THANKS A LOT FRNDZ…FR UR COMMENTS……..ALL THE PLEASURE GOES TO ARJUN , NETHRA….ND ESPECIALLY THERE FAMILY…WITHOUT THEM ….TIS STORY WILL NOT BE HERE
Episode – V
I interrupted and said, “Thanks, I don’t want any “But”. We can be friends
even after marriage”
She said, “To be friends we don’t need a marriage”
I said, “Very true, anyway my parents will get me married to another girl
and she will become
possessive and will ask me not to talk to you or meet you. I can’t listen
to that and she’ll ask
who is important Nethra or I. I’ll say Nethra and she’ll quarrel and my
life will become more
miserable. I prefer to share a life of dissension with you than to share it
with someone else”
She said, “Thanks for saying that I’m important, but still I have an
aversion towards marriage”
I said, “You’ll get over the aversion soon. Be ready for the wedding and
I’ll take care of the rest”
I was happy to know that she likes me and I said to myself, “I have to make
her love me too.
hmmm interesting task”
The wedding took place as per our customs and practices and everything went
on well. All Our
relatives left leaving 6 of us in the house which included Mom, dad,
Adithi, Mithra, Nethra and I.
After dinner we all sat in the sofa and watched TV and were talking about
the days happenings.
Adithi and Mithra went to Adithi’s room to sleep. Dad asked us to go to our
room and Mom
accompanied us till the room.
Before she could enter the room Nethra held my mom’s hand and said “Aunty,
I’m scared”
Mom said, “There’s nothing to be scared about. Everything will be fine soon”
She asked, “Aunty, Can I address you as Mom from now on?”
My Mom said, “No issues, you can address me as you prefer. But I am
desirous to be
addressed as Granny and please grant me that wish soon. Family planning is
between the
husband and wife. I just told you my desire” saying this she kissed her on
her forehead and
asked, “What does the mangal sutra mean to you now”
She said, “I don’t know, I haven’t thought about it. It’s a custom so I’m
wearing it.”
Mom said, “You’ll explore and discover its meaning soon” and she left the
place.
I was sitting on one end of the cot and she stood at the other end. We were
like the North Pole
and the South Pole. She kept biting her nails and I understood that she was
nervous. I
beckoned her to come near and as she came I said, “Sit” and she sat on the
cot.
I said, “You look perplexed and tired”
In her delirium she said, “Yeah, I’m tired, woke up early in the morning
and didn’t have enough
sleep last night. I’m not confused but I’m wondering how am I gonna manage
in a new place”
I said, “My home is not new to you”
She said, “My role as your wife makes it a new place to me”
I said, “The change is only in the role and not with anyone else”
She asked, “Did you hear what Mom said just now? She wants to become granny
soon”
I said, “That’s Okay, elders are like that”
She said, “I can’t ignore it just like that, she is more than my mother to
me. Nobody has ever
loved and cared for me so much like her and I’m very grateful to her. Since
I’m obliged to her it’s
my duty to fulfill her just and reasonable desire to become a granny but I
don’t know if I can do it”
I said, “That’s lovely, but it’s your wish. No troubles from my side. Okay
I won’t take much of
your time. I’m tired too. I have few things to give you” Saying this I went
to the cupboard and
grabbed a bag to the cot. I smiled and gave a cover to her.
As she was opening it I said, “This is the college admission cards for
Adithi and Mithra. They
are going to study in the same college, same course and Mithra is gonna
stay with us from now
on. I don’t want her to stay alone in the hostel and suffer in loneliness
like you did”
Tears welled from her eyes; but she smiled and said, “Thanks a lot. I
always loved and longed
to stay with her”
I said, “It’s my responsibility and handed over another cover to her
saying, “This is for my
beautiful wife”.
She opened it and looking at the air tickets, and the broche from the tour
operator for 10 day
tour package she exclaimed, “Are we going to Mauritius?”
I said, “Yes, for honeymoon”
She asked, “Are we leaving tomorrow?”
I said, “Yes, pack your things and be ready. The flight is at 9.30 PM”
She said, “Hmmm…Okay”
I took out the last one and gave it to her saying, “This is a small wedding
gift for my dear friend
Nethra. Happy married life”
She smiled and took it from me and opened it. It was a cute white teddy
carrying a red velvet
heart. She was nervous and restless and having so many things on hand and
mind, the teddy
slipped from her hand and fell on the floor just like she dropped Cuckoo.
Now the recorded
voice screamed “DARLING, I LOVE YOU”. With widened eyes she picked it and
hugged it and
looked at me with fright.
Smiling I said, “Hmmm Okay, good night, I’m gonna watch cricket. Take rest.
Good night. Sweet
dreams” saying this I went near the door and before I could leave I said,
“I wish I was that
teddy” and left to the hall switching on the TV. Slowly I slept off as I
was tired too. My Mom
woke me up in the morning with bed coffee and she said, “Good morning, hope
you slept well.
(Smiling she said)I appreciate your patience. What time is your flight?”
I said, “9. 30 pm”
She said, “Okay, pack your things and organize your trip” saying this she
went to wake up
Nethra.
We started off and reached Mauritius in the morning; occupied the room
booked for us. Since it
was booked for honeymoon the room was adorned with aromatic flowers. The
look and feel of
the room was extraordinary. We called our family and informed them about
our safe arrival, the
hotel location, room number and contact information.
We had breakfast and started off for sightseeing. Mauritius is one of the
most spectacular
islands of the world. The beaches of Mauritius are some of the best I ever
came across. White
sands and blue waters make a striking contrast that was a treat for the
eyes. The climate was
good and we had nice time.
Nethra was enjoying the beauty of nature and as usual I loved her company.
The day went on
good with fun and joy. As we were sitting in the restaurant for dinner, I
asked her, “Can I take a
drink?”
Shocking she looked at me and asked, “Alcohol… Liquor…. do you take
liquor?”
I said, “Yes I do, occasionally”
She said, “Your wish”
I said, “Sweetheart, to do as per my wish I need not ask you. You either
say yes or no because
you’re gonna stay with me. You should be comfortable and I don’t prefer
doing something that
troubles you. You’re my wife and I should discuss everything with you”
She said, “No, no drinking”
I said, “Okay, thank you” ordered food and as we were waiting for the food
she said, “You’re not
like my dad”
I asked, “Why do you compare me with your dad?”
She said, “He is the first man in my life. So I thought all men will be
like him. He doesn’t discuss
anything with my mom and similarly my mom gives him back the same. They
take their own
decisions on everything and it was Mithra and I who struggled between them”
I said, “A husband and wife should be like best friends to each other.
There is nothing like ruling
or leading the other it’s just sharing life and heading together. My
parents discuss every small
thing right from the purchase of home appliances, investments, our
education and everything.
You know the next day’s menu is always discussed during dinner and mom made
it a practice
to have dinner together”
The waiter served the dinner and after that I continued, “If dad missed a
dinner that’s it, his day
is ruined. She’ll not talk to him. He’ll walk after her and beg her pardon.
She will not accept it
immediately, she’ll hold on for some time till Adithi and I support him.
Then she warns him and
it’s over. It will be fun watching these small plays at home and we learnt
love and forgiveness
from them. At the right age they involved Adithi and me in the discussion
and sought our views
and opinions, if our decisions were right and wise they acknowledged it and
accepted it. It
included our marriage too”
She said, “Yeah, I know it’s fun to be in your home”
I said, “Bricks and walls make a house and it’s the woman, the mother who
makes it a home.
My love, will you make my house a home?”
She said, “I’ll try, I might fail a few times but I’ll learn it from your
mother. I have a request for
you”
I asked, “What is it?”
Sh e said, “I will try to change myself and live up to your expectations.
Please don’t leave me for
any reason, I hate being alone”
I said, “I love you the way you are. You don’t have to change anything for
me. You are just
perfect and I want you to be yourself always”
She said, “But you are changing my character. I don’t talk much, but now I
feel like saying all
the untold that I had shut in my heart”
I said, “I’m happy to know that you are feeling at ease and comfortable
with me. You can talk
and do whatever you wanted to do with me okay. I love you and all you do”
She asked, “You love me so much? I don’t know if I’m worth your love.”
I said, “Don’t speak such philosophical words” and we left to the room.
I switched on the TV and sat on the couch fiddled the remote searching for
a good channel to
watch while she was having a wash. I suddenly remembered about that and I
took it from my
bag and sat on the sofa again. She joined me on the couch to watch TV.
I asked, “How was your day today?”
She said, “It was great; Mauritius is awesome”
I said, “Yeah, I loved it” and gave her the pack saying this is my
honeymoon gift for you.
She asked, “Does anybody give gifts for honeymoon?”
I asked, “Why not? Gifts are given to express love and that’s what I did. I
thought this will be the
right time to give this gift that’s why I didn’t give it yesterday”
Smiling at my response she opened the pack, her face turned red and said,
“Oh my god” ‘