Alipura, Sanjana's room.
Sanjana was waiting in her room. She was sitting in front of the mirror staring at the ring on her finger. It was a beautiful ring- a golden band lined with tiny diamonds, but felt out of place.
She had never felt comfortable wearing it- the reason she never wore it at her time in the academy.
The small ring as if bound her entire existence. The moment she wore it, her dreams, her future that were so clear in her mind seemed to completely darken.
The ring was supposed to be a connection, a promise. It felt more like shackles, a compromise.
She had hardly met Kundanji. Seen him only once- in a photograph. She had never really talked to him. She never felt a connection to him. She never felt comfortable opening up to him as she did with Siddhart.
Siddhart....he was a whole different story. Just thinking about him felt like sitting in the sun on a winter morning- warm. She unconsciously smiled thinking about him. Talking to him, it felt safe. Like he would not try to make her shut her mouth, or be told her thoughts are worthless. He listened to her, in a way no one ever had.
He gave her a whole new feeling, not like the men in her village, not like her seniors, not like anyone. It made her happy, and at peace.
Kundanji made her feel uneasy, almost nauseous.
Every time she felt....worthless, unimportant, undeserving of being loved, she would talk to him.
He rarely talked back, but the way he looked at her- as if she was the most beautiful thing he had landed his eyes on....she would feel special.
Talking to Kundanji felt like a task. No matter how much she disliked it, she had to do it. This wedding, it too felt more like a task, except this was going to last forever.
Her reverie was broken by a knock on her door.
~~~~
In the cab.
"Faizi humaara stay kidhar hai?"
"Kisi to palace ke paas likha tha...exact adress nai Diya tha." Faizi replied. Monami was still in her thoughts.
"Ruk, mai...Sanju ko call karta hu. Bhaiya do minute ruk jaayiye, yaha paas me agar koi dhaaba ka kuch ho..." Karan said pulling out his phone. The driver nodded. And in a few minutes they had stopped at a small dhaaba.
The three stood by the cab, with Karan looking through his phone. After finding the number he dialled the number and put the phone on speaker.
"Haan Kaun?" A different voice answered, probably a late middle aged woman. Faizi looked at Karan questioningly. Karan shrugged.
"Hello? Kaun bol raha hai?"
"Reshma."
"Uhh...theek hai...kya meri Sanju se baat--"
"Bol kaun raho hai?" The person on the other end asked.
"Mai Karan bol raha hu..."
"Ae Dekho! Dekh re ho Dubey sahab?" The person said to someone else.
"Hello..."
"Mana kiye the! Maudi ko gao se bahar mat bhejo! Par nahi...hume to maudi ke saare shauk poore karne hai..dekh re ho! Gao se bahar nikli nahi ki ladko ke phone aane lag gye!"
Karan looked at the phone, irritated. Faizi looked at Karan and then at the phone, annoyed.
"Bola the, pehle hi din bola tha! Phaaltu ke shauk hai ye saare! Je academy me admission mat karao! Mat savar hone do fauji banne ka bhoot! Jis din pehli baar bola tha, uss hi din jhadak ke kamre me band kar dete, ro ye naumat hi naa aati! Ab dekh re ho? Na hi koi mariyada, na koi sanskaar, bekaar ho gayi maudi!"
Karan stared at the phone, fuming.
"Excuse me? I am her senior. And--" Monami snatched the phone from his hands. He looked at her shocked.
"Maaf kijiye, lekin aap sahi nahi keh rahi hai. Aap kisi ke saath ye nahi kar sakti. It's wrong. San--"
Finally, Faizi took the phone from her. He eyes both of them, frustrated and removed the call from speaker. He walked away in another direction, signalling that he could handle it.
Karan and Monami looked at each other.
"Ye kaunsa tareeka hai...kamre me band kardo? Seriously?" Monami replied folding her hands.
Karan shrugged.
In a while, Faizi returned with the phone. Monami and Karan looked at him, waiting for answers.
Faizi huffed as he handed Karan the phone.
"Khala jaan thi Sanju ki. Ajeeb thi. Lekin kaam ho gaya. Alipura fort pe stay hai. Aaj shaam ko shaadi hai." Faizi said with a serious expression.
"Nikalte hai fir...." Karan said. All of them got back in the car and were back on track soon.
The rest of the ride passed silently.
~~~~
Sanjana went and opened the door. It was her father.
He looked at her and smiled.
"Maudi kitni badi ho gao hai..." he said keeping a hand on her cheek.
"Tu theek to hai? Kuch khush na lag ro hai..." he asked, worried.
"Baapu....vo..hume much poochna tha." She asked hesitantly, looking down.
"Bol"
"Vo..je sab shaadi byaah hone ke baad...kya hum academy--"
"Tu abhi bhi usi academy pe atki hui hai." He said frowning.
"Baapu..."
"Chal taiyaar hoja. Jo poochna hai Kundanji se poochio. Unhone tera je shauk ek saal tak poora hone Diya, ab aur kitne time."
"Baapu lekin je humaara shauk nahi hai...je humaara sapna hai, jo sach ho gaya hai...je...je wardi humaara dharm ban gayi hai...aap humse--" she replied frustrated.
"Chup! Bola na! Ek baar me samajh nahi aa rahi! Je academy me baare me ek shabd aur bol, teri jagah ghar me hai, vahi tak reh. Ghar parivaar ki bachi kuchi laaj ko to rehne de!"
"Baapu...aap..aap ye sahi naa kar re ho..." she replied, her eyes welling up.
"Hume achhe se pato hai hum ka kar rahe hai. Agar toone ab ghar se nikalne ki Jurrat ki, to bhool mat. Teri wardi abhi bhi humaaye paas hai." He replied.
"Aur Haan. Jab tak tujhe koi lene nahi aaye, tab tak tu isi kamre me rahegi."
Saying so he walked out, locking the door from outside. She tried to run out, but the stupid lehenga hindered her speed.
She started looking for anything that could open it, there was nothing in the room besides the chunni and jewellery.
In a final attempt, she pushed the door as hard as she could, it did not budge. After a few unsuccessful tries, she gave up, sitting by the door as tears of pent up frustration fell down her cheeks. Karan sir was right, she should never have come back.
