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SNEHAL
Snehal collapsed on the bed soon after ending her call to Vivek. She didn’t want him to be disappointed because Ranjit had misbehaved at the Kamat restaurant. It was her mistake to invite Vivek, but she hadn’t expected Ranjit would behave so harshly. She needed Vivek’s company and wanted to continue working with him. Her call to him cleared the air, and she admired Vivek’s Samaritan nature. He was quite poised even after Ranjit had shown his bad attitude.
She needed to propose to Vivek soon. Ranjit told her his intention of their early marriage, and her father might fix a date before her six months time frame ended. Vivek only could help her, and she had faith in him.
Snehal freshened up in the morning, slipped on a fresh pair of a cream-colored night suit, and went to the kitchen. Her mother was preparing coffee. The aroma permeated the air.
“Good morning, Mom,” Snehal said. She placed her hands on her mother’s shoulders.
Her mother, in a green sari with a golden border, looked beautiful. “Good morning, Beta.” She turned the stove knob. “Aren’t you going to work today?” She poured the coffee into two cups.
Snehal took a cup and headed to the dining table. She had woken up late, and her mother had rightly asked her about it. “I’ve scheduled a class for this evening.”
Her mother sat opposite her. “How is everything at work? Are your colleagues friendly?”
Snehal had often spoken about her colleagues with her mother. Even though Deepali asked Snehal to discontinue working, she often took an interest in her work. She asked Snehal not to go to work only in the presence of Snehal’s father.
Snehal sipped her coffee and placed the cup on the table. “They are all friendly to me.” Guilt filled her mind as she was inching closer to Vivek. She avoided telling her mother about him because her mother would wonder if Snehal loved him.
“How is your boss?” Deepali sipped some coffee. “What did you say his name is?”
“Vivek, Mum.” Snehal swallowed.
“Oh, yes. Are you comfortable working with him?”
“Yes, very comfortable.” Her mother still took her father’s side. Snehal needed to avoid talking more about the matter.
“You’re working hard, and teach two to three hours a day.” Her mother finished her coffee. “You are not earning enough. I still suggest you to reconsider working there.”
Snehal didn’t want to prolong the matter. She remained silent.
Her phone rang. Ranjit’s image flashed on the screen. She wondered why he was calling now.
Her mother looked at the phone. “It’s Ranjit. Why don’t you answer him?”
Snehal was pulled out of her thoughts and picked up her phone. “Hello, Ranjit.”
“Hi, Snehal.” Ranjit’s tone was raised. “What’s going on?”
“Going well.” She straightened in her seat. “You’ve called so early this morning.”
“Yes, and I would like to meet you at your home.”
“Now?”
“Yes, maybe in an hour or so.”
Snehal remained silent, pondering. Is he interested in talking about the previous day’s incident at Kamat? Or he wants to decide about their marriage date? Snehal was caught in the dilemma; she couldn’t dare tell him to come home.
“Snehal, what happened?” Her mother alerted her and took the phone. Her mother spoke with Ranjit and invited him to meet Snehal. She gave the phone back to Snehal. “Did anything happen?”
Snehal didn’t want to tell her mother about the incident at Kamat. She remained quiet.
“Ranjit seemed disappointed.” Her mother paused. “He has something important to talk with us.”
“He could’ve spoken about the matter over the phone, right?”
“Yes, but let him come here. It’s been several days since we’ve seen him.”
Snehal’s father arrived, freshened, and wiping his hands with a napkin. He wore a white mixed pale-yellow night suit. “What’s going on?” He sat beside Snehal’s’ mother.
“Ranjit is coming to meet us.”
“Oh, I see. Is it anything important?”
“No, he didn’t say anything,” Snehal said.
“There must be something,” her mother said. “Otherwise, he wouldn’t have wished to meet us at this time.”
Snehal’s heart raced. Ranjit would sure get her in trouble. Better if she retreated to her room and avoided meeting him. But her parents would think she was not interested in him. Snehal didn’t want her parents to be disappointed because of her. She needed to face the situation bravely.
The doorbell rang. Kailas opened the door for Ranjit.
Snehal plastered a fake smile on her face as Ranjit looked at her. He seemed pale. He wore blue pants and a white striped shirt; he was charmless. Perhaps, he was in a shock because Snehal had hurt him by not being friendly. The previous day’s incident at Kamat would’ve also disappointed him.
After exchanging pleasantries, Snehal’s mother ushered them to the dining hall for breakfast. Snehal helped her Mom in arranging the dishes on the table.
Her mother served the hot upma(a food item made of coarse wheat flour) and coconut chutney before serving herself. The spicy and hot smell of food wafted in the air.
Ranjit took a bite and coughed. Snehal’s mother gave him a glass of water.
“Aunty, I’m visiting because I have something to talk about.” He looked at Snehal’s father before fixing his gaze on Snehal.
Snehal’s throat constricted. At last, Ranjit was trying to speak his mind. He had visited her home with some intention. Maybe, to know more about her relationship with Vivek. And why she postponed the marriage.
“What it is?” Snehal’s father asked.
“Uncle, is it necessary to postpone the wedding?” He swallowed. “I don’t agree with Snehal’s decision to wait.”
Snehal controlled her urge to talk. She waited for Kailas to answer. What she had expected was true. Ranjit had come to settle the score with her, and the previous day’s incident with Vivek had made him hasten the wedding.
“We have another five months to go,” Deepali said, looking at everyone. “Ranjit, be patient. Days will pass very soon. Meanwhile, try to get to know each other better.”
Kailas cleared his throat. “But Ranjit doesn’t want to wait.” He paused and stared at Snehal. “What’s wrong with you, Snehal? You’re not eating anything?”
Snehal coughed. “I’m not that hungry, Dad. No need to worry about me.”
“What do you say about Ranjit’s advice?” Kailas wrinkled his brows.
Snehal’s pulse quickened. Her father might not agree if she repeated her stance. She remained silent, wanting him to understand her intention.
Ranjit took a bite and chewed for a while. “How close are you with your boss, Snehal?”
Snehal’s body shook. Damn it! “What do you mean close?” Snehal couldn’t stop venting her growing anger.
“I’m astonished you invited him to Kamat. I wanted to meet you in private, you know.”
“Well, he is my colleague. I thought of -” Snehal stumbled for words. Ranjit’s angered face and widened eyes scared her. She remained quiet.
“Snehal, tell us what had happened,” Kailas asked.
Her chest constricted. Everyone alienated her on her marital matter. “I just wanted to introduce Vivek to Ranjit.”
“But I did tell you I wanted some privacy,” Ranjit said. “And how can he poke his nose in our personal matters?”
“As a good friend, he suggested something,” Snehal said in a raised voice. “I never thought you would misunderstand us.”
“Uncle,” Ranjit turned to Kailas. “I don’t want Snehal to work with Vivek anymore. That guy has brainwashed her. We must act before things get out of control.”
Deepali turned to Snehal, her eyes wide. “What am I hearing, Snehal? What’s going on between you and Vivek?”
Snehal should tell her parents about her interest in Vivek without delay. But she hadn’t even proposed to Vivek. She would be in trouble if Vivek refused her proposition. Her parents would force her to marry Ranjit. Ranjit was hurt and he might take revenge against her for her affinity towards Vivek.
She would wait until she proposed to Vivek. When he accepted her offer, she would convince her mother and cancel the alliance with Ranjit.
“Mom, you all are mistaken me.” Snehal tried to sound gentle. “I told you we’re just friends and nothing more than that.”
“Are you sure you’re not hiding the fact?” Kailas grimaced.
“No, Dad.” Guilt coursed through Snehal’s mind. She forced a smile. “You need to trust me.”
“Okay,” Ranjit said. “Uncle, make her stop going to work and avoid his company.”
“Ranjit,” Snehal said, widening her eyes. “I won’t act as per your will and wish. It’s up to me whether to work or not. I’m an engineer and would like to progress with my career.” She looked at her parents then back at Ranjit. “You can’t stop me.”
An unusual silence prevailed for a moment.
“Mom, I’ve told you to talk with Ranjit and his parents about my interest in pursuing my career goals. I don’t want to become a housewife, and stay at home.”
“Uncle, you need to talk to my parents as they may be interested in Snehal being a housewife.” Ranjit finished eating his food. “And I suspect something-”
Before he completed his words, Snehal said, “Don’t be so mean, Ranjit.” She rose and stormed to her bedroom. “I hate you.” She slammed the door behind her and locked it.
Snehal collapsed on the bed; tears touched her lashes. She loved her parents, and that prevented her from telling them she disliked Ranjit. But she needed to tell them soon before things went wrong.
She was alerted by the door knock. Her mother called with her voice raised. Snehal hesitated to open, but her mother often was sympathetic towards her. She might relieve Snehal from her agony. She rose, wiped her eyes, and then opened the door.
“Snehal, what’s going on, Beta?”
Snehal remained silent and went back to bed. Emotion surged through her body.
“Tell me.” Deepali sat beside her. “What’s the matter with you?”
“Mom, I somehow...” She stumbled for words.
“Tell me.”
“I dislike Ranjit.” She hid her face on her mother’s lap. “Please don’t force me to marry him.”
Deepali ran her fingers through Snehal’s hair.
Her silence created anxiety in Snehal’s mind. She hoped her mother would help her. “Tell me, Mum. I need your help.”
“Snehal, your father may not agree with your decision. You need to change your mind and accept Ranjit as your life partner.” She sat Snehal straight. “And it’s not in my hands, Beta. We can’t change your father’s mind.”
Snehal remembered Vivek. He had promised he would help her, and she would keep faith in him.
Snehal contemplated going to work and proposing to Vivek. She should call him and tell him about her interest in him. Or she should take him to a quieter place and speak her mind. She didn’t have a problem with speaking to Vivek about anything she liked; they had developed a good friendship. It would be good if she proposes to him in person.
Before she went to the institution, Snehal needed to speak with Priya; it had been a while since they had spoken. She picked up her phone and swiped on her number.
After exchanging pleasantries, Snehal said, “Priya, how is Deepak?”
“He is doing well. He took me to his home and introduced me to his parents. And we’d been to Mysore in his car.”
Snehal’s heart raced. Priya was progressing well with her marital matter. “Wow, you guys are rocking. Did your parents speak to Deepak’s?”
“Not yet, but we are planning for a get-together soon.”
“Priya, my marriage situation has worsened. My parents are stubborn about their decision.”
“Did you propose to Vivek?”
“Not yet.”
“Why are you delaying? Go and tell him that you love him. If you both are interested, no one can stop you from getting married.”
Adrenaline rushed through Snehal’s veins. Priya’s words made her sit on the edge of the bed. “Thanks for the encouragement. I’ll propose and find out about his interest in me.”
Snehal looked forward to meeting Vivek at the institution.