Is Love Enough ??

Chapter 9

Anika had been going to her mother's room to confirm if the girls who were supposed to come and start working on her trousseau were coming today when she had heard her mother's voice. Loud. As if she was yelling at someone. And Anika had wondered what had compelled her mother to lose her temper in such a manner. Curiosity as to what was happening had urged her to come downstairs. She had been halfway down the stairs when she had heard another voice. Calm. Quiet. Sweet. Kirti. And she had paused in her step. It was Kirti's voice. Her sister's voice. She could recognize that one voice from far. She had come. Despite the fact that she had said she wasn't sure, she had come. Anika had felt happy. Kirti had honored her request or threat or whatever she had said to her on the phone the other day. She was here. That realization had made her go bounding down the remaining steps. The second she saw Kirti she exclaimed delightedly.

"You came," she said happily and moved towards her. Her mind not registering the pained look in her sister's eyes nor the stormy one on her mother's face. She was maybe a little slow to catch on the tension in the room. But it didn't matter. At least not at this point. She went all the way up to Kirti and hugged her. Tightly. She felt the surprise in her sister's response as her body stiffened, as if she hadn't been expecting such a welcome. And then slowly Anika had felt Kirti relax a little and hug her back. It had been so long. Two years since she had seen Kirti. At that she had broken away and looked at her sister. Her eyes going up and down.

"You look the same," Anika chimed, "no difference," she said and then smiled, "it has been so long, I had thought you would have started to resemble someone I would never recognize," she said with zest, "but not bad...not bad at all di," she told Kirti with a grin, "you somehow still manage to look amazing," she said and then laughed lightly.

"Thanks Niks," Kirti responded naturally, "you haven't changed a bit either," she said as she looked over her sister, "I would have thought arranged marriage would maybe put a damper on you but...you are looking very happy, very nice," she said with an appreciative smile. It was hard not to respond to her sister's charm. Anika seemed genuinely happy to see her. As was she.

"Well..." Anika started when she heard her mother's strict voice interrupt.

"You invited her?" Kamal asked still unable to understand why Anika had gone behind their backs to do something so stupid.

Anika turned to look at her mother. And it hit her. She hadn't told her mother about it. Yet. And now that Kirti was here, it was a little late.

"So how is it?" Anika asked as she sat cross legged on her sister's bed and Kirti hung her clothes in the cupboard.

"How is what?" Kirti asked without turning around.

"Living day in and day out with... him," Anika said stressing on the word 'him'.

And Kirti turned around to give her sister a dour look.

"He is amazing," she said levelly.

"But he is so arrogant," Anika went on,"how do you put up with him?" she asked curiously.

"It is not right for you to assume he is arrogant or cynic or anybthing else,' she reprimanded lightly.

"Come on di," Anika chuckled even as she scooped a spoonful of ice cream in her mouth,"every one knows what he is like," Anika went on,"tell me, if I am lying," she challenged.

"Then why don't you go ask everyone what it would be like to live with him day in and day out," Kirti said defensively. How she hated such presumptions. There was so much more to a person than he or she displayed to others. But people being people...

"Come on di," Anika said refusing to be brushed off, "I am serious, okay, forget about others, tell me," she insisted, "I want to know," she said putting her bowl of ice cream to the side,"how is it like living with a man under the same roof when you have never had that kind of experience? That too away from family...just the two of you. What is it like? I will be married in a week, you can give me tips," she said with a hopeful expression on her face.