I slept back on sofa, eyes closed, felt so relaxed. I loved the caring and pampering provided by Preeti.
Blinking light of laptop, showing dying battery, reminded me of my pending work. I pulled the laptop and connected back to vpn to finish assigned tasks.
At dinner, dad complimented mom for the dal and jeer rice, which Preeti cooked. Mom told him about Preeti and the help offered by her.
“These punjabi’s certainly know how to cook”, I sad while chewing the delicious food. “No wonder, Punjabi food is so popular over the world”, dad said nodding
“It is not like that, even Maharashtrian food is equally popular”, Mom said disapproving us.
Mom kept talking about the preparations that were taking place for the naming ceremony which eventually cut Preeti’s topic.
Next day, Mom stayed back at home.
By 11.30, many of my relatives showed up to see me and my broken leg. Everybody was curious to look at the plaster and right down their ‘get well soon’ messages on it.
Preeti came home by 12.45. She was surprised to see so many people at home, especially when she was expecting no-one.
“So you are the sweet accidental disaster is it?”, one of my cousin asked. While my aunty asked her, “Are you the city library girl?”
“Yes, why?”, surprised, Preeti asked
“I remember you”, Aunty said, “You helped me to get the Sanjeev Kapoor’s cooking book ahead of the queue.”
“You only had to tell me you are relative of Tarun and I could have brought the book even before that book leaved the publication house”
Preeti must have thought that. I read her mind clearly. She looked at me and I looked back into her eyes.
You see, this is a very secretive language that every person in love knows how to speak. Nobody has to teach it, you fall in love and you will start speaking thousand words without saying it actually. You convey your emotions through your eyes.
“You are soo cute”, my another teenage cousin complimented Preeti.
I introduced Preeti to all my relatives as my friend. My super-talkative aunty asked naughtily “Just a friend?”
“Of-course Vimala”, my mom cut her off, “She is friend of Tarun. Tarun helped her in her computer project and that is why she is helping him back. After all she is Punjabi”
“So what? World is at doorstep now. People are getting married with a bride / groom staying seven seas across”, aunty replied
“It’s not, that is why, Preeti is helping me mom”, I thought to say.
Preeti, my aunts and cousin sisters soon found a common area of interest, some pathetic daily soaps to discuss and later mom too joined them. My broken leg was no more their problem now. They had a bigger problem to discuss, shanti was kicked out of her house, somebody’s in-laws were playing some con game whereas some Kapoor was about to betrayed by his business partner.
I sighed and pulled my laptop to check my inbox.
***************
It was then the usual practice for everybody. With mom out for the naming ceremony preparation, Preeti took care of household. Mom was not that comfortable with Preeti, for the reason that she was the cause of my accident. On the other hand, my dad got used to her quickly. When he and Preeti were together, I could see them chit-chatting and enjoying the time.
One day they actually ordered chicken. My mom is a pure veg and she can’t even stand for eating non-veg in home. But with mom’s absence it was we who ruled the home.
***************
It was a strike of Public transport and auto-rickshaws in demand of increase in fair rates. It was a unplanned strike and lot many people suffered because of the sudden non-availability of transports. My mom was one of them. She had a plan of going to market for usual retail purchases as well as the gifts purchases to be given on the naming ceremony. That includes saree, cloths, jewelry, kids outfits and other usual stuff. She was frustrated that she won’t be able to finish the work as planned.
I secretly signaled Preeti asking if she is okay to go with her.
For rest of the day mom and Preeti were out in the market. I was able to move around conveniently, as the plaster was taken off.
When they came back, they both looked tired, their hands filled with lots of shopping bags. They were constantly talking about the shopping, the sarees that they liked but hadn’t bought, the discounts that they got etc. etc.
“Thank you Preeti”, my mom said holding hand of Preeti in one hand. “I certainly do get bored at times shopping all alone. It was fun to be with you. And your tiny scooty helped a lot as well.”
“No problem mummi jee”, Preeti said, “Even I like shopping. Call me next time you get bored and we will go together.”
They both giggled.
“Can’t you wait for the dinner tonight?”, mom asked looking at the watch. It was close to 8.30
“No mummi jee, mom will be waiting home. She must be ready with the dinner and it will go waste if I don’t show up”, Preeti said
Preeti left, closing the door behind. I was about to pull the laptop ahead when my mobile beeped. There was one sms splitted into couple of one from Preeti that read, “There is this blue textured shirt in one of the gift-wrap that mumma got it for your cousin as a gift. I just loved that shirt, and I am sure it will suite you. We can buy another for your cousin”
No need to tell ya, I stole that shirt
***************
Things looked to be back on track, for a while, until that day.
I was working on providing the documentation to testing team when Preeti came in. She looked around to make sure that nobody is at home and then quickly jumped closed to me.
See this; she pointed me towards her tiny glittering nose-ring.
“Liked it?”, she asked me curiously.
It really looked awesome.
I was about to say something, just then it thundered outside.
I touched the ring gently and nodded.
It thundered again and in no time it started pouring. Preeti ran into the balcony to get a splash of rain water on her face. She came in with a pool of water in her hand and sprinkled some on my face.
“Wish you a very happy rain sweetie”, she said jumping with excitement.
“Do you know, this is the first rain of our lovely relationship? I wish we were in that rain together, hanging to each other.” She said dreamily.
“Come, let’s go”, I said pushing my laptop aside.
“Go? Where Tarun?” she said
“Terrace, let’s get drenched”, I said while getting up from my seat.
“Are you insane? Do you think your plaster is water-proof or what?”, she said pointing to my plaster.
“Hell with the plaster, we will get another one fixed. This is our first rain, and I don’t want to miss it”, I said pulling her towards the door.
We both went in the open-terrace, feeling the heavy water drops. The icy breeze was never so beautiful before. We stood there, eyes closed, holding each other, welcoming the rain. In no time, we were soaking wet.
Preeti held my hand and wrote “I luv u” using the water beads. I don’t know why girls want to do such crazy things, but let me tell you, this feels special. With the touch of her nails, her soft hand, I shivered.
We stood there for more than 15 minutes and then went back to our nest.
“Wait here, I will quickly change.” I said.
“Why do you have to go inside Tarun? You can change here. Are you feeling shy?”, Preeti said impishly.
“Well, you asked for it, don’t say I haven’t warned you”, saying that I pulled my T-shirt out and thrown it at her.
Just then we heard the door clicking and mom came in.
I was standing top-less. Mom looked at us, first to me then at Preeti and then back at me. Preeti was standing there; her face fixed looking down at her toes, not sure what to say or what to do. Water drops were sopping from her silky hair.
We stood there for approx. 2-3 awkward moments. Preeti slowly kept my T-shirt on sofa, then without looking up, picked her bag and left without saying a word.
Mom closed the door and said, “So this is how she was taking care, is it?”
“Mom..”
“Shut up Tarun, go get dressed first.”, she said feverishly, “Doesn’t she know your plaster is not waterproof? You have to replace it fast now”
“Mom, it was not her fault, I insisted..”
“Clean and dry yourself first, we will talk later”, saying that mom went inside.
Three of us, me, mom and dad were seating across center table.
“Tell me Tarun, what is going on between you and Preeti?”, mom asked me
This is the chance to speak your heart out. I thought to myself.
“Mom, we love each other”, I said “Love?? What is that college going girl know about Love Tarun?”, mom “Mom, Preeti is a matured girl”, I said “Matured? I saw that in afternoon. How can she take you in rain with your plaster on?”, mom
“Mom, I already told you, it was me who insisted on going in rain” “How can you love a girl who almost caused you to death”, mom “Mom, don’t go over that again. We all know, it was nobody’s fault. It was just an accident”
“Look Tarun, I don’t want to debate, but you also know it very well that there is no point in your relationship. We are against inter-cast marriage. Aren’t we?”, mom looked at dad who was quiet all this time
Dad thought for a moment and said, “Well yes, but I agree with Tarun, Preeti is a sensible girl. If she is ready to accustom to our traditions then what is the problem?”.
Mom was awe-struck
I almost jumped on seat. I thought to hug dad.
“Look, we were worried that our daughter-in-law, if from another cast or from another culture then we both will not be comfortable. But with Preeti, I doubt it will happen. I am already enjoying her company. World is changing, I guess, we should also change.”, dad said
“I don’t care about world. My home is my world, and I don’t think it is changing that fast.”, mom
“Come on mom, what is the problem? Is Preeti not a nice girl? Did she ever hurt you? You held her responsible for the accident, but she kept quiet isn’t it? I have to live my life, and it will be good if I will decide whom to get married. Dad agrees as well. Why are you doing this?” I was close to pleading
“Look, let’s do this thing. You meet her parents. They are nice people. Spend some more time with Preeti as if she is your daughter-in-law and then decide. Don’t hurry up the things”
“That make sense”, dad echoed my opinion.
“Well, if you and your dad agrees, then what is that for me to say? I will meet them, but that doesn’t mean I am agreeing to your marriage. Okay?”
I nodded.
