You and I, plus 2 years of marriage!

ALMOST IN Love…

{8}

‘Aah! Amma!’ shrieked Ahan. Dhwani immediately made him sit on the cot.

‘Looks like the pain has not yet subsided. You better take complete rest for a couple of more days,’ she said caressing his head. Het let out a tired sigh.

‘No, ma. I cannot keep lying on the bed anymore. Also the doctor has told that I can start walking after three days. It’s already been four days since the accident and I am fed up of lying down the whole day. Let me try once more.’

‘No way! I cannot see you cry out in pain. You can start walking after two days when the pain has reduced. If you try again now, you will certainly fall down.’

‘Ma ple-’

‘Looks like mother and son are battling it out again,’ said Jacob peering into the room. Ahan’s face lit up with a sunny smile, but Dhwani remained indifferent.

‘Hi uncle! You have indeed come at the right time. Mom is not letting me walk,’ he complained.

‘Why? What is wrong with it?’ asked Jacob frowning at her.

‘He is still in pain,’ she said crossing her arms.

‘So? He has hurt his leg and it’s quite obvious that he is going to be in pain. That doesn’t mean that he should not try walking. Come on, Anu! You are a brave boy who has learnt martial arts. I am pretty sure you can handle this silly pain. Get up now,’ he commanded. Dhwani looked at him incredulously.

‘You can’t be serious about it,’ she said glaring at him. 

Jacob raised an eyebrow at her and went to stand beside Ahan. He held him at his hip and Ahan put his arm around Jacob’s shoulder. Slowly the boy stood up but most of his weight was supported by Jacob. When he placed his wounded ankle on the floor, his face contorted with pain but only this time he did not let out a cry. With much effort he put his healthy leg forward followed by his injured ankle. Jacob firmly held him and made sure that Ahan did not lose his balance. Dhwani knew that he was in pain despite his heroic efforts at trying to walk. At one point Jacob released his hand from his waist and Ahan impulsively took one more step forward. Immediately he lost his balance and was about to fall flat on the floor but Jacob was quick to hold him and steady him on his feet.

‘See? This is what I meant! He has not yet recovered from the injury. Let him rest for a couple of days and later he can slowly start walking once the pain subsides. Otherwise he will fall and hurt himself again,’ she said angrily to Jacob.

‘Stop being paranoid, Dhwani. I won’t let him get hurt. We should not stop him from walking just because there are chances that he might fall. Rather we should support him in such a way that no matter how many times he falls, he is strong enough to get up and stand on his feet,’ said Jacob calmly. 

For a minute she pondered over his words. Grudgingly she had to admit that his words indeed made sense, although not very acceptable for her in that situation. After walking for a few more minutes, Jacob helped Ahan to lie on the bed. He took his medicines and slowly fell asleep while talking to Jacob. Dhwani kissed his forehead and walked out of the room. Jacob quietly followed her out.

‘I am sorry. I was very rude to you back in the room,’ she said as a matter of fact.

‘That is alright, Dhwani. I can understand your concern for him. But I really think you should take it easy at times,’ he said shrugging. She frowned at him.

‘What do you mean? How can I take it easy when my son is shrieking in pain?’

‘You should. No matter how hard it is for you, there is no point in getting all worked up about him. He is growing up and we should start treating him like an adolescent. Stop seeing him as a child. He is capable enough to handle his life.’

‘This is ridiculous! He is only fourteen for God’s sake,’ she said throwing up her hands.

‘Trust me, kids these days grow up too fast. Being over-protective will not help you in any way. It is only going to suffocate him,’ he said earnestly.

Dhwani rubbed her forehead deep in thought.

‘There is so much that I need to understand about parenting a teen. I can see that he is no longer the innocent kid that I brought home but I simply can’t stop myself from being worried. I can understand that I have to give him his space, yet I want to always make life easy for him,’ she rued. Jacob laughed at her.

‘This is not something to laugh about,’ she said narrowing her eyes.

‘I am sorry, but I cannot help laughing at your words. Do you really believe that you can make his life easy? Why do you want to do that? You don’t have to fight his battles, Dhwani. Let him fight for himself because it is his life.’

‘You sound so mature, Jake…’ she said with a slight smile. He shook his head smiling at her.

‘Okay, I have to leave now.’

He began to walk towards the door.

‘So soon?’ she asked impulsively. Slowly he turned around to face her and searched her eyes. There was an unfathomable gloom and disappointment in them.

‘I have an important appointment scheduled for the day. I will be back in the evening. I promise,’ he said earnestly and walked out. She really wished that he would keep up his promise.

***

‘I didn’t expect that you would actually come,’ said Dhwani rubbing her arm. It was a breezy night and they were strolling on one of the deserted streets near her home. It was very calm and tranquil like the bright moon in the sky.

‘I usually don’t break promises,’ he said winking at her.

Jacob had come to her house for dinner and later asked her out for a walk. She did not think much before agreeing. Her parents had flown down from Mumbai and were at home to take care of Ahan. They did not mind her going out with him because they wanted her to take a break from her routine.

‘Jake, can I ask you something?’

‘Sure.’

‘Why are you still single?’

He ruffled his hair and let out a long drawn breath.

‘It is hard to find a woman who can put up with me. I don’t have a secure job. I am still a struggling film director who is yet to make a mark. Moreover my life is hectic and I live like a nomad. Which woman would want to marry a man who is so unsettled in life?’

‘What nonsense! You are intelligent, mature, kind and caring. If a woman truly loves you, nothing else matters,’ she said looking forward at the empty road.

‘That’s what I thought, but my previous girlfriend did not think so.’

‘Were you in a relationship before?’ she asked turning towards him.

‘Yeah… She was my classmate at college. We were in love for two years and later we were in a live-in relationship after graduation. We both got placed in reputed companies through placements at college. Very soon I discovered that I was not happy with my job and wanted to take up my passion as a career. When I told her my decision, she thought I was crazy. Every day we argued and fought over it. I did not take long to figure out that I was in the wrong profession and in love with the wrong person. We broke up soon after…’

His voice trailed into the darkness with the light breeze. They both were walking very slowly and the sodium vapour light cast a golden glow on the street. Dhwani wanted to hold his hand at that moment but she simply crossed her arms and walked along.

‘I am sorry. I should not have asked that question,’ she said slowly.

‘You don’t have to apologize, Dhwani. It was a short lived relationship and I have moved on. There is no point in holding onto a relationship that you know is not going to work, no matter what you do. Nothing can be worse than living with a person who is not going to understand you or value your dreams.’

‘Hmmm… you are right,’ she agreed.

‘I think it’s time you moved on too.’

Dhwani stopped walking hearing his words. He too stopped and faced her.

‘What do you mean? I have moved on in life.’

‘No, you haven’t. You are still holding onto your past which is casting a shadow over your present and future.’

‘What are you trying to tell, Jake?’ she asked frowning at him. He pulled out his hand from his pocket and took her hand in his. Her heart skipped a beat.

‘You should get married, Dhwani,’ he said intensely. She swallowed hard hearing his words.

‘Why?’ she almost whispered into the air. He gazed into her eyes with an untold longing. He took a step forward and slowly caressed her cheeks. Her breathing became ragged and uneven.

‘Because I love you.’

                             To be continued...