Death of a Masked Rose (Epilogue - Page 37) - August 30th - Page 18

48

As we approached each other and the world froze around us, I felt like I had died. It was like nothing existed. I was in another world. I had forgotten to breathe.

When she reached me, and there were only a few inches between our bodies, Sanyukta raised a shaking hand and touched my cheek, as if she was confirming whether I was really there or not.

Tears were falling down her cheeks, and I wanted to wipe her pain away, but my arms lay limp by my sides.

As her fingers caressed my cheek, I felt goosebumps erupt all over my body and I shivered. Her long lost touch brought back so many memories of the times we spent together.

Then she let our a loud sob before she removed her hand from my cheek. Sanyukta turned around and started to run outside, as I watched her leave.

I was about to run after her when I heard the front door slam shut.

"Don't," Anju said, and I turned around to look at her. "Leave her alone. She'll come back."

I nodded and went back to the couch, where I sat down.

I waited with Anju, and after a few moments, Anju spoke up.

"I just want her back," she whispered. "I want her to be happy."

"I'll bring her back and make sure she's happy," I told her positively, as I looked up at her. "But there's one thing I wanted to ask you... can Sanyukta live with me for a while?"

Anju's eyes widened at my request.

"Do you even know what you are asking for?" she asked me.

"I know it's hard for you, but I promise it'll bring her back sooner. It'll bring her happiness back even more quickly," I told Anju.

"How can I let my daughter just go and live with a man like this, especially one I don't trust?" Anju asked me. "It's not that simple."

"It can be that simple," I told her. "You just need to trust me - if you want me to marry her, then I'll marry her."

Anju looked at me with shock.

"Will you really marry Sanyu?" she asked me, sounding like she couldn't believe it.

"I will marry her," I told Anju firmly. "I will marry her and keep her very happy."

"Then you can take her," Anju said, her eyes filling up with tears. "I don't have much of a choice anyways - she won't marry anyone I would choose for her, and I don't know if anyone will marry her."

"She's beautiful - you might be able to find better men for her than me," I said.

"Outer beauty is limited Randhir," Anju explained, "Plus, she won't marry anyone I choose... I can see a ray of hope with you. I don't think she will say no."

"You don't?" I asked her, surprised.

"She knows you and at one point she was with you," Anju said simply. "If there's anyone I could get her to agree marrying, it is you."

I smiled - if Sanyukta married me, then I knew that I could bring her back. I would hold her so tight, that she would forget all of her pain. I would make sure she passed on all her problems to me. I would carry the weight of it all on my shoulders, happily.

"Who else lives with you?" I asked.

"My son Ankit and his wife. They went to the United States for a week," Anju said to me, "But if you're going to marry Sanyukta, I want it to happen quickly, maybe even before they come back."

"Why?" I asked her curiously.

"I want her to get better sooner, and Ankit would never agree to let her marry you," Anju explained, "So it's better we do it fast."

I was surprised that Anju was giving in so easily. Not just that, but she was ready to do this behind her son's back.

"As you wish," I replied simply.

We waited for Sanyukta, but she only came home after 3 AM. When she entered, she stumbled into the living room. She was drunk.

"Oh God," Anju said, smacking her forehead. "See, this is why I told you, nobody would marry her. The things this girl does... she'll kill me one day."

"Don't worry. I'll take care of her," I said to Anju, as Sanyukta saw me and stumbled towards me.

"I can't deal with her anymore," Anju said, sounding frustrated. "I just can't. I understand if you won't marry her."

"I'll marry her," I told Anju firmly. "Nothing will be able to change that decision of mine."

"Marry him?" Sanyukta asked, slurring. "Nobody asked me!"

I walked up to her and fell down to my knees in front of her before extending my hand in front of her.

"Will you marry me?" I asked her softly.

Sanyukta stared at me blankly for a few moments before tears fell out of her eyes.

She took my hand and I felt a surge of electricity run up my spine.

"Yes," she replied. "But you have to marry me now."

I looked into her eyes and I knew that she was drunk - but she was not crazy drunk. She was sober enough to make decisions - maybe stupid ones, but ones that her heart approved of.

"I will marry you now, but tomorrow we'll get married again," I told her softly.

"Okay," she responded softly, and I stood up.

"Let me take this girl to her room," Anju intervened, and then put her arm around Sanyukta, before she started to walk with her.

"But - mom, I want Randhir," Sanyukta whined, her voice cracking.

"Sanyu, go to sleep. You'll get Randhir," Anju responded, and then dragged her all the way to her room.

I fell down on the couch and covered my face with my hands. What was Sanyukta doing to herself? It hurt me to see her behave this way, but I didn't have a choice. I had to bear it to bring her out of it.

One thing that I knew with certainty was that tomorrow Sanyukta would not take getting married to me so lightly. Tomorrow I may have to bear a lot of harsh words, but I was ready to.

Sure her words may kill me, but with me being ready to die, could it really be that bad?

I sent a silent thanks out - I wanted to thank whatever brought me here, because now I could help her and support her. Now I could show her my love.

49

I had fallen asleep on the couch. I only woke up in the morning when I heard someone shuffling around me. It was Anju.

"I didn't want to wake you up because you had already fallen asleep," she explained. "Take care of Sanyu in case she wakes up, okay? She's still sleeping, but I have to go out to the mandir and get a pandit."

"Right now?" I asked incredulously.

"Yes," Anju said, her temperament sounding short. "I want to get you two married quickly."

"She hasn't even agreed," I told her. "What if she says no?"

"She won't have a choice," Anju snapped. "I'm not going to let her say no. Just take care of her... oh and don't cross your limits."

I looked down and nodded, as she picked up her purse. Then she went outside and locked the front door. As soon as she did that, I ran up the stairs, and searched for Sanyukta's bedroom.

When I opened the correct room, Sanyukta stirred in her bed from the sound of the door opening. Her eyes opened. I closed the door behind me and walked up to her before sitting down on the bed.

She looked at me, and tears invaded her eyes. She didn't say anything. She just stared.

I reached out and touched her cheek softly. She squeezed her eyes shut. I picked up her head and placed it on my lap, feeling her tears fall onto my pants. I stroked her hair, and soon her breathing evened again, and she had fallen back to sleep.

I leaned against the headboard of the bed and closed my eyes too, before I had fallen asleep as well.

I was woken up by Anju, who sounded infuriated.

"I told you to look after her, what are you doing with her?" she screamed.

"Wha - nothing!" I said, as Sanyukta sat up, being woken up as well.

"She was sleeping on your lap, you're very shameless!" Anju snapped.

"M - mom," Sanyukta said, tears springing in her eyes. "He didn't do anything."

I looked at Sanyukta with awe - even after all these years, she was still standing up for me in front of her mom?

"I swear, I didn't even have any dirty thoughts," I said defensively.

"Good, keep it that way," Anju said. "Anyways, the pandit is here. I brought one of my friends too, so we have enough witnesses. Come down, both of you."

"What?" Sanyukta asked, sounding enraged.

"You're getting married to Randhir," Anju said simply and dropped two bags on the ground. "I bought a sherwani for you Randhir, and Sanyu your sari is there too. Both of you get ready - separately, and come down. This is my final decision."

Then she closed the door behind her and left the two of us alone, as Sanyukta looked up at me with shock.