25-08-2021, 04:49 PM
Sandeep got a text on his phone while at office. It read "Please call me" The number was not known and he ignored it as a spam message. It was around 3 pm and he was trying to finish up for the day and go home early. He had decided to devote his evening to determining how he would proceed and part of it was a long chat with his maa. He wanted to ensure she wasn't going to give up on him. With time his confidence in the theory that mothers will throw their lot with their children when pushed to the wall was weakening. At least the events of the last few months had made him doubt it. Well it was kaliyuga, he told himself. Everything is going upside down. At 3:47 pm, his phone buzzed again and he picked up in an absent minded mode. His focus was on the screen as he punched the password on the phone's screen and opened it. He saw the contents of the message.
"Bhaiyya, please reply. I need to talk to you- Sheetal"
Huh, was it Vijay's daughter messaging him? Oh and now I am bhaiiyya for her? Idiot what does she think.
The message seemed to make him angry. What is this everyone in his family are now my family? He went out and took a walk. That calmed him down a bit and he came back and decided to reply.
"I am at work. What is it?"
Within a minute his phone buzzed and he took it immediately and read the message.
"Sorry bhaiiya, but this is important. Just meet me once. I can come to your home or anywhere you want me to come."
Meet me? What the fuck does she want to meet me for? His first response was to tell her to get lost. But he did not. Something may be gave him some hope. May be something is not fine. May be Vijay's family got the message that he was against this wedding and were able to think more sensibly. Well whats the harm in meeting her once.
"Ok I can meet you at 5:30 today if you are free."
"Where shall we meet bhaiyya?"
"Mall in Sector 7"
"Ok I will wait at the Vadilal ice-cream parlour near the Mother Dairy milk booth."
"Fine."
As he finished texting, his boss called him for a meeting and he got busy. The meeting got over in 45 minutes and Sandeep went to his cabin and packed up his belongings. He realised the time and literally ran out of his cabin into the lift to reach the parking lot. Shit I need to rush to be able to meet Sheetal. Sandeep drove as fast as he could but the traffic was growing. He did not give up and focussed on reaching the location he had agreed upon to meet Sheetal as fast as he could. He was late by 15 minutes. He parked and ran to the ice cream parlour and was relieved to see Sheetal sitting there.
"Sorry, very sorry, traffic was bad."
"Accha, toh you have to buy me chocolate ice-cream for making me wait ok"
I will get her whatever crap she wants he thought to himself and called the waiter. After ordering chocolate ice cream, Sheetal smiled at him
"So bhaiyya, how was your day?"
"You called me to talk about my day at office?"
"Arre no but why are you so serious, I want you to relax so we can talk about somethings but in a calm manner. Please na bhaiiyya"
Sandeep took a long breath and nodded his head. The waiter brought the chocolate ice cream and placed it in front of Sheetal.
"Sir, anything for you?"
"Ah no... wait may be get me a lime soda with sugar"
Sheetal smiled as she continued to relish the ice-cream. Once she was done, she looked at him with a smile.
"Haan toh tell me what was it." Just at that moment the waiter brought the lime-soda and placed it in front of Sandeep.
"Bhaiyya, you finish you lime soda and we can talk. You are tired na. First you drink it and then we will both talk.
Sandeep drank the lime-soda quickly and burped. Sheetal giggled and sat observing him. In her mind she was revising what she wanted to say for the eighth time. She had to stop that and say it. She was getting ready. Finally, Sheetal started,
"Bhaiyya, we all missed you that day when we came to your home."
"Hmm, I had office work that I could not avoid."
"What bhaiiya, wont you get leave if you tell your boss that you have a family function."
"Tell them what?"
"That maa is getting remarried and there is a function, they will surely give you leave for that na."
Sandeep was silent and looking on the table. How on earth was he going to tell that to his boss. He would be the butt of jokes for that. And to add to that if they found out who his maa was marrying. Finished, ridicule, shame and who knows they might even ask him to find another job. How will this silly girl know all that. She would have never come within 100 metres of a building like his office or interacted with people from his class and circle.
"Did I say something wrong bhaiiya. you went silent"
"No, nothing. Is that all or is there something else."
"Well bhaiyya, you are not happy. That is so clear. And I want to know how we can change that"
"Change what?"
"Make you happy"
"Why are you bothered about my happiness. I am like this only."
"Arre you are going to be my family and I have to worry about your happiness na. Who else will worry?"
This was going totally against what Sandeep had thought. Now his happiness was their concern? What on earth!
"Accha listen bhaiyya, you are not happy because it is pappa na? I know that and may be you are right too."
"Do you want this marriage to stop? Will that make you happy bhaiyya?"
Sheetal was a clever girl, when defense did not work, she was trying to go on the offensive and put Sandeep on the backfoot and it was working.
"Listen, Sheetal, I have nothing to say about this wedding. It was unexpected and I think it was wrong that your pappa after working for me for years did this."
"Did what bhaiiya?"
"Don't act, he knew who my maa was and went ahead and seduced her. He made it happen according to his likes. He had no concern about me and I always did my best to support him. I paid for your education for years, I paid for your mom's treatment when she was sick. And this is how your dad behaves? Nonsense. You will not understand unless you are in my place.
Sheetal put her hand on Sandeep's hand and held it firmly.
"What on earth are you doing. This is a public place Sheetal."
"I understand bhaiyya. I feel bad for you. I want you to know I understand."
"No you dont. You and others in your family are delighted that you are getting my maa."
"And me..." Sandeep's eyes were turning red partly with anger partly with sadness.
"What about you bhaiyya... please say it"
"I am losing her... thats it."
"But just like us are you not gaining anything?"
"What the hell am I gaining. I am just faced with losses."
Sheetal felt like giving a tight slap to Sandeep as she heard it. This idiot cant see things and his upper class arrogance and attitude makes him think like this. But she had a greater goal to achieve. She had to convince him and gain his trust and support.
"Bhaiyya, maybe you are right and it is sad things are like this. Is there anything we can do now?"
"Nothing...nothing"
"What if I talk to my relatives and stop this wedding from going ahead?" Sheetal tried to sound as convincing as she could.
"I don't know. That is not a possibility it is too late."
"So what is a possibility that can make you happy?"
"I don't know Sheetal, I am confused I really don't know. Now if you are done, can I please leave?"
"I will agree to you leaving now, if you promise to meet me again here in one week. I want you to think of what can be done to make you a happy person- even if it means stopping everything. Promise me and I will let go of your hand and we can leave"
"Okay I promise."
Sheetal faked a smile and walked out with Sandeep, she waved to him and walked in the opposite direction and finally was by herself. What an idiot, he is behaving like a small kid even now. Does this fool not know his maa wants this. She spoke to herself all the way back home as a way of calming herself down. There was more work to be done really. Sandeep was still that last batsman and she had thrown a googly to him with her suggestion of stopping the wedding. Now she had to wait for a week to see whether that had clean bowled him or if he was going to hit her for a six.
"Bhaiyya, please reply. I need to talk to you- Sheetal"
Huh, was it Vijay's daughter messaging him? Oh and now I am bhaiiyya for her? Idiot what does she think.
The message seemed to make him angry. What is this everyone in his family are now my family? He went out and took a walk. That calmed him down a bit and he came back and decided to reply.
"I am at work. What is it?"
Within a minute his phone buzzed and he took it immediately and read the message.
"Sorry bhaiiya, but this is important. Just meet me once. I can come to your home or anywhere you want me to come."
Meet me? What the fuck does she want to meet me for? His first response was to tell her to get lost. But he did not. Something may be gave him some hope. May be something is not fine. May be Vijay's family got the message that he was against this wedding and were able to think more sensibly. Well whats the harm in meeting her once.
"Ok I can meet you at 5:30 today if you are free."
"Where shall we meet bhaiyya?"
"Mall in Sector 7"
"Ok I will wait at the Vadilal ice-cream parlour near the Mother Dairy milk booth."
"Fine."
As he finished texting, his boss called him for a meeting and he got busy. The meeting got over in 45 minutes and Sandeep went to his cabin and packed up his belongings. He realised the time and literally ran out of his cabin into the lift to reach the parking lot. Shit I need to rush to be able to meet Sheetal. Sandeep drove as fast as he could but the traffic was growing. He did not give up and focussed on reaching the location he had agreed upon to meet Sheetal as fast as he could. He was late by 15 minutes. He parked and ran to the ice cream parlour and was relieved to see Sheetal sitting there.
"Sorry, very sorry, traffic was bad."
"Accha, toh you have to buy me chocolate ice-cream for making me wait ok"
I will get her whatever crap she wants he thought to himself and called the waiter. After ordering chocolate ice cream, Sheetal smiled at him
"So bhaiyya, how was your day?"
"You called me to talk about my day at office?"
"Arre no but why are you so serious, I want you to relax so we can talk about somethings but in a calm manner. Please na bhaiiyya"
Sandeep took a long breath and nodded his head. The waiter brought the chocolate ice cream and placed it in front of Sheetal.
"Sir, anything for you?"
"Ah no... wait may be get me a lime soda with sugar"
Sheetal smiled as she continued to relish the ice-cream. Once she was done, she looked at him with a smile.
"Haan toh tell me what was it." Just at that moment the waiter brought the lime-soda and placed it in front of Sandeep.
"Bhaiyya, you finish you lime soda and we can talk. You are tired na. First you drink it and then we will both talk.
Sandeep drank the lime-soda quickly and burped. Sheetal giggled and sat observing him. In her mind she was revising what she wanted to say for the eighth time. She had to stop that and say it. She was getting ready. Finally, Sheetal started,
"Bhaiyya, we all missed you that day when we came to your home."
"Hmm, I had office work that I could not avoid."
"What bhaiiya, wont you get leave if you tell your boss that you have a family function."
"Tell them what?"
"That maa is getting remarried and there is a function, they will surely give you leave for that na."
Sandeep was silent and looking on the table. How on earth was he going to tell that to his boss. He would be the butt of jokes for that. And to add to that if they found out who his maa was marrying. Finished, ridicule, shame and who knows they might even ask him to find another job. How will this silly girl know all that. She would have never come within 100 metres of a building like his office or interacted with people from his class and circle.
"Did I say something wrong bhaiiya. you went silent"
"No, nothing. Is that all or is there something else."
"Well bhaiyya, you are not happy. That is so clear. And I want to know how we can change that"
"Change what?"
"Make you happy"
"Why are you bothered about my happiness. I am like this only."
"Arre you are going to be my family and I have to worry about your happiness na. Who else will worry?"
This was going totally against what Sandeep had thought. Now his happiness was their concern? What on earth!
"Accha listen bhaiyya, you are not happy because it is pappa na? I know that and may be you are right too."
"Do you want this marriage to stop? Will that make you happy bhaiyya?"
Sheetal was a clever girl, when defense did not work, she was trying to go on the offensive and put Sandeep on the backfoot and it was working.
"Listen, Sheetal, I have nothing to say about this wedding. It was unexpected and I think it was wrong that your pappa after working for me for years did this."
"Did what bhaiiya?"
"Don't act, he knew who my maa was and went ahead and seduced her. He made it happen according to his likes. He had no concern about me and I always did my best to support him. I paid for your education for years, I paid for your mom's treatment when she was sick. And this is how your dad behaves? Nonsense. You will not understand unless you are in my place.
Sheetal put her hand on Sandeep's hand and held it firmly.
"What on earth are you doing. This is a public place Sheetal."
"I understand bhaiyya. I feel bad for you. I want you to know I understand."
"No you dont. You and others in your family are delighted that you are getting my maa."
"And me..." Sandeep's eyes were turning red partly with anger partly with sadness.
"What about you bhaiyya... please say it"
"I am losing her... thats it."
"But just like us are you not gaining anything?"
"What the hell am I gaining. I am just faced with losses."
Sheetal felt like giving a tight slap to Sandeep as she heard it. This idiot cant see things and his upper class arrogance and attitude makes him think like this. But she had a greater goal to achieve. She had to convince him and gain his trust and support.
"Bhaiyya, maybe you are right and it is sad things are like this. Is there anything we can do now?"
"Nothing...nothing"
"What if I talk to my relatives and stop this wedding from going ahead?" Sheetal tried to sound as convincing as she could.
"I don't know. That is not a possibility it is too late."
"So what is a possibility that can make you happy?"
"I don't know Sheetal, I am confused I really don't know. Now if you are done, can I please leave?"
"I will agree to you leaving now, if you promise to meet me again here in one week. I want you to think of what can be done to make you a happy person- even if it means stopping everything. Promise me and I will let go of your hand and we can leave"
"Okay I promise."
Sheetal faked a smile and walked out with Sandeep, she waved to him and walked in the opposite direction and finally was by herself. What an idiot, he is behaving like a small kid even now. Does this fool not know his maa wants this. She spoke to herself all the way back home as a way of calming herself down. There was more work to be done really. Sandeep was still that last batsman and she had thrown a googly to him with her suggestion of stopping the wedding. Now she had to wait for a week to see whether that had clean bowled him or if he was going to hit her for a six.