You and I, plus 2 years of marriage!

ALMOST IN Love…

{6}

‘How are uncle and aunty?’ asked Lalana pushing the grocery cart. Dhwani picked up a two packets of sugar and placed it in her cart.

‘They are doing well. They left yesterday afternoon.’

‘So early? You should have insisted that they should stay back for at least a week,’ she said checking out the price of tur dal.

‘I did tell them, but I could not force them because they had to go back to take care of the little Diya. Bhabhi won’t be able to manage alone for more than a couple of days. She could not avail leave from her office,’ said Dhwani shrugging. Together they reached the cash counter and she began placing the grocery on the table. Just then Lalana remembered that she had forgotten to pick up toothpaste. She immediately went to pick it up. Dhwani patiently stood there waiting for the billing to be done.

‘Hello Ms. Melody,’ called out a familiar voice from behind. A surprised Dhwani turned around with a smile. Jacob grinned at her.

‘Ms. Melody?! Really?’ she asked raising her eyebrows.

‘Well, Dhwani literally means voice but I made a better translation of it,’ he said winking at her. He was carrying a tin of beer, chips packet and a packet of instant noodles.

‘Nobody ever called me that way… I will as well take it as a compliment. How are you doing?’

‘I am fine. How are you? How is Ahan? Has he come along?’ he asked looking around. She shook her head.

‘We are fine but he did not accompany me. I am here with my friend. What about you?’

‘I am here for my Saturday night shopping,’ he said pointing at the beer tin and gave her a sheepish smile.

‘Enjoy!’

Lalana walked up to them and looked at Jacob curiously.

‘Jake, meet my friend Lalana. Lali, this is my engineering college junior Jacob Williams. He is a director now,’ she said with a hint of pride in her voice. Lalana smiled at him warmly.

‘Nice to meet you Jacob.’

‘Pleased to meet you too, Lalana,’ he said politely. They finished billing the items and he helped them load their grocery into her car.

‘Thank you so much, Jake.’

‘The pleasure is all mine, Dhwani.’

‘We both are going to grab a cup of coffee, would you like to join us?’ she asked unsure about his reply. He thought for a moment.

‘Well, if you have already made plans for the evening, you carry on. It’s okay,’ she quickly added. He laughed lightly.

‘I do have plans but I can surely make time for a cup of coffee. Let’s go,’ he said cheerfully. Dhwani got into the driver’s seat and he got in next to her at the front. Lalana occupied a seat at the rear. All along the way Jacob engaged Dhwani in a light banter. They laughed a lot and it was as if they had completely forgotten that there was one more person in the car. Jacob noted that she was indeed a good driver and drove the car with ease.

‘Jake was quite famous at college. He used to organize many events and was a part of the student council which took responsibility of organizing the college fest. In fact he was the one who organized the memorable farewell party for my batch,’ gushed Dhwani.

‘Please don’t trust everything that she says about me. She is just being too generous with her compliments,’ he said uncomfortably.

‘I think she is not exaggerating, Jacob. Your achievements stand testimony to your skills. Learn to accept compliments,’ said Lalana with a smile.

‘Well, Dhwani also has many achievements to her credit. What I am doing is nothing compared to her deeds. Do you know that she sang during the farewell party?’

Lalana nodded in assent and cast a glance at Dhwani. Suddenly her face was grave. He sensed that he had indeed touched a raw nerve.

‘What happened?’ he asked softly. She sipped her coffee without answering.

‘She no longer sings,’ said Lalana shaking her head. He did not comment on it and finished drinking the coffee. Later they spoke about his profession and his next movie. There was a conscious effort being made to not bring up anything about her past again.

Dhwani dropped Jacob at his friend Bharni’s home where he had been put up until his work in the city was over. He got down from the car and closed the door. Later he bent and looked at her through the window.

‘You have an amazing voice. I still remember your song. Bye, Ms. Melody,’ he said intensely gazing into her eyes and walked away without looking back. She sat there stunned for a moment. Lalana went and occupied his seat at the front. Wordlessly Dhwani started her car and rode home.  

***

‘I think he is interested in you,’ said Lalana after drinking a glass of water. Dhwani stopped chopping the tomatoes and gave her a look of bewilderment.

‘Who?’

‘Ah, you know about whom I am talking about. Jacob.’

Dhwani gave out a snigger and shook her head continuing to chop.

‘What rubbish? You are just over thinking, Lali,’ she said dismissively.

‘Not this time, Inu. This whole evening I noticed the way he looked at you. It was very special, as if he had eyes just for you. It was certainly not just admiration and respect, something beyond that. Had I not known you I would have certainly thought that you both are a couple—’

‘Shut up, Lali!’ admonished Dhwani dropping the knife on the table. She was miffed with her best friend.

‘You are blabbering some nonsense. How can you talk like this? You know me and you know nothing about Jacob. It is ridiculous to assume something without knowing the truth. I certainly did not expect this from you!’

Lalana remained unperturbed by her outburst. They shared a friendship which spanned beyond two decades and she was used to that behaviour of her friend.

‘There is no point in getting mad at me. You know that there is truth in what I said. Don’t you think that he indeed has feelings for you?’

Dhwani remained quiet for a few moments. Her mind went back to their first meeting after so many years. She recalled their every meeting thereafter and the way he had gazed into her eyes that night after the birthday party. There was no denying that they shared an emotional connect. Lalana went and stood beside her. She gently squeezed her shoulder.

‘Moreover, you are happy being with him. I have never seen your eyes come alive like that in a long time. Take your time and think about him,’ she said gently.

‘There is nothing to think about him. It is never going to work out between us. He is two years younger than me,’ said Dhwani firmly.

‘So what?’

‘Don’t be ridiculous, Lali!’

‘I am saying this with all seriousness. If he is the one who is going to keep you happy, then nothing else matters to me. All I want is for you to live your life. At least once, make a decision for your own happiness and not for the sake of others.’

Dhwani stood up and gave her a hug.

‘I am happy with my life. Don’t break your head about something that is not possible. He is just a good friend. There is nothing more to it.’

Lalana did not argue further. She knew Dhwani’s obstinacy and it was not easy to convince her. Although she was almost certain that Dhwani was right, her heart did have a small hope that her life could change for the better. She was the one who truly understood her friend and knew that happiness had evaded Dhwani since many years. At least now she could see a flickering spark of hope, yet it was still just a spark…

***

‘You got to be kidding me!’ said Bharni almost spilling the beer from his mouth. Jacob coolly gulped down the beer from the tin.

‘Dude, you really can’t be serious about this!’ he said incredulously.

‘Even if you keep denying it a hundred times that is the truth. I want to marry Dhwani,’ said Jacob firmly.

‘Have you lost your mind? She is the mother of a teenager. She is divorced and above all elder to you by two years! Do you really think it is going to work out between the two of you?’

‘You are only repeating things which I already know. If you really want to talk, say something that I don’t know,’ he said munching on the potato chips. Bharni just threw up his hands in defeat.

‘Why, Jake? Why are you doing this? I can understand that you pity her and sympathize with her. But that doesn’t mean that you have to go and marry her. Your life is not a charity to donate!’

Jacob threw the packet of chips at his friend.

‘Moron! I am not doing it for charity. By the way I don’t pity or sympathize with her.’

‘Then why on earth do you want to marry her out of all the women in the world?’

‘I have fallen in love with her, damn it! She is unique… I really want her in my life. Dhwani is the one for me,’ he said passionately.

Bharni was stumped and his words had put an end to the argument. Jacob had given the most irrefutable reason for his decision. Love.

                                 To be continued...