Heya, guys! I'm back. :D Too late, I know, and my sincere apology this as well. Now for this chapter anything is welcome. :/
Chapter 44
Ishani sat in the London City Airport, 6.30 in the morning, waiting for her flight to Edinburgh. Flipping the pages of a science magazine she glanced at the entrance of the waiting room as if waiting for someone to arrive; but only the crowd of unknown faces made her bury her face in the text she read. Soon after she advanced for the security check but things having been arranged already by Mr. Khanna Ishani's problem was resolved and she was headed directly to her flight. However, she did glance back and to and fro at times, still hoping someone to arrive who hadn't yet turned up. But no one did. Ishani finally stepped inside the plane and took her assigned seat. Leaning her back comfortably on the seat she closed her eyes. Time was drawing closer and...
Before any more thoughts could pop in her head Ishani felt a gentle pat on her shoulder. She opened her eyes and beside her sat Ranveer, wearing a mischievous smile on his face and lips curved in a more mischief manner seeing her flummoxed, staring at him. Ranveer questioningly nodded his head while settling himself on the seat. Ishani slapped his shoulder playfully.
"You're late," Ishani said.
"RV is never late, Ms. Parekh, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to."
Ishani frowned at him. "Being Gandalf, huh? Anyway, it's not going to work. You are late."
"Oh, yeah. I know." Ranveer rolled his eyes.
"Where on earth have you been?" she asked. "I've been waiting for you for so long!"
"Miss Ishani Parekh, Ranveer Vaghela is an ordinary man and he needs to do certain things RV in not allowed to do."
Ishani got hold of his hand and squeezed it lightly. Even though he did not mean it she felt a rueful swish of emotions in his tone, and smiled. "Ranveer is special. Very special," she said, and Ranveer smiled back.
"Thank you."
"Ranveer?" Ishani said, her hand still clasped in his.
"Hmm?"
"Why don't you let the world know who you are?"
"They don't care."
"They're curious."
"I know."
"And?"
"And they'll come to know it sometime soon."
"Are you afraid of the world?"
"Never," Ranveer snapped, as if offended by her remark. "Is it not enough for you to know they don't care? They know about RV but don't want to know Ranveer because he is not the person they can be with, and RV has no face. No identity. You know that, don't you?"
Ishani nodded her head in understanding. The plane had taken off and she, for a moment either out of fear or thrill of the journey, gave out little scream.
"I didn't know you were still afraid of flying."
"Laughing at me?"
"Not really, but you don't know half of the things you are supposed to know."
"Supposed to know?" Ishani said, furrowing her brows.
"Need I name them?" Ranveer answered with a laugh.
Ishani looked at him embarrassed; shaking her head she withdrew her gaze away from his.
"That's how I am," she whispered slowly, shrugging her shoulders.
"And you are perfect," Ranveer answered with a smile, and nodded when Ishani again looked at him, as though not believing what he said. She loved it when he said nice things about her. It wasn't rare but everytime he said it, she couldn't stop feeling s strange comfort in her heart. That's how she was and he said she was perfect.
*
Around 11.45AM Ishani and Ranveer emerged from the Edinburgh Airport, and saw a car waiting for them already at the gate outside.
"Miss Parekh? Mr. RV?" a young man in his mid 20s turned up and looked at them, smiling.
"Yes. Mr. Henry Bradley?" Ishani answered.
"Yes. Mr. Puneet informed me of your arrival and asked me to stay here strictly at 10.30. Please follow me," Mr. Henry said politely.
Ranveer and Ishani were informed by Puneet already about Henry Bradley who would drop them at their destination thus there seemed no point of further inquiry and they followed him to a white car waiting for them. Stepping inside the car they headed to the Chester Residence, New Town, through the crowds of the city. The town was a masterpiece when it came to the art of designing. Ishani wondered how could a place be so perfect as though having no flaw in its structure. On the right side of her view ran a railroad with various trains on their way and coming further she saw a silver strip of the Water of Leith flowing graciously under the walkway, crawling lightly. On either side of the road remained the amiably filled with colorful shops. Spring had not changed the essence of the town since temperature even in April remained extremely low and views of the town filled her vision exultantly.
"It's all so beautiful," Ishani said to Ranveer, looking at the surroundings full of marvelous views of the town.
"It is," Ranveer answered, his face buried in his laptop.
"Have you even seen it?" Ishani said.
"Oh, yes," Ranveer answered. "I've been here before too many times. Nothing is new though equally beautiful."
"How long do we have to go?"
"4 more minutes," Ranveer said.
As soon as Ranveer finished his words, keeping the laptop in his bag, the car turned towards the Chester Street and halted in front of a large brownish building of the Chester Residence. As the car halted Henry opened the doors for Ishani and Ranveer to get out and lead them to their rooms in the hotel.
"You'll be staying here, Ms. Parekh, and Mr. RV," Henry said, leading them to their respective rooms.
"Where is Sally?" Ishani asked, as she entered the room.
"In the room no. 909." The answer came. "Though she has been engaged in her marriage rituals, I will inform her of your arrival and let you know when you can meet her."
"Thank you."
Henry bowed lightly and left.
Ishani turned back to be exposed to a large room, spreading several yards before her eyes, immersed in the light of the morning sun, the floor glistening radiantly. She came further and put aside the bag on a wooden table, and sat on the bed covered with a purple silky sheet. From the windowpane came a soft breeze crackling quietly into the room swarming with the fragrance of the fresh roses from the garden bellow her room. Ishani must have assumed she spent hours before the phone of her room rang making her jump suddenly on her feet. It was Henry who informed her of Sally and that Ishani could see her now.
*
Ishani entered Sally's room as she sat in front of a posh mirror, getting ready for the grand evening of her life.
"May I come in?" Ishani asked as Sally looked back at Ishani, her face glowing with a radiant smile and eyes blushing feverishly.
"Come in, Ishani," she squeaked happily. "What are you doing there? Come in." Sally stood up, her crimson Lehenga flowing gracefully on her feet, and brought Ishani to sit on a couch.
"Thank you," Ishani smiled. "You look gorgeous."
"Bride's color, my mom says." Sally winked towards a woman who seemed engaged in a different corner of the room Ishani hadn't noticed until now. "She's my mom." The woman turned back and waved at Ishani, smiling.
"Hello, Mrs. Brown," Ishani said, waving back.
"I hope you have a great time here, Miss Parekh. I'm sorry you had to wait for so long. But it's the rituals she needs to follow," Mrs. Brown said.
"It's alright, Ms. Brown. And I would prefer Ishani," Ishani said.
"Be comfortable here and whenever you need something, don't shy away. I'm leaving now as I'm needed outside. Will see you two later. Take care."
Mrs. Brown left the room, saying she would be back to inform them of the further developments and Sally for a while could take a moment for herself before everything gets chaotic for her until the next few days.
"So," Ishani said, as the door of the room clicked gently behind Mrs. Brown. "Nervous?"
"Yes," Sally nodded her head. "Sometimes I don't even know what to do and how. Everything seems to be happening so rapidly."
"It's good, isn't it?"
"But it all is dreamlike. At times it feels as unreal as the stories in the books."
"Don't worry," Ishani said. "It happens to everyone. I'm sure even Puneet is having the same thoughts like you." Sally blushed.
"It's an amazing feeling to marry someone you truly love."
"It is," Ishani answered, more to herself than Sally.
"Sorry?"
"Nothing." Ishani shook her head. "Well, it's nothing serious, but I'm curious to know..." Ishani paused and continued after few moments, "You live in London, your parents live in Florida, why are you getting married in Scotland? Don't you think you are way too adventurous? And on the top of everything in Indian style?"
Sally laughed heartily at Ishani's questions and curiosity. "Oh, Ishani. I'm not being adventurous at all. My dad has his cotton business in America and mom helps him there. I was born and brought up in London by my grandparents who passed away several years ago. I chose this city to get married because my grandparents had married here decades ago in a church and they spent their entire lives together and even my parents did the same. I'm proud of them. Therefore I chose to do the same but differently. I love Indian rituals and everything that happens so Puneet and I decided to go this way. Our parents had no problem and that's how it is."
"Interesting," Ishani said. "May all your wishes come true."
Sally smiled and a silence fell between them. Ishani could see the sun changing its shade when few women giggling cheerfully entered the room. Ishani stood up.
"I should leave now, Sally. You need to get ready. It'll be time in a few hours. All the best."
"Bye. See you in the evening." Sally smiled back.
*
"Ishani, are you ready?" Ranveer called her, knocking at the door for the fifth time.
"Wait, I'm coming!" Ishani answered, in a rather uneasy voice.
"Is everything alright?"
"I think so."
"Are you ready?"
"Yes," Ishani said, and beaming at him opened the door. Ranveer looked at her, stunned, for few moments as Ishani invited him in and he followed without uttering a word. "What, is everything alright with you?" he said after few minutes of staring at Ishani, stunned.
"Is it not?"
Ranveer shook his head as if waking up from slumber. "You are wearing a Saree?"
"Yes," Ishani said, taking the hanging part of pallu in her hand. "Isn't it nice?"
Ranveer burst into fits of laughter as Ishani finished her words. "Nice?" he repeated. "Do you even know how to wear this Saree?"
"Why?" Ishani's face fell. "I think the Saree is nice."
"The Saree is nice but you don't know how to wear it, Ishani. Look what you've made of this beautiful dress." He took her to face the mirror which reflected her disoriented dressing.
"I'm such a useless person," Ishani said, tears brimming in her eyes. "You were right. I don't know half of the things I'm supposed to know."
"Why don't you change it? You have other better dresses. I'm sure they're as good as this Saree, or even better," Ranveer consoled.
"No, I want Saree only."
"Don't be stubborn, Ishani. No one here can help you."
"Of course," Ishani said. "It's you."
Ranveer shook his head. "Don't be stupid."
"Not at all. You have helped me before. Remember for the college function?"
"Ishani, it's not good."
"Helping your best friend is not a sin."
"But..."
"But...?"
Ranveer looked at Ishani; the innocence in her eyes seemed to have made her oblivious of certain facts he wished she knew. He blinked lightly several times and spoke again, "No, you are wearing something else. Now. Come on! Do it."
"Look," Ishani protested. "First tell me what's wrong with this Saree?"
"This," Ranveer took her pallu in his hands, "is not on its right place. It should be here." Ranveer tucked the pallu above her left shoulder.
"Oh, I didn't know that." Ishani laughed.
"Now you do. Go and get ready."
Ishani went in front of the mirror and draped the Saree round herself and flung the pallu again on her left shoulder.
"How is it?" she asked, turning around.
Ranveer came further. "What is this?" he asked. The part beside the hip was set loose. "Is that how you are going to go in the ceremony?"
"What should I do?" Ishani said, resigning.
"Well, wait," Ranveer said, and slowly covered her upper body with the lightly embroidered pallu, not taking a single glance at her face. He took the rest blue colored Saree hanging loosely about her waist and tucked it back into the right place, making sure not to touch her. Ishani looked at him and smiled. Ranveer, however, did not yet say anything and taking the front part of the saree in fingers of the lousy prepared pleats he secured them in properly and tucked in the front. Ishani shivered slightly breathlessly as his fingers inadvertently touched her skin. "I'm sorry," Ranveer said, taking two steps back in bewilderment. "Do you want to do it on your own?"
"I don't know how to," Ishani answered, unsure what to say or how to react at the events. Perhaps she trusted him too much.
Ranveer now took the pallu around from Ishani's back and made numerous small pleats and carefully tucked it on her left shoulder and pinned it up with a safety pin that he pressed in his lips. Ranveer took the pleats of pallu to cover her front when Ishani stopped him.
"I like it this way," she said. "Let it be like that."
"Shut up, Ishani," Ranveer snapped back, for the first time looking at her. "There will be so many people and you don't have to..."
"Don't have to?"
"I mean, I know you are fond of Western style when it comes to dressing but in Saree it doesn't look well, does it?"
"Oh, don't tell me you're thinking what I suppose you are, Ranveer. I don't care what others think." Ishani protested.
"Come on, Ishani," Ranveer pleaded, "You know it's not good, right? Please listen to me once. I don't want you to go like that in front of so many out there."
"But," Ishani interposed, "there are so many other girls too who might be like that. What about them?"
"I don't care about them. Even though you're grown up, you should know how to take care of yourself. You're not a kid anymore."
"You don't have to remind me everytime I'm not a kid and a grownup girl. I know what to do and I don't want to cover myself like I'm growing so old." Ishani reduced the width of her pallu.
"It can be your decision what to wear or what not but since we're friends I should like to see you behave decently."
Ishani shook her head. "Alright," she said, irritated. "If you think so, it'll be good."
"Thank you," Ranveer replied and fixed the rest of her Saree in the right place. "You look perfect."
Ishani looked at herself in mirror and smiled. "It's like a butterfly look."
"I know," Ranveer said.
"How did you learn this?" and before Ranveer could answer Ishani added, "Kaki taught you?"
Ranveer, disgruntled, looked at her. "I'm not a Mamma's boy," he said, rolling his eyes. "It's nothing like you have to learn from others."
"Oh, alright," Ishani said, laughing hard at his antics. "I was joking. Don't take it too seriously."
Ranveer relaxed into a smile. "I will..." and he said no further. "We should go now." He said and Ishani followed him.
*
Ishani and Ranveer came out of the room and headed towards the Mandap in the hall on the third floor. The whole passage was decorated with ornamental marigold flowers, their scent spreading a magic in the air. In the hall further the Mandap was 10 feet tall, its pillars draped with lustrous fabrics of yellow and green, the lights from the corners of the hall flashing upon them appeared no less than a heaven. The purple tinted curtains remained left rolled over and in the corners hanging effortlessly from the flowered ceiling. The net white curtains in between hung beside the pillars, creating an irresistible aura of excitement. Not many people were present in the hall; only close friends or relatives of the two families were seen. Ishani's eyes fell on Puneet as he nodded in acknowledgement and smiled shyly. The light red colored walls of the hall came to life and the lights grew more radiant as the bride entered the hall, accompanied by her mother and other young girlfriends, wearing a gorgeous red Lehenga with golden glittering beads carved upon it. A rustle of excitement and joy filled the air as Sally advanced further.
She did not look upto anyone as her mother led her to the groom. Puneet smiled at Sally who returned a tiny but noticeable blush. Panditji began to chant the mantras while Sally and Puneet followed the instructions, stealing the glances at one another. At times Sally's friends chaffed them that subsided the couple for next few moments. They clearly did not like the idea of not being able to see each other for one whole day.
The next rituals were followed gradually while the keenness of the young hearts was evident in their actions. Sally was as graceful as ever and Puneet as gracious as ever. Ishani looked at Ranveer who with a dreamy, wistful look in his eyes stared at the happenings in front of him. She wanted to know what he thought or why he was so quiet.
"Are you alright, Ranveer?" Ranveer looked, as Ishani assumed, troubled, but did not say anything and nodded with a smile.
"Isn't it so beautiful?" Ishani spoke again.
"When you get the person you love, it's always beautiful," Ranveer answered without looking at Ishani, but passing a small smile.
Puneet and Sally stood up for the phere and Puneet took his steps around the gently blazing sacred fire. Taking the vows to protect and love his wife forever he let Sally take the front place and Sally repeated the vows happily. A long time had passed ever since the rituals began and with them having been completed Panditji ended with a smile as if he had achieved something precious. "You two are now husband and wife. Congratulations."
The couple stood up, smiling to each other and moved forward to take the blessings of their elders. Ishani had never seen anyone from Puneet's family though Ranveer knew who were who. The couple emerging from the crowd, taking the blessings of the family members came upto where Ranveer and Ishani stood. Ranveer hugged Puneet. "Congratulations," he managed to say, while Sally came and hugged Ishani. "We're glad you both have come here," Puneet said, looking at Ishani and Ranveer.
"We were to come here, Puneet," Ishani said. "After all, it is your wedding."
"Thank you," Puneet and Sally said unison and smiled.
"Go, they're waiting for you. It's your day and should not be wasted," Ranveer said, glancing at the family members of Puneet.
"Sure, sir. We will see you soon."
The functions ended pleasantly and most guests, save the family members of the bride and groom left the hall. The murmurs of the guests died away slowly as Ishani along with saw Ranveer make his way out of the hall.
"I'm so happy," she said, following him, "finally they're together."
Ranveer stopped for a few moments as though surprised that she had followed him.
"It seems you've gotten married yourself," Ranveer said; Ishani could sense a hint of bitterness in his tone.
"Why, are you alright?" she asked, turning to him. "You looked upset all the time there. Don't you think you were bit...absurd there?"
"I'm fine," Ranveer said, looking sideways.
"Then what is it?" Ishani said taking his face in her hands softly.
"Nothing. It's fine. Trust me," Ranveer answered, not meeting her gaze. "I'm happy, but I don't really know what do."
"Why did you leave from there like this?" Ishani said. "I'm sure they would have liked us to stay for a more while."
"Ishani, please. I don't want to answer anything right now. I feel tired." Ranveer said, though not rudely.
"It's alright and I'm sorry. I shouldn't just insist you on the things you are uncomfortable with. Go and take rest." Ishani let go of him.
"Good night, Ishani."
Ishani turned back not sure what had just happened to her.
Cricket
