Daastan [#MissionDesi]

Chapter 20

I followed them. Anil stood behind Sujatha comforting her.

"Sujatha.."I blurted out.

She turned back, so did Anil.

"I need to talk to you," I looked pointedly at her, "Alone."

Anil excused himself and went away.

"I'm sorry for Amma's behaviour but..."

"No Arvind," she cut in,"I don't blame Amma for what happened back there. I would have done the same thing if I was in her place."

She wiped her tears and continued, "Hey let's forget what happened and go back and enjoy the wedding."

"Well, forgetting is your thing, not my son's," Amma's voice shooted up an octave from behind me.

I turned around and looked at Amma with pleading eyes.

She took the hint and shuffled off to Rama's room.

Sujatha's eyes shrouded with tears filling to the brim, looking for an escape. She sniffed and gulped them back.

I offered her my handkerchief and taking it she wiped her eyes, blowing her nose into it. I stiffled a smile. It reminded me of the good old days. She gave it back to me and I said,"Oh no! You keep it. You'll be needing it for later when the oh-so-cute moments of bride and groom will come up."

She stuck her tongue out at her stupidity and apologized, "I'll wash it and give it back to you."

I shook my head and said, "No. You keep it."

For a moment, our eyes held each other but then the shrieks of children cut in and we both looked away. She said, "I need to find Anil." That cut a hole through my heart and dejectedly I walked with her by my side.

When we were back, Amma came upto me while Sujatha, to avoid an argument, went looking for Anil.

Rama was flanked by aunts and sisters, each of them carrying lit lamps in their hands. Vinayak was accompanied by his clan of ladies to the stage. When he saw Rama,he stood there open mouthed, for once not cracking his lame jokes on Rama.

Since dad had passed away, I brought a thali (mangalsutra) and Vinayak tied it around Rama's neck. He then applied kumkum (red powder) filling in the portion where her hair was parted above her forehead. The ceremony started with Jaimala where the couples exchanged garlands made of orange and yellow marigold flowers, twice. I then held her hand and placed it over Vinayak's, a symbol of giving away the daughter.

Vinayak took Rama's hand and they circled the stage thrice amidst the cheerful shouts of the relatives and guests. Sujatha who had been standing beside me through the ceremony, looked at me with a sad smile, my white handkerchief dabbing away at her moist eyes.

Anil got a call and he left after whispering in Sujatha's ear.

Sujatha came by my side. She said, "It must have been tough letting your sister go the first time she got married."

Amma cut in "Yes it did. But then again there are many things in his life he had to let go."

Sujatha held my gaze a little longer and whispered a sorry. I looked away, afraid that my eyes would betray me.

Amma took me by my arm without even glancing at Sujatha. We stood with Rama and Vinayak while Hiya snapped our pictures with her camera. Her eyes darting around, Hiya went to Sujatha and half dragged her making her stand beside me. Amma standing between Rama and I turned stiff, her eyes glaring at Sujatha.

Hiya gave the camera to my cousin and stood between Rama and Vinayak, all smiles.

"Smileeee" and with the click of a finger, we were all trapped in a single frame, Amma sternly looking at the camera, Sujatha and I gazing at each other while Hiya was enveloped in a warm embrace by her parents.

"Thank you for attending our wedding once again!" Vinayak said. "Oh no need. I just wanted to surprise you both, not expecting a surprise waiting for me," Amma said eyeing Sujatha. "Amma, leave it for a while. Its my wedding! Don't ruin it please," pleaded Rama with tear filled eyes.

Amma smiled and she wiped Rama's eyes with her pallu.

"Thank God Amma, the eyeliner is waterproof or else by now Rama would be throwing a fit!" Vinayak chuckled. Rama playfully punched his arm.

The crowd was thinning and I stood at the windows, a glass of pepsi in my hand, looking over at the now sleeping city. Little lights over the top of the buildings, here and there, marked them off like the pins sticking on maps.

The fragrance of jasmine drifted over to me and I looked at her beautiful face beside me, which held no traces of the past but it was a face of a more mature woman, wise with new experiences. Her eyes looked dreamy.

"What was it like?" she said.

"What was what?" I said, my brows knitting together.

"Our wedding day." Her jet black eyes held the impending storm which was threatening to destroy our barriers. I didn't say anything, letting the silence fill in the void.

"Arvind, Can I see you again tomorrow?" she said.