Chapter 5. A Brief Encounter
She hadn't realized she remembered him until today.
A mere mention of his name and it had brought back a memory that had been buried in the deep recesses of her mind.
A familiar stranger.
He was more or less a familiar stranger.
It had been a very brief encounter between them.
But she still remembered it as clearly as if it was yesterday she had met him and not seven years ago.
And this fact was bothersome.
Seven yrs ago on the wedding day of her Naintara di, the baraati had arrived late. After the initial welcome the most awaited , Jaimala(garland exchange) ceremony had taken place.
Despite being the youngest sister of the bride she had been pushed aside by her elder cousins and di's friends. Standing behind the tall girls she had peered at the bridegroom and his friends who had accompanied him on the stage.
It was then she had noticed him.
In white full sleeved button down shirt teamed up with blue denims, he had looked different from others who were properly dressed in coats and trousers.
And it wasn't just his looks , there was something different about his whole attitude and personality.
Unlike his friends he wasnt teasing or sparring with the girls on the stage.
He stood straight with a neutral face and hands folded across his chest.
At that moment he had appeared proud and unapproachable. And her juvenile mind had wondered if his lips ever curled into a smile.
When his eyes had found hers she had looked away from his face to see Dev jiju being raised high in air by his friends making Naintara di rise on her toes to put garland around his neck.
She had laughed at their antics, he did not not , he wavering gaze had told her.
He did not laugh. He did not tease.
Such a boring person he was.
The marraige muhurat was of around 1:15 am in the morning so after the garland exchange the baraati had been escorted to the hall where dinner arrangements were made.
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She walked in the hall to find the baraatis having their dinner. Her eyes found her father who was busy conversing with Dev Jiju's father. She could see the group of men who had earlier been teasing the girls on stage eating and talking and laughing simultaneously as they stood in a corner.And then she spotted the object of her interest.
The Ice cream stall.
She walked confidently to the stall and ordered 2 strawberry icecreams.
The man behind the icecream stall wasn't much pleased to see her.
Ofcourse he wouldn't be.
Because since the stall had been set up she had gobbled down almost ten ice creams. She saw as the ice cream uncle pushed the cups towards her. She took them and walked fast. As soon as she was out of the hall she ran towards the bride's room.
These ice creams were for her mother and chachiji who had been working tirelessly since yesterday. They didn't even have their food. And it was only now that they were relaxing before the marraige started.
She was about to enter the room when one of the aunty's spotted her.
'Arrey Geet tujhe kaise pata chala mera ice cream khane ka jee kar rha hai laa puttar de de mujhe. Dono de de . Bablu bhi tabse jid kar rha tha. Lekin abhi baraati wale honge na. Isliye hall nhi gyi.'
Before she could tell her anything the aunty took both the cups and went on her way.
After a while she was standing again in front of the same ice cream stall for the other one seemed to be surrounded with people. And that same man was standing behind the stall glaring at her.
' 4 cups . Strawberry flavour.', she ordered ignoring his glare.
'Nhi hai. Khatam ho gya.'
She didnt have to use her brains to tell that he was lying.
'jhuth mat boliye aur jara jaldi de.'
' Kam se kam 20 baar aa chuki ho ice cream ke liye. Aur kitni baar logi. Abhi baraati kha rhe hai. Shortage ho gyi toh. Bade Saheb ne kaha hai abhi baraatiyon par dhyan dene ke liye.'
continued below.
Edited by Commelina - 10 years ago
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