Veer-Zaara

Hello.

Chanderi hadn’t expected any messages at 1 AM but she couldn’t possibly sleep before checking her phone and there it was, waiting for her, a hello message from Chiranjeev.

Hey, hey, why are you up so late?

Night before the first day back to school. I am nervous and excited and can’t sleep.

Every time you talk about school, I think of my school days. New school year used to always be nerve wracking.

Chiranjeev turned on his side, towards the empty side of his bed. It was symbolic, he knew, but he had given himself a thorough talking to and he was not going to focus on the fact that he was madly in love with Chanderi, again. Because they were taking things organically, letting them develop as they would. If only he could explain the concept to his heart and mind, it would be okay.

It’s always a challenge getting the new lot settled in. You know it may not feel like it but fifth grade is a whole lot different from the fourth. You want so much to be independent but you still need permission to take out crayons. It’s a minefield.

I swear being a designer is somewhat similar. Every time I get a new client, I have no idea how that relationship is going to go.

I told you my why. Why are you up so late?

Was finishing up something. Just had to get it on paper.

She did not mention it was something she had pictured him wearing. He had told her, randomly as such information was usually shared, that an eagle was his favourite bird. It was a discussion he had been drawn into when his children had been learning about birds. They were appalled he hadn’t a favourite. To appease them, he had chosen an eagle on a whim.

But they hadn’t been satisfied with the answer so he had done a deep dive into the eagle and had to come up with no less than six points on why an eagle was his favourite bird. It had made her research on birds and find a favourite, a bluejay because the crown on its head had reminded her of Chiranjeev’s hair spikes. Since he had told her this story, she had been wanting to create something with an eagle for him.

That night, the image of a black kurta, studded in cream beads in the shape of an eagle that was in flight across his side had come to her. She had tried to ignore it but it wouldn’t let her sleep. The only thing to do was to get it on paper.

Ooo what is it? Can I see it?

It’s not finished. I’ll show you once it’s done.
So, what else are you excited about for tomorrow?

*

She knew it was a stupid idea. She knew it would make him think she was hinting at something. The only problem was, she was hinting. And she wanted to do it, even if it was stupid.

So, she sent Chiranjeev a bagful of chocolate chip and oatmeal cookies as a congratulations for surviving his first day at school. Sure enough, once he had received it, he gave her a call.

“You know why I love cookies even more as an adult? Because I know my children cannot eat them. They have to earn their cookies.”

He cackled, making Chanderi exorbitantly happy.

“So,” he said after they had beaten around the bush for a good twenty minutes, “are we dating now? Is that what is happening?”

He said it so casually, Chanderi almost believed the question wasn’t serious. It was probably his way of giving her an out if she wanted. But she didn’t want it.

“Yes, we’re dating,” she said firmly.

He squawked. “No fair. It’s Monday and it’s a school night. We need to meet after a declaration like that.”

She laughed, then paused, a horrible thought worming itself into her brain. “Chiranjeev? Do you hate me? You must think I’m such a fickle person. Saying no to marrying you and then saying yes to dating you.”

When he didn’t immediately reply, she started to worry. “Chiranjeev? Hello? Did I lose my signal?”

“No, no you didn’t lose signal. I’m here. I’m right here. I was thinking actually. I obviously don’t hate you and neither do I hate where we are. Do I wish we had figured all this out before jumping into the wedding? Absolutely. But you can’t always predict things, can you?”

She was clutching her phone so tightly, her hand started to hurt. “I need to see you. I need to know you mean it.”

Chiranjeev could appreciate that. “Okay. Let’s meet at the Wood Green Garden. In,” he looked at his watch, “thirty minutes?”

Chanderi nodded, then said yes and without waiting for him to add anything, hung up. She needed to change and leave.

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Chapter 22 of 26 of the ongoing series Chanderi. You can read all posts here. Written as part of #BlogchatterA2Z.