AFFINITY
29th September1999
"Sammu, get up bebu. It's already 9.30. How long will you sleep? Mumma is trying to wake me up from my deep slumber. I usually wake up at 7 a.m. as I have to get ready for my college and leave at 8.30. I have to catch a bus for the college which departs at 8.45 from the bus stop. Mumma tells me several times to take auto but I don't want to waste money, although we are not pressed for money now as we used to in the past after Daddy, I am used to save money or spend wisely.
Today, I have taken off from college since Mumma wanted me to stay home. For me holiday means getting up late in the morning but Mumma is so excited today that she won't let me sleep (I know this). Finally, I get up from my bed and hug Mumma who's standing at the entrance of my room waiting for me to wake up as she knows my habit of not leaving my bed at her first call. I hug her tightly and keep my head on her shoulder, actually not shoulder, I can reach up to her neck only. She is gifted with a good height (unlike me). Wow! The happiness of the world is on one side and hugging mom is on the other side. Warmth of Mumma's hug is like sleeping in the lap of nature in a serene landscape.
"Go and freshened up yourself, I'll get your breakfast ready", Mumma kisses on my cheek. I relish Gobi ka Parantha (stuffed chapatti).
Lucky, our servant, is busy in cleaning the house. He does clean it daily but today he's been instructed by Mumma to clean each and everything carefully. "Samaira baby, today some special guests are coming, I know that", he giggled. OMG! Mumma has told everyone. If they'll reject me? Although they have liked my photograph, they can repudiate me due to my short height. I am 5'3" tall and I've got to know that HE is 5'11". I do look taller and I've got friendship proposals from tall boys always though I refused to accept all and yes, the marriage offers from relatives are also from tall and handsome boys. The fact that I look gorgeous and attractive cannot be denied so why am I being perturbed? Don't worry Yaar!
In the afternoon, after having tasty lunch cooked by my Mumma, I sleep for a while (as suggested by Mumma) to look more fresh because Mumma feels that I don't need any facial to glow, (Hi meri maa) just half an hour sleep can do miracles, I radiate like a rose even after a short nap!
It's 17.00 hrs. and they will reach by 18.00 hrs., so one hour is left only. We are waiting for Sania as she has to come from her in-law's house but she'll be coming alone as Garry (her husband) is unable get a leave. He is an Army officer and gets posted at Udaipur in Rajasthan. Without him, we all feel helpless. I am anxiously waiting for Sania to reach as soon as possible; I want her to sit beside me and help me in getting ready. Actually, I am getting nervous. Thank God! She arrives before them along with my princess, my niece.
I am wearing pink suit with simple footwear with two-inch heels only. The simple braid makes me look graceful. No make-up except kajal which I usually apply and it suits on my big eyes!
Sammy comes to my room to announce about their arrival. OMG! MY heart is pounding! After half an hour I am being called to the drawing room but not with the tray in hands like it used to happen in old days. I and my sister enter the room. Never had the pulse beat stronger! Don't know why? I have been studying throughout co-ed school and college but going in front of someone like this, for marriage, is something new and strange for me. But it's a tradition!
As soon as I enter the room my eyes meet HIM, HE is sitting in the corner but just opposite to the door as if he's already sets his view to see me. I greet everyone and sit near my sister. All eyes are on me I realize. I have been asked my name, qualification, hobbies etc. as I am appearing for any interview, while answering I glance at him twice but immediately turn me eyes towards a woman who's asking questions. She is looking good and tall; I think she is HIS sister. Five members of HIS family have come to choose a RIGHT girl for their son! After half an hour of questioning, HIS mom says that her son wants a few minutes conversation with me in private that made me frown but... I don't want to say anything so remain quiet.
After few minutes, we are alone in the room. He initiates... "My name is Sartaj, I hope you got to know my name", he smiles. "No, nobody has told me anything about you", I reply innocently. He smiles as his eyes meet mine. He is dressed in a cream formal shirt with a pair of formal trousers. He stand-up from his seat and shifts towards the other side of the couch which is closed to my chair. He is tall, I notice, could easily be 6 feet or close to it. I notice the dimple in his left cheek as he smiles. He is a well-groomed handsome man. My heart does a flip when he smiles again. I have been told that he is a businessman. My father was an officer and I belong to the family where I have learned to be disciplined and well mannered. In Business class family, according to my father, children are pampered and ill-mannered. But this man! An epitome of style and elegance! He has won my heart. I come out of my thoughts when he asks something little loud. "Pardon", I try to hide my secret thoughts about him. "Do you want to ask me anything though I have told you everything", he asks. OMG! He has been talking about himself and I haven't heard anything, nor I respond. What would he think about me? Am I a Dumbo? "No", I just nodded.
While we are talking, everybody comes back to the room and sits with us. Sartaj's mom sits near me and asks, "can you stand for a second, beta?" I stand. "Sit down, beta", she says. I sit down. They leave around 20.00 hrs. After bidding goodbye to them we all come back to drawing hall again. I take a deep sigh, relieved now.
Around 20.30 hrs. the landline phone bell rings in the bedroom. Sammy attends the call and after few seconds rushes towards us, "Congratulations and celebrations", he is singing while holding my hands. "They called up and Sartaj liked Sammu very much but he wanted to know her answer", Sammy shouts and hugs me. "So?" he asks. I am feeling over the moon, "Yes".
The next day, Sartaj's mom called up early morning. I pick up the phone as I have no idea about who could be on the other side. Today, I have to go to college. I am busy in getting ready but this phone call agitates me. I unwillingly pick up the phone and say, "Hello! Who's on the line?" The reply has made me nervous and little bit embarrassed too as I speak harshly. "Hello beta! It's me, Sartaj's mother". "H-e-ll-oo!" My tone changes and I reply softly. "How are you, beta"? she asks "I am fine g", I make my tone more soften. "Your mom is home? I want to talk to her" she further asks. "Hanji, I'll call her", I hurried to Mumma who's preparing breakfast for me. "Come soon, leave everything. Sartaj's mom is on the line" I say in the same breath. Mumma leaves everything immediately and takes the call. I, who didn't want to waste a single minute to reach bus stop to catch a bus few minutes before, forget everything and sit near mom. After a few minutes of conversation, Mumma puts the receiver down and looks at me, smiling and kisses me. "They want to do engagement next week", she says with watery eyes and hugs me. She gets up from the chair and stands in front of Papa's photograph that moves me too. Mumma is too emotional and lives on her nerves or Papa's demise has made her like this. But she, in the same time, is strong too. We thank to Papa as we feel that this all is happening because of his blessings. I know it's quite normal to get marriage proposals at this age but our society has a mindset about marriage. Few of our relatives have made my mom tensed by saying that it's difficult to get your daughter married because of her father's demise (I still don't understand this mentality)
"Don't go to college today as we have to go for a shopping", she says and I can feel the excitement and happiness in her tone. "I can't take leave today as it's a very crucial year and I cannot miss lectures daily. "OK! Listen, we do solve this problem. I will get free by 16.00 hrs. and see you at the Sawhney Emporium (we do shop from this emporium only). You come by auto and don't try to come by bus", I find out the solution as I know Mumma will get restless and will go alone for a shopping. I don't know why I am so unsecured about Mumma. After losing Papa I can't afford to lose her. Losing Papa is an irrecoverable loss and I cannot bear any loss anymore. OMG! I don't realize when I catch bus and reach my college. I immediately take out my wallet and kiss my Papa's photo; what I like about photographs is that they capture a moment that's gone forever, impossible to return and reproduce. I am, on the one side missing Papa a lot today, and excited to give the good news to my best friend, on the other side. Sometimes you don't direct your thoughts at all; your thoughts are just led, outside your control.
"Hi!" Alisha, my best friend waves at me. She hugs me tightly but a shade of annoyance crosses her finely marked face. She is very beautiful, like me. "Where the hell were you? I missed you yesterday", she grumbles. "I have good news for you, I am getting engaged" I, as usual, speak in the same breath. "What! OMG! I am so delighted to hear this", she exclaims. But I don't know why I am not convinced of it by the manner in which she reacts!! It may be my imagination. We attend classes and I reach Sawhney Emporium by rickshaw after my classes. Mumma has already reached there. In the Emporium, I try pastel shades lehenga but Mumma wants me to choose any shade of red, I cannot agree on this with her as I prefer wearing pastel colors only. My dislike of dark colors and fondness for the light pastel ones makes Mumma irritated at times. While I am busy in choosing a dress, Sania's entry in the Emporium makes me surprised and happy too. I select a muted blush lavender crepe lehenga with sprawling floral embroidery edged with pearls and sequins of the same color. Although Sania and Mumma wants me to choose dark color, the lehenga is so gracefully and ethnically designed they cannot reject it. This will be the first time in my life that I am going to wear such a lavishing dress. After buying Lehenga, we move to footwear shops. The South-x market has a variety of footwear stores. Finally, after half an hour, I get the footwear I was looking for. The six-inch-high heel Stiletto grips my attention and I choose it for my special day. Fingers crossed; we are waiting for the engagement ceremony.