EPISODE FOUR
1113 Words
“If music be the food of love, play on….” –William Shakespeare
“Sahana…” Sandip started to speak as they walked hand in hand to their colony.
“Hmmm…”
“Why are you so allergic to marriage?” he asked her tentatively.
Sahana gave him a look that said that you already know the reason….
“No Sahana. I am serious. I want to know the real reason.” he insisted
“Because I will not be able to do what I want to do. There will be too many restrictions on my life by other people.” Sahana explained firmly.
“But why do you think that there will be restrictions. There are so many women working today and enjoying life too.” he argued
“I know Sandip but there are also women who are frustrated and leading a submissive life. I do not want to be like them.” She answered forcefully
“Why do you think that the man you marry will not allow you to do what you want? Ma and papa will definitely look for a boy who is broadminded and modern in outlook. They are not going to tie you down to some brute.” he told her
Sahana paused and studied him “What is this? Did Ma ask you to talk to me?”She asked planting both her hands on her waist. Sandip put up his palms in defeat and said “No no Sahana. I was just trying to talk to you. What if the guy will allow you to do whatever you want and do not stop you from reaching the peak in your career?”
Sandip paused and asked her “Will you marry him then?” he looked into her eyes directly…
Others had walked ahead and Sahana stared at him. The night was coming to an end and people going back home pushed and jostled them. Sandip stepped closer to avoid being separated from her. He waited for her reply. There were fireworks as the carnival was coming to an end and the smell of smoke and sulphur drifted across to them. The ice cream vendor was closing his shop and Sandip bought two cones of her favourite flavour and offered one to her. She took it and they resumed their walking.
They reached their houses and after bidding everyone Sahana turned towards her house. Sandip caught her hand and pulled her back.
“Sahana you did not answer my question…”
“I don’t know Sandip. It depends on the guy I guess. Or I should fall hopelessly in love with him but that seems far-fetched. So yeah there is the answer.” She replied and watched his face. He nodded and left her. Sahana watched him entering his house. He turned back and gave a vague smile before closing the door. Then he was gone...
Sahana sauntered back to her room slowly and sat on the sill of the window. She watched the brightly lit skyline of the city and enjoyed the fireworks that spread across the sky before raining down in different colours. Sahana wished that the night never came to an end. She closed her eyes and visualised the dance that she and Sandip did. Such a magical moment it was. She had become so aware of his broad shoulder, strong arms and the square cut jaw where her head had brushed while they were dancing. She had never noticed these things about him. They have danced many times before but this was the first time that she had become so aware of him. What would Sandip think if he knew of her stupid thoughts? He would laugh and call her an over imaginative i***t. Sahana smiled softly and punched her head mildly for being a fool.
She changed her dress and hugged the teddy bear tightly. She fell into a dreamless sleep. Across the corridor, in Govind Singh’s house, Sandip was sprawled on the bed and studied each picture that he had clicked that evening. Most of them were pictures of Sahana.
Sahana eating ice cream with the cream spread over her nose,
Sahana laughing and cracking jokes with her friends,
Sahana standing in a stall and studying the words in the book keenly…..
So many pictures of her….
Sandip was madly and hopelessly in love with Sahana D. Kumar. He has been in love with her for many years. Since the day she turned fourteen and cried like a baby when someone had snatched away her bag of Harry Potter pictures that she had collected over the years. He still remembered the day like it was yesterday. Sahana brought the whole house down when she had cried nonstop and no one could understand the reason. Mallika, Dinanath and Govind Singh had been baffled and had tried to talk to her but she would not listen to anybody. Finally, Sandip dragged her to her room and made her drink some water. Then he had cupped her face and had asked her what the problem was. She had narrated the incident of how someone had snatched the small bag from her when she was coming back from her friend’s house. He could not stop himself from laughing out loud. That had made her so furious that she had not spoken to him for two days. Then he had bought the same stuff that she had lost and had gifted them to her. She had been so thrilled that she had hugged him tightly and had kissed him on his cheeks.
Sandip would have taken her in his arms then and would have kissed her back deeply. His hormones had been on overdrive. But good sense had prevailed and very carefully he had pulled himself free. He had been sixteen then. Since then he had been crazily in love with her. He had lived with the hope that she would also fall in love with him one day. This evening he had sensed a change in her. He had felt her awareness of him. There had been mutual attraction between them when they had danced. He could still feel her softness in his arms. God, how he loved her…
The Summer Carnival ended and the city limped back to its nonchalant and placid pace. But a violent volcano was building up and it waited for the celebrations to get over to spew its lava…………
PRECAP: Their first tentative kiss changes Sahana’s feelings for Sandip……
- Writer
