Part 2
Frendor
~~~
Just as Cupid was having this talk with Venus in the garden of amour, there was a chance encounter between Armaan and Riddhima in the mortal world. It was not a typical meeting, nor the best place ... normally he would have never visited such a place had it not been to a strange request by his equally mysterious girl friend. She wanted him to bring her a rare herb, that which she described as a 'beauty potion' from oldest herb store located in the spice market. Amused as he was, he agreed to heed to her request; in return she was to grant him his heart's wishes! There was no way he would refuse such a trade off. She had given him a green envelop, sealed with wax and very clear instructions to go along with it. When you get to the Spice market, go to the farthest alley on the east side and walk towards the small store with a green roof, give the envelop to the old man who works at the store, and ask him, to fetch the green herb. When he does, which may require some persuasion on your part, remember it is crucial that you follow the instructions and not question anything that happens after you ask for that herb. Do not open it, bring it to me, and then, in the end she had added with an implied naughtiness, your heart's wishes!
As Armaan drove towards the Spice market, clouds started to move in and the beautiful sunny day soon turned dark and gloomy, the calm of the day was replaced by the terror of occasional lightning and thunderstorm turning the unpaved narrow winding ways of the old town muddy and slippery. As he was getting impatient with the weather and the odd task assigned, Armaan sped up during the last leg of the ride, completely oblivious to the fact that while he was dry and safe within his luxurious car, others not as fortunate ones were not only exposed to the heavy downpour but also mud courtesy his car. One such unsuspecting victim was young Riddhima, who had been summoned to the old town to meet up with Arman, the evil twin; unfortunately, for her or rather for Arman, Armaan came in the way and so did all the mud, ruining her already wretched day further. If there was one thing in life, she had never dreamt of compromising on, it was on marriage and more specifically on love. She had grown up reading a fair share of fairy-tales involving the battle of love- and the eventual conquest of love over all ills. Unknowingly, those stories had been carved into the depths of her psyche, and she had always anticipated that someday her life would reach its happy place too. However, the castle of her dreams gradually began to disintegrate as she grew up. Real life, akin to quick sand was harsh to gobble up any traces of those remnants, she had so hopelessly cultivated. And today, that would be solemnized, its fate sealed and her dreams pushed to the darkest alleys of her subconscious, never to see the light of day again. To her, her life was coming to an end and she would live with that compromise. May be that's why fairy-tales are called, fairy tales, because they remain just that ... the unattainable! She reasoned. Her mind was flooded with sad thoughts as she walked in the rain towards the spice market, to meet her future husband. Despite her best efforts, and her umbrella she was drenched from head to toe, and to add to her woes, a car whizzed pass her, throwing mud on her. A fitting description to what this agreement of marriage had done to her dreams! The mud on her face and drenched yet beautiful white dress brought her out of her reverie. Not at all amused, she looked up angrily to notice the same man, she had been waiting to meet, as he parked the car, and entered the herb store. He was the same man who had shredded her friend's heart to pieces, the infamous rich playboy, who sought after innocent young girls and made their lives miserable. She could not possibly let him go without having a go at him, for both her friend and herself now. The arrogant brat had to be taught a lesson.
Strange are the musings of fate. For what followed was something, no one could have foreseen.
Armaan entered the store and sure enough, there was the old man sitting behind the counter. He asked him for the herb and handed him the green envelop as per his girl's instructions. The man looked at Armaan carefully after looking at the wax mark on the envelope and asked him to wait, after which he disappeared into the back room of the store. Armaan did not consider himself a patient man and the store with all kinds of herbs and spices with its exotic feel made him feel uncomfortable. As he was looking around the store, at the numerous jars filled with all kinds of herbs, the wind-chime in the door made an odd yet beautiful sound when a visibly upset Riddhima stormed in, completely drenched, covered in mud- and yet looked strikingly beautiful, as Armaan made a quick mental note.
"Ahh, I should have known, only you can do wrong and walk away as if nothing happened" She flared at him angrily. Neither he nor she knew, why she was spiting so much venom on him, but it lasted for a good minute before she ran out of words. Armaan simply stood there, too stunned to react, partly because it was so sudden and partly because she had been the first woman to snub him, and this was but their second meeting! And a little because, aside from the sight of her- the wet dress that clung to her body; there was something in her that instantly appealed to him- something he couldn't quite place a finger on.
"Are you deaf too?" Riddhima asked him annoyed with his silence while his eyes continuously observed her, rather too intently for her liking, which made her a little uncomfortable.
"Riddhima, how dare you talk to him like that?"
A third voice broke their awkward moment. They both turned towards the front door, from where her step-mother entered the store looking slightly frazzled.
After glaring at Riddhima making her displeasure more than visible she turned to Armaan and spoke, "I am so sorry Armaan. She will apologize for her childishness. Riddhima come here and apologize to him"
"But why? He is the one who should be sorry, not me?" Riddhima defended herself.
"Oh child, you have no manners, this man has so graciously agreed to marry you but you act so indignant!" She said dramatically.
"I have?" Armaan's eyes nearly popped out in shock.
"I am sorry Armaan, I apologize on her behalf, come let's not waste anymore precious time, everyone is waiting at the hall" , she pulled Armaan by his arms, and signaled Riddhima to follow.
Riddhima was shocked, so this was her future husband. The arrogant-womanizing play-boy? The very thought made her squirm.
Armaan was more than amused but he decided to play along. The interesting turn of events, had completely taken his mind off, the real purpose of his visit to the store. Each of them had different thoughts in their minds, the step-mother was ecstatic that her plans were close to bear fruition, Riddhima was dismayed at what the future held for her- she even contemplated suicide as an alternative while Armaan was simply amused and thought this would be a good way to get back to Riddhima for the verbal diatribe. The mysterious girlfriend, who was waiting for Armaan and her green herb at their love-nest was forgotten for the time being.
Moments after they left, Arrman or Cupid entered the store disguised as Arman. And as if the afternoon had not seen its share of mistaken identities and the subsequent play of events, the old man emerged from his back door holding the green herb in a tight container and handed it to a rather confused Arrman and said, "Take this as the last option only"
Arrman looked at the packet curiously and stuffed it in his pocket, he thought maybe it was customary to treat customers this way in the mortal world. He nodded and asked, "Where is the hall?"
"Down the street"
As soon as Arrman turned around to leave, the old man stopped in his tracks and perched his glasses back from his nose, "I thought he was wearing a white shirt!. May be it's my age" He shrugged off and went back to work.
Now you may have been wondering, whatever happened to Arman? As had been decided a day before, he was to meet Riddhima and her step-mother at the hall in the spice market, for a formal engagement. He was all dressed up and excited at the prospect of not only amassing wealth but also a beautiful bride. However, greed is a vice and he should have known, strange are the musings of fate, Cupid, very much in love with Riddhima and determined to have her instead, had intoxicated his arch rival by spraying Frendor, the magical potion that causes a state of confusion, on him minutes before his engagement. As a result, Arman, was left in a delirious state walking aimlessly, in the city streets, towards an unknown end.
I cannot believe men like him live! Everything is so self-centered for them; he was disgusted at Arman's dealings! Cupid had remarked as he left him in his delirious frenzy.
But when he got to the hall, Cupid experienced a searing pain in his heart as he saw Armaan- the man he thought he had nothing to worry about getting engaged to the woman he so desperately desired! His stomach churned in anger at Armaan, as he spoke to himself, It's shameful that they waste away their precious time in useless pursuits and fall prey easily to vices, and yet nature endows them with all the mercy enriching their lives with all the material pleasures any mortal can ever dream of. This world is not a fair place. However, I will not give up.
And a strange irony it was, Cupid who had been banished for the mis-use of his special powers was clueless about being at the receiving end and that too of his own doing
Advocate Anjali Awasthi
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