Bombay Romance ♡ COMPLETED

[ 23 ] Letters that Break ■

There is an indefinite power cut at Gokula Chawl. It is quarter past eleven at night; the usual time it takes for Rukmini to finally lie down after cooking dinner, washing the utensils and cleaning the kitchen area. Damodar and Savitri sleep in the tiny adjoining room and her sisters are fast asleep on the old bed rolled out on the ground.

She spreads out an old cane mat for herself and places a lantern beside her. She reaches into her handbag and pulls out an old Marathi novel, torn at the edges. It is one of her mother's second-hand book collections, which she dearly loves. She takes out an inland letter hidden amongst its old, slightly yellow-turned page. She unfolds it carefully and smoothens out its creases. It's been a week since it arrived. She reads it every day before going to sleep.

Hello Darling,

Thank you for writing back! I was scared that you never would. But don't write to my station address. It might get lost somewhere between all the other complaint letters. Write it to my house address only.

You know what, I saw you for three seconds yesterday. Such a great thing na! You were wearing a blue saree and two plaits. I am remembering how beautiful you looked as I write this.

I watched a cricket match live on Saturday, at the Royal Willingdon Club. It is a posh club near Tulsiwadi. The match was between India and England. But I couldn't watch the entire match. You know how our work is; we have work on weekdays, weekends, holidays ... every day. India won though!

The club is really nice. It has a big golf lawn and stadiums for all sports! I wish you could see it too. There was a large pond also, with many birds swimming in it. I never knew there was a place like that in Bombay until now! Like a place where poets sit and write poems about beautiful girls like you.

Your choti madam told me you like Rajesh Khanna. Is it true? I think those kids also said the same thing that day. Which is your favourite movie of his? Mine is Raaz, and Haathi mere Saathi. Many people will vote for Aradhana, but I hate tragedies.

She also told me you are sweet, innocent and very kind-hearted. It is quite a difficult opinion to earn, yaar! People don't get a good opinion of anyone so easily.

Rukmini, at that place near the pond, all I could think about was you; about your eyes. And your smile, which I have seen only once till now. You have the most beautiful eyes in the world. I realized it when I saw you for the first time. I wish you looked at me more. I wish I could talk to you, in person. I wish I could hold your hand and tell you about what happened throughout the day. Everyday. I don't know why, but I really want to.

I like you. I really, really like you. As always, you are too shy to even look at me. Do you feel the same for me?

I know I have a bad reputation, as you might have heard from everyone in the chawl by now. But what I am saying is true. I do like you. I am not able to look at any other girl ever since I saw you; it is not a lie. 

If you are blushing as you read this, my day is made. But you don't need to tell me your opinion immediately. Take your time. 

Eagerly waiting for your reply,

Yours truly

Muralidhar

PS: I forgot, I have started reducing smoking. I used to smoke five or six cigarettes per day. Last week I smoked only three times! Do you think it is a good change?

Rukmini holds the letter to her chest, closes her eyes and smiles, her mind replaying each sentence. Her mother used to say that too, that she has the most beautiful eyes in the entire world.