become part of their discussion.”
“He didn’t care that I was there.” Snehal took a deep breath. “Why are you both standing alone? Why are my would-be in-laws not with you?” Snehal controlled her urge to speak aloud.
Her father stared down and then looked around. “They are busy welcoming guests. Why don’t we meet at Ranjit?”
When they approached Ranjit, he introduced them to others in the group but never gave much attention to Snehal’s parents. Her father’s face was filled with guilt. Her mother stood like a mute spectator until Snehal whispered in her ear. “Mum, there is nothing left to remain here. Let’s tell Ranjit and his parents that we’re leaving.” She turned to Ranjit. “We would like to leave. It’s getting late.”
Ranjit cleared his throat. “So soon?”
“Yes, we can get to Hubli at eleven if we start now.”
Ranjit paused for a moment. “Meet my parents before you go.” He smiled. “You can have food as well.” He walked them to his parents near the entrance.
His parents told him to introduce Snehal and her parents to a few dignitaries and close friends. Snehal’s in-laws wanted their relatives to meet Snehal.
Ranjit made sure everyone at the party knew Snehal was there with him.
His parents suggested he eat food with Snehal and his in-laws. Ranjit took them to the food court. Though he acted cordially with Snehal, he behaved well only after his parents suggested it. Does he really love me? Didn’t he act like a puppet of his parents? And why did he spend his time with other women until his parents told him to introduce Snehal to the invitees?
While she headed back to Hubli, Snehal controlled her urge to complain to her parents about Ranjit’s behavior. Though she was alienated at first, her in-laws treated her and her parents well later. She didn’t want to upset anybody by talking about the negative aspect of the event and the way Ranjit had behaved.
She would use this incident as an excuse when her father argued about her marital status next time.