| |
VIVEK
They ate lunch – sumptuous – before retreating to the living room.
Vivek’s Uncle chewed his pan masala. “Let’s meet Ranjit first.” He turned to Snehal. “We need his consent for canceling the engagement before we meet your parents.”
“I don’t think—-” Snehal looked sideways.
“Don’t assume anything, Snehal,” Arjun said. “Ranjit may change his mind after we convince him.”
Snehal remained silent. She would not marry Ranjit, but he would be humiliated. He might harm them as he was short-tempered. She shifted her gaze to Vivek. He had skirmished with Ranjit, and he knew how unkind Ranjit was.
Vivek was silent. Maybe, he didn’t want to argue with his Uncle’s suggestion.
“Snehal,” Pankaj said. “Can you call Ranjit and find out where is he? We can meet him soon at someplace if he is available.”
Snehal’s heart raced. What reason should she tell him? Would he accept her offer after the brawl they had at her home? Whatever she would do what Vivek’s uncle said. She took her phone and called.
“Hello, Ranjit.” Snehal sounded to be cordial. “How are you?”
“Hey, Snehal.” Ranjit coughed. “What do you want?”
Snehal looked at Pankaj. “Are you free now?”
“I’m in Hubli,” Ranjit said. “Is there anything important?”
“Well, I wanted to meet you.” Snehal bit her lip.
“I’m glad to meet.” Ranjit sounded curious.
Snehal heaved a sigh of relief. Thank God he agreed to meet.
“Where are we meeting?” Ranjit asked.
“Our usual place,” Snehal looked at Vivek. “Swagat.”
“Are we meeting now?”
“Yes,” Snehal shifted her phone to her left hand. “Maybe, in half an hour.”
“Okay, see you there.”
Snehal sat in the rear seat beside Arjun as Vivek drove his car with his uncle, who sat in the passenger’s seat. The sun was setting on the horizon, and the sky was tinted with an orange mixed white hue. A flock of birds flew towards their destination; a sound of crows and parrots in the nearby banyan tree pierced Snehal’s ears.
Vivek parked the car in the parking lot of Swagat Restaurant.
Snehal got out of her seat; Ranjit’s car was already parked on the premises.
“He must be waiting in the lobby.” Snehal led everyone inside.
Ranjit, in his dark blue checked shirt and navy blue pants, was reading a newspaper. His face was hidden by the newspaper. Her heart racing, Snehal approached him. “Hi, Ranjit.”
He slid the paper aside and his face lit with a smile; it lasted only for a few moments as his gaze shifted to Vivek. Astonished, he stared at others standing beside Snehal.
Snehal’s breath increased. She remained calm as she had Vivek’s support. It was time for her to act wise and convince Ranjit. She should aim at achieving her goal and should embrace a new life with Vivek.
She tried to conjure up enough courage. “He is Pankaj, Vivek’s Uncle.” She glanced at Arjun. “And he is Vivek’s classmate and close friend, Arjun.” She shifted her gaze back to Ranjit. “Are we going in?”
Ranjit wrinkled his brows. “I never expected you to come with this jerk again.”
“Mind your——”
Before Vivek completed his words, Snehal said, “Let’s go inside. We’ll discuss and sort out the matter.”
“There is nothing left to talk about, Snehal,” Ranjit said. “I’ll go and speak to your father.”
Snehal needed to challenge him. “Are you afraid of meeting us, Ranjit?” She raised her voice.
Ranjit rose to his feet. “Don’t talk tosh.” He frowned at Pankaj. “Let’s go, then.”
He led them to an air-conditioned room. A waiter ushered all to an empty table. Ranjit sat opposite to everyone; Snehal sat beside Vivek.
Pankaj tilted his head back. “Ranjit, try to control yourself. We’re here to make everyone’s life comfortable.”
“I don’t need any preaching from you.” Ranjit looked at Vivek. “How dare you to come and talk to me again? I already warned you not to come near Snehal.” He breathed sharply with his nostrils flared.
“Ranjit,” Pankaj said. “Try to understand. They both are in love with each other. It’s good for you to allow them uniting.” He paused for a moment, looking at Snehal and Arjun then said, “It’s not good if you pursue the marital matter with her parents.”
“Yes, Ranjit,” Arjun added. “You better help Snehal in marrying Vivek instead of going against her wishes.”
“Don’t you all think Snehal has let me down?” Ranjit said. “We got engaged, inviting so many guests and friends. What should I say to my relatives about why our engagement broke?”
“People will talk for a few days and forget,” Vivek said. “You must let Snehal live her life, and make your stay comfortable.”
“I don’t want to hear any of your advice,” Ranjit snarled. “I’m going to talk to my parents and elders before you both can defame me any further.”
“Ranjit,” Snehal said. “For God’s sake, don’t act against my wishes and put our elders in trouble. God will not forgive you if you harm us.”
Ranjit rose, his face reddened. “Snehal, you’ve cheated me. I will see what you both are up to.” He went towards the door.
“Where are you going?” Snehal shouted.
“Ranjit,” Pankaj said. “Act like a gentleman instead of....”
Ranjit looked back, showed his middle finger. He pulled open the door and stormed out.
They sat in silence for a few moments.
“Uncle,” Snehal said. “I told you how unkind Ranjit is. He acted ruthlessly and only interested in vengeance. How can I marry such an insensitive person?”
“You’re correct,” Vivek said. “I understood his ill attitude when he called me to meet at the Galaxy Bar.”
“When did you meet him there?” Snehal asked.
“The day when we met him at Kamat. He was drunk and tried to manhandle me. After what had happened now, I’m apprehensive of his backlash in future.”
“What are we going to do now?” Arjun knotted his brows.
Vivek’s uncle straightened. “We’re left with only one option.”
“What is it?” Snehal sounded curious.
“We’ll go and meet your parents.”
“I don’t think my father—-.”
“Snehal,” Arjun said. “Let’s listen to what Uncle says.”
“I agree with you,” Vivek said. “We should try out all the possibilities to bring the situation in order.”
Snehal remained silent. She didn’t want her father to scold and insult Vivek and others.
However, they were all united for a common cause – to cancel the engagement and make Snehal united with Vivek. Whatever ill-treatment meted out by her father and Ranjit would be forgotten if the goal was achieved.
After having coffee at Swagat, Snehal directed Vivek to take all of them to her home. Her heart raced when she told Vivek to park near the main gate. Her father’s car was in the garage. It’s good that Dad has come on time today.
She ushered everyone to the porch and rang the doorbell.
They waited for a few moments until her mother, in her blue mixed purple sari, opened the door. Her eyes widened after she glanced at Snehal and the others.
Snehal looked at Vivek. “Mom, this is my friend and boss, Vivek.” She also introduced Pankaj and Arjun to her.
Her mother lowered her gaze for a moment and then smiled. She stepped away, making room for them to enter.
Snehal gestured them to make themselves comfortable on the couches. She looked around for her father.
Snehal sat on a wooden chair. “Where is Dad?”
“He is in the Pooja room, should be here any moment,” Deepali said.
They waited until her father, in his pale purple night suit, approached. Snehal introduced him to Vivek and the others.
“Why have you come to see me?” Kailas asked, his tone mocking.
Did Dad guess their intention? Snehal tried to remain calm. One wrong move would put everyone in trouble.
Vivek’s uncle cleared his throat, trying to gain the courage to speak. “We’re here to ask for Snehal’s hand for my nephew.”
An unusual silence prevailed. Snehal’s father looked at him with his brows knotted. “How dare you-?”
“Dad,” Snehal said. She should speak her mind instead of remaining silent. “Vivek and I are in love with each other.”
“Don’t talk nonsense, Snehal.” Her father frowned. “Aren’t you ashamed to say that when you’re already engaged?”
“Uncle,” Arjun said. “Snehal and Vivek have worked together and made their business a success. They want to unite and need your blessings. We’re here to seek your consent.”
“We’ve talked to Ranjit also,” Pankaj added.
Kailas looked at Deepali. “What the hell is going on? Are you also part of this conspiracy?”
Snehal’s heart raced. She didn’t want her mother to be blamed. “Dad, please don’t drag Mum into this matter. She doesn’t know anything about me and Vivek.”
“It’s you who is responsible, then.” Snehal’s father looked at others. “I don’t want to see any of your faces. All of you leave my home, now.”
Snehal needed to defend her well-wishers. “Dad, you can’t be so harsh.”
Kailas rose to his feet, looking at Snehal and folded his shirt’s sleeves. “It’s you who have brainwashed their minds.” He held Snehal’s arm and dragged her towards an adjoining bedroom. “You deserve this punishment.” He opened the door, pushed Snehal inside, and then locked it from outside.
Snehal never anticipated her father’s move. She remained alone inside; a yelling filtered through the walls and then everything remained quiet. Did Vivek and others go out? Snehal blamed her bad luck. Neither Ranjit nor her father came to her rescue; they acted so unkindly without considering what she wanted in her life. What should I do now? I don’t even have my phone with me. Will Mum help me in coming out of the room?
She went to the balcony and looked down. She needed a rope to climb down and escape. She remembered a TV series where a heroine did it by tying saris together and using it as rope. She went to the closet and picked a few saris. She tied them together long enough to reach the ground.
Her father would notice if she hastened to escape now. She would wait for a few more hours and climb down while her father was away in his room.
Exhaustion coursed through her tired body; Snehal curled herself into a ball and slept.
“Snehal.” Vivek stretched his hands, standing in the sky, but Snehal was unable to reach him. Something was pulling her away from him. Vivek floated in the sky, calling her to join him. Snehal looked down her at her legs. Her father and Ranjit were pulling her towards the earth. She tried to get out of their clutches but remained helpless.
Someone was shaking her shoulder. “Snehal, wake up.” Snehal awakened when her mother whispered in her ear. She looked around. The reality dawned on her. She wasn’t aware she had slept.
“Mum,” she hugged her mother. Tears touched Snehal’s lashes.
Her mother ran her fingers through her hair. “Your father is in his room. What would you like to do now?”
Snehal needed to join Vivek. He would rescue her by taking her outside Hubli.
“Mum, I need to meet Vivek. Please allow me to go.”
“I know you love him,” Deepali stared down before she fixed her gaze back on Snehal. “You do whatever you like to.”
Snehal hugged her mother. “What will you tell Dad?”
“I’ll somehow manage, you don’t worry.”
Snehal went and picked her rope made out of saris. She tied one end of the sari to the balcony railings and threw the other end down. She turned to her mother. “Tell Dad that I’ve escaped through the balcony.”
Her mother kissed her on her cheek. “Take care, my dear. Have your phone with you.” She gave Snehal the phone.
Snehal didn’t want to waste her time. She kissed her Mum back then climbed down the sari-rope.
She sprinted towards the main street then called Vivek.
“Snehal, where are you calling from?”
“Near Santosh theatre.” Snehal stopped walking and breathed heavy. “Where are you?”
“I’m on my way home.” Vivek sounded excited.
“I want to join you before my father finds me.” Snehal looked towards the direction of her home. “Can you pick me up?”
“Sure. I’ll be there soon.”