“Guys, we will be leaving in half an hour. Don’t be late. Hey Rashmi, can I talk to you for a moment?”
“What is it kunal?”
“Is Sukriti fine? Does she need anything?”
“She’s fine Kunal. We have had a nice week together and we have become friends. Don’t worry about her. She is doing great.”
“That’s good. Make sure she is fine.”
Kunal had changed after returning back from Noida. The kind of person he was, flirting around with everyone, asking every girl out, he wasn’t like this any more. He was just concerned about Sukriti now. Girls were flirting with him but he didn’t respond to them. He had changed. The Casanova had changed. All the way, he was just looking at Sukriti while every one else was busy enjoying.
They all reached the farmhouse for the wedding. For everyone it was a holiday, for Sukriti it was a compulsion to attend the wedding and for Kunal it was a chance to come close to Sukriti. Kunal took two glasses of wine and headed towards the pool where Sukriti was standing.
“Here, this is for you. I saw you empty handed.”
“Thanks.” Sukriti gave him a weak smile and took the glass. She was just looking down at the water.
“So, how are you?”
“I am good. So you sent Rashmi to take care of me.”
“What? I-I…..I”
“It’s okay. She didn’t tell me anything. I figured it out. You guys are friends and you have been trying to be my friend. So you let Rashmi be my friend first. Any ways whatever it is, Thanks. Because of you I got a friend here.”
“Rashmi is my best friend. And she is a great person. No body gets me the way she does.”
“She is.”
“Well, what do you think of me?”
“Excuse me?”
“I mean, you know Rashmi now. You think we can be friends?”
“Maybe.”
“There is an event tomorrow. Would you like to go there? Trust me, you’d love it.”
“So we will be out of this noise pollution?”
“Yes, till evening. We will be back for the marriage in time.”
“Okay.”
The next day Kunal took her to an art exhibition. He knew she loves painting. So he took her there. Looking at the exhibition her face got brightened. She was happy. It was the first time Kunal saw her smiling. She had this innocence on her face that Kunal couldn’t help but wonder how cruel her husband must have been who did all this to such an innocent girl. It felt like Sukriti had forgotten everything. She was so much involved in the exhibition. She told Kunal many things about art. It was clear from her face that she was having a great time. After the exhibition he took her for lunch. She was actually talking that day for the first time. Kunal didn’t find it hard to think what he is going to talk to her like before. It felt like they both knew each other well.
“So, would you like to go back now or want to stay out for some more time?”
“Is it necessary to go back now?”
“Let me think.” Kunal made a serious face as if he was actually thinking and then in a very serious tone he said “I don’t think it is.” For a moment she thought he had said they had to go back but then she bursted out into laughter. He was so happy to watch her laugh. He wanted the time to stop there so that he can just watch her laughing like this forever.
“I think we should go back. Else we will be late for the wedding.”
“Okay madam. As you say.”
He drove her back to the farm house. Every one was busy in the wedding preparations. Watching all that Sukriti was reminded of her own wedding and suddenly the smile on her face started fading away. She was again thinking about what happened with her. Kunal sensed something was wrong.
“Are you okay Sukriti?”
“Yeah, I am fine.”
“You don’t look fine. See if you don’t want to be here its okay, you don’t have to be. We can go out. You don’t need to be in this wedding.”
“You know about my past, right?”
Kunal wasn’t prepared to answer this. But at the same time he didn’t want to lie to her. “Yes, I do. And it has nothing to do with us, our friendship. Trust me, it’d be better if you don’t think about it right now. Forget about it and live in your present now. And the present says you have to get ready now. So go inside and get ready.”
She had nothing to say so she quietly went inside to get ready. After some time she came out with Rashmi. She was wearing a Saree. She looked beautiful. Kunal couldn’t take his eyes off her. He was just staring at her when Rashmi came to him and whispered in his ear to behave. Sukriti walked upto him and stood next to him.
“You were right.”
“What?”
“About the present thing. You were right. I should forget the past. This is what Anamika tells me to do. But you know it is not easy. Things happen and somehow they remind you of your past. And at that time you can’t help but just think about it.”
“It is not easy I know, but it is not impossible. You have got a great friend there. Anamika cares a lot about you. And now you have got two more friends, who also care about you. We all want you to be happy. Life doesn’t stop for anyone. You just have to keep going ahead. Now it is in your hands which path you choose for moving ahead. A path of misery and sorrow thinking about the past or a path of happiness thinking about the present and future.”
“Hmm, I ….. wait a sec. How do you know Anamika?” she gave him a stern look.
“Shhhhh…. Enjoy the wedding.”
They had a nice time at the wedding. She was happy. And watching her smile, he was happy too. After the wedding was over he asked Sukriti if she would like to go with him instead of going with everyone to which she agreed. They both went back together in Kunal’s car.
“I want to know you more. I would like to know the real Sukriti. The one you were before. The one who laughs and stays cheerful.”
“I am not that Sukriti anymore.”
“Yes, you are. I saw that Sukriti yesterday at the exhibition. It’s just that you have made yourself like this. You think that because what happened to you, you can’t be that cheerful girl again. So you are hiding that girl somewhere inside you.”
“I’d try.”
“I’ll help.”
He drove her back to Mumbai. Sukriti was opening up to Kunal. She was happy. He asked her, her address and took her to her place. As she got off the car, her smile went away. She just stood still in front of the gate. Kunal asked her to meet for lunch tomorrow but when Sukriti didn’t reply he got off the car too. There was a guy standing there at the gate.
“Hey, I’m Kunal. May I help you?” Kunal forwarded a hand to the guy.
He shook Kunal’s hand but kept on looking at Sukriti.
“Hello, I’m Anirudh.”
~To be continued~
