WILD SUMMER ECHOES

EPISODE TWO

“Love is a promise; love is a souvenir, once given never forgotten, never let it disappear.”

- John Lennon

Sandip tried to take Sahana’s hand “Sahana, I was only teasing. Why do you take my teasing so seriously?”

“I know. I just pretended to be angry so that I could get away and end their discussion about my marriage…” Sahana replied and leaned against a pillar with a faraway look in her eyes. Sandip watched her eyes take on that dreamy look and turned away from her. He disliked it when she shut him out of her dreams. He knew Sahana hated the thought of marriage because she wanted to become a singer and attain worldwide fame through with her voice.

“You know I have lot of ambitions and dreams. I hate it when people talk about my marriage as if that is the goal of every girl’s life. I want to explore the world, get out of this city and meet new people. I don’t want to be confined in this boring place….” Sahana voiced her thoughts aloud and clutched Sandip’s arms “You will support me right? If I have to fight with my parents to let me go…” She looked deep into his eyes and asked…

Sandip stared at her, waiting for his pulses to slow down. He took deep breath. He nodded and slowly tugged his hand out of her clutch. She did not realize that he would fetch the moon for her if she gazed into his eyes so deeply.

“You know Sandip, my parents might not listen to me but if you explained they would agree blindly…So much faith and trust they have on you….” Sahana told him but he already knew it. He too loved her parents like his own.

They heard the sounds of Shehnai and walked back to the venue. Sahana was deep in thought and Sandip enjoyed the sounds of her anklets and bangles. The dark coral red long skirt and cropped blouse made her look more beautiful. He sighed and suppressed his feelings once again.

“You know you look funny in this.” Sahana teased him, looking at his traditional Sherwani suit

“I look better than you OK?” Sandip retorted

“Awww… that is why you have been clicking my pictures left and right.” Sahana taunted him

“Arrey who said I was clicking your pictures?” Sandip muttered defensively.

“Give me your camera and I will show you…” She tried to grab his camera but Sandip moved away, lifting his camera out of her reach. Sahana’s hand brushed his cheek while reaching for his camera,

“Your chin is so prickly. Why don’t you shave? This stubble is in fashion or what?” Sahana asked prompting Sandip to grin. He stroked his stubbles and commented “I look sexy with it.”

Sahana rolled her eyes and joined her friends in the mandap……..

The wedding got over by early morning and everyone headed home for bidai. Sahana reached home and stumbling on her bed wearily she stretched and fell into a deep sleep. She was not aware that Sandip had come to the room searching for her, watched her sleep and covered her with a bed sheet. He closed the door softly and went back to the wedding celebrations.

Dinanath, Mallika and Govind Singh joined the family during bidai and bid the girl tearfully. They had watched the girl growing up from a toddler to a young woman and they were emotionally attached to her. Somebody murmured to Dinanath that the next one to bid farewell to daughter would be him while they were returning after the bride’s departure with her new family.

Govind Singh was the one who replied “Dinanath need not worry. Sahana will not go far away.” Govind Singh and Dinanath exchanged glances and smiled in understanding. Mallika noticed it and sighed. She contemplated about her daughter’s own plans regarding her career while her husband and his friend were planning the marriage of their children. Mallika pondered if Sahana and Sandip would agree to their plans. She hoped that they would fall in love with each other so that everybody’s wishes would get fulfilled.

Usually, summer weddings don’t need to worry about outdoor reception or lawn party being spoiled by rains or thunder storms. So the reception party of the wedding was organised in the lawns of the same venue where the marriage took place. The drinks were flowing freely and food was consumed happily. Mallika was little embarrassed when one of her neighbours dragged a young and handsome boy towards her.

“Mallika, Didn’t I tell you about a nephew of mine? This is him, Tushar. Where is Sahana?” she asked and Mallika looked around for her daughter but she could not find her.

“Don’t know. She was standing somewhere with her friends. How are you Tushar?” she greeted the poor boy who looked uncomfortable beside his dominant aunt.

“Never mind Mallika, I will bring him home one day. He is the best match for Sahana.” she declared smugly and dragged him back to the food stalls.

Mallika smiled uneasily. She was not aware that Sandip observed the whole incident from another corner of the venue with a scowl.

Sahana was enjoying the music of the band of singers with her friends. One of the singers in the orchestra group was belting out the latest Punjabi songs over the microphone. Every time he reached a higher pitch, his musical notes went haywire and Sahana closed her ears at his flat and discordant tune. He kept looking at her and singing. Her friends teased her and she made a face at them. One of them mocked,

“Sahana, ask the singer to be careful. He keeps looking at you while singing. Warn him that Sandip would come anytime and bash him up.”

Sahana frowned at her friend, “Why would Sandip bash him? The singer is looking at me and not at Sandip…”

“Aww Sahana that is the problem na. Sandip does not like anyone staring at you.” She concluded mischievously and other friends giggled along with her.

Sahana, irked by their words, chided them for being illogical, “Don’t be stupid. Sandip is not like that. He would never get angry at anyone without reason.”

“Really? Shall we ask Sandip?” They looked for Sandip and when they found him, “Sandip, please come here.”

When he reached, Sahana felt uncomfortable and told him hesitatingly that her friends had gone mad and that they were trying to annoy her.

“Oh….” He regarded her friends who winked at him knowingly. But he ignored them and requested, “Sahana why don’t you get friendly with that pretty looking chic in blue. She is standing in that corner.” He pointed out and continued,

“Introduce me to her. I want to get to know her. She is so pretty.’ he added wistfully.

Sahana’s friends stared at him in surprise and Sahana made a face at them but in her heart she was furious by his request.

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To be continued.....