THE SECRET OF HAPPINESS

3

Later that evening, the sounds of laughter echoed from Aarav's suburban house in Santa Clara. The wedding madness had set in. Few of the relatives from nearby states of US had arrived in California to visit his family. Wedding card invites, phone invites and costume discussion were the topics of the hour. Some wanted to dance, few wanted to drink, and most of them wanted a grand reception in India. Aarav always felt pre-wedding plans to be suffocating. All he wanted was a simple wedding. However, being the only son in his family, his parents wanted a big wedding just like his sister's wedding in India. Everybody wanted his opinion in everything. All he wanted was to call Simran. Simran took three months leave of absence for the wedding. He could not do it because their client project was at final stages. He missed her at the office. Her smile could make his day. Sneaking quietly into his bathroom, he dialled her number in his phone.

'Hello, honey bunch' said Simran in her chirpy voice.

'Hello' said Aarav embarrassed. Even on the phone, she could make his voice seem powerless.

'How is the wedding prep going? I am off to check out the saris next week. My parents will come to your house after that' she grinned.

'Okay' he replied meekly.

'Are you okay? You do not sound good' she asked sounding concerned.

'Yeah, I am fine. Isha has invited us for lunch next week. You have not met her. So I thought we could go' he whispered to avoid his relatives.

'Yeah, I want to meet here too. She is my sister- in -law too, I guess' she said.

'Aarav, come downstairs for dinner' his mother called.

'Simran, I have to go. I love you' he said softly.

'I love you and miss you too hubby' she replied.

He hung up on the phone. He felt good. He realized that there is one month and three weeks left for the wedding. He was the last one of his three friends. Walking downstairs, he thought to himself that love is a temporary insanity, curable by marriage.

Later that night, Isha sat on her bed reading a self-help book on parenting. She was reading and looking at Rishi work in his laptop at the same time. He was humming 'Strangers in the night' by Frank Sinatra while working on his patient's diabetic chart. She smiled and started to hum in harmony. Rishi looked at her surprised, closed his laptop at his table, and walked towards her. He sat next to her in bed, all the while continuing to hum the song.

'Okay Romeo, what do you want to name the baby?' she looked at him fluttering her eyes.

'If it is a baby girl, Rima is a good name. If it is boy, Shivaay is cool' he explained.

Deep in thought 'Okay, I like that. It sounds nice. Right now, I am thinking about Aarav's wedding too. I am planning to wear the sari my mother gifted me' she replied.

'Well, I saw Aarav's wedding card. I do not think we should go. It is around the time of your due date. Besides, they can come here after the wedding' Rishi said seriously.

'No, WE will go and I do not care. It is the last wedding. I want to celebrate' she said slapping him playfully.

'Okay, I am just concerned for your health ma'am' Rishi moved away to switch off the lampshade next to the bed.

'Rishi, I love you' she said gently stroking his hair.

'Good night, Isha' he turned away to the other side.

Rishi's attitude was annoying at times. She knew he would turn around tomorrow. Nevertheless, right now, she felt terrible and closed her eyes deeply sad. Love is not always about being with someone, sometimes it is about the distances.