That's The Way We Met Page 12

  I reached the registration office. Sameer and my office colleague came within a few minutes. It was a pleasant morning, and I could not wait to see Riya in a bride’s sari. I wanted to see her wearing the chuda on her wrists, which she had decided to wear just to see me happy. I was excited and could barely contain my emotions.

  Sameer patted me on my back said, ‘I have known you for years, but this is the first time I have seen such a huge smile on your face.’

  ‘I never expected us to get married so early. Never in my wildest dreams. And to see our dream finally coming true is just unbelievable, Sameer,’ I exclaimed.

  ‘I can understand your feelings, buddy. I remember the way you would drink alcohol just to garner a bit of attention from her. Today, you will finally marry her,’ said Sameer.

  Sameer said that he had written a note for both Riya and me to mark this beautiful day. He took out a sheet of paper from his pocket and started reading.

  Lady luck made you meet Riya in college and you both fell in love with each other. You have been together for many years now and all I have to say is that two people couldn’t have been more perfect for each other. I just want to wish you good luck for the future. You make for a lovely couple and I am proud to be here with you as a witness and a friend on your wedding day.

  I was overwhelmed by his kindness. He has indeed been a good friend to me over the years and a worthy choice for the best man at our wedding.

  I looked at my watch and saw that Riya was running late. She should have been here by now. I was worried whether everything was okay at her home. There wasn’t much traffic from her place to the registration office, so she should have easily made it here. I dialled her number but she didn’t respond. I was getting uncomfortable now.

  The clock struck twelve in the afternoon. We were already late. I couldn’t understand the reason behind her delay. I didn’t want to call Mohit, but I had no option.

  ‘Hey Mohit, How are you buddy?’ I asked him.

  ‘I am fine. Just a little occupied with work. How have you been, lucky boy? So you are officially getting married before us. Congratulations on reaching the end of bachelorhood.’

  I wanted to tell him that Riya had not reached yet but he seemed so enthusiastic about our marriage that I did not want him to be worried unnecessarily.

  ‘Yes, I know it’s the end of bachelorhood. But Mohit, listen. I have called you up for another reason. Can you please tell Sonam to call Riya and check where she is? She has not reached the registration office yet. She should have been here by now. She is not picking my calls either. Can you tell Sonam to call her or her landline number?’ I said in a dejected tone.

  ‘Don’t worry. I will tell Sonam to call her up and find out what is causing the delay. She will give you a call in fifteen minutes or so and update you with the status. Chill, my boy!’ he said and kept the phone down.

  Those fiteen minutes seemed like they would never end. Sameer was as worried as me. I kept telling myself to try and remain calm, pushing all the negative thoughts away. I felt alone, even in Sameeer’s presence. I messaged and called Riya several times but she didn’t respond.

  Finally my phone rang. I quickly retrieved my cell phone from my pocket. It was Sonam. My happiness vanished within a flash and I suddenly became a bundle of nerves.

  ‘Aditya, I tried calling her several times on her mobile but she didn’t pick up my call. I called her on the landline number too, but no one picked up. I don’t understand what has happened. There could be some problem or she might be on the way. Do wait for some time and give me a call if she comes,’ said a tensed sounding Sonam.

  I had no option but to wait. The court timing was till 4 pm. I was completely broken. I knew she wouldn’t betray me this time. I trusted her, I trusted her a lot. This was just so unexpected. I had planned the wedding night and along with it, so many surprises for her. I had so many dreams, but everything seemed futile now. I called her again but still there was no response.

  She is not coming, I told myself. Finally, I decided to leave. A broken heart gives way to deeper fears. I thought I had lost her forever. How could this end so suddenly? In the absence of her love, my happiness has vanished. For all the times we laughed, for all the times we hugged and kissed, and for all the times we made sweet love, I can never get over her. I used to love her so much, I used to adore her, but the ending is not what I expected.

  I reached home without realizing I was still wearing the sherwani.

  Mom asked me where had I gone dressed like that and what was I up to. I could not hide my pain any longer and told her every single truth about our love story. I told her the plans we made together and the decisions we took to live with each other. Like any other Mom would have done, she was extremely hurt that I had lied to her.

  I wept in front of her trying to make her understand my situation. I told her I needed her support. She hugged me and told me everything was going to be okay. I retired to my room hurt, refusing to eat anything and smoking endless cigarettes. How could you have done this to me, Riya? I love you. I shouted and screamed, if only she would hear.

  Somewhere in my heart, I knew she couldn’t betray me. She loved me. She cared for me. She would always tell me that she loved me more than I loved her. She would not do this without informing me; I sensed there was something fishy. I decided to go to her house and see for myself what exactly the issue was.

  She can’t lose interest in me so suddenly. She can’t love anyone else.

  Wiping the tears off my face, I started my bike and zoomed off to her house. The silence filled the evening even in noisy traffic. I could not hear anything. All I could hear was Riya saying, Tomorrow night will be our first wedding night. However, we will be away from each other. Love you, my darling!

  Her last message to me hammered in my head all the way till I reached her apartment. As I climbed up the stairs, my heartbeats increased. Standing outside her apartment door, I suddenly got cold feet.

  It was then that I noticed a couple of shoes and slippers lying about outside her doorstep. In my head, I already feared the worst. Just then, an Uncle came outside the apartment. He was dressed in white clothes. I mustered the courage to ask him what was happening inside. He put one hand on my shoulders and told me in a soft voice that Mr Umesh, Riya’s father, had breathed his last that morning.

  I stood there stunned. It was impossible. It was just impossible.

  How could this happen all of a sudden? And why hadn’t Riya informed me about it?

  I rushed into her apartment but could see neither Riya nor her Mom. Riya’s brother was crying on a relative’s shoulder. Everyone had tears in their eyes. I was shocked to see the glumness of it all. I couldn’t believe my eyes.

  I asked one lady how it had happened so suddenly. However, she did not know anything. Then a screeching siren of an ambulance filled the air. I ran downstairs and stood near the entrance of her society. As the ambulance approached towards her gate, I felt my heart getting heavy and my body getting cold. The ambulance stopped inside the gate. Riya and her Mom came outside. Riya still didn’t see me. They both were crying loudly. I could feel their pain. I still hadn’t accepted the fact that Riya’s Dad had left the world so suddenly.

  The hospital staff took the body out of the ambulance. I was not able to react nor did I have courage to approach Riya. A few men from the family came forward and took the body upstairs. It was then that Riya saw me. She stood still for a minute. She had stopped crying and just stared at me. I had never faced a situation like this and was completely unaware of how I should react. She came close to me with heavy steps. We didn’t utter a word. We both stared at each other for some time. Then Riya embraced me and wept like a small girl. The entire apartment resonated with her sobs.

  ‘Riya, how did this happen?’ I asked her.

  ‘It was just so sudden. I was not in a state to inform anyone. I still can’t digest the fact that he is not amid us anymore. I loved him so much,’ she cried l
oudly.

  All the relatives gathered around to pay their condolences. Riya told me what exactly happened.

  ‘After I messaged you last night, I went to sleep. I was so excited about our marriage that I got up very early to get ready. At the breakfast table, Mom told me that Dad was not feeling particularly well. He was sweating a lot since morning and had complained of shortness of breath. We didn’t want to take a chance with his health as he was suffering from hypertension since the past few days. We took him to the nearby hospital and got him checked upon by the doctor who asked his staff to keep Dad under observation until evening. I was by his side the whole time. Whenever I thought of messaging or calling you up, someone would invariably call my name. I went to the washroom to freshen up. When I came back from the washroom, I saw something abnormal and informed doctors immediately. They came and injected him. Mom rushed to the hospital. She had gone home to bring food for him. After some time, the doctor came and said that he had a heart attack and that they could not do anything to rescue him in time. It was so hard to believe that he had left us and would never return,’ said a weeping Riya.

  I gently stroked her hair, trying my best to comfort her.

  She continued, ‘He was the one who taught me to walk; he was the one who stood beside me in my bad times. He was my world. He was my life. It was so hard for him that even at the last minute he looked at me. He tried to open his eyes wide but they shut forever. He tried to tell me to take care of Mom and my brother. He tried to reach for me; he wanted to hold my hand. He wanted to hug me for the last time. However, he couldn’t. He let his little girl be alone in this unknown world. He won’t be with me to hold my hand or catch me when I fall. He has left us forever. My life has come to a screeching halt. I want to ask God why he has done this to us. Why did he take away one thing that mattered the most to me? Why always me? I want my Dad back. I want him to sit beside me when I get married. I want him to hug me when I leave this house and come to yours. I want him to just be there with me at all times.’

  Riya cried and cried till her tears dried out. I tried to tell her that the body may have run its course, but the soul lives on forever.

  The Saviour

  The next day, I called Mohit to inform him about the tragedy.

  ‘Hey buddy, how was your wedding night? You got up early?’ He laughed. He certainly was not aware of the situation.

  ‘Mohit, you won’t believe this, but things are not the same anymore. The reason why Riya couldn’t come for the marriage yesterday was because her Dad has expired,’ I said in a heavy tone.

  Mohit couldn’t believe it. I told him everything that had happened yesterday and asked him to call Riya up and see how she was doing. I called Sonam too and told her the same thing. Both of them were about to postpone their engagement but I told them not to do so. Both Riya and my plans of attending their engagement seemed dicey now. It was impossible for Riya to attend it and I didn’t want to leave her alone. I convinced both of them not to postpone the engagement even if we couldn’t turn up. Both agreed to go ahead with it, but with a heavy heart. Riya messaged me that Sonam and Mohit had called her. She felt bad that she would not be able to attend their engagement. I told her to take care of herself and her Mom. I felt extremely sad for her brother. He was still so young and had a long life ahead.

  As the days passed, our conversations got shorter and shorter. We would talk for a few minutes and I would tell her to keep wading through the waters till she reached the shore. In her family, it’s not allowed to speak on the phone a lot or even step out of the house for a few days after someone’s death without any specific reason. She had taken leave from her office for a few days. Three days passed and it was my birthday. I remembered how happy I had been on my last birthday with Riya. This time, happiness evaded us. I woke up to receive a message from Riya on my phone.

  Many many happy returns of the day! I am sorry that I can’t be with you on your birthday. You may think that I don’t miss you and I don’t think of you as much as I did earlier. However, I want to tell you today that with every passing minute, I think of you. Today even if I am not with you, just close your eyes and you will find me standing there. I will always be with you and support you. Enjoy your day and don’t be sad. I know you are upset, I know you felt equally bad but today is your day, so enjoy it. Your family wants to see you happy. Be happy for my sake, please.

  She was the best! She understood exactly how I felt. She understood every emotion in me. No one could understand me better than Riya.

  I spent the day with my family. My Mom sensed that I was upset. When no one was in my room, she came to me and asked me what happened after that incident.

  ‘Mom, the reason why Riya didn’t turn up that day was not because of her attempt to betray me or because she had hard feelings towards me. It was because her Dad had passed away. They were already under a financial crisis and this has made things worse. She is completely broken and needs my support,’ I cried.

  She sat down and told me to come over and lay my head her lap. She told me that Riya’s family was her first priority and told me not to impose any decisions on her. She had many responsibilities on her plate now, including her brother. I could see sense in my mother’s talk.

  I kissed her cheek and told her she was the best before retiring off to bed.

  My performance in the office was also adversely affected. It was the month where maximum incentives were given out to employees. In no way was I in the contention owing to my poor performance. I could not even complete my basic targets. Every now and then, I was concerned about Riya’s health and her condition. I did not tell her what I was going through in office as I did not want to burden her further with my problems too. We could not talk often due to all the relatives who had assembled at her home for the rituals that are conducted in the first fourteen days following someone’s death.

  My manager warned me about my performance. This time Mohit was not there to defend me and that made the situation worse. My stats were poor. My poor performance affected my health and I suffered from regular headaches. Each day without Riya kept getting more and more difficult for me. I remained aloof most of the time, even in the office premises. I used to complete my office hours and leave straight for home without socializing.

  Sameer called me that evening and asked me whether I could meet him. I wanted someone with whom I could share my feelings. I met him and cried a lot on his shoulders. He was the one who supported me in all my bad times. I wished Sonam and Mohit could have been with us. He told me to be strong and support Riya in this time of need. I finally managed to smile. After a long time, I had shared my feelings with someone and felt relaxed that day. I thanked Sameer for being there.

  My phone rang. It was Riya.

  ‘Aadi, I am joining office from tomorrow. I can’t take so many days off. My office timing is till 6 pm. You think you can meet me after the shift?’

  ‘Sure. I hope you are okay now. Are you in a condition to join office?’ I asked.

  She said she was fine and that joining office would do her good as it would divert her mind from the gloomy atmosphere at home. Her voice too seemed much better than before.

  Finally, we were meeting each other. Finally, I would see my love after almost half a month. This brought a smile on my face. I waited for her shift to get over. My shift got over two hours before hers. I saw her walking from a long distance. It felt so nice to see her. Just looking at her made me feel content. I closed my eyes and thanked God for having taken care of her in my absence.

  She came and stood in front of me. I glanced at her. She looked pale. The twinkle in her eyes had vanished. The dark circles under her eyes were clearly visible. She had lost weight too. She seemed very tired from her voice. She somehow managed a weak smile and sat on my bike. We drove to Grant lane, one of our favourite places from our dating days. We had special memories associated with that particular lane.

  When we reached there, she hugged me tight and said,
‘All I have of Dad now are his memories and photos in frames. I wanted to tell him while he was alive that I loved you and wanted to get married to you. But God took him away from me before I could tell him that.’

  And then she recounted painfully all that had transpired following her father’s demise.

  ‘After three days of Dad’s death, we received a letter from the bank. It was a notice regarding our loan payment. We had defaulted on the payment and so the bank officials had come for recovery. The amount was a considerable one for us. We all were worried about the payment. Finally, after a lot of discussion Mom called Dilip Uncle and asked him to come home. Dilip Uncle was Dad’s closest friend and had been with us through thick and thin. Uncle was a part of our family. He came home the next evening on Mom’s request.’

  Riya recounted every word of their conversation.

  ‘Dilip Uncle asked us the last date given by the bank for repaying the loan. I was sitting beside my Mom with a worried expression on my face. Mom told him that the last date was a lot closer than we expected it to be. He suggested that since the bank officials were on our head, he would pay the loan on our behalf and we could pay him back later when we had the money. It was such a sweet gesture on his part. We felt bad to take help from him, but we were left with no other option. He told us that Dad was a dear friend of his, almost like a brother. Uncle said that it would be his pleasure if he could help our family in any way possible.’

  I was listening intently to every word Riya was saying.

  ‘Mom and I both cried and thanked him for his generosity. He was no less than an angel for us. He made the loan payment and did not ask us even once in that by when we would repay it. If he had not helped us at that moment, situation, I don’t know what would have happened to us. For the next few days, Dilip Uncle became a regular visitor to our house, visiting to check on our general health. Sometimes Dilip Uncle would even join us for dinner. He would tell my brother to study hard and that he would look after his graduation and would see to it that he gets admission in a reputed college. He told my brother not to think of anything else except studies and just work hard. His genuineness was clearly visible. He was indeed an angel sent by my father to look after us in his absence. I thanked God that night. He helped us in every possible way… He referred my brother’s name to the trusty of a reputed college in Mumbai—Swami Vivekanad College. He did this even before my brother’s final exams were over.’