Matrimony

“Check this. Wanted. Fair Bride, Well educated, from an affluent family, for a 30-year-old…” he stopped reading the advertisement to his wife aloud as their daughter came and stood before them in her pink pyjamas and purple printed top, looking nothing less than a zombie. It looked like she was sleepless.

“Mom, Dad," she sounded a little unsure.

“Good morning, Ajabdeh, coffee?” Her mother swept her messy locks aside lovingly. She shook her head in a small no.

“Umm… You asked me yesterday if… I have someone in mind…”

“Yes? Do you?” Hansa smiled at her daughter.

“Actually, mom, I…” Before she could utter another word, the bell rang, prompting Ajabdeh to say, “I will open the door.”

“Good Morning, Beta.” Ajabdeh smiled, surprised at the guest. “Ranima? So early in the morning? You should have called me if there was something you needed help with...” Ajabdeh made way for the next-door neighbour to enter the house.

Business Partners, Udai and Ramrakh, had built their houses, side by side, with an attached rooftop. Their children had also grown up together as best of friends.

“Good morning!” Hansa offered Jaivanta a seat and tea.

“I need to talk to you about something, Hansa, but first, Ajab, can you do me a favour?” 

Ajabdeh nodded readily, “Yes, of course.”

“Pratap again skipped breakfast and left in a hurry,” She frowned.

Ajabdeh knew what she had to do; she rushed to the kitchen. Stuffed a Tiffin box with Puri and Sabzi, and ran out to her cycle, saying, “I will go drop this, Mom”

“Change your clothes at least.” Hansa frowned.

“Let her go, Hansa. She won't sit till he eats something,” her father laughed.

Since his father passed away, Pratap, now 25, has been running the business. He was efficient enough to manage both his father’s share and Ramrakh’s, as most of the time he insisted the old man rest at home. Ever since then, when at work, he forgot to eat or sleep. And there was no one except Ajabdeh, his best friend, schoolmate, and college buddy, who his mother could rely on, to tame her stubborn son and make him listen. Ajabdeh had just finished post-graduation a week ago, and it was yesterday that her parents decided to tell her it was time they started looking for a groom. The introvert Ajabdeh was scared at the thought.

The cycle stopped at the office gate in a hurry. She got in as the guards stood alarmed at “Malik Saab's daughter’s arrival with the breakfast," which was a regular affair. Pratap had stared through the glass door at her, in her pyjamas, hair messed up in a bun, looking sleepy. He was in the middle of a very important meeting, too important to even laugh at the sight; he just nodded and told his assistant to take her to his chambers to wait.

Now Ajabdeh sat tapping a tune on the table that had a frame of her with his mother. The door squeaked, and without turning, she said grumpily, “The puri is cold by now, don’t blame me.”

“When will you stop running around in those night suits?” He sounded amused.

“The day you will start having breakfast at home, like responsible adults.” She shrugged indifferently.

“I assume Ranima sent you?” He sat down and opened the box to smell the food rather hungrily before digging in. She watched him savour it with a smile.

“What were you doing at my place so early in the morning?” He ate a spoonful of Sabzi and stopped. It wasn’t Ranima’s.

“Actually, she came home to talk to Mom and Dad about something.” Ajabdeh frowned as he stopped at his food and stole a glance at her.

“Umm… You know what they talked about…” He asked, unsurely.

“No Idea!” She shrugged, “Now hurry and finish your food! I need to go.”

“Did you say anything to them?” He asked with a rather straight face.

“Whom?” She frowned. He shook his head and resumed eating. He watched her rub her hands like she was talking to herself in her mind, an old habit of hers. It made him smile.

“You don't know whom? Are you sure?” He asked again, raising his eyebrows. She looked irked “One more question, and I'm leaving!”

“Okay, sorry, sorry!” he resumed eating his last Puri. The phone rang, and he picked it up like he was waiting for a call.

“Hello? Ha… Umm… Hmm… Yup, she is here… home? Okay… bye.” He kept the receiver and smiled at her, “Your mom has called you home. I will keep the food. You go.”

“Home?” She frowned doubtfully, “But why?”

“Actually,” he looked amused, “You have got a Rishta!”

“What?” she jumped up from the chair, making him smile “Stop it, this is not funny!”

“Why will I joke about it? Aunty said so.” He shrugged nonchalantly as she looked pale and confused.

“ But… Rishta… How is it possible… So quickly?” She sounded unsure.

“Go home now…” made her turn to leave, “And comb your hair. If you go like a destitute person, people might just reject you.”

He chuckled as she grunted, “Shut up, Pratap, Shut Up!!”

He watched her leave as he dialled a number, “Ranima?”

“They were happy… But they want to ask her first.”

“I know her answer.” He blushed slightly, keeping the receiver down.

Ajabde was cycling through the busy roads of Chittorgarh in a haze, as last night’s conversations flashed on her mind.

It was half past one. Still no sign of him.

“Damn yaar, where are you?” She stared at the closed door of their rooftop, both roofs connected through a passage. She checked that he had read her WhatsApp message.

“Sorry.” He smirked sheepishly as she narrowed her eyes at him

“Now you have time?”

“Aree sorry babah, Ranima was chatting away, I was with her, sorry na.” He caught her hand as she shrugged it off.

“Get lost.”

“Why are we here? What's wrong?” He insisted.

“Why should I tell you?” She snapped.

“Tell me.” There was a moment’s silence as Ajabdeh inhaled the fresh air and stared at the star-studded sky. Pratap took his seat on the bench beside her in silence.

“They want to get me married off.” She spoke up.

“Wow yaar, congrats! It will be so much fun at your wedding…” he stopped at her, slapping his hand.

“I don't want a wedding!” She frowned.

“Ajab beta.” He imitated her mother, making her narrow her eyes at him, a smile lingering on her lips, “I had kids at your age…”

“Stop it, Pratap!” She hit him playfully, making him laugh. “Hush," she grew alarmed.

“Okay, tell me, why do you not want to get married?” He asked in a rather serious tone.

“ You know my dreams and my bucket list…”

“That stupid list still exists?” he smiled.

“Nobody will understand my dreams…” She narrowed her eyes at him.

“ Yes, nobody is as understanding as me, right?” He smirked.

“ What if it's someone stupid? Someone I can't even have a nice conversation with?” She sulked.

“By God, it will be epic entertainment,” He laughed at her.

“Praataap!!!!” She pushed him to the edge of his seat.

He grew alarmed, “Ajabdeh!”

“What?” she frowned.

“How much more time do you need?” He asked, still smiling.

“What?” She narrowed her eyes

“With your dreams and…” he looked at the stars again.

She did a mental calculation and said, “Two years.”

“Then let Aunty know you need some time… She won't force you.” He shrugged casually.

“I tried. She said to stop having unrealistic dreams, you are not a kid anymore.” She looked at him, nodding.

“Point is valid," He shrugged.

“You always take her side!” She looked disappointed.

“Beer or…” He offered.

“Chai!” She smiled.

“Chai??” He looked surprised.

“Yes, the Pratap special Masala tea.” She smiled at him.

“Okay, Madam, presenting to you, the world's best masala chai, courtesy Pratap Singh” He bowed, making her laugh.

“Go make it, quick!” She pushed him towards his rooftop.

She stared in silence at the night sky, a shiver running down her bones, as she rubbed her hands together, lost in thought. He was back soon, with a kettle of steaming tea and two steel glasses.

“Remember how this tea kept us awake on nights before the exams!” She smiled.

“And your lectures, Madam.” He folded his hands.

“Such wonderful days.” She poured the glasses.

“Careful," he warned, “Yes, and now you will be married. Things will change.”

“Why change?” She frowned.

“We will not... share memories at midnight or stay awake on the roof till dawn anymore.”

“Why…” she stopped as realisation hit her “No worries, we will still call each other and you can video call me any time!”

“Yes, but this… won’t happen!” There was a deadly silence at his words. She looked like a statue staring at the floor, lost in thought. "I will miss you."

"I am not getting married now. Please." She snapped. "You are making me more panicked than I am."

“What kind of a man do you want?” He broke the silence, finishing his glass and pouring another.

“Someone like you,” she said rather in a reflex as eyes met and grew awkward.

“What?” He asked a little wide-eyed.

“I mean, who will understand me like you do, know my worries without telling them and stuff you know…”

“That will be difficult.” He smiled, “He won't know you since your diaper days.”

“Then you teach him.” Another silence followed.

 “If I could just buy some time.” Her voice seemed distant.

“Idea!” made her stare at him as he smirked. “Tell Aunty you have a boyfriend. That will stall things.”

“Why will I lie? She already asked, Where will I get a guy now?” She frowned at his stupidity.

“Umm… Then tell the guy who will come over… Sorry, I have a boyfriend…” He shrugged.

“What if he asks my parents?” She asked thoughtfully.

“Point… So?” They sipped their teas in silence.

“Idea.” He said again with a smile.

“Please stop it.” She sulked, dismissing him.

“Last!” he stared at her, "Promise.”

“Tell me," she agreed, staring at him.

“Tell him alone, and I will accompany you. We will act like we have something going on…”

“Like we used to shoo off boys in school?” She smiled at memories.

“And college too, remember?” he smiled back.

“Haha, best couple of the year!” She laughed.

“You made me do that for free Pizza coupons!” he pointed at her.

“So? It was just a compatibility test, and we know everything about each other. Why spoil the chance?” She giggled.

“That was a couple's quiz," he shrugged.

“But we won, right?” she pointed.

“I will miss you, too, you know. And this banter.” He stared at her, his eyes twinkling a little.

"Hence, the boyfriend plan," he reminded her.

“Oh, stop making it scarier for me now.” She looked away. Closing her eyes.

“I will also get married after yours!” He spoke after inhaling.

“Why?” Her voice was louder than usual.

“What, why!” He shrugged casually.

“How will you randomly get married? Because I am?” She asked, rather irked.

“Why can't I? At least my nights will have better use than this.” He smirked at her wide eyes.

“ How rude, Chi!” She got up to leave. He held her back by her wrist as she struggled.

“Don't go.” He smiled.

“Let me go.” She struggled in vain, using one hand to free the other from his grip.

“Sorry.” He stopped that hand, taking both in his.

“Let my hand go, Pratap,” she struggled.

“I won't let you go. What will you do about that, huh?” He got up to face her as she stopped struggling, and he pulled her into close proximity.

“You can't….” Eyes met, and she looked away “Hold on to me all your life. Go, find a wife. You don’t need a best friend”

“Oh, really? Aren't you the one leaving me alone here?” He frowned, still eyeing her.

“If given a choice, I wouldn't have.” She stared back at him, eyes twinkling.

“There is a choice, but the question is, will you choose that?” He spoke softly, eyes not leaving hers.

“What choice?” She narrowed her eyes at him. He smiled.

“ Think about it.” He stepped back three steps and let go of her wrist.

Suddenly, she realised the close proximity they were in, she had never been in before with him, or anyone, and to her surprise, it didn’t feel awkward. She stared at the retreating figure as the birds began to chirp even before sunrise.

The cycle stopped at the gates as her heart raced. Was he talking about….? She opened the gates, heart thumping, and hands trembling. Her vision blurred with a smile, with no sight of any guest cars on the porch.