Ours is a very orthodox Christian family, going to church every Sunday for mass is a ritual. Mom is a history lecturer and dad works in a rubber factory as a senior supervisor. After completing my MBA, I had to convince mom a lot to get her permission to work. Finally with dad’s help I won and applied for suitable jobs. To mom’s dismay I got a job in an Ad agency. Like any other mom who has a grown up daughter, she wants me to get married and I, like any other daughter say ‘not yet mummy’ and slip away.

In the matters of love, I am totally against it I think (may be until then). I have seen the fates of many of my friends who fell in love and suffered. I have not seen anything but hurt all through it. There are very few parents who trust the judgment of their children in the matters of heart. So only when they agree with their children, all is well. But what if they don’t, then life is hell both for them and for their children. Probably these youngsters may run away and get married but what is going to happen next. Their parents feel bad and are upset with them and even those young couple, if not initially, may be later feel bad for what they have done. I myself decided long back that I am not going to fall in this vicious loop, so I never thought what would happen if I fell in love.

*****

‘Hey Rita, you know what, yesterday I went to a movie yaa… wow what a love story…’ Smita was saying with her mouthful.

‘Mm, not one more. How many movies will they make with the same old story? Girl and boy fall in love, parents don’t agree, run away and marry or commit suicide.’ I said.

‘But that is what it is, love is evergreen, it can never fade away, as along as this world prevails, love is there and as long as love is there, there are going to be movies on it.’ she said some what dramatically.

I laughed at her and packing my lunch box, glanced at my watch.

‘Oh God! It is almost 1:45. These Mondays are hectic, I have lot of work and if I sit and chat with you like this, I never know the time. Are you done?’ I said.

‘I have not seen a work alcoholic like you. Ok, let’s go, anyway I am done and I too have lot of letters to type.’

Smita is a good friend of mine. When her dad died of cancer, she had to take the responsibility to run the family. She approached me for help and I had recommended her for a secretary post in our office. She had good qualifications and got the job.

As I was going back to my seat, I noticed a familiar face in the waiting lounge. When I suddenly recognized, it was none other than him, the one whom I saw in the church the other day. My heart skipped a beat. My mind debated whether to go and talk to him or not. After a few minutes of struggle, I decided it to be wise not to do such thing. While I was still in that stage, he got up and was talking to somebody from our office. They spoke for few moments and both of them left. And all did was to just stand there and watch them go. Later, I thought of calling, Madhulika, our receptionist and ask her the details but never dared to do that because it would show my special interest in him and everybody in the office will start talking.

Whole of that week, I constantly kept an eye on the waiting lounge but nothing happened. And I could see that I was getting obsessed with his thoughts. I noticed lot of changes in myself. I was not doing my job properly. I just could not keep him out of my thoughts. I started waiting for Sunday. Finally it was time to attend the church. I put on my best dress, a light sky blue frock and left my hair down.

And there he was, again with the same old couple. I did not want to grab his attention by doing anything but I simply wished he would see me at least once. But he never saw, whole through the mass I was watching him. After the mass, I saw him talk with Father Samuel. Suddenly, Father saw me; my heart sank into my stomach. I quickly turned away and started talking to my sister. After that, I dared not look at that side. With my head down, from the corner of my eye, I just got a glimpse at him. I thought I saw him smile. And what a smile it was, Lord help me. 

That night I could not sleep properly. When I closed my eyes, all I could see was he. I got up and took out a book of Keats poetry but mind was not in it. With lot of turnings and tossing, I slept after a long struggle.

*****

It was Wednesday after noon, I just come out from a meeting. Mom called me.

‘Baby, when are you coming home today?’ Her voice was sweet and smooth over phone.

‘May be at 6:00 or 6:30, why mama?’

‘Father Samuel wants to meet us today at home, may be he has a good…’ My mom was saying. The rest of which I never heard.

‘Baby come home little early today, ok?’ mom was saying.

I just managed to say ‘Ok mama’

By the time I kept down the phone I was sweating like anything. What could be the matter that Father himself is coming home to talk personally to mom, I just could not figure it. Did Father observe me eyeing him the other day? I looked for all the reasonable excuses I could give to be late that night. I found quite some and I wantedly went late to home that evening.

Mom was little upset that I was late but she seemed to be happy at the same time.

‘You know honey, Father found a good match for you. He had come to give the details and discuss all the pros and cons. So what do you say baby?’

‘Mama, I am very tired. Can we talk about this later?’ I said somewhat uninterestedly.

‘But…’ mama wanted to say something. But dad stopped her.

‘Let her take some rest now, we can discuss the matter at a good time.’

That night I lied on my bed and thought for a long time. My opinions about love and it’s consequences flashed in my head but at the same time, when I closed my eyes I saw nothing but him. Will my parents accept if I tell them what is going on in my mind, may be they will; may be they won’t? What about all the people and friends with whom I would have discussed my stern objections about love, won’t they mock at me, if I fall in love and married him? But having all these thoughts in my mind, I still could not erase that face of his, which has been haunting me. With these disturbed thoughts I fell asleep unconsciously.

For the next three days, mama was constantly watching my every move. I felt uneasy. I know what she wanted from me but I could not make up my mind. Day by day the conflict in my mind was growing bigger and bigger. I started escaping from mama as much as I could. Coming late from office became a routine because that was the only way out.

It was Sunday again, I could not dare to go to mass and face him. I wantedly fell sick to avoid it and stayed home. After they returned from mass, my sister came to me and said, ‘you won’t believe what happened, I met my future brother-in-law. Oh! He is so nice, he promised to take me and brother to the ‘Lion King’ movie.’ I could not hear her chatter for long, so I said, ‘Have you prepared for your science test tomorrow?’ She kept a sullen face and said ‘No, I have some more to read’ and fled to her room.

I sat in the chair for some more time unable to understand what to do. Just then, mama walked in ‘Baby, how are you feeling now?’

‘I am ok now mama’, I said without looking into her eyes.

‘Don’t think we are forcing you honey, but just now I met the boy and his parents in the mass. They seem to be very good. The boy has had a good education and is having a small business. And more over he has seen your photo and has liked you very much, his mom was telling me. I feel you will be happy if you marry him.’

My eyes were full of tears and a droplet fell on my hand. Mama noticed it.

‘Baby I know you are not interested in marriage right now, but you see if you lose a good match like this now, later you may repent. All I want to see is you happily married with kids. Think about it baby and let me know. I am not asking you to go for this match only. If you don’t like, we can drop it but first let me know if you want to get married now or not. It doesn’t look good to keep the matter pending for a long time as they want to come and see you this coming Sunday.’

She got up and took few steps and turned back to me and said, ‘Remember one thing, you will be happy if you marry a person who likes you rather than a person whom you like.’ saying that she walked out of the room.

With tears steaming down my cheeks, I sat in that chair with agony and despair. I thought about it for a long time. Mean while my sis came to call me for lunch, I skipped saying I was not well and slept whole of the afternoon. When I got up it was half past four. I got up and went into the kitchen, made tea for myself and sat at the dinning table. Dad was sitting in the hall watching a cricket match. He called for my sis but she never came. So I went up to him and asked what he wanted.

After seeing me he said ‘How are you my dear child?’

‘Fine daddy, what did you want?’ I said.

‘Just a glass of water’

I went in and got him a glass of water and sat beside him. I took the opportunity to tell him what I decided.

‘Daddy, mama wanted to know what is my decision regarding the alliance. Both of you know what is good for me, so if you think it is a good match then I have no objections from my side.’

Dad was very happy, he bent forward and took my face into his hands and kissed me on my forehead.

‘I knew you would say something like this baby; it was your mama who was worried. But baby, don’t you want to see the boy first?’ he asked.

‘Why daddy? It is not necessary. All of you seemed to have liked him. Anyway mama told me that they are coming next Sunday, I will see him then.

‘I am proud of you my child.’ Dad said.

‘What?’

I smiled at her and said, ‘Yeah, mama and dad are very much interested in this match. Mama even said that I would be happy if I married someone who likes me rather than someone whom I like.’

‘That is very true but…’ she didn’t know what to say.

‘It’s just a matter of 5 days, they are coming to see me personally on Sunday.’

‘Oh is it? Best of luck then.’ She said smilingly

‘Well, thank you.’

I had just returned to my desk and my phone started ringing…

‘Hello Rita here’

‘Please see under your phone.’ And the line went dead. It was a smooth male voice. I lifted my phone and under the mat found a small piece of blue paper.

Meet me at ‘Dreamy Den ice cream parlor’ at 5:30 today. I will wait for you.

At first I thought it was some kind of a joke. But as the time was nearing, I could not sit still. Curiosity over took me. More than that, I wanted to fire him for pulling such a prank on me. I decided to meet him.

I reached the parlor right on time, but I did not find anybody who was likely to be him. I sat at a table, and a waiter brought my favorite ice cream. At first I thought it was a mistake because I had not ordered it.

‘But I never ord…’ before I even completed my sentence, he was taking out a red slip from his pocket. I understood what it was.

Sorry for not being here, so as compensation, I ordered your favorite ice cream for you to enjoy. Thursday we will meet in the Library at the same time. Oh! Are you wondering which library? To the one, which you usually go.

By the time I read it, the waiter had gone away. I was shocked beyond my imagination. How could he ever know my favorite ice cream and how did he know which library I went to? I simply could not make anything out of it.

Next day, I told Smitha what all happened.

‘It looks like you have a secret lover.’ She laughed at it.

I did not wanted to discuss or think about it anymore. So, I concentrated on my work. Time flew by quickly and it was Thursday. Smitha reminded me about the evening appointment in the lunch break. When it was time, I started for the library with a firm determination to see the end of it.

I reached little early and saw the library almost empty. Librarian, who was an old man and a close friend of mine, was arranging some shelves.

Upon seeing me he smiled and said, ‘Hi Rita, how have you been? Now before I forget, new edition of Keats poetry has arrived a week back. You might want to rent it. I just now put that back in the shelf, go and get it before it slips.’

I went to the poetry aisle and started going through it for the book. But before I reached it, my eye caught a small pink slip, which was protruding from a book in the bottom shelf. I immediately recognized it. I took the book into my hands; it was the new edition of Keats. I took out the slip from the book. It read

Hello my dear angel, I am soo sorry once again to miss you. I know how eagerly you are waiting to meet me, but what to do, time doesn’t seem to be good for both of us. Next time I promise to meet you under all circumstances.

I turned the slip back to see if he has written a place or time but I did not find anything. This was getting more and more mysterious. This could be anybody or for all I know, he could be a psycho killer or something. The thought sent a chill down through my spine. I could not stay in the library anymore. I rushed back home.

Dad noticed that I was not my usual self. ‘What is it baby, are you not feeling well?’ he asked.

‘No daddy nothing of the sort,’ I skipped.

*****

For the next two days, nothing happened, no calls, no slips. I almost forgot about it. In the house mama was busy preparing for Sunday evening. She even picked out the dress I had to wear and got it ready by Saturday.

Finally it was Sunday evening, they were sitting in the hall. I wore the dress which mama picked out. She came into my room and saw me and kissed me on my forehead. ‘My baby looks like an angel.’ I saw the tear in her eye, which she tried to hide it. ‘Come on baby, everybody is waiting for you, get the tea and snacks.’

I took the tray and walked into the room. When I saw who was sitting in the sofa, the tray almost slipped from my hands. It was none other than him. I tried a lot to keep myself in control. With trembling hands, I offered them tea and sat in a chair. My heart was beating fast and I thought everybody else in the room could hear it. I could not dare to lift my head and see him again when so many eyes were watching me.

My dad was introducing me to everybody and was telling all about me. Mama was telling how a good cook I was. After sometime, he asked my dad if he could talk to me privately. I was shocked and so was everybody in the room. But after a sec, dad laughed and said, ‘we all know what secret you are going to tell Rita, go ahead son.’

They all walked out of the room. He was still sitting in the sofa and I in the chair. After they left, he got up and came to me and said, ‘I promised to meet you next time under all circumstances, I kept my promise.’

I just could not believe what I was hearing. I must have looked stupid because he was smiling at me. Even before the thought flashed in my mind to ask him why he had done all that, he himself started to tell the whole story.

‘Long before you saw me, I saw you. I fell in love with you instantly and followed you to your office that day’. He chuckled and said, ‘you may call it love at first sight or give it any name, I don’t know. Fortunately one of my friends also works in your office. From him, I found out all about you. I started coming to your church on Sundays. I saw you observing me all the time during the masses, by which I concluded that you were interested in me. I thought, may be because your mom was there with you, you could not approach me. So I even came down to your office once hoping that you might take that chance and try to speak with me. But you never took any further step. I understood from my friend that you are totally against love and stuff. I did not want to lose you at any cost. I told my parents about you and they agreed. They in turn spoke to Father Samuel from the church and he approached your parents.’

‘Then, why play the hide and seek games? You know, you scared the living hell out of me?’ it came out of my mouth very childishly.

‘That was just to tease you. You know you need to have lot of good memories of what happened before the marriage. Now you will not forget this day even in your dreams.’

The last thing what he said was so very true. I can never forget that day nor that moment when he went down on one knee and took my hand into his and said ‘I know you love these kind of surprises and I have lot more of these for you to fill whole of your life. So, will you marry me?’

Though I had strong negative opinions on the consequences of love, I was so lucky to get proposed by him. I thanked Lord again and again in my own heart.

I bit my lip to stop the smile, which was forcing itself to come on to the surface and said ‘Of course I will.’

Then suddenly I remembered something. ‘How did you know my favorite ice cream and my favorite books?’

He grinned and said, ‘why not ask your little sister all about it.’

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Previously published at www.e-katha.com