Part 55
As they were strolling along the river an elderly couple, walking from the opposite side, crossed them. After walking for a few minutes they sat down on a bench to admire the river, which was reflecting the neon lights from the buildings around it. The other couple had made a U turn and were walking back. When they came close to Armaan and Riddhima, the man said "Excuse me." When both of them looked up he said "Your dress is very pretty." His wife corrected him saying "Honey, it's called saree." Riddhima blushed and thanked them.
Lady : We had been to India in 1973 as teenaged hippies.
Man: We loved India and especially its culture and tradition. We've been wanting to go again ever since, but our wish hasn't materialized as yet.
They then requested for permission to click a photo of Riddhima and finally ended up taking photos together and exchanging numbers, promising to get in touch. They then departed happily, bidding each other goodnight.
Riddhima was in seventh heaven, what with the romantic setting and the beautiful compliments. She huddled closer to her athaan and he was only too happy. They could have sat there forever but it began to get chilly so Armaan said "Let's go." He didn't want her falling ill.
He thought she'd want to hit the bed directly when they reached home, but instead she sat dialing some number on the phone.
A: Whom are you calling so late?
R: It's bright day for them, not late. I'm calling Suja.
Though Suja was used to her amma calling her at any time of the day, today she could hear the excitement in her voice. After answering her amma's usual questions about the children and herself, she gently probed her mother to find the reason for her excitement. She listened to the anecdote about the couple who spoke to them and finally got out the main news – their valentine day dinner date.
Suja was very glad for her amma and said so to her appa when she spoke to him next. When she went on to thank him for making her amma's life so joyous, he replied that she was bringing much more joy and peace into his life than he had ever imagined. His sons who hadn't been close to him over so many years were now so friendly to him, thanks to her. Even Arun had promised to come and spend a few days with them.
Later when they had changed and lay down on the bed, Riddhima held her athaan's face in her palms and kissing him tenderly said "Thank you for making this day so wonderful." Kissing her back he said "This is only the beginning of many more such days to come."
They spent the next few days totally in just each other's company. Riddhima accompanied Armaan everywhere, whether it was the lawyer's office or the tax consultant's office. Armaan was liquidating most of his investments but for those which he couldn't close immediately, he had to change the nominations from Karuna's name to Riddhima's name.
When his lawyer asked her to sign certain forms and congratulated her on her recent marriage to Armaan, she replied that their marriage wasn't recent; it was nearly 30 years old. The man got confused and asked "are you his ex-wife?" When Riddhima opened her mouth to answer, Armaan walked up to her and putting his arm around her shoulder said "No Jeff, as I told you, she's my wife. So please make the necessary changes in all the records."
Seeing Armaan preoccupied while they left from that office, Riddhima felt she had goofed up things. As soon as they sat in the car, she held her athaan's arm. When he looked up at her enquiringly, she said "I'm sorry I said that to the lawyer. Maybe I shouldn't have." Armaan looked at her with surprise and asked "What are you apologizing for?"
R: For saying that we've been married for nearly thirty years.
A: That's the truth.
R: Maybe I shouldn't have
Before she could complete, Armaan stopped her saying "It's OK. No problem. Don't rack your brain over some unnecessary matter. Think about what you are going to cook for Arun. Hope you remember he'll be here tomorrow morning." And he had succeeded in doing what he had set out to do – changing her mood.
R: Of course! I remember. But only thing I don't know what he likes and what he doesn't. He was quite small when you left from India. His taste must have changed so much over the years.
A: You are right we do not know his tastes, but I'm sure he'll definitely relish whatever you prepare. You know, you've totally won over the boys with your love.
She giggled happily at his remark and leaned against his arm.
The next morning both of them were eagerly awaiting Arun's arrival at the airport. Though he had asked them not to come to the airport, Riddhima had insisted and Armaan had obliged. She wanted to spot Arun on her own, without any prompting from Armaan. She kept looking at everyone coming out through the glass doors, but no one seemed to resemble her Arun. She was shocked and literally fell off the chair when a young unshaven lad, with long disheveled hair hanging up till his shoulder, came and hugged her saying "Hi Perima." Armaan laughed aloud noticing her shocked expression.
When Riddhima didn't respond Arun asked "What happened Perima, aren't you glad to see me?"
R: it's, it's not that.
Seeing her stammering, Armaan came to her rescue saying "She wanted to spot you on her own. But she isn't able to digest the fact that you spotted her instead." They moved towards the car, Armaan pushing the luggage trolley and Arun having his arm around his perima's shoulder.
On reaching home Riddhima said "Arun go have a wash. I'll have the breakfast ready by then. What would you like to eat?"
Arun: Perima I've had my breakfast on the flight. If I eat something now, I won't be able to eat lunch.
R: Would you like to have something to drink?
Arun: What do you have?
When Armaan said "Nothing that you usually drink" Riddhima gave him a strange look. Opening the fridge, she took out a tetra pack and pouring some juice into a glass she said "I'm sure you'll like this. It's a cocktail of citrus fruits with no added sugar. It's really very tasty." Armaan burst out laughing seeing his son's expression but Riddhima just glared at him wondering what was tickling him, thereby failing to notice Arun's expression in the process.
Riddhima sat next to him after handing him the glass. But before he could even sip it his phone buzzed. She moved to the kitchen leaving him to attend the call. Turning up suddenly behind her he asked "What are busy doing? Keep it simple. I don't eat much." "So you haven't changed much since I last saw you" she teased him. When he didn't seem to catch her joke she clarified. "You always were a poor eater. And see it's showing" she said pointing to his lean body. Then suddenly remembering he hadn't had a wash she urged him to do so.
Arun: What's the rush Perima, I had a bath only last evening and am not planning to have one for another two days.
When Riddhima closed her nose and made a face he pulled her hand saying "But I use the best deo. So don't worry." Then pulling her by the hand said "Put off the stove and come sit and talk with me." "I'm almost done, just a moment" Riddhima pleaded as she put the tadka in the sambhar. But before she could join him, he was once again on the mobile. She waited patiently for him to finish his talk and then instructed him to switch it off as they wanted to talk some serious matters with him.
He looked shaken when they said serious matter. She signalled to Armaan to begin.
A: Arun, I'm planning to settle down in India.
Arun: Oh!
A: So I'm winding up things here. I plan to put this house up for sale.
The reply to that also was just an "Oh!" so Armaan continued, "I asked Karan if he'd want to buy it. He said it'd be too far for both of them from their workplace. So before I put it in the market I want to ask you too. Would you be interested in this property?" Laughing aloud at his dad's question he said "Even if I wanted to, I couldn't afford it. No dad I'm fine as I am, a free bird. I don't want to be tied down."
Riddhima was very much saddened to hear it. "Would you have said so if your mother had been alive?" Arun seemed to be taken aback but said "Let's not talk about any hypothetical situation." Riddhima didn't want to offend him but couldn't leave the matter. So she very calmly said "Arun we only want you to be happy. Like Karan you should also settle in life. If you have any girl in mind you can marry her. We don't have any objection." Then she looked towards Armaan for his support but he only said "Riddhima he's not a kid. He knows what he wants. Don't interfere in his personal matters."
Riddhima couldn't believe her ears. "What are you saying Athaan? If we don't guide him, who will? If children make a wrong decision isn't it a parent's responsibility to show him the right path?"
A: No Riddhima, I don't believe in imposing my decisions on anyone. Our concept of right and wrong and his may be different.
Riddhima didn't seem to understand her athaan's way of thinking. Putting her hand on Arun's bearded cheek she asked "Won't you listen to Perima kanna? You can't be a nomad all your life. Today you are young and maybe enjoying it. But when you grow older you'll wish you had a companion, someone to call your own, some place to call yours. At that point in life it may be too late to look for a life partner. That's why you should marry and settle down at the right age."
"Didn't you marry at the right age? What happiness did your marriage bring you?" came Arun's taunting question. Armaan never expected his son to talk hurtingly to such a kind person. Didn't he have any moral values? But the minute he uttered the questions, Arun also realized that it would hurt her. So he apologetically said "I didn't mean to hurt you Perima. I just wanted you to face a fact."
She smiled sweetly at him and holding his hands said "You only spoke the truth kanna. People have said worse things, so now I've become insensitive to all that. But taking the example of my life itself, though I lived alone all through my youth, when I needed him the most, my athaan came back to me. Not only that, he gave me a new life and he didn't even think for a moment before deciding to do so. Would anyone other than my husband have done so?"
Arun was speechless and so was Armaan. Then Arun began "Perima, I'm not saying I won't ever marry, I'm only saying not so soon. Actually I'm still not prepared for marriage and the responsibilities which come with it." Riddhima smiled at him and patting his hair said "Fine, take your time. But remember marriage is not just responsibilities, it also brings lot of happiness. Children, the greatest joy in any person's life, is an added bonus to it.
When Arun said "Perima, in which century are you living? What is the connection between marriage and kids?" Seeing Riddhima's bewildered look, Armaan burst laughing and so did Arun. Only then she understood his implication and gave him a slap on his arm and instead of scolding him, shouted at Armaan asking "Instead of reprimanding him, you are also laughing with him?" At that Arun put his arm around her shoulder saying "Sorry perima, I was just pulling your leg. Ok I promise I'll get married when I'm prepared for it and with your blessings too."
Lunch was a boisterous affair with Arun being the centre of entertainment. Seeing his son like this brought tears to Armaan's eyes. He couldn't remember when was the last time he had seen him like that. "She's charmed him too" Armaan thought in his mind. Arun couldn't recognize anything that Riddhima had cooked and wasn't even able to pronounce the names properly. Seeing that Riddhima asked "What do you normally eat?"
Arun: Anything that takes my fancy, pizza, burger, Thai, Mexican, Lebanese anything.
R: Don't you ever eat Indian food?
Arun scratched his head saying "Actually none of my friends relish the spicy Indian food."
R: Who told you Indian food is spicy. You can easily adjust the spice as per one's wants. Bring them over and I'll cook for them. They'll all stay licking their fingers.
Putting his arm around her shoulder Arun said "That I can believe. This food is fantastic. The best I've had in a long time. Thanks Perima." "He's so much like his dad in his mannerisms," Riddhima thought as she side hugged him and leant her head against his shoulder saying "You are welcome kanna."
Anupamaa
41