aurore - an unusual love story √

part fifty

Jai stared awkwardly at Sonara.

Embarrassed, she tried hard to brush off the vermilion from her face.

Jai ducked his head into the car and brought out a bottle of water.

" Wash it, if you are uncomfortable. "

" No, thanks. "

Sonara got inside the car.

Jai too got in, even more surprised.

" Why? "

Humaira was asleep, and carefully placed on the backseat now.

It was seven in the evening, the entire Mukherjee house and others were preparing for the idol immersion. But Jai never remained a part of it. He found it typically saddening to see the source of everyone's happiness..... go into the water all of a sudden.

Sonara remained silent for sometime.
Then slowly uttered,

" I've seen in movies that the sindur is only washed when the husband dies. "

Sonara hardly even realised what she spoke, until he found a horrified Jai staring at her face.

She found her throat dry. She looked away.

Jai looked away too. Things were not very usual today, and hence he was in no mood to derive meanings of horrifyingly complicated statements.

However, a thorn as if pricked his throat for a moment.

" I thought...your husband was already dead. "

Did his voice tremble for a moment? He breathed faster. Everything seemed fragile and impalpable.

" I....don't know what I just said. I will wash it once I get home. " , Sonara too shivered within.

Without any explainable reason.

Jai started the car as quickly as he could.

And the entire journey went wordless.

Nor could Sonara complain against Jai's behaviour in the afternoon, nor could Jai explain the cause of his abrupt idea of changing Sonara's identity completely before his friend.

_____

Next morning

Sonara had left for work early in the morning.

Because she hardly wanted any car to drop her to the confectioneries. It was typically weird.

Last night went awkward. She had retired to her room with her daughter, and not even came out for dinner. Everything had jumbled up in her brain..

Was Allah signalling her something? Or was she grabbing all signals wrong, because her heart and brain wanted those to be true?

The confectionery had just opened. Mr Shergil wasn't there. Three workers had arrived. Cashier Lataa, and two sweepers.

Sonara smiled at Lataa, who smiled back only, without exchanging words.

Sonara took her position, the exact position she had left some days ago. She hoped she was not moved.

Humaira was not with her today. Sonara was confused, yet relieved, when Nandini asked her to leave the baby with her in the house.
If she could leave her with Kanta's mother, she was sure the Raichand Mansion was a safer place.

Nandini had insisted her to stay till breakfast was ready, but she couldn't. She didn't want to face Jai, because she knew he would definitely dump her inside one of his expensive cars.