You and I, plus 2 years of marriage!

ALMOST IN Love…

{12}

It was a deserted street and the golden glow of the sodium vapour lamp enveloped the darkness. Two dogs were barking at a distance which made Dhwani uneasy. She was contemplating whether to pass by them or wait till they had finished fighting. Unable to muster up courage, she stood rooted at the spot waiting for the dogs to leave the place. Suddenly one of the dogs started running towards her and the other one followed it ferociously. She was terrified with an urge to run away, but she knew that the best thing to do was to be stationary. After two minutes of anxiety, she heaved a sigh of relief when the dogs ran past her. Frantically she began walking forward with a fear that those dogs might return to chase her. She kept scanning the place to spot Jacob, but could not find him anywhere. She was desperate to see him and also not to see him. The very thought of a break-up was suffocating her. Although the idea seemed quite plausible in the evening, now that there was every possibility of it becoming the harsh reality, it was giving her the jitters. After a few moments she saw him enter the street from the other end. He parked his bike a few yards away from her and started walking. Instead of going to him, she stood there unable to move. His face was expressionless and he avoided eye contact with her. Dhwani steeled herself to hear the words that could spell the end of their short-lived, yet amazing relationship. Once more she looked around and found nobody. She was itching to run into his arms, but controlled her desire. When he neared her, he stopped and looked into her eyes. Silence was screaming in her ears.

‘I want a hug. Now.’

Dhwani gaped at him wide-eyed.

What??!!

There was no change in Jacob’s mien except for the mischief in his eyes. Without thinking she threw her arms around his neck and he grabbed her into a tight embrace.

‘How much I missed you today!’ he rued.

‘Me too…’

He breathed in her faint jasmine perfume.

‘I am sorry…’ he mumbled caressing her hair. Dhwani drowned in happiness and love. Unable to reach his cheek, she kissed his neck.

‘I am sorry too.’

He loosened his hold on her, but still held her close.

‘I shouldn’t have been so rude to you. Basically, I am very patient, but I really couldn’t get a hold on my temper when you said that you won’t be coming today. All my plans went for a toss.’

‘Plans?’ she asked raising her eyebrows.

‘Yes, sweetheart. I researched for a week and made reservation at an amazing restaurant for dinner. I had planned to make this entire evening special for you. Everything had to be cancelled,’ he said shaking his head. She looked at him incredulously. Now she understood why he was so mad at her.

‘I am so sorry, darling. I shouldn’t have disappointed you, but I had no choice.’

‘That’s alright. You don’t have to apologize. Sometimes I get really short-tempered, but I am trying to control it. Just bear with me for a few more days,’ he said with a smile playing around the corner of his lips.

‘Well, I have been too independent in my life for the past six years and I value my space a lot. Until now I have not let anyone into my space, but I know that I have to change. I need some time to get used to being in a relationship, I hope you will understand,’ she said apprehensively.

‘You don’t change, Inu. You are perfect.’

Instantly he bent forward and gave her a quick kiss making her heart skip a beat.

‘And I like you, just the way you are.’

Dhwani felt a rare feeling of satisfaction and warmth in his words. Holding hands, they slowly walked down the street.

‘Dhwani, I want to tell you a few things about my career. You have to understand that I am in the film industry where it is not easy to make a mark early. It is a struggle and I have to fight every single day to make my dream movie see the light of the day. My income is neither sufficient nor consistent. Moreover I have to travel a lot and there is no job security… I hope you can understand all the problems involved in my career and I want you to make an informed decision about us…’ he said slowly. She gently squeezed his hand.

‘I can understand, Jake. You don’t worry, we can manage the expenses because I work too. Till now I have been able to comfortably fend for myself and Ahan. Together, it won’t be a problem for us,’ she assured.

‘You are right. I want you to pursue your career even after marriage and reach higher positions. When I see women give up their career post marriage, I feel sorry for them. Most of the time it is the husband and family who are to be blamed. Why can’t they understand that she also has dreams and she has worked really hard to achieve them? Almost two decades of education and knowledge becomes a colossal waste. It is a loss not just for the woman but also for the entire society,’ he said intensely.

‘Not everyone thinks like you. Even today there are men who restrict their wives to the kitchen in the name of culture, comfort and convenience. Sometimes the women also forswear their career just to enter into wedlock. Both of them should understand that in the long run they are going to regret it.’

‘Exactly!’

‘Moreover the mutual respect is lost even if either of them discontinue their career,’ she said looking at him.

‘You sound so mature, Inu. I really admire your profound thinking,’ he said gazing at her. She smiled accepting his compliments.

‘You are free to chase your dreams, Jake. I believe in your ability to make it big one day. I will stand by you, under any circumstance. I promise,’ she said passionately. Jacob was overwhelmed.

‘Nobody has ever said this to me before,’ he whispered. She gently caressed his face and kissed his forehead.

‘I love you, Jake…’

‘I love you so much, Dhwani.’

On that full moon night, under a nameless tree, he kissed her. She kissed him back shedding all her apprehensions and fear. It was not just a kiss, it was the most meaningful conversation between two hearts.

***

‘I have decided to get married soon,’ said Jacob digging the ground with a spade.

‘Hmmm… okay,’ replied Allisson without looking up. She was planting a neem sapling in the garden. He stopped digging and narrowed his eyes at her.

‘Mom! I said something very important.’

‘And I have heard it before too, but later you said that you weren’t serious about it. So this time, I am not taking you seriously,’ she said shrugging. He dropped the spade and went to her.

‘No, this time I have made the decision for life. I am not going back on my word,’ he said firmly. She finished planting the sapling and watered it.

‘Alright, I have a list of girls suitable for you. You just have to select the one you like and we will get you married within the next couple of months,’ she said excitedly. He washed his hands shaking his head.

‘No need for that. I have already chosen the lady of my life,’ he said coolly. His mother glared at him.

‘What?! Are you in love? You promised me that you would marry the girl of my choice,’ she said crossly.

‘Mom please, spare me the melodrama. I am in love and I want to marry her as soon as possible.’

‘Is she a Christian?’

Jacob threw up his hands in irritation.

‘The first question you ask me is about her religion! I wish you had asked her name. She is a Hindu and her name is Dhwani.’

Allisson was shocked.

‘This is unacceptable! What will I tell our relatives? You want to have an inter-caste marriage?’ she asked incredulously.

‘I only want to get married, mom. Whether it is inter-caste or inter-religion or international or inter-planet, makes no difference to me! As far as relatives are concerned, I was never a big fan of theirs. So I simply don’t give a damn about what they say,’ he said coolly. His mother shook her head in disapproval.

‘Since when, do you love her?’

‘I don’t know when I fell in love with her but it did not take long for me to realise that she was the one for me. We both confessed our love to each other about a month ago.’

‘One month?! You decided to marry her just after being in love for a month. Don’t you think that you are making a decision in haste?’

‘Well, correct me if I am wrong. Yours was an arranged marriage and dad agreed to marry you just after an hour of seeing you for the first time. Compared to yours, I have taken more than enough time to decide about my marriage.’

Allison knew that there was no point in arguing with him. He was too smart for her to convince him against his decision.

‘How did you get to know her?’

‘I saw her at my seminar in Mangalore. She is the youngest to have reached the position of General Manager in the city. She is extremely talented and most of all an amazing woman,’ he said with admiration saturating his voice.

‘You have known her barely for a month, Jake. You cannot judge a person in such a short span of time…’

Jacob let out a long drawn breath and disapproved his mother’s hypocrisy.

‘Mom, I have known her since college. She was two years senior to me. Later she disappeared and snapped all contacts with her college mates. She married early but it lasted only for a few months. When she was 25, she adopted a boy and he is a very talented kid.’

At one stretch, he told her everything about Dhwani. He knew that Allisson would vehemently oppose him, but he did not want to hide the truth from her. It was better to explode the truth at once rather than let it build up like a volcano. She gaped at her son wide-eyed.

‘Are you out of your mind, Jacob! What rubbish are you blabbering?? First you said that you are in love with a Hindu girl. Now you are saying that she is divorced and a mother of a boy! Moreover she is two years older than you! For God’s sake, have all other women disappeared from earth that you found only her?’ she asked furiously.

‘Mom, I love her.’

‘Nonsense! I am certainly not going to agree to this marriage. When you decided to give up a good job and become a director, I supported you. Although your father was against it and stopped talking to you after that. But this is simply not happening!’

‘I have made my decision…’ he said slowly.

‘Jake, please try to understand. It is necessary that your wife should be at least a couple of years younger than you. Only then you both can understand each other and lead a happy life,’ she said caressing his head. He rolled his eyes at her.

‘Who says so? Nobody will ever understand me better than Dhwani. Age has nothing to do with our happiness. We truly love each other and that is exactly what we need for life, mom,’ he argued. Allisson was losing her patience with every justification he gave her supporting his decision.

‘I am sick and tired of your arguments, Jake. I don’t want you to marry her and this is my final decision. If you are going to be adamant, then don’t ever speak to me,’ she said decisively and walked into the house. Jacob rubbed his face and let out a sigh in dejection.

Neither can I hurt mom, nor can I leave Dhwani… I love both of them. What am I going to do?

***

Ahan casually walked into the kitchen and placed the gift wrapped parcel on the kitchen shelf. Dhwani frowned and handed him a glass of orange juice.

‘What is it?’

‘I don’t know, ma. It is for you. I am only here to deliver the parcel,’ he said smiling mischievously. She could no longer suppress her curiosity and quickly unwrapped it. There were two volumes of the complete Sherlock Holmes series, which she had been wishing to read from a long time. Her face lit up with a huge grin!

‘When did he give it to you?’

‘The day before leaving to Bangalore, uncle came to skating class and met me. He wanted me to give it to you today.’

‘What is so special today?’ she wondered. Dhwani opened the first book and there was a letter inside addressed to her.

‘Ah ahh! A love letter! I think it’s time for me to leave you alone,’ said Ahan winking at her and walked out sipping the juice. Dhwani blushed uncomfortably while unfolding the letter. It was handwritten.

Dear Ms. Melody,

This day, a month ago was the happiest day of my life. You confessed your love and I got the most precious gift of my life – YOU! I want this happiness and love of the past one month for an entire lifetime. I promise to love you every single moment of forever, darling. No matter where I am, I will always be addicted to you. Your jasmine fragrance fills the air whenever I think about you. Your voice is the first music I crave to hear when I wake up in the morning and the last melody that puts me to sleep at night. Sometimes, suddenly when I wake up during the darkest hour, I want to see your face right in front of me. I long to hold your hands now, always… I want you today, tomorrow, next week and forever! You are the best thing that happened to me in life.

Happy first month anniversary, my love!!!

I love you …

With infinite hugs and kisses,

Forever yours,

Jake

[P.S. – This is the first love letter that I have ever written. I swear I haven’t done anything like this before.]

It never occurred to Dhwani that it was their first month anniversary. Yet he remembered it and gifted her very thoughtfully. She re-read the letter four times with a smile pasted on her face. Fifth time she read it very slowly, etching each word on her mind. A few tears slipped out of her eyes without her cognition. Every word written on that paper was a piece of his heart. She fell in love with him all over again.

I love you, Jake…

To be continued...