Chapter 12

 

Rudra’s POV

 

We need to start the wedding preparations now, Myrah. Though you are my legally wedded wife. In a way it will be good to take you through a dream wedding than the one I put you though the last time. Thank GOD for small mercies.

So we move inside the haveli. Rohit comes downstairs. He has already changed out of his sherwani into his usual T shirt and jeans. He smiles at Myrah reassuringly, and I feel that sudden pang of jealousy again. Rohit has been a very good friend to my Paro for the last seven years. She has shared things with him that I will never know about. He can read her feelings in her eyes, he can feel her emotions.

But no, I have no reason to feel jealous, I should not feel jealous. Paro is mine. She fell in love with me all over again, not even knowing who she is, even after having changed so much. She lived away for the last seven years, she learned so much, she changed from my loving, gentle Paro to fiery, feisty Myrah, who is capable of anything. It’s as though she took a new birth. Yet she never fell in love with Rohit all these years. She fell in love with me only. She came back to India after so many years, and she fell in love with me, not knowing we were already married. This means that we – she and I – are meant to be. Always. For this birth and through the next seven births.

What did Paro always say to me? Destiny, Major Saab. From the time we met as children, you were meant for me and I was meant for you.

Paro was right. She always is.

So if she smiles at Rohit, it doesn’t matter. Paro has enough love in her heart for the world. While for me … for me, my world is Paro and only Paro. And of course Dhruv, my jigar ka tukda, my ansh, the part of me who carries Paro inside him too.

But why is Myrah talking to Rohit so seriously? What are they discussing? Damn my family, they are all talking at the tops of their voices, and Dhruv chooses this moment to tug at my shirt with a thousand questions on whether Myrah will really be his mummy and live with us for ever and ever. I can’t even join their conversation, or hear anything they’re saying … I have to answer him, as Myrah is too busy talking to Rohit.

What are they talking about?

The scene – as it is.

The pandit was looking more and more confused at the change of bridegroom and was becoming noticeably irritated at the delay in the proceedings. He interrupted the loud discussions among the Ranawats with annoyance in his tone.

‘Yajmaan, what is going on here? The mahurat is long gone, and I have other ceremonies to perform. Is there going to be a wedding here or not?’  

 ‘Yes,’ said Rudra loudly, just as Myrah equally loudly, said ‘No.’

Rudra glared at her.

‘Myrah?! You can’t change your mind again!’

Myrah smiled at him.

‘I haven’t changed my mind at all, Rudra. I’ve just been talking to Rohit. He spoke to my parents in the meantime, and they are obviously very upset at the change in plan. It is only fair that I talk to them and put them at ease. Get their blessings at least over skype. So we will have to wait.’

She turned to the panditji and spoke with her usual charming smile, which calmed him down completely.

‘I’m sorry to waste your time, panditji. There will be no wedding for now. But rest assured we will be calling you again very soon. Do accept our apologies. You must have understood the circumstances so please forgive us.’

The pandit taken care of and safely dispatched, Myrah turned to Rudra.

‘Rohit says my parents would like to speak to you. They are waiting on Skype.’

Rudra wasn’t very sure what Skype was, but he agreed. 

Myrah, Rohit and Rudra went to Myrah’s room, and Rohit connected to Myrah’s parents. Between Myrah and Rohit, they spoke to her parents, who were visibly upset at the change in plans, and even more so, at the change in bridegroom. Myrah and Rohit took turns at talking to them, trying to convince them, and Rudra sat in a corner and listened to the conversation. Again he felt the feeling he had had earlier, of feeling left out in this new world that Myrah lived in.

Not Myrah. Paro. His Paro. He had to keep reminding hmself that this modern laughing, confident girl was really his Paro. And that she loved him, and he loved her.