Aravind had asked for six months’ time for marriage, to get to know one another before the big day. I too was very happy. This was what I too wished for.
He got my mobile number from daddy. He would call me every day. We talked long hours, about movies, cars….
Me: “I like the Shawshank Redemption movie. It’s amazing”
“Oh yes. Morgan Freeman’s narration steals the show”
“I have no idea to this day what those two Italian ladies were singing about. Truth is, I don't want to know. Some things are best left unsaid. I'd like to think they were singing about something so beautiful, it can't be expressed in words, and makes your heart ache because of it. I tell you, those voices soared higher and farther than anybody in a gray place dares to dream. It was like some beautiful bird flapped into our drab little cage and made those walls dissolve away, and for the briefest of moments, every last man in Shawshank felt free.”
Wow!! Even I have most of the dialogues by-heart. Awesome movie.
Aravind: “You know the funny thing is, on the outside I was an honest man, straight as an arrow. I had to come to prison to be a crook.”
Me: “Sometimes it makes me sad, though... Andy being gone. I have to remind myself that some birds aren't meant to be caged. Their feathers are just too bright. And when they fly away, the part of you that knows it was a sin to lock them up DOES rejoice. But still, the place you live in is that much more drab and empty that they're gone. I guess I just miss my friend.”
Aravind:
“Get Busy Living, or Get Busy Dying”
Andy Dufresne - who crawled through a river of shit and came out clean on the other side. In 1966, Andy Dufresne escaped from Shawshank prison. All they found of him was a muddy set of prison clothes, a bar of soap, and an old rock hammer, damn near worn down to the nub. I remember thinking it would take a man six hundred years to tunnel through the wall with it. Old Andy did it in less than twenty. Oh, Andy loved geology. I imagine it appealed to his meticulous nature. An ice age here, million years of mountain building there. Geology is the study of pressure and time. That's all it takes really, pressure, and time. That, and a big goddamn poster. Like I said, in prison a man will do most anything to keep his mind occupied. Turns out Andy's favorite hobby was totin' his wall out into the exercise yard, a handful at a time. I guess after Tommy was killed, Andy decided he'd been here just about long enough. Andy did like he was told, buffed those shoes to a high mirror shine. The guards simply didn't notice. Neither did I... I mean, seriously, how often do you really look at a mans shoes? Andy crawled to freedom through five hundred yards of shit smelling foulness I can't even imagine, or maybe I just don't want to. Five hundred yards... that's the length of five football fields, just shy of half a mile.
Me: You read books?
Aravind: “No. not much. For the past few days, I’ve been reading a book called ‘The Power of Now’. It’s a good one. I think you should try it. I am sure you’ll like it”
Me: “I am not very fond of reading self-help books unless I feel depressed. Am not upset now. I don’t want to read it just yet”
Aravind: “Yesterday I saw a hummer on the road”
Me: “Hummer or Hammer?”
Aravind: “Madam ji (that’s how he always called me), it’s a car brand. It looks amazing, and one of the costliest top-notch models. Please google and check it out”
Me: “Sure sirji. I will do it.” Aravind, do you drink or smoke?
Aravind: Yeah.
Me: Really? Drinking or smoking?
Aravind: Both
Me: What??!!!
Aravind: Yeah, I smoke a little and drinking – only social drinker – nothing more.
Me: Damn, don’t tell my dad. He will be very upset.
Aravind: Doesn’t your dad drink or smoke?
Me: Of course, he doesn’t .
Aravind: Teetotaller? Seriously?
Me: Will you leave all these habits after marriage?
Aravind: Hmmm.. I will try madamji. Ok, leave that. You know something? I was so scared and excited to ask your number to your dad.
Me: (Purplexed) Why?
Aravind: You are so beautiful. I still can’t believe I am going to marry you!
Me: OMG!! Come on, stop this Aravind.
He was very romantic, showering words every woman wanted to hear. He would say, “You are very beautiful”, “I liked you the first moment I saw your photo, and ever since, I was waiting to meet you”, or “I couldn’t wait to get your number from your dad”, “I am very lucky to have you in my life”, etc, etc..
I thought life would be perfect. There need be no regrets anymore. He is my man. Maybe I have been waiting all these days of my life just to meet him, just to marry him, just to live a lifetime with him..
A few days later, I thought of giving him a surprise. I took the train to Egmore, and went to his office. I stood outside Kotak Mahindra Bank, and gave him a call, asking him to come out.
He was thrilled, but very nervous to meet me at office.
“Wow. What a surprise. But, I don’t want us to be seen by my colleagues. They will start teasing me”
He quickly drove me out of the complex in his grey Hyundai i20, to – Skywalk Mall. We had our lunch there, and then went for a movie.
The day ended on a very positive note. When we were returning, he asked me, “Karthika, I’ve been thinking for a while, if we could give invitation wedding with our names as invitees, not the traditional ones our parents gave”. I was floored. That sounded really romantic. I simply gave in. “Wow, I’d love that”
That night, I was very happy. Suddenly, the mysterious question came up on my head, and I pinged him on Whatsapp:
“Sirji, after marriage, will you help me cook?”
“No Karthika. It’s tough. I will be coming back home very late. Cooking is impossible”
Just as I was preparing myself for a lifetime of some lonely time in kitchen, cooking, cooking and cooking, I was reminded of my Parisian fantasy
“How about a Paris honeymoon Aravind?”
“Why not darling?”
“Seriously?”
“Absolutely”
“Woooooooow!! So simple? I am going to Paris!!!! Doesn’t it sound too good to be true?”
“Why darling?”
“Do you know, it’s been a big dream for me? And I am going there with you. How lucky I am”
“Nope.. I am the lucky guy, always”
######
No messages from him for the next few days, no messages, no calls. May be he was too busy at office. Oh! These bankers!!
A week later, he came over to my office - to return a favor. To surprise me.. Rather than a true feeling of love, I felt he had really come to return a favor. We went out to a nearby cake shop and he dropped me back in office.
Was this his idea of a romantic outing!! Pathetic taste indeed. Now what was really wrong with him? I just assumed that may be he was too stressed out at office.
The engagement date was nearing. We went out shopping for the dresses and engagement ring with Aravind, my parents and his. The excitement surged within me. I felt on top of the world.
Finally, the engagement day came. We had planned a simple function in my house. Mehandi was applied two days earlier. Aravind came a little late with his parents. He was wearing an old blue shirt, I don’t know why. He was looking very tired.
I got the new saree from his parents. The beautician helped me change, and I was back. Later, a simple pooja happened, and we exchanged rings. Relatives came over to bless us.
Breakfast was arranged. Aravind started eating even without waiting for me, I was with my relatives, when suddenly my dad called me over urgently for breakfast.
That’s when I realized that the groom had started having breakfast without the bride!! I sat next to him, when he apologized saying he had been very hungry, and felt very sorry about his conduct.
But somehow, it wasn’t ok. This was our first official announcement, and he had behaved odd. I felt hurt, but didn’t express it.
All festivities over, we called it a day.