C5 T H R E E

“I am not going to marry him.” Anahita announced, dropping her bags on the floor. Mr. and Mrs. Maurya glanced at each other, preparing themselves for another episode of Anahita’s reluctance.

“How was your shopping?” Mrs. Maurya asked, getting up to collect the bags and Anahita rubbed her forehead. “It was good but…”

“Who dropped you?”

“Yuvraaj and I want to….”

“Didn't you ask him to come inside?” Her father inserted.

“Yes, I did but he was in haste because he have a meeting to attend early morning. Now will you please listen to me?” She lied the first part and yelled throwing her hands in air.

“Okay but before that, have this.” Her father dropped a whole piece of Rashogulla in her mouth. Anahita stared at him in surprise, endeavouring to chew the sweet delicacy.

“Tasty?”

She nodded, cupping her chin to prevent the sweet liquid falling on her dress. “But dad…”

“I know what happened. I know why you're angry but he was just joking.” Mr. Maurya supported Yuvraaj. Anahita narrowed her eyes. Did Yuvraaj just feed her parents with lies?

She waited and gulped down the Rashogulla. “He was not. He emptied all my clothes and inspected them disregarding my privacy and not only this, he made fun of my dressing sense.”

“Let it be, Anahita. He was joking otherwise why would he call us and apologized.” Her mom told Anahita.

She almost choked. “He called and apologized?”

“Yes. Now come and have your dinner. You are cranky when you are empty stomach.” Anahita rolled her eyes when her mom dragged her to the dining table and served food. Once again, her family supported Yuvraaj, neglecting her and her feelings. She silently finished her dinner and squeezed herself on the sofa with her cousins. She cringed at their excitement; everyone had their plans up for her wedding. What would they wear? How would they look? Blah! Blah!

“Mom, I am retiring to my room. I am really tired.” Anahita yawned and cracked her neck getting up from the sofa.

“Okay, you should sleep. We have a long day ahead. I am really worried how will I manage all the preparations and your dad helps me nothing.” Mrs. Maurya blabbered without taking her eyes off the letter pad.

Anahita shook her head and staggered to her room. She stuffed the shopping bags in the cupboard and made bed. She was halfway through changing her clothes when her cellphone buzzed. She did her task and grudgingly pick up the call.

“What's it?” She came to the point.

“I've been wondering if you are free tomorrow.” Yuvraaj drawled.

“No I am not.”

“Okay, in that case, take out some time for me. I am buying you the breakfast.”

“You don't have to. I am hanging up now.”

“Anahita. I was joking, stop being a spitfire.” He cackled and Anahita twitched her lips.

“I am hanging up.”

“And, I will you show you what actual strangulation means after our marriage.” He husked, hitching her breath.

“Do me a favour and disappear from this planet before I kill you because I am not very fan of your game.” The venomous serpent lashed in her veins and she spat.

Yuvraaj laughed carelessly, belittling her. “And if by chance I survived, get ready for a night way more tortuous than this.”

“You wish!” She muttered.

“Good night, manni Mou. See you at the wedding.” Yuvraaj said and cut the call. Blankly, Anahita kept staring at her cellphone and sprawled on the bed.

***

“Mukund.” Anahita pleaded. “Please yaar. Do something.”

“Anahita, can we please talk about it some other day. I really am not in mood of listening how Yuvraaj tortured you and whatsoever.” Mukund answered, icily. She flipped on her stomach and pressed a pillow beneath her head, before sinking her face in it. “Okay fine. I won't talk about him but please, think of something pretty soon. I've just gotten two week. If this happens, it will be end of us.”

“I know that, Anu.” Mukund sighed, “But, don't you think it's running too fast. I mean your goddamn marriage.”

Anahita pressed the cellphone hard in her ear before scoffing, “According to our families, we've already delayed much. If it was in my parents hand, I would be married to Yuvraaj in child marriage. They love him this much. He's a blue eyed boy yaar and I am...I am a witch right now for them.”

“Still! You're just twenty two. Can't they wait a little more?”

“I don't know.” She dismissed. “And why are we talking about it? Let's focus how to get rid of this. I am sure Yuvraaj must be fishing out ways to trouble me. You know what Mukund, ten years back when he went Australia, I was much relieved that perhaps with time, everyone's obsession with our marriage will fade away but I was wrong. Mom dad still treated me the same, always asking me to improve myself as a better half for Yuvraaj. Then I wished for him to find his love in Australia and settle there happily. Nonetheless, he came back and was exceptionally happy for our engagement. I am left with no option now. Tell me what to do?” She blabbered constantly paying no heed that Mukund had already disconnected the call.

“Hello? Hello?” She said hastily and made a face, it was getting into his habit to hung up on her. It had never happened before but since a few days, Mukund was giving her cold shoulder. Agitated, she dialed his number and waited for him to pick up.

“Hello?”

“Who do you think of yourself to hung up on me? Huh?” She lashed out at him.

“Because I don't want to hear about Yuvraaj.” Mukund was snappy. He began to chide her in gruff voice. “Anu, I called you to talk about us. It's been days since we talk properly and all you've to pipe out is Yuvraaj. I am really not entertained with this ‘Tom & Jerry’ episodes of you and your fiancé.”

Anahita slapped her forehead, biting her tongue. “I am sorry, Mukund. It's just I am very stressed these days. I get nightmares of getting married to Yuvraaj. Mukund please save me.”

“Anahita please. Can we talk something else? Yuvraaj and his tortures are all you've to say in these days?” Mukund was irked.

“Then marry me and save me from him.” She was quick to advise. “And he has threatened me now.”

“That's your regular ranting.” Mukund huffed. “Can we please, please pause this? I called because I wanted to talk to you and I wanted to talk about us, Anu.”

“Okay fine! I won't talk about that asshole.” She pouted. “He doesn't deserve our attention.”

“You're still talking about him.” Mukund began to churn up and Anahita chewed on her lips nervously. She was dying in anxiety of getting married to Yuvraaj and Mukund behaved as if it was not a big deal. She wanted to shout and clamor but right then, she had to get a grip on herself.

“Okay. I am sorry. It's just I hate Yuvraaj. Do you know he messaged me a week back and asked me to choose an invite which is not tacky as I am whole. Not only this, when we returned home after shopping, he demanded to show him my purchases. Isn't it insulting? I am, according to everyone, getting married to him within and he treats me like shit! Now tell me how am I suppose to calm down and talk about anything else.” She complained.

“Then I guess I made a mistake by calling you since you've nothing except Yuvraaj to talk about.” He snapped. Anahita curled her fist in the sides and took a sharp breath to calm her down. “Fine tell me. What do you want me to say?”

“Great. So now you don't have anything to talk with me. You know what Anahita, I was mistaken because I felt perhaps you'd want to talk to me. Perhaps, you'd been missing me but I guess, You've got rather interesting stuff to think about. Fine then, I'll leave you to your musing.” Mukund blasted on her. His sarcasm pricking her soul like needles pricking her body, extracting as much pain as possible.

“Mukund!” She began but she was greeted with angry beeps of a disconnected call. She kept her cellphone pressed to her ear and sighed. “Duffer! He doesn't even want to think being in my shoes. It's all a game for him and I am dying here in anxiety.” She ranted and covered herself with the blanket from head to toe after flicking the lights off. Her cellphone cried at its loudest and she peeked from the blanket. Stretching her hand out, she picked it up from the nightstand and gleamed, looking at the called ID.

“What?” She pouted, chewing her inner lip. She grins inwardly as she knew that Mukund would definitely call her up but he would call her this early, it was a surprise.

“Let's chuck this Yuvraaj out of our life. Meet me at CCD ten sharp.” Mukund chuckled and she joined him, “I love you, Mukund.”

“I love you too, Anahita. Don't worry, I'll save you from this demon.”

“I've full faith in you.” She breathed out and blushed, “So now, I guess, your anger has dissipated. Then can we talk about us?”

“Definitely.” He crooned and the night grew pubescent with their never ending discourse. Yuvraaj was long forgotten and plans of jam tomorrow were made. Chuckles escaped lips, blush coloured cheeks and shyness casted a glow in their eyes as they proceeded to envision a future which was beginning to collapse. Perhaps it was not the end, maybe they were meant to have a Happy ending.

***

“Are you going somewhere?” Mrs. Maurya asked as Anahita hurriedly climbed down the stairs and jogged to the dining table. She grabbed an apple from the fruit basket and nodded. “I am going to meet a friend.”

“Friend?”

“Hmm...Archita is going Bangalore tomorrow. So she wants to meet me,I will be back soon.” She wobbled, biting on the apple.

“Okay but have your breakfast.”

“Mom, we're meeting for breakfast. Now I will be hurrying up. Bye.” She hugged Mrs. Maurya and dashed out.

“You're late.” Mukund reminded her as she got closer.

“Shut up. I don't want you starting on it.” She hugged him and sat opposite to him. “Now tell me what's the plan?”

“Plan?” Mukund asked quizzically.

“Yeah. I mean didn't you tell me last night that we are going to chuck Yuvraaj out of my life?” She confirmed and Mukund swallowed in discomfort.

“Yeah. I...I did but…” He smoothed the red and white checkered table cloth. “I don't have any plan. I mean I have a suggestion for you.”

Anahita grew alert, her eyebrows furrowed in concentration as she noticed him. “And what is this suggestion?”

“I was thinking that let's… Let's talk to Yuvraaj and try to explain him our situation.” Mukund proposed, shifting closer and Anahita nodded him to go on. “That way we don't have to do anything in haste and he will be out of our way.”

“If it had been so simple, I would have done that ages ago.” Anahita pressed a tight smile. “The moment I will tell him about us, my dad will disown me. Yuvraaj and his family will cut all rhe ties with my family and dad would never forgive me. I don't want to ruin anything.”

“But,” Mukund fondled her hand. “Anahita, we are doing this for us and why do you care what will happen to Yuvraaj and his family. They are nothing to us.”

Anahita shook her head, redeeming her hand. “He might not be anything to me but Aai Baba are precious to me as much as my parents. I can't hurt them.”

Mukund stared at her long and heaved a sigh, waiting for her to change her mind but Anahita was adamant. She didn't waver. “Mukund, I respected when you said let's not run but try to understand, you're asking me to hurt them. It's difficult.”

He nodded, raking his hands through his hair. “Then I believe we should part our ways.”

Anahita gripped the table, her eyes closed and she tried to assay the damage within. The damage was much, it had ripped her soul. It had cut her flesh and it had strained her heart but she was strong. She was strong than they thought. Rising to her feet with her dignified head and prestige, she smiled. “I think you're right. We should move apart.”

Her feet dragged themselves back towards the exit.

“Anu wait!” She halted and turned to see Mukund running towards her. His eyes red and his breath quickened. He embraced her tightly and kissed her forehead. “We will fight for our love.”

Tears spilled out of her eyes as she sobbed in his neck, “Ho...how?”

“We will run away. Like you wanted, like ‘Jab We Met’, like two love birds.” Mukund murmured looking deep in her eyes.

“But what about…”

“Don't worry about anyone. No one will know. Go home, pretend to be normal, do whatever you are asked and meet me at railway station on your wedding day.” Mukund told her the plan.

It ticked in her brain, Anahita escaped out of his embrace, “Why that day? Why not now?”

“I am leaving for chennai tomorrow and I will be back after a week. Then again, i have to do a little arrangement for us and you will be busy. Since you're the bride, you will be allowed to have rest and that is your chance. Very swiftly and vigilantly, you've to escape out and come to me.”

“Will this work?” She was nervous.

“It will. Have faith on me.”