Will She Be Mine (22 page)

I pacified the autorikshaw driver and paid him some money before he could create further ruckus. He went away murmuring something unpalatable about women driving cars in peak traffic.

“RK!” Shalini shouted. “Get in, quick!”

She never did give much choice or maybe I never dared ask for one as long as there was an opportunity to be near her. The evening office traffic had started piling up behind her stationary vehicle. Hot engines of scores of cars snarled as horns blared all around. I quickly jumped beside her and urged her to start.

“You've managed to create quite a traffic jam,” I pointed out.

“Sorry about that- but thanks. You arrived on time.”

“Did you hit his autorikshaw by any chance? I wasn’t paying attention.”

“No. Forget him,” she said in her characteristic manner. “By the way, I bought this car only today- it’s my second car,” she announced happily, holding the steering wheel proudly in her hands. “Will take me some time to get used to it. It’s quite big and unmanageable.”

Sensing the commotion outside, she quickly shifted the car into gear and eased away from the curb. The din fell away as she pressed the gas.

“It’s good,” I said in a subdued voice, turning around to look at the luxurious interior.

Earlier, I’d seen such magnificent cars only from outside, from a distance, as others drove past. It seemed like sacrilege to even touch such cars with one’s dirty hands to feel the sheen of the glossy metal- and here she was driving one! It was really quite big and spacious. She was having difficulty maneuvering it in the busy traffic. It meant that the car I’d seen her drive from my balcony was her first one. I didn't even know when she’d bought that.

“You bought it today?” I asked dumbly.

“Correct! I bought it today and you're the first one to see it and get a joyride. I drove straight down to your office after getting the keys. Rags couldn’t make it as I sent her somewhere else,” she added, referring to her sister.

Her arrival had infused the air with energy and exuberance. I felt touched to be the first person she’d remembered after buying her new car and also somewhat guilty for harboring amorous thoughts about her mother.

“Where are we going?” I asked at last as she pulled into a deserted road and hit the gas hard. The car purred like a mountain cat and leaped forward powerfully.

“Don't disturb me. This beast's difficult to manage. I shouldn't hit anybody on my first day out with it. There's still time. I'll explain everything later.”

“There's still time for what?”

“Before the marriage bureau closes. The clerk at the marriage court might be around still.” She glanced into the rearview mirror overhead before leaving her lane to overtake the car in front. “I know we’re a little late- but Rags is holding fort. I sent her there.” A frown entered her eyes as she braked hard to avoid hitting a car that suddenly slowed down in front of her. “One can't plan anything these days because of the damn traffic.”

Why was Ragini waiting at the marriage bureau? Things were moving too fast. I just failed to understand Shalini’s way of thinking or her approach to life.

“Is Ragini marrying?” I asked cautiously. “Why did you send her there?”

She glanced at me momentarily but kept driving without replying.

“Whose marriage is it?” I repeated.

“Obviously ours. You do seem to ask odd questions sometimes.” She tilted her head towards me. “I'm known to be true to my word. Didn’t I say so before?”

Obviously. I should have guessed it was our marriage, even without asking had I been in the right frame of mind.

“Watch out!” I gasped as she nearly hit a scooter. She quickly turned her head back to the traffic ahead. “Ours!” I exclaimed as the news sank in. It
was
indeed
news! “But you never told me.”

“What was there to tell, RK? We've discussed it so many times before. What was there to add?” she asked, as if it was a foregone conclusion that we’d marry today. “Isn't that the reason you shifted from Bangalore to take up a job here- because I said we'd marry the day you landed in Delhi?” As I gaped at her, she smiled with a blink of her eyes. “Now will you shut up and let me concentrate on my driving? You talk too much and sometimes- I’m sorry to say- it’s mostly rubbish.”

“That’s okay- but it’s kind of sudden.”

“Why sudden? I've a promise to keep. You reminded me so many times after landing in Delhi. You filled up my official mailbox with mails.”

“But-”

“Look here, RK. Make up your mind. You've wanted to marry me for a decade and proposed half a dozen times already. Now when I'm ready, you call it sudden. Didn’t I travel all the way to Bangalore to propose myself, even if it was a few years back? Wasn't marriage the next logical step? We’re already late.”

“I know.”

“I’m sorry things took longer than we expected. You arrived in Delhi a few months ago, but I was actually waiting for this car. It was one of the goals I’d set myself. Before marrying, I wanted to buy a big car.”

We drove on in silence for a while.

“By sudden I meant we should marry in the traditional way,” I stammered at last, courageously breaking the silence.

“A traditional wedding would be too time consuming- and risky. Court marriage would be fastest.”

I didn't know whether to laugh or feel panicky. What would my parents- especially father- think if they heard I’d run away to marry? Was this her way of giving me a surprise? Well I didn't mind being hijacked, but I thought of our families. What would they think? Otherwise my life's dream was about to come true and there was nothing for me to complain. Wasn't this what I’d wanted all along?

“What about witnesses?”

“I told you Rags is already there at the marriage bureau. Besides her, I've also asked an office colleague to be present.”

“You could have at least informed me earlier, Shalini. After all, it’s my marriage too. Don't you think you've taken me for granted? We’re equals in love.”

“Cut out those melodramatic dialogues. I kept ringing you the whole of yesterday and again today, but you didn't answer the phone. What could I do?”

I didn’t venture a reply, thinking about my utter restlessness of the last few days.

“So I decided to reach your office today when office broke for the day, to catch you on your way out,” she continued. “I took so many pains, but you didn't even answer your phone all these days. Why, RK?”

I sighed, feeling defensive. “I was in a quality training at a hotel. Only returned after lunch to the office today. Did you try my phone after lunch?”

“I also left you voice mail several times.”

“I didn't check my voice mail,” I replied sheepishly, omitting to add how directionless I’d been over the last few days. “But you could have called me on my cellphone. I’ve one now and also sent you the number over email.”

“Sorry dear, I’m not as well organized as you, to copy phone numbers from emails to my cellphone. You should have texted me.”

“How could I? You never shared your cellphone number. Why, may I ask?”

She gave a sheepish but sweet smile. “If I had, you’d have troubled me all the time in office. Can you think of anything else but me?”

I stared at her fondly. She was aware of the intensity with which I loved her, and yet appeared to be aloof and acted so unconcerned at times, almost difficult to get.

“You’re right, I can’t think of anything but you,” I admitted honestly.

“Don’t worry; I’ll give you my cellphone number today. Guess I can’t avoid it anymore,” she said with an impish look. “O boy, am I glad I found you at the car park,” she added happily, blushing faintly. “Or we might have got delayed further and missed the marriage clerk altogether despite so much planning.”

“I'm glad too, or you may never have found me.”

She slowed down the car. “What do you mean?”

“I was so sad when you avoided taking my calls that I wondered if jumping from my office window would end all seuffering. I considered the thought closely today.”

“What!” She drew the car to a side of the road and stopped. “I'm sorry if you thought I was ignoring you, RK. I'm really sorry I hurt you. I didn't even realize it.” She shook her head as if to clear a daze. “Don’t think like an idiot again, about ending life. What’s there to think so negatively? Am I not in front of you? And see, we’re going to our marriage. There’s so much excitement all around. How can you feel gray? Cheer up!”

Despite myself, I smiled. I was indeed an idiot as she’d lovingly said.

“I care only for you and will always be by your side wherever you go, whenever you need me,” she added in a loving tone as she fidgeted with the steering of the stationary car. “You should start understanding and realizing this, RK. Do you know what your problem is?”

“What?”

“You're too focused on physical nearness. The moment you don't see me or hear from me, you tend to break down.”

I thought about it. Maybe she was right.

“Become stronger mentally,” she added. “I'm always there for you even if I'm not physically around. Always remember that.”

She wiped the tear coursing down my cheek while I stopped her eyes from flooding. I’d never imagined she could be emotional, my little business woman. Then she resumed driving and soon we reached the court.

Ragini flashed a huge smile as I emerged from the car while Shalini resumed her businesslike front.

“Rags, did you speak to the priest not to leave?” she asked her sister. “And the registrar? I hope he’s still around?”

Ragini nodded. “He is, but there was no priest here. I brought one from a nearby temple.”

Shalini smiled at me proudly. “Isn’t she smart? And resourceful?”

Ragini held up her hand to interrupt the joking. She was clutching a camera in her hand. With a pang I remembered the expensive video camera I’d purchased in America. Had I known about my wedding, I’d not have damaged it, I thought ruefully.

“Let me finish,” Ragini said. “I spoke to the registrar about the delay and he agreed to wait. Any day a bribe is more attractive to these officials than their regular salary.” She paused to look from me to her sister. “But you’re both quite late, beyond sane limits. I called Shell’s cellphone but there was no response. What happened?”

“I was driving with full concentration. It’s difficult to manage such a big car in the traffic and answer the phone at the same time. I forgot my hands-free device at home today,” Shalini explained, turning to regard her new car proudly. Her sister patted the car and peaked inside with relish, going around it admiringly.

“Wow!” was all she said finally. “Amazing car!” She turned to her sister excitedly. “This calls for a joyride!”

“Later, on another day,” Shalini said promptly. “Today, only RK gets joyrides. By the way, have you told the registrar we’ve arrived?”

“Not yet. I think he’ll demand a further bribe since you’re late,” she said, consulting her watch, and then catching sight of me, winked. “I don't mind the bribe but I guess this means I'd remain a bachelor for life.”

“Why?” I asked suspiciously.

“Because I'm marrying you,” Shalini explained with a laugh, pinching me. “Didn't you understand her meaning? There’s still time for you to decide.”

“Decide what?”

“Well, she’s prettier, in a flirting mood, and ready- and we’re standing right in front of the marriage bureau,” she replied in a mirthful tone. “Take your pick now- which sister do you want?”

Ragini broke out laughing.

“Stop pulling my leg,” I said annoyed. “You both are crazy, speaking whatever comes to mind. How can you talk like that on a solemn occasion?”

“Father calls us headstrong,” Ragini said helpfully at which her sister laughed again. “You called us crazy. In a way you both are right.”

“Stop it, Rags,” Shalini admonished. “He’s in no mood for all this.”

I’d been walking in a dream so far, led by Shalini. But my mind had struggled all along to make sense of the sequence of events and the rapid developments taking place in my life.

“What happened?” Shalini asked, seeing my steps falter. Her colleague from the office had joined us by this time.

“This should be done properly,” I insisted, choosing to put my foot down at last. “This is the first marriage in your family,” I said. “Only your sister is present. On my side it’s okay, as it’s not the first marriage in our family. My brother Sujat is already married and so is my sister, Madhubala. Both were married with traditional pomp. I think we should go the traditional way too. Let it be time consuming. I'm in no great hurry.”

“Aren't you?” she asked with a glint in her eyes, but I ignored her mischievous look.

“This might not be the right time for a traditional wedding. Mother would oppose the marriage if she hears who the groom is,” Ragini confided. “Father is anyway busy with the cops. We had a burglary recently and are facing harassment over recovering our own things which we lost in the robbery.”

“Why?” I asked, unaware of the burglary. I did remember mother saying something about a burglary taking place in the neighborhood recently. Had she been referring to the Nanda household?

“Oh, it’s the usual story of incompetent, corrupt goons in every state,” Shalini said jovially. “It’s nothing unique about a particular city’s police force. They’re the same everywhere, from north to south and east to west.”

“They're all citizens of this land,” I said in agreement. “But what happened at your place?”

“We were all away at our respective chores during the day. Someone possible kept tabs on us and took the opportunity to burgle the house while we were away.”

“Do you keep a lot of cash in the house?”

“Thanks to her,” Ragini nodded towards her sister. “Mother has told many of our neighbors about her rich daughter's high salary and ambitious plans to buy a house soon, and the big car she’d booked. She already had one car. Word about affluence travels fast. The maidservant might have overheard mother or maybe someone else did and decided to act.”

“But who’s harassing you folks?”

“Forget it, RK,” Shalini interrupted, brushing the topic aside. “We're here to celebrate something good today, not discuss corrupt officials.”