You and I, plus 2 years of marriage!

BREAK THE RULES

{7}

Rutva was working on her laptop with the headphones over her ears. Rishi was struggling with his mathematics assignment and was on the verge of giving up the earthly pleasures of life in frustration. He glanced up at his sister, who could be his saviour for the day if she showed some mercy on him. After a few more minutes of wrestling with numbers he decided to ask for her assistance.

‘Akka…’ he called out. She did not seem to hear. He let out a sigh and went to her table.

‘What do you want?’ she asked without looking up from her laptop.

‘Help me with this assignment.’

She slid back her headphones and let them rest around her neck.

‘What’s in it for me?’ she asked smiling crookedly.

‘How cruel you are! You are fleecing your poor brother,’ he said shaking his head.

‘Alright! You may go back to solving math problems as poorly as always,’ she said turning back to the laptop screen.

‘Hey! What do you want?’ he asked instantly.

‘I want tickets for the football match next week.’

Rishi let out a long drawn breath and nodded his head.

‘Done! Now please help me,’ he implored. Rutva laughed and he sat next to her. She explained him the problems and made him solve them on his own. Whenever he was stuck at some point and could not proceed further, she helped him. Suddenly, when she looked up her mother was standing near the door.

‘Amma, what happened?’ she asked in a surprised tone.

‘I want to speak to you for a few minutes. Are you free?’

‘Of course, you can speak to me anytime, amma. Why do you even ask me such questions? Come in,’ she said with a huge grin. Shalini entered into the room and glanced at Rishi.

‘Rish, stay out for some time,’ she ordered. He exchanged puzzled glances with his sister and walked out carrying his book. His mother sat down in his place facing Rutva.

‘Shall I get you some fruits?’

‘Not necessary. I am not hungry. Arvind, Partha and I had a heavy dinner at the restaurant,’ she said patting her stomach.

‘I have something important to ask you and I want an honest reply.’

Rutva stared at her trying to guess the question on her mother’s mind.

Oh…ohhh! Where is this coming from? Did she discover that I play for my office football team? Or that I ate chicken last Saturday? Did Rish blabber that I had gone to the pub restaurant with the boys? Did she…

Many incidents and questions flashed on her mind within a span of few seconds. She remembered most of the situations when she was forced to lie to her. Although she could not guess what was running on Shalini’s mind, she knew that it was certainly something to be worried about.

‘Are you in love with Partha?’ she asked fixing her gaze on her mischievous daughter.

‘What?!!’

Rutva couldn’t help letting out a laugh at her question.

‘Answer me!’ she said sternly.

‘I should have known this was coming. Maybe I thought you would understand me, amma… anyway I am glad that you asked me straightaway. My answer is no. I am not in love with Partha or any other or woman. Happy?’

Shalini scrutinized her face keenly. Rutva’s face hid no emotions and she was certain that she was speaking the truth. As a mother she was not very comfortable with her straightforwardness but today she was glad that her daughter spoke her mind without hiding anything. She also felt a little embarrassed for distrusting her friendship with Partha.

‘Ruthi… I am sorry if I have hurt you, but your behaviour for the past few days got me worried. You are doing so much for him that I thought maybe you both are no longer just friends.’

Instantly Rutva wrapped her arms around her mother and hugged her.

‘Don’t apologize, amma. I can understand why you asked me that question. As a mother you have every right to question me and I hope I have cleared your doubts.’

Shalini smiled at her and kissed her cheek.

‘It is just that, Partha is going through a tough phase. He needs help and I am doing it for him. Everything will be sorted out soon. We will remain best friends forever, amma. But I want you to trust not only me but also him,’ she said intensely.

‘I will, Ruthi,’ said her mother with pride and affection twinkling in her eyes.

***

‘Why are you dressed so neatly? You will ruin my plan and make it a colossal failure. Untuck your shirt,’ she said hurriedly. Partha rolled his eyes at her and followed her orders. She quickly ruffled his hair and made it look unkempt. She rolled up his sleeves unevenly stamped some dirt onto his shoes.

‘What are you doing, Ru??!’ he said annoyed.

‘You look better now.’

‘Better? I look like a street beggar!’

‘Exactly! That’s what I wanted. By the way, did you have your breakfast?’

‘Yeah. We had been to a restaurant and I ate masala dosa,’ he said casually. She shook her head with a sigh.

‘Never mind. Make sure that you look as if you are starving. If you try appearing to be sick, it would be much better,’ she said on a serious note.

‘What??!’

Partha was certain that she had lost her mind, but he was not at all surprised. This was how she had been ever since he knew her. Yet, he did not have even an iota of doubt that she had a perfect plan in place. All this madness was a part of that grand plan.

‘You will speak only when I tell you to. Until then look dejected and lost. Do not make any eye contact with our parents. Most importantly, no matter what I lie, you are not going to interrupt me or negate my words. Understood?’ she asked in a hushed whisper.

‘As you say, Ru.’

There was no question of disobeying her. Partha trusted her with his life. She would either make it or break it. Either way, she was not going to leave him alone.

After parking his bike inside the compound, they both walked to the door. Rutva gently knocked on the door and Partha’s mother, Mala opened the door. She was relieved to see Partha and they both entered the house. He slowly walked and Rutva held him by his elbow, pretending to be helping him walk.

Mala: Puttu, where were you? Why was your phone switched off? Why didn’t you call home? We were so worried!

Rutva: Aunty, I think he should sit down. He is very weak and exhausted.

She helped him sit on the sofa and his mother caressed his head gently. His father Surendra, entered the living-room and gave his son a stern gaze. Partha looked down at the granite floor and did not lift his head. Surendra sat on another sofa and asked Rutva to sit down. Mala went to the kitchen and came back with two glasses of water. Partha weakly took a sip and handed over the glass back to her. She sat down next to him and wrapped her arm around his shoulder.

Mala: What happened, my child? Why are you like this? It’s very painful for me to see you suffer…

Partha did not stir and continued to remain impassive. He was following Rutva’s instructions to the maximum extent. Nevertheless it was not easy for him, because he had no idea what she was going to do.

Surendra: Speak up, Partha! How can you be so irresponsible? You are behaving like a foolish idiot.

Partha wished he could see Rutva’s expression hearing the double adjectives his father had used for him. He was certain that she must be trying really hard to keep a straight face. Although she was sitting right opposite to him, he did not dare lift his head. She had cleverly chosen that place to be able to signal him at the right time.

Mala: Do you have to reprimand him even now? Can’t you see in what condition he is?

Surendra: He is the one to be blamed for it! I have not seen another boy who would want to ruin his life like this rascal.

Rutva [politely]: Uncle please… he is very depressed. It was not easy tracing him and after a lot of persuasion he has agreed to come back. He is going through a really tough phase. I think you are already aware that he has been selected for the Indian Air Force.

Surendra: Of course we know, Rutva. That is what has caused all these unnecessary problems. I can’t understand his sudden madness about joining the armed forces. He didn’t even tell us that he was going to write the exam. One day, out of the blue he broke the news to us. What are we supposed to do? Does he even know what it takes to be in the Air Force? That disciplined life is not for him!

Rutva shifted uneasily on the sofa.

Wow! Convincing uncle is no mean task… now I know why this poor chap was slipping into depression. How are we going to succeed? What am I going to say now? Think quick, Rutva!!!

                                   To be continued...