Disclaimer: All the characters in the story are fictional and bear no resemblance to anybody living or dead. In an attempt to challenge the writer within I might have created characters but the feelings and the emotion exuded are true to my conscience and are as I would have reacted to such a situation.
Prologue:
I stared at him for the nth time. The color had gone out of his face and his eyes looked tired and deprived of sleep for years. Was it the mirror or him - there was no way to know. The door slowly opened. It was magical. I cant believe I still get tongue-tied everytime I see her - first time in the college lawns she walked down those steps and winked at me, first tme she told me she loved me too, everytime I try and argue with her. When I first told my mom I wanted to marry her, she asked me angrily - What was I thinking. I held her hand and said - "I always did. Today I am not." I dont know if I wish today I had. I just wanted things to be the same - as they were. She passed me an envelope and I didn't have to look inside. I looked at her "Cant we still talk and work things out?" She raised an eyebrow that said it all. I once jokingly told her in college that everytime she did that she was cute and I would give whatever she wanted. This is what she wanted and I couldn't say no. For 3 years I had been taking decisions for us and today she wanted to - for us. "Its not college anymore and this is real. The choices we make have to be the best for us. For us." She looked at me and winked. "Please don't do that. I said I'll think about it." "Its not that. Your towel is slipping."
The Journey:
It was raining cats and dogs and I reached out for my jacket from inside the ambassador. I bid goodbye to the factory manager and got inside the car. There was a huge crowd outside the factory that had gathered and they all folded their hands as my car passed them. I looked questioningly at my driver. He laughed and said "Those are for you, sir. Its not often that a public sector bank officer visits this area. You represent whatever small development work that happens here." I smiled and reached for something that pricked my jacket from the inside. It was the envelope that my wife had given to me this morning. I was still undecided. It was a tough call to take. The car screeched to a halt at the toll gate. The toll booth officer represented a typical Hindi movie policeman - flashlight in his hands, a revolver that could have rested on the paunch than the pouch and a paan in his mouth. Who and where to? After the routine process of checking the car he let us pass with a warning. Dont stop anywhere. The place is risky. Drive right away. 120kms to Baroda.
I looked at the envelope in my hand and closed my eyes. It was a fine evening and the greenery in the lawns was hard not to notice. There was a lake near enough for us to gaze and far enough for us to feel lazy. My head was buried in her lap and she was quite busy with her book. I shook my head a little and she said "No. Not now. Have got my interview in some time." I raised my head - "No. Not that. I received a call from Mr. Javalekar. He wants me to join the bank. I wanted to make sure you are ok with it." She placed the book aside and raised her one eyebrow and winked. I closed my eyes and said - "You are so cute. Thanks." "Now wish me luck". "Finish your interview. We are leaving for Lonavla early tomorrow morning. And here is your goodluck". The kiss lasted 2 mins but seemed like forever. The car braked hard that I almost fell in front. "Sorry sir, The front tyre seems to have flattened. Will need about 15 minutes time. Please sit inside."
I looked out and it was still drizzling. I emptied my pockets of all the visiting cards and wallet that I had inside the car and stepped outside. A cool breeze of moist air welcomed me. I went to an isolated bench by the roadside and sat down. Did I let her down in anyway? Was I not able to give her the life she wanted? Maybe she deserved someone better. "Hi!" I heard a voice and looked up. " My name is Farhan Hussain. I work for Tide Technologies Pvt Limited, here in Ankleswar. Can I get a lift in your car till Baroda?" I looked at him questioningly. I got reminded of the policeman "Well... I dont know if there is space" He smiled and said. " I am sure your car
has space enough to accomodate one more person, but you are not sure whether it should be a Farhan, isnt it?" It was way too blunt and true to be thrown at me. I immediately went defensive. "What? No! I was just unsure if my company would be ok with it. " "I dont think any MNC bank has issued travel advisories against Muslims. I am really sorry. I desperately want a ride." It was tough to refuse after that. "Well you will have to wait till the car tyres are changed
and there is a broken bridge near Bharuch as well. Damn the rains!" "I know. This is a tough route. But if you are going to Baroda, I can lead you from the inside of Ankleswar and Bharuch. Its a little circutous downstream of Narmada but the roads are better. You give me a ride and Inshaah Allah I will show you where to go." Hearing that last sentance gave me creeps but I wasnt sure I had anything to live safely for either. How am I going to tell my mom? It was a
stupid fight. I had never meant to say she can go her own way if she chooses to. I did have a couple of days to respond to the notice though as per my wife.
"So what is it working like in an MNC bank? They pay you good?" I dont know from where he got the idea that I worked in an MNC bank, but I didnt want to deny it. For long I have been thinking what would it be like working for an MNC. Let me live the moment. Well! They pay good but equally there is a lot of pressure to perform as well." "Engineer and MBA from premier institute right?" I smirked. Yes. "Atleast the MNC banks are far better than the public sector
banks where people can bribe their way through the system." I just smiled and let it pass.
"Trust me! Money, love and water always find their way through the system. Have you ever been in love? Its a wonderful feeling." I was wondering if at all there was a mute button on this man. "I am getting married next month to my sweetheart and I cant tell you how happy I am. She is from my village. Fell in love with her the moment I saw her. She loves me as well. She says she will do anything for me. Stand by me for everything." "Really...and you believe that. Imagine tomorrow you are fired from your job or you arent earning enough to suit her lifestyle. Do you really think the "purity" of your love would still score over "practiality." He kept staring at me and I suddenly found it very awkward. "I am not saying she will. I am saying be practical thats all. Life is not a bed of roses."
There was an awkward silence for about 10 minutes before which he started - " I think I should have told you something before I invited all the comments from you. I am the son of a tailor in my village and she is the daughter of the manager of a factory near my village. I fell in love with her before I knew her background. The people in the village are dead against the factory because it exits all its effluents into the Narmada whose holy waters we use for irrigation. I had represented a lot of times to them saying water will make its way through the stream and will affect our living. But they are insistent and they are going to build another boiler which they have sold it to the villagers as an effluent treatment plant. I am working in this software company just to fund the struggle against that factory." My eyelids popped out. "What did you say was the name of the factory manager?" "Mr. Shah". I silently collected the visiting cards that I had dropped on the seat and put them inside. "Anyways, my point is she knows all this and still she loves me. She likes me because of who I am and not what I do. Someday I would also want to work in a bank like you and I will give all this rebellion up as well one day - when she thinks its
enough. Its hard to win an argument with her. Love does find its way through the streams.And even assuming she does want me to change jobs after we are married - I will because I knew she speaks for us." For us - Thats exactly what she said. Thats what she always says.
It was a long hilly trek and it was 7 in the morning. I had woken her up just so that we could have some time together. Just the two of us. She was not too keen with the idea but she never said No to me and loved my surprises. I carried a box with me which she didnt ask what it contained. She was excited. I told her I had a surprise for her in Lonavla. She had gotten the job and I was settled as well. She was tired and the hike was steep. I offered to carry her. I dont know why I did that, but I didnt want her to faint when I did actually take her up there. It was a sort of anti-climax. It took us 2 hours to get on top and I dropped the box that I had brought along. I just had a couple of minutes to go before the sun spoiled it all but I did make it. We were in heaven,
amongst the clouds. There were twin mountains visible and it was her. I took her hand and asked her to marry me. She was overwhelmed and hugged me tightly and the sun came out. I put my thumbs up and said to him Thanks for waiting! She asked me "What was in that box by the way" I sighed and said "Never mind". She raised her eyebrow winked and said "This one is For us." Thats the best kiss we ever had and today when I think of it I feel what have I done to lose it all.
The car came to a screeching halt again. "This is where I get down. Thanks for the ride." I smiled and said "Don't thank me for the ride. Thank me for what I am going to do." There was a questioning expression on his face as I left him. On the ride home I fished with the envelope and opened it. I shall accept whatever is inside and move on I promised myself. I was pleasantly surprised on opening it. Inside was an offer letter from an MNC bank and not a notice as I had imagined to be. For us had meant a way forward for both of us and not us individually. A drop of tear fell down my cheek as I realised I had never ever lived a For us moment. I only relished her saying it. I had promised I would accept whatever was inside and this was going to be it. I made a call and told my boss I would be resigning the next day and something I owed Farhan - rejecting the loan proposal of the factory.
That evening a bottle of wine and roses greeted my wife along with something she hadn't seen in sometime - a smile on my face. I told her "Sorry I had dropped this box when I carried you to that hilltop in Lonavla. Picked it up on the way." She gave me the biggest grin I had seen in a long time and told her I had accepted the envelope. Her smile disappeared and suddenly the eyebrow went up and she winked - "For me?" " No - For us!"
Written by,
Batty
P.S. Eventually the loan was sanctioned after I quit but I was not complaining. Everyday I wake up to a raised eyebrow and a wink. Farhan was right - Money, love and water do find their way through the stream.
