1949 - A Love Story ✅

Part 8

"Sana... Sana... Are you ready?", Indumati calls out to her standing outside her home.

Sana: Yes, I am coming...

Sana tucks a Son Champa flower in her bun and runs outside after adjusting her Saree properly looking into the mirror.

Indumati: Hmmm.. Son Champa! We are friends since we were in 9th standard but not once you put this Son Champa in your hair. What's special?

Sana: Nothing Sakhi. I like it's aroma.

Indumati: True that! It smells really nice.

Sana: hmm..

Indumati: Sana, help me with my literature please. I am stuck with one line. I had tough time matching it with my pervious verse. Could you check my poem please?

Sana: Literature?

Indumati: Yes Sakhi! You got praises by Shastri Sir on the his first day itself. Imagine a gold medalist lecturer praising you. Please help me! Will you?

Sana: Hmmm.. okay! Will check it once we reach college. I have to return a book I borrowed to the library.

Indumati:  Yes, let's do that.

They reach college. Sana smiles looking at Sidharth getting down from a black car. Her smile disappears when she finds him opening a gate for a lady. She was wearing a green coloured silk saree.

Patralekha: Nice college Lecturer babu, won't you show me your college?

Sidharth: Why not? Do you want to attend my lectures? (Laughed)

Patralekha: No, may be the canteen.

Sidharth: Okay! (He looks at the watch) Hmm.. we have some time to enjoy the tea.

They both walk to canteen. Sana starts following them.

Indumati: Sana, the library is the other way. Why are you going towards canteen?

Sana: Can we have a cup of milk in canteen while I check your poem? I skipped my breakfast so that we don't get delayed to college.

Indumati: Okay!

Sana sits a bit far from the table Sidharth and Patralekha had occupied. Indumati hands her the book and goes to get tea and milk for themselves. Sana was observing them talk and laugh from far.

He seems happy! I was too young then when he left me, however I could never give the place of my husband to anyone. I constantly reminded myself that I am married whenever any boy in my class spoke to me or approached me.

I had no hope of being with him or meet him but when I heard the name yesterday, I was taken aback. He is my husband and destiny made us meet again. I thought probably I can win him back in my life.

Having no knowledge about him felt much better than knowing that he is with someone. I didn't know what was love than but when I saw Didi and Jiju together over the years I stayed with them, I reminisced the four days I spent with him. I somewhere started to feel that I am committed to him. I understood that it was not his fault but my parents. It was them who hid my identity with him. May be he would have accepted to marry me happily if they had told him that my didi eloped since he approached us initially for any bride and not just for didi.

Indumati: How is the poem? What do you think?

Sana: Hmmm.. yes.. yes, it's.. it's nice. (She speaks holding back her urge to cry).

She gulps the entire hot milk in one sip. It didn't burn her because she was already burning from inside. She excused herself and went to the classroom. She didn't wanted to cry as she had put kajal in her eyes which she feared might smudge and let everyone know that she cried. She remembered how she woke up early today to put extra efforts to get ready to come to college just for him.