The sound of the pen scratching the paper filled the solemn room as a man and a woman were bent over the desk, filling in the lengthy forms. Both of them seemed to be on the same declaration entry.
I am at the present time _______
Age - ____
The man calmly scribbled 'Widower' and '40'. The woman with some trepidation finally finished the entries with an 'Unmarried' and '21'.
Across them, the marriage officer sat on his cushy chair as he silently waited for them. Over the years, he had seen countless couples, but never like this one. Most of the cases where it was like this, the woman generally feigned joy. Or sometimes they didn't. But it was the groom who was the happiest, radiant and shining like a child who got a new shiny toy. Always.
Not here though. Mr Neel Rajan was silent and morose while he signed the papers at the bottom. The officer observed the tall lean man with blue eyes as he collected the papers from both of them. He had a thin face and a good old-school chevron moustache with tinges of grey. Even his black hairs had a bit of white sprinkled in between. Ms Anu Sharma, however, was young. She had thick long hairs, tied in a braid that reached even below her shoulders. Her hairs had light in them, glowing even in the dim pale room. She seemed anxious, maybe even sad, but still, her face radiated a warmth that even perked up the officer. The only word that came to the officer's mind was beautiful. Overused but apt. Suddenly the officer felt uncomfortable in his chair and felt irked at the lucky bastard.
He finally asked them "Would you like to do the Solemnization here or at the nearby temple?"
The man nodded and replied, "Here."
"Who will be first?" The officer continued.
A moment of silence ensued. They both looked at each other, then at the 3 witnesses. Finally, the lady spoke in a low voice with just a small crack, "I, Anu Sharma, take thee, Neel Rajan, to be my lawful husband." No one noticed it, except the man.
All of those present turned towards the man who was watching the woman intently. Anu, on the other hand, had her head down, eyes on the floor. Finally, when he spoke, the voice was loud and calm, as he said, " I, Neel Rajan, take thee, Anu Sharma, to be my lawful wife."
No pomp and show. No bells and whistles. Still, like that, the marriage was done.
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The bride and the groom boarded the train at 5 PM the same day. Neel needed to reach the office the next day. He worked in a bank as an Investment Banker. Work was hectic, the hours were long but the pay was really good.
Thankfully, the train was practically empty. They had booked 2 berths, but the other berths lay vacant throughout the journey. As the train started its wheels, Neel glanced at his watch. If it ran on time they would reach in a few hours. Then he looked down at his lap and smiled. He smiled back.
A small child lay curled in a woollen blanket. The boy had his mother's brown hairs. But the tiny face had his father's blue eyes that stared back at him. Neel's eyes twinkled as he kept on watching his son for a while, all the while, a smile plastered on to the lean face. His wife sat across him. This was the first time she had noticed her husband smile since the short time they had known each other.
Neel finally looked up and their eyes met. With a hint of hesitation, he asked, "Would you like to have something? I am going to order tea from the pantry." She nodded.
"Tea?" He asked making sure. She nodded again. He got up, holding his son to his shoulders, and left.
She gazed at the setting sun. Soon they would reach her new home. Her heart started beating wildly and sweat clumped between her fingers. She gazed at the empty seat and then whispered to herself "He seems to be a nice man".
A lump formed in her throat. He seemed a nice man. But he was her husband. And night was near.
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Dear Readers, How do you feel about Anu and Neel?
I would love if you could only share your thoughts in a few lines
YOU ARE READING
A Heart of Stone with a Coat of Gold
General Fiction"I steal smiles, Anu. That's how I live. I stole the smile of an innocent cherry tree. One who I brought in my life only to then burn it to the ground. You, Reema, my mother all are the same for me. And I am afraid, soon, I will steal it from my son...
