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SNEHAL
Guilt filled Snehal’s mind even though she told Vivek about her engagement. “I don’t have any classes today. I will go home.”
With Snehal seated in the passenger’s seat, Vivek parked his car near his institution.
“Okay.” Vivek removed his seat belt and looked at her.
“Vivek, I’m really sorry for hiding my engagement from you.” She reached for his hand. “I was waiting for the right time to tell you about the matter. I hope you’re not disappointed.”
“No, why should I be upset?” Vivek shot her a surprised look.
She should tell him about her interest in him, soon. “Will you help me avoid my marriage with Ranjit?”
Vivek unfolded his sleeves and then he said, “I will. We will talk to Arjun and seek his help, too.”
Snehal heaved a sigh of relief. “Thank you so much, Vivek. I appreciate your support.” She got out of her seat. “See you tomorrow.”
Snehal started her scooter and headed down the street, contemplating. She had a good day and meeting Vivek’s mother was timely. She was trying to grow her friendship with Vivek. It was imperative for her to know about his parents.
It was sad Vivek’s father had died in an accident. Snehal admired Vivek for his decision to settle in Hubli and care for his mother. He respected woman and treated her and Pooja well at work. He would be capable of caring for a wife and children and leading a successful married life.
She parked her scooter in the garage and rang the doorbell.
Her mother, in her brown mixed-gold silk sari, opened the door. She looked at Snehal with her brows furrowed, surprised to see her a few hours before her usual time of arrival.
Snehal entered, flopped on the chair and removed her sandals. “I had my classes in the morning.”
“It’s good you came early.” Her mother sat on the couch. “I’ve been telling you not to work. You can focus on chores at home.” She continued watching the television.
Snehal controlled her annoyance. Her Mum never thought of her career goals. Snehal didn’t want to spoil her good day and should avoid responding to her mother. “What are you watching, Mum?”
“You know the usual series.” Deepali paused and reduced the TV volume. “So, tell me, how are things with Ranjit?” She looked at Snehal with her eyes wide. “Your father was asking me about your interest in Ranjit. He is planning to arrange a wedding soon.”
Goosebumps popped up on Snehal’s skin. Her mother spoiled her mood. “We’ve already decided I’ll date him for six months. Isn’t it early to talk about it again?”
Her mother lowered her gaze. “You better convince your father again.” She looked back at Snehal. “He is the one who is hurrying.”
Snehal wanted an excuse to go to her room. Her mother would further probe the matter if she remained there. “All right, I’ll speak to him.” She pecked on her mother’s cheek and left.
She pulled a chair onto the balcony and sat. A few bikes raced on the road below, and a lady walked her pet holding the strap in her hand. The shrill of parrots and mainas filled the otherwise calm surroundings.
She disliked her father for hastening her wedding with Ranjit. He was a hard nut to crack and would forcibly fix a marriage date soon. Before something went wrong, I should propose to Vivek soon.
She had expressed her interest in him indirectly and she needed to explicitly tell him she loved him. She hoped Vivek would accept her offer and take interest in dating her.
Her phone rang. Ranjit’s name lit the screen. A cold shiver went down Snehal’s spine. She was double-dealing with him. What if Ranjit got to know she had been outside with Vivek? Ranjit stayed away from Hubli and he would never notice their togetherness. Nevertheless, she should be cautious while she went out with him.
“Hello, Ranjit,” she answered.
“Hi, Snehal. What’s happening? Are you at work?”
“No, I’m at home.” Snehal rose from her seat. “I just got here a few minutes ago.” She held the railings, staring at the nearby peepal tree to reduce her anxiety. “Where are you?”
“I’m on my way to Hubli. Should be there in half an hour.” Ranjit paused for a moment. “Are you free now?”
“Well.” Snehal focused on the expanse. “I need to prepare for my next class tomorrow. Is there any specific reason you want to come over right now?”
“I just wanted to meet you.”
“Um...are you coming home?”
“How about we spend some time at Hotel Kamat,” Ranjit said, his tone high. “I like the cozy atmosphere there.”
Snehal too thought it would be better to meet him outside her home to avoid her parents’ intervention. “Sure. When are you reaching Hubli? Ring me when you arrive,” she said, her voice soft.
“Another half n hour drive. I’ll pick you from your home,” Ranjit said. “See you soon.”
Fear crossed her mind as Ranjit expressed his eagerness to meet her. He would try to hasten their marriage matter and she should handle the situation wisely. She wouldn’t budge to any of his requests and she would stick to her decision to date him for the complete six months.
Vivek too had offered his help to break the alliance. She would propose to Vivek soon so that he would protect her from the clutches of her parents and Ranjit.
Snehal freshened up. She went to her wardrobe and ran her eyes over her dresses. Should she wear the sari or simply a salwar kameez? What if she wore jeans and an appealing T-shirt? When she looked at the green-white-striped t-shirt, she remembered Vivek that morning. He too wore a similar shirt and appeared quite handsome.
Oh! She will miss Vivek at Kamat today. Maybe, she should ask Vivek to join her and would get to know how Ranjit would feel. She liked to understand how Ranjit would behave in the presence of Vivek. Vivek would know Ranjit’s mean attitude if Ranjit behaved improperly.
She grabbed the phone from the table and called Vivek.
After they exchanged pleasantries, Snehal said, “Vivek, Ranjit called me a while ago.”
“What did he say?”
“He is coming to Hubli soon, and invited me to join him at Kamat.”
“What did you say?”
Snehal’s heart raced. She conjured up enough courage to tell Vivek to accompany her. “Well, I’m prepared to meet Ranjit but I want you to join me.”
“Me? Why?”
Snehal paused; she composed herself then said, “You have promised you will help me.” She grabbed the T-shirt and jeans. “It’s an opportunity for you to see him.”
Vivek remained silent.
“Vivek, are you there?”
“Yes, I’ll join you guys.” He coughed. “At what time are we meeting?”
“Ranjit is picking me from my home. We should be at the restaurant in half an hour.”
Snehal heaved a sigh of relief as she ended the call. She was more confident to meet Ranjit along with Vivek. She put on her dress and went to the living room. She told her mother Ranjit would arrive shortly to pick her up.
She watched a TV series for the next half an hour. Ranjit arrived and Snehal opened the door for him.
Deepali’s face lit with a smile. “Hi, Ranjit,” she said. “How are you?”
“I’m doing well, Aunty. How are you? How is uncle doing?”
“We all are doing well,” Deepali said. “I am glad you’re taking Snehal out. I hope you both will have a good time.”
“Yes,” Ranjit said. “It’s been a while since we went out. Is Uncle not at home?”
“He is yet to return from work,” Deepali said.
“Please convey my wishes to him.”
“He will be here when you guys come back home,” Deepali said. “Why don’t you stop by and meet him when he is at home?”
“Okay, I’ll try.” Ranjit looked at Snehal. “All right, Snehal. Let’s go.”
They walked towards Ranjit’s car. Ranjit opened the passenger’s door for Snehal. He slid behind the wheels and drove towards Kamat.
Before Ranjit entered the hotel, Snehal stopped him near the entrance. “I have invited my colleague, Vivek, to join us. Let’s wait in the foyer until he arrives.”
“Vivek?” Ranjit said in a raised voice. “Why—-” He stumbled for words.
Snehal needed to calm him. “I thought you would like his company.”
“But I wanted some privacy.”
Snehal smiled and continued looking at his face. Ranjit paled and he appeared to be losing his self-confidence. Snehal grew sympathetic towards him, but she liked Vivek.
“So, how was the Delhi trip?” Snehal pretended to be calm.
Ranjit composed himself then said, “It was good. I was busy all the time.”
“Did you visit any tourist places?”
“Went to Taj Mahal with my colleagues.”
“Here we go,” Snehal said, her tone raised. She waved at Vivek. “Vivek is here.”
Ranjit turned his gaze towards the entrance. His chest wavered, and he breathed heavily.
“Ranjit, meet my colleague and close friend, Vivek.” Snehal bit her lip. She hoped she didn’t make a mistake by telling Ranjit that Vivek was her close friend.
Ranjit looked at him, his face blushed. He darted his eyes between Vivek and Snehal before he fixed his gaze back on Snehal. “I wanted to discuss some personal matters.”
Snehal looked at Vivek with an expression of not to worry about what Ranjit said.
They all went inside the restaurant and sat at a table. Snehal sat beside Ranjit and opposite Vivek.
“Ranjit, you can talk to me about anything you like,” Snehal said. “Vivek doesn’t mind.”
“Don’t feel like I’m an intruder.” Vivek smiled at him.
Ranjit straightened in his seat and composed. “I’d like to move the wedding forward. Your parents shouldn’t have postponed it for six months.”
“I know, but—-”
Before Snehal could complete, Vivek said, “Snehal needs to date for six months and wants to build a better understanding. It’s good for both of you, correct?”
Ranjit was seemingly taken aback. His nostrils flared and he blushed. He shot an intense gaze at Vivek. “It’s none of your business.”
Snehal’s breath caught in her chest. “Ranjit, Vivek is my close friend and has every right to talk in support of me. You shouldn’t talk the way you did.”
“Snehal,” Ranjit said, his voice shaky. “It’s our personal matter and I don’t want him to poke his nose in it.”
“Snehal has every right to decide about her marriage matter, Ranjit,” Vivek said. “She can’t simply agree with what others say.”
“I told you-”
“It’s okay,” Snehal said, “let’s not talk about our marriage.” Snehal forced a smile, trying to clear the air. “I don’t want our meeting to end with an animosity.”
They remain silent for a moment until Ranjit said, “Vivek, can you leave us so that we can have some privacy?”
Vivek looked at Snehal with a what-to-do-now expression.
It’s better to calm everyone by ordering something to eat. “Vivek, I’m sorry about calling you.” She looked at Ranjit. “Let’s spend some good time and forget whatever we talked about.” She called a waiter. “Ranjit, what would you like to have?”
Ranjit shrugged. He remained silent.
“I know you like vegetable cutlets.” She shifted her gaze to Vivek. “Is that okay with you?”
Vivek nodded, seemingly disappointed about Ranjit’s harsh behavior.
“I still request you leave, Vivek.” Ranjit pressed his lips.
“No, he is not going,” Snehal said. “Don’t feel so bad about what he said, Ranjit. He was trying to help me.”
Vivek forced a smile. “It’s all right, guys. Let’s spend some good time.” He turned to Ranjit. “I promise I’ll never intrude your privacy next time around.”
While Snehal chatted for a few minutes and tried to change the subject, the waiter came. He served the food. The smell of hot cutlets, coconut chutney, and tomato ketchup filled the air. They ate the snacks; Ranjit seemed still harboring the hatred towards Vivek.
Snehal was happy to make Ranjit get angry in front of Vivek. She made Vivek notice how short-tempered Ranjit was and he didn’t have any control over his emotions. His behavior showed his non-caring attitude towards Snehal. Snehal achieved what she wanted by inviting Vivek.
Snehal remained silent while she came back to her home with Ranjit.
“Snehal,” Ranjit said as he parked his car in front of her home.
Snehal stopped getting out of the passenger’s seat. She looked at him, holding the door handle. “Yes, tell me.”
“May I know why you invited Vivek?”
“Well, he is my colleague.” She paused for a few moments. “I never thought you will think so badly about him.”
“It’s not that, Snehal. I want to know if you love me or not.”
Snehal opened the door and stepped out of the car. She lowered her head level with his. “Well, it’s in your hand, Ranjit. And that’s the reason I asked my parents to postpone the marriage. After the marriage, if we dislike each other it will be disastrous, right?”
Ranjit’s eyes seemed protruding. A dark shadow of losing Snehal cast his face. He continued looking at her without blinking.
“Would you like to meet my parents?” Snehal asked.
“No, not now.”
He started the engine and left.
Snehal’s lips curved into a smile. She wanted him to hate her. Whatever happened in the restaurant would make him distance himself from her. Ranjit might decline the alliance, eventually. She would watch how the events would unfold in the next few days.
Snehal entered her home. Her father watched a movie, sat on the couch. Kailas asked her how the meeting with Ranjit went. She couldn’t help but lie. She told him everything went well. They exchanged a few pleasantries before Snehal went to her room.
She needed to propose to Vivek soon. With today’s incident at the Kamat, Vivek must be disappointed. Guilt crossed her mind. She shouldn’t have invited Vivek when Ranjit was with her, but she never thought Ranjit would behave so ruthlessly. Whatever happened was to her advantage, and she would convince Vivek the next day.
After supper, Snehal’s phone flashed with Priya’s image.
“Hello, Priya,” Snehal answered her call.
“Hi, Snehal. What’s going on? It's been a while since we spoke.”
“I’m doing well and was busy with work,” Snehal sat on her bed. “I’m sorry for not calling you.”
“It’s okay. Are you getting along well with your fiancé?”
Snehal paused. She didn’t want to share her thoughts with her. “We’re doing well. How is your friend Deepak?” Snehal couldn't control her urge to ask about Priya’s boyfriend.
“Deepak is doing well. We are in Swagat. I thought you can join us if Ranjit is here.”
“Um-some other time,” Snehal said her tone soft. “Is Deepak giving you a treat?”
“Yes,” Priya sounded excited. “You guessed it correct.”
“What for?” Snehal asked. “Did he get promoted?”
“He bought a new car.”
“Oh, congratulations,” Snehal said, her voice elated. “Convey my wishes to Deepak. And drive safe.”
“Thanks.”
Priya had been dating Deepak for a year. They were getting along well and Snehal had been lucky to have Deepak as her fiancé.
Snehal regretted not talking to Priya about her attitude towards Ranjit and his parents. I should’ve asked for her opinion about it. I will reveal the details to her when we meet next time.