Serendipity

75

"ANU.." She turned and smiled as she spotted Kaka walking towards her with a plate in his hand.

There was less than a week left for the wedding. The henna ladies had come by to adorn her hands with intricate motifs. Close family and friends had come by to sing and dance and celebrate the occasion. Clad in a yellow and teal organza ghagra and blouse, her dupatta coyly draped over her head, matching jewelry from her mother-in-law's extensive collection, she looked like a fairy. She felt like one.

Anuj had left no stone unturned. He had gone all out on ensuring that the festivities met up to Anupama's expectations. But Anu, she had no expectations. She was finally marrying Anuj, the man she loved. For once in her life, she was getting what she wanted. She didn't have to compromise, give up her dreams for someone else.

She often sighed in regret when she thought about her past. She wished this had happened 26 years ago. That she'd never met Vanraj. That she hadn't lost 26 years to the Shah family. That she'd experienced happiness and love in her youth. When she had shared her thoughts with GK he'd chuckled.

"Hindsight is always a virtue," he'd told her. "But you don't know what life would have been like if you'd married Anuj 26 years ago. You were different then, he was different then. Life, then,  would have been different.

"There's always a right time for things to happen - babies are born after 9 months, flowers blossom in the spring, it takes trees many years before they are capable of yielding fruits. Nature has its own way of ensuring that things take place at the right time. And should we force things before they are meant to happen, we deal with their unwanted and often ugly consequences.

"Anuj and you were never meant to happen 26 years ago. You were only meant to happen now. So don't feel any regret. Enjoy what you have today."

Her Kaka had put all her worries to rest.

"You haven't eaten anything, have you?" He admonished as he coaxed her to open her mouth and fed her a morsel.

"I'm not hungry, KaKa," Anu spoke between chewing her food.

"Keep quiet and eat. It's bad manners to talk while eating." He placed another piece of roti dipped in shahi paneer in her mouth. "Didn't anyone teach you that?"

Anu smiled. Tears of joy threatened to ruin her makeup. She had spent three hours restlessly fidgeting while the beauticians had painstakingly fixed her hair and done up her face. Everyone told her she looked like an angel. She personally felt she resembled a ghost.

It was only when Anuj had complimented her looks that her fears had been laid to rest.

"GK," Anuj came looking for him. "Mr. Keshubhai Patel is here to meet you."

GK pointed to the plate he was holding out. Shaking his head, Anuj took the plate from his hand. "I'll feed Anu, you go and chat with your friend."

"He's not just my friend Anuj, he's also the ex-Chief Minister of Gujarat."

Anuj smiled. The world might consider GK, Anand Kapadia's employee but he was a force to reckon with.

As GK handed Anuj the plate and moved away, Anu's eyes turned wide like saucers.

"You're related to the royal family of Baroda, Kaka is best friends with Keshubhai Patel, now don't tell me Mr. Narendra Modi will be coming to our wedding."

"He did say he would try."

Anu coughed and spluttered. Anuj hastily placed the plate down and lifted a glass of water to her lips while gently tapping her back. As the cough subsided, Anu glared at him.