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SNEHAL
After a refreshing morning shower, Snehal slipped on the cream T-shirt and blue jeans that she found in her bag. She would be ready before Vivek finished his morning rituals.
She stood in front of the mirror and applied lip gloss and mascara. She stretched out her long fingers. The nail polish had vanished, and she hastened to grab a pale pink bottle. She applied the color on her nails. She was bored with her glass bangles and replaced them with gold ones. She made sure everything was perfect with her makeup before she went to the balcony.
The winter breeze blew, unfurling Snehal’s hair. A pair of pigeons sat on the rooftop in the front building, muttering. Another pair flew over the hotel, fluttering their wings.
The road in front was full of vehicles, and honking of buses and taxis filled the surroundings. The sun was ascending from the horizon with the sky turning into a blue mixed bright white.
Snehal grasped the balcony railings, thinking about the previous night with Vivek. She’d spoken with him until late into the night, but Vivek didn’t show any eagerness to have a romance with her. He wanted to close her engagement matter with Ranjit first. Snehal too didn’t insist on making love.
Vivek often blushed when Snehal asked him about their future and how the business was going. He did have romantic feelings, but he had controlled his urge to indulge in sex with her. Vivek acted like a gentleman.
The previous evening, Snehal had texted her mum about the postponement of her return journey and kept the phone switched off to avoid her Dad’s calls.
She wished to see who had called her since yesterday. When she turned on her phone that morning, it listed her Dad’s number. He had called her four times in twelve hours.
Her mother must be tense even though Snehal had texted her. She gently tapped the phone screen to call her mother.
“Hello, Snehal. Where are you now?”
“I’m still in Bangalore, Mum.”
“Bangalore? What are you doing there?” Her mother said, sounding grimaced. “You were supposed to return yesterday night, right?”
“Yes. But...”
“Why did you postpone your journey?”
“The product demonstration was late last night.” Snehal couldn’t stop lying. “We didn’t want to wind up early.”
“When are you coming here, then?”
“This evening.”
“Your Dad called and asked about you,” her mother said. “You have put me in trouble, Snehal.”
“What did you tell him?”
“What could I say?” Deepali said, her tone raised. “I told him you were in Hubli and gone to work.”
Snehal too was afraid of her Dad, but she had Vivek’s company to feel courageous. “Don’t worry. I will somehow manage the situation with Dad.”
“You will get into trouble by going against your father’s wishes.”
“I told you not to worry.”
Vivek approached, buttoning his sleeves.
Snehal smiled at him. “I’ll call you in the evening from the airport.” She hit the red button.
Vivek, in his dark blue pants and a striped light blue shirt, looked handsome. His wide forehead appeared prominent on his fair-complexioned face. His not so long nose and small black eyes stood out from the rest of the facial features. His black hair, applied with a cream, glistened in the daylight.
“You look awesome.” Snehal couldn’t control her urge to compliment him. She bit her lip and then smiled.
“You too look beautiful,” Vivek grinned.
Snehal blushed. No doubt, Vivek had feelings towards her.
“Where are we going now?” Snehal asked.
“First we do some shopping and then watch a movie in the afternoon.”
“Can we eat something now?” Snehal smiled. “I am hungry.”
Snehal sat at a table in front of Vivek in the hotel restaurant. She admired Vivek for taking good care of her and for treating her with respect. Even though he had accepted her proposition, he treated her as if she was his girlfriend. He hadn’t taken any undue advantage.
The waiter served them the hot idlis with coconut chutney and Sambhar. The smell of spicy masala wafted in the air.
Vivek took a bite of idlis. “So, what did your mother say?”
“She wondered why we have postponed our journey home.”
Vivek cut the idlis in small pieces. “Did your father ask your mother about you?”
“Yes, he did. That’s the reason why Mum was angry at me. Dad also had called me yesterday.”
“Are you calling back?” Vivek asked.
“I don’t want to get myself into trouble.”
Vivek finished chewing the idlis. “That makes sense.”
“Another six to seven hours,” Snehal said. “I’ll be safe when we reach home before my father arrives at Hubli.”
Snehal was scared about how to deal with her father. She would lie to him if he became suspicious and asked her why her phone was switched off. She needed to be courageous to face him as her mother supported her.
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VIVEK PICKED UP A LOCAL newspaper from the lobby and flipped a few pages. “Here is the movie listing.” He gave the paper to her. “You decide which one you would like to see.”
Snehal went through the listing, and Amir Khan and Juhi Chawla's pictures caught her attention. “QSQT?”
“Haven’t you seen it before?” Vivek asked.
“I don’t mind watching it again.” Snehal folded the paper and gave it back to Vivek. “That’s the only good movie in the Majestic area now.”
“Okay.” Vivek led her outside the hotel. “We will shop for some clothes and books from Sapna until twelve o’clock then.”
Snehal entered a cloth store with Vivek to buy her dresses. “Vivek, I would like to know about your choice.” She held his arm. “You like to see me in a sari, correct?”
Vivek smiled. “Nothing like that. You’d look beautiful in anything.”
Snehal blushed but composed herself. “You have some preference, right?”
“Well, I would like to see you in jeans and T-shirts when you’re out with me.” Vivek sounded encouraging.
“And what do you like when I teach?” Snehal bit her lip. She went the extra mile to ask his likes and dislikes.
“Um... Any silk saris.” Vivek’s face lit with a smile.
Snehal told the shop attendant to bring the saris. Vivek suggested the lavender and cream ones, while Snehal picked light blue and green colored ones.
Vivek paid the bill even though Snehal protested.
She took him to the adjoining men’s shop and bought him a pair of jeans and matching T-shirts.
Vivek bought a few books written by Ruskin Bond and Kushwant Singh and Hindi music CDs in Sapna while Snehal picked out some pulp fiction novels, and greeting cards.
It was noontime when they got to the theatre.
“How often do you go to the movies?” Vivek asked amidst the background music.
“I never get a chance to watch them in Hubli,” Snehal said. “I went with Priya once a few months ago.”
They sat in silence when the screen lit up with a commercial. After the advertisements, the movie started.
A few moments later, Snehal’s phone rang, and her heart started racing. She hadn’t turned her phone off after she spoke with her Mom. She took it from her purse; her father’s name lit the screen. Damn it! What should I do now? She controlled her urge to touch the end call button. Her Dad might suspect and call again. He might ask her Mum where she was and trouble her.
Better she should answer the call. “Hi, Dad.” She covered the phone with her palm to prevent him from hearing the background sound.
“Snehal, where are you?” Her father sounded anxious. “I’ve been trying to reach you since yesterday.”
“Dad, I’m....”
Her dad paused and then said, “What’s that noise I’m hearing?” He said, his voice raised.
“Nothing, Dad. I’m watching a TV serial.”
“Is your Mum around?”
“No, Dad. I... I’m at my friend Priya’s home.”
“Priya? Why have you gone there? Your Mum said you are at work, right?”
“Dad...I’m going there later. My class is scheduled later in the afternoon.”
“But Ranjit also told me you were unreachable.” Her father sounded puzzled. “What’s happening there?”
Snehal remained silent. She didn’t want to disturb the audience. She sauntered towards the exit. “Dad, when are you coming back?”
“I’m leaving Delhi soon. Just waiting for my colleague to finish his work.”
Snehal sighed. She needed to find out when Vivek had rescheduled their flight tickets. They should return to Hubli before her Dad arrived.
“Okay, Dad.” Snehal conjured up enough courage. “I’m looking forward to seeing you soon.”
“Make sure that you’re at home,” her Dad said.
“Okay.” Snehal hit the red button, her heart racing.
When she turned back towards the entrance, Vivek smiled at her.
“It was my Dad,” Snehal said, her voice shaking.
“I realize that.” He came to her. “What’s the matter?”
“He is leaving from Delhi soon. Better we go there before he arrives.”
“All right, let’s go to the hotel, and then go to the airport. We’ll request the airline personnel for an early departure to go to Hubli.”
“Okay.” Snehal heaved a sigh of relief.
It was just after lunchtime when Snehal reached Bangalore airport. She prayed to God her father would arrive after she reached Hubli.
“Vivek, I’m really afraid if my father gets to know we went to Bangalore.”
Vivek paused for a moment, and then said, “Why do you think so? You pretend that you haven’t gone anywhere outside Hubli. I don’t think anyone will spy us and show your father our photograph.”
“Ranjit may do that, Vivek. He is looking for such an opportunity to put blame on me.”
“Don’t assume such a thing will happen,” Vivek said. “And if it happens, I’m sure you have enough guts to face it.”
Snehal grew courageous after she listened to Vivek. He instilled the confidence in her, and she admired Vivek for taking the challenges in stride.
She waited until Vivek spoke with the airline personnel to reschedule their travel plans.
“Here you go.” He gave her the boarding passes. “The flight is ready to board.”
Snehal smiled at him. “Thanks for arranging for early departure, Vivek.”
Snehal walked out of the Hubli airport along with Vivek and boarded the taxi. “I’ll call you later in the evening.” She waved at Vivek as the driver accelerated the vehicle.
“Bye.” Vivek smiled.
Snehal needed to speak with her mother and find out if her father had arrived. Even though it was a remote possibility, she was apprehensive about his early arrival. She took her phone and called her Mom.
“Snehal, where are you?” Her Mom sounded eager.
Snehal’s heart pounded to her ribcage. “I’ve arrived in Hubli. Did Dad call you?”
“Yes, he has been asking for you. He said he rang you this afternoon.”
“Where is he now?”
“He boarded the plane at Delhi a few minutes ago.”
Snehal heaved a sigh of relief. She would reach home before her Dad landed at the Hubli airport. “Thank you, Mom.” Snehal drew in a heavy breath. “Did he ask again where I went?”
“Yes. You’ve got me in trouble, Snehal.”
“What did you say?”
“What should I tell him, then? You’ve gone to meet your friend Priya and working in your institution. That’s the only answer I have been telling him.”
Snehal smiled. “I’ll be at home in ten minutes. Don’t worry.” She ended the call.
Soon after reaching home, she chatted with Deepali for a few moments then went to her bedroom. She hastened to remove her clothes from her luggage and hid them inside the closet. She tidied up her bedroom, avoiding the suspicion that she’d left the station.
A warm shower relieved her from the fatigue. She chose to wear a cotton night suit and relaxed on her bed, stretching her legs.
Her parents’ conversation filtered through her bedroom entrance. Her Dad had arrived home, and she needed to pretend she was sleeping. She closed her eyes, hoping her father would mind his own business. But his conversation with her Mum continued with his voice raised. Is Dad arguing over my phone being switched off? She would remain in her bedroom and never bother about what he was saying.
The doorbells jingled, and Snehal controlled her urge to open her eyes. Someone shook her and forced her to open them. It was her mother.
“Snehal, your Dad is calling you.”
Snehal’s heart started racing. She looked at Deepali with a what’s the matter expression.
“Come with me, first.” Deepali grimaced.
Dad must be really angry at me and Mum. I need to act wisely and with patience. He can’t blame me because I’ve arrived at home before him.
Her mother walked her to the living room.
Kailas was seated on the couch, his face red. “Tell me now, where have you been?”
“Where would I go? I went to Priya’s home once. I was at home for the rest of the day.”
“With whom did you go to the movies, then?”
“Dad, who told you I went to a movie?”
“I could hear the sound, Snehal.” Kailas sounded angry. “Don’t try to outsmart me.”
“Trust me, it was not the movie.” Snehal bit her lip.“I told you I was watching a TV series with Priya. The sound was indeed loud.”
Her father remained silent for a moment. “Why did you turn your phone off yesterday, then? Even Ranjit complained to me you were not reachable.”
“Um....I forgot to recharge the battery.” Snehal’s heart raced. How long should she keep lying to him? “You need to believe me, Dad.”
Her Dad remained silent for a while, his eyes red. He rose then said, “All right. I hope you didn’t disappoint Ranjit.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll call him this evening,” Snehal said, sounding shaky.
Her father went to his room.
Snehal looked at her mother and winked.
Her mother approached her, and gently squeezed her ear. “Didn’t I tell you we would be in trouble?” she whispered.
Snehal retreated to her room. She thanked God for saving her from her father’s wrath. She indeed faced him and wondered how daringly she answered him. Vivek was correct in saying she would handle her father if he became suspicious. He was right in his guess.