BREAK THE RULES
{4}

Harini: What do you mean? Do you really want him to join Air Force?

Rutva: Yes.

Harini: I can’t believe it.

Suddenly a thought struck her.

Harini: Wait a minute! You knew about his plans, didn’t you? You were in on this from the beginning. In fact, you are the one encouraging him to go ahead.

Her listener remained unperturbed by the accusations.

Rutva: I did not know that he had written the exam, but I was aware of his ambition from a long time.

Harini [meekly]: How long?

Rutva [sigh]: More than ten years.

There was silence for a few moments. Harini was at loss for words.

Rutva: I am sorry that he did not tell this to you earlier. I can understand how painful it must be, but—

Harini: No, Rutva! You will never understand what I am going through. My parents have already begun searching a husband for me. I was thinking about how to make them accept Partha. Somehow it would not have been very difficult to convince them because he is an excellent prospect in their eyes. He is smart, from a good family, earns well and above all, loves me! What more can they ask for? But now, how can I convince them to get me married to a man who is in the armed forces? They will never agree. It is next to impossible!

Rutva: This is not the right time to be discussing about your parents. You both have to first decide about your future. Later we can deal with the parents.

Harini: Are you in love with someone?

Rutva [letting out a laugh]: No. Why?

Harini: Then it is useless talking to you. Love for my parents and Partha is tearing me apart! I don’t want to lose either of them. I want to marry him and live with him happily forever. Staying away from him and worrying every minute about his safety, is unimaginable. You don’t know what it means to be his girlfriend.

Rutva [letting out a long drawn breath]: I am glad that I am not his girlfriend. If being his lover is to kill his dream, then I don’t want to be the one to do it! No matter what, I will stand by his decision.

Harini: Don’t you care for his life?

Rutva [banged the table with her clenched fist]: Damn it! You think I am not sick with worry!? For how long have you known about this? Two weeks max? I have been living with it for over ten years. Every time his eyes light up while speaking about Air force, fear and anxiety stab me right in the heart! Yet… I don’t show it out because I know how much it means to him. If you love him, learn to love his dreams also.

Harini: Then, what about my dreams? My dream of leading a happy and peaceful life with him? Why should it always be the woman to sacrifice for the man?

Rutva: Happiness is a choice. You can still be happy if you choose to be.

A tear slipped down Harini’s cheek.

Harini: How can you do this, Rutva? This is my life at stake. Who are you to come in between us and call the shots?

Rutva had already reached the limit of her patience. No amount of argument was going to convince his girlfriend.

Rutva: I am the one who helped him stand up when he fell down while riding his bicycle. I am the one who tutored him and helped him score a distinction in 10th standard board exams. I am the one who shed tears with him when he cried out of guilt because he had taken to smoking. I am the one who accompanied him to every Air show despite the hot sun and exhaustion. I am the one who encouraged him to propose to you when he said that he was in love with you. I am the one who stayed away from him so that he could spend more time with you. I am the only one who is supporting him to go and join the Air force. In short, I am his best friend!

Harini [curtly]: Your equation with him has nothing to do with me. Thank you for your time. There is nothing more to discuss with you.

Rutva [standing up]: I hope you will understand him and change your mind. He loves you a lot and I don’t want to see him in pain. By the way, don’t think too much about my friendship with him. You will never understand what it means to be a best friend, it is beyond your level of comprehension.

Rutva walked away without looking back. When she reached the ground floor, she found Partha loitering in the parking lot. On seeing her, he immediately came up to her.

‘What did she say?’

‘Looks like she is going to divorce you anytime,’ she said shrugging. He buried his face in his hands and shook his head.

‘Shoot! What a fool I am to send you to convince her!’

She chuckled in reply and patted his shoulder.

‘Don’t worry, Puttu. Go and speak to her patiently. Please understand that your decision has caused her a lot of anguish. She is distressed and hurt. It is not easy for a girl to accept that her man is willingly stepping into danger. Be nice to her and avoid talking about me.’

‘I’ll try.’

She locked her hand with his.

‘Hey, whatever you decide, I am with you. But remember one thing that, if you choose to let go of this opportunity I will never forgive you. Yet, I am always there for you,’ she said with a smile.

‘I know, Ru,’ he said smiling back. She bade him goodbye and left. Partha took a deep breath and walked towards Harini.
***

Rutva was drinking her cup of coffee during the forenoon break at her office when her phone began to ring. Seeing the name of Arvind, she smiled with curiosity.

Rutva: Hi Arvind! How are you? By the way, what is the matter that made you call me?

Arvind: Hi Rutva. I am doing well. Actually, there is a problem…

Rutva: What happened?

Arvind: Did Partha call you yesterday night or today morning?

Rutva [frowning]: No. But we met yesterday and he was with Harini when I left him.

Arvind: Oh, really?

Rutva: Yeah. I didn’t call him after that but I texted him. There was no reply. What is wrong?

Her heart began to pick up speed.

Arvind: Er… Aunty had called me a few minutes ago. He called her yesterday evening and told that he would be staying at my place for the night. When she called him an hour ago, his phone was switched off. She sounded really worried.

Rutva: Did he come to your place yesterday?

Arvind: No. He didn’t even call me. I tried calling him after speaking to aunty, but his phone was switched off.

Rutva was stupefied. Her mind went blank for a few moments.

Arvind: Hello… Rutva… can you hear me? Are you on the line?

Rutva [swallowing hard]: Yes. If he did not come there, then where has he gone to?

Arvind: I don’t know. Do you think we should wait for some more time or start searching him?

Rutva: We can’t wait, Arvind. He is disturbed since many days. We should go looking for him. Can you come to my office?

Arvind: Are you working on a Sunday!??

Rutva: Yeah. I have a deadline to complete a new project. Nevertheless, I will get permission from my Manager.

Arvind: Alright. I will be there in half an hour.

Rutva mechanically disconnected the call. She quickly made a call to Partha but as expected his mobile was switched off. She sent him a message in the conventional way and sent another one on WhatsApp. There was no reply.

Where are you, Puttu?

                                To be continued...













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