Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

Chanderi had wanted to give her parents a lavish anniversary party to celebrate their years of togetherness. But considering this was their thirty-second anniversary and not a milestone anniversary, she had planned a small dinner consisting of exactly thirty-two guests.

That bit of symmetry was for her because she enjoyed such things.

She was at one end of the hall she had rented, speaking to the DJ, giving him precise instructions while Chiranjeev was on the other side of it, looking at her. She didn’t know what he hoped to accomplish by his staring but she wasn’t complaining.

What neither of them knew was they were the subject of intense scrutiny of their respective mothers. Mrs. Chudasma was standing near the stage-cum-photo-booth waiting for her daughter to finish her interrogation so they could continue with the rest of the event. Mrs. Bajaj was standing next to her. Both mothers had their arms across their bosom and were looking at their offsprings.

“How long,” said Mrs. Chudasma with a wince when she saw Chanderi trying to turn at an angle where she would be able to see if Chiranjeev was watching her, “do you think they will take before they decide to say something to each other?”

Mrs. Bajaj sighed as she saw her son grin like a fool, not seeing that a slow drip of nimbu paani was falling on his shoe. “We may have to intervene. Otherwise, both of us will have white hair by the time they realise they’re in love and want to marry. Not to think how long they’ll take to produce grandchildren.”

They both shivered at the thought.

“What should we do?”

“Maybe if we announce they’re engaged…” said Mrs. Chudasma.

Mrs. Bajaj cackled. “I like it but I think it would be too much.” She hummed and after a moment, she said, “I think I will go talk to my son,” and marched towards him, as quickly as she could in her heels and saree.

Once she was standing next to him, she said softly, “Beta, why are you standing here grinning like a monkey? Why aren’t you over there, with Chanderi?”

If Chiranjeev was surprised at the question, he didn’t show it. The thing was, he didn’t have an excuse, except for fear that he’ll be rejected again. He did not want to give Chanderi another chance to leave him at the mandap. This time, he wanted her to be sure. And if that meant he had to wait for her to reach where he was, he would do it. Besides, dating wasn’t a hardship. It was…no pressure commitment and he was enjoying himself.

And if the twinkle in Chanderi’s eye was anything to go by, she was enjoying herself too.

Mrs. Bajaj noticed the exchange and raised her hands in defeat. “Uff you youngsters. I am so fed up. Let me go…”

Chiranjeev did not let her finish her statement. He held her hand and said, “Ma, she looks so happy. Let her be.”

His mother rolled her eyes but he was glad when she dropped it. His relief was short-lived because not a moment later, he saw Mrs. Chudasma approaching Chanderi. What were these old women up to, he thought, looking from his mother to Chanderi’s mother.

*

“Chanderi, beta, can we start the evening?”

Chanderi’s face was flushed. It was getting increasingly difficult to stay on the opposite side of the hall when all she really wanted to do was go to Chiranjeev and ask what latest shenanigans his students had been up to. He had told her they had gone for a picnic and something had happened that had shaken the school. He still hadn’t told her what it was. He said he wanted to tell her face to face so he could see all her reactions.

“Beta, for how long will you keep looking at him? When do you plan to lock him down?”

She swivelled to her mother so fast, she got a crick in her neck. Her face was burning now. “It’s nothing like that.”

“Are you telling me you don’t care for him?”

She took a deep breath. “You know I do.”

“You are in love with him.”

Though she was shaking her head, her mouth said, “Yes.”

“You’re scared,” said Mrs. Chudasma. For once, she didn’t sound judgmental. She took her daughter’s hand in hers, squeezing. “Are you worried about what we’ll say?”

“No.” Then she said, “Yes.”

“Oh beta. The day you said you wanted to start your business, I gave up on you. I knew no matter what I said, you would only do what you wanted.”

Chanderi laughed. “Mamma, that does not help.”

“I only mean, you were fearless when you told me you wanted to do designing for a living. What happened to that fearless woman today?”

Chanderi stared at her mother’s retreating back in shock and confusion. She saw her extend her hand towards her father as they both stood in the centre of the stage to get their photos clicked. She couldn’t believe her mother had just given her the most brutal pep talk she could have.

But then, that was her mother. Always using a spur to make Chanderi move rather than soft, supportive words. She didn’t know if she appreciated such tough love but…she looked at Chiranjeev, just as he looked at her, and she knew what she had to do.

She walked up to him, not caring that her father was giving a speech behind her. She had written that speech and she was sure she would find some video coverage of it after the party.

“Hey, is everything…”

She did not give him a chance to say anything more. She simply plopped a kiss on his lips and said, “I am in love with you.”

His breath stuttered and his face nearly broke with how wide his grin was. “I love you too.”

She sighed happily, reveling in those words. “We’re not getting married yet. I like where we are. I want to keep doing that.”

He cleared his throat as he went to clasp her hand. They intertwined their fingers. “Okay. I am…uh…good with that.”

“I think I may cry sometime this evening. Just letting you know.”

He squeezed her hand, using his other to wipe his cheek. “Thanks for the warning. I think I’ll be done by then. You can cry and I’ll bring you icecream.”

She nodded, letting go of his hand so she could move closer to him. Her arm went around his waist and his around her shoulder. “Get me the vanilla one.”

“Done.”

She put her head on his chest. She could feel his heartbeats thundering, before they settled. She understood that at a primal level as she engulfed him in a side embrace, feeling so, so at peace.

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

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