I Know Why You Cry

“CONGRATULATIONS PARAMI,” NISHA SAID, as extended her hand to wish her friend. She looked dazzling in the tight white T-shirt and black jeans. She was little shorter than Paramitha, but her long hair beat the race between them. Nisha had a slim and fit body since she used to go to gym, and it was like a daily ritual for her. She was diet maniac and afraid of adding even one calorie extra to her flesh. But Parami wasn’t a gym freak like her; she was just like any other girl in our country. More interested in fashion and walking into the malls and spending most of the time with the mobile phones and catching a nice movie along with her friends and dancing through the nights in the weekends.

“Hey, don’t be formal. Anyway thanks,” Paramitha said, as gave her a squeezing look. Yes, Nisha had come all the way to wish her best friend Parami on her engagement. Nisha was feeling happy and somewhat jealous about the bridegroom, who looked so charming and manly. He looked like a young and promising movie star in the Bollywood.

Paramitha was in a traditional lehenga choli dress and her hands were smeared with beautiful mehandi patterns. Her face was brighter than the real, since the photographers were flashing the cameras to take photos continuously. The bridegroom tossed smiles at everyone who had seen him. He was feeling little shy to grab all the attention towards him, he had never been drawn such spotlight earlier. He had done charted accounts and earning an attractive package every month, he was working as assistant auditor in an exporting company. But he had never dated anyone earlier, and he too expected such type of girl to be on his side. He believed Paramitha was one of them. In this modern world, is it possible to find a boy like him? It is difficult, right? But he had soft character and didn’t want to hurt anybody. That was the promise Paramitha’s father heard from everybody he met to know about the bridegroom’s character. Paramitha said okay immediately to the proposal.

“Don’t you introduce me to your husband? You my stupid friend,” Nisha said, smiling uproariously.

The bride’s father caught her smile from the corner of the table where he sat on the chair and speaking with some of his relatives. He knew who this girl was. But he couldn’t go and talk to her. He had so many things to carryon. He plunged back into the conversation.

“Hoh, I am sorry dear. I have completely forgotten to introduce you with him,” Parami said as laid her right hand on her head. Her lips withdrew in a slight contempt due to her own mistake. I must be crazy to not even think about it, she thought.

She finally averted her glance at the groom and said, “Jitesh, this is my friend Nisha. Say hello to her.”

Jitesh adjusted his small round goggles and looked at her. He was impressed by the Nisha’s astounding beauty. For a moment, his head spun round and round before it came normal. It looked like he had never met such a girl before. How dare I didn’t even notice who has come to wish us? he muttered mentally as stretched his hand to shake with hers. Nisha’s long shiny hands and her infectious smile made him to keep looking at her. In fact, Parami was embarrassed by his extreme enthusiasm to greet her friend. She obviously had to find a way to stop it. Even the photographers were sick of taking the same pictures again and again. They wanted the other guests in the waiting list to come onto the stage and greet these newly wedded couple.

“Jitesh, I think it’s enough of shaking hands. Please leave her hand now, I think she is afraid of her bones might have cracked,” Parami said as combed the tendrils of her hair with her fingers, while smiling at the crowd in front of her.

On hearing her comment, Jitesh blood whooshed to his lungs as he took a shallow breath and relieved Nisha’s hands immediately. She felt relaxed now. Nisha didn’t feel like upset due to this long tweaking of her hand. She knew straightway this groom was little excited on seeing her. But she was a generous girl and won’t take anything to her mind unless until it was really important.

“Have a wonderful marriage life,” Nisha was able to utter these words amidst the frustration crept on her friend’s face. No, she wasn’t going to talk about it on the stage now. She will find a perfect time after the wedding reception for sure to open this topic again. But right now, she had to hurry up wishing them, otherwise the people who are waiting in the queue would come and drag her out of the stage. She didn’t want to give that chance to them.

“Excellent, thanks. I wish you to spend your time with us,” Jitesh retorted.

A calamitous furry stood on Parami’s eyes, even Nisha felt he must be having too much guts to talk that in front of his wife. If her beau had told this she would have kicked him for sure. But Parami won’t do such stunt on the stage. Though she was short temper, she didn’t have such a raging heart to pour storming words out of her mouth. She kept her calmness until this second. But we can’t guarantee anything in the future. Even the calmest desert receives wild storms sometimes, it was impossible to predict it correctly every time. Maybe God alone knew such secrets of his rendition.

“That’s nice, but I have to get back immediately, otherwise your wife won’t even forgive me,” Nisha said and pulled her hands back safely.

“Is everything all right there,” a lady who wore orange silk saree said in a high voice. She had fat body, no structure and nothing. But she tried to fit in. Her sleeves of the blouse were so tight and it looked like it would tear at any time soon.

“Yeah, done,” Nisha responded to her, but she didn’t aware from where the voice was raised. She addressed everyone in the crowd.

“I will text you tomorrow, Parmai,” Nisha said as winked. She set to depart from here.

Parmai waved her hand at her with a clenched smile. She was happy that Nisha had finally left her alone. A moment she hated herself for treating her best friend maliciously, there was smudge of guiltiness shown on her face, but it was imperceptible to anyone. She didn’t even turn her face at her new husband after this sudden storm.

The lady who had croaked earlier came to the stage with a large gift in her hands followed by her son who had the prospect of having all the qualities his mother had.

But there was no more excitement and enthusiasm gripped Parami. She had shown dull and inconspicuous face to this ceremony after her friend had left them. Even Jitesh hadn’t engaged in welcoming the visitors who had greeted him. Also, the people started wondering why these two newly married coupled had much gap between them. Some of the elders cracked jokes on them, telling it shows how much respect Parami had for her husband. One lady said that if she takes this attitude to her bedroom it would be very difficult for the groom to initiate his splendor job. There was roaring laughter and even the other women who didn’t know anything about what’s going on here, started laughing.

Finally, the long and tedious reception came to an end. Parami ‘s parents and Jitesh’s parents came to the stage finally and took a photograph together. But Parami wasn’t at all smiling in this photo, even the photographer’s efforts didn’t show any fruition to bring smile on her face. He gave up in the end.

The first night went like another normal day without any glamor in their life. Yes, Jitesh didn’t even give her a veg kiss. But they both had slept on the same bed. She turned on the left side and he turned on the right side. The grape bunches, badam, and salted cashews which were kept on the plates went unnoticed. In fact, the jasmine flowers smelt still wonderful and pungent to the nose. He woke up in the early morning at four o’clock, and it was the third time he did so in his entire life. He still remembered those days why he had to wake up in the morning. First time he had the fear of facing CA exams, the second time when his grandma died two years back. He didn’t want to muse on those things now. He had so many things on his mind to worry constantly. Why Parami didn’t even speak a word with me last night? Have I done blunder by speaking with her friend? Is greeting her friend a guilty act? Why doesn’t she tell what she had on her mind? His thoughts were clumsy and driven by a form of anger, but he didn’t feel like hate her at all. He still believed she would come back and ask sorry for what she had done yesterday, as he stepped out of the house and walked down to the park to see the sunrise after a long while. This November month cold stung on his cheeks and flesh, as he slowly turned right at the milk booth to reach the park which was already filled with people. The elders and youngsters were stretching their arms and legs to do some mild exercises to let the muscles in their bodies intact and vigorously young. He slowly looked at the fog in the air and the dews still clinging to the grass. He walked slowly on the jogging track, he felt he could have brought his mobile and earphones since most of the people were hearing songs while doing the exercise. But it wasn’t a big upset to him. He didn’t want to jog because two weeks before his small toe on his left feet was slightly twisted when he tried to lift the bike which was skidded while he drove on the muddy path near his house. He thought he had twisted his left ankle but God was there with him, he escaped with a small hurt. He didn’t even inform to his parents about it, fearing they might cancel the wedding and postponed to sometime next month. No way, he never liked the idea. He was feeling over excited to grasp Parami’s hands and talk more about their personal lives. But his expectations were exploded with sour feelings yesterday. He had never imagined the first night would pass something like he was mourning for his lost parents. He took a deep breath, as he returned from the harrowing thoughts and increased his strides on the track. He even found an old woman who wore muffler around her head, walking briskly than him. He rolled his eyes on seeing her energy level. He wondered how she can able to keep the upbeat energy even in the old age. Anyway, it didn’t matter to him now. He didn’t want to research on this matter. As he turned right at the end of the track, he almost bumped with a young girl. Guess who she is? Yes, Nisha. She couldn’t believe it really had happened. How come a man who had feasted the first night would wake up so early to walk down in the park? He must be weird, she thought before spoke to him.

“Hello, how are you?” she said.

Jitesh blinked for two seconds to ascertain this moment. He still thought his sleepiness hadn’t left from his eyes.

“Yeah, doing well. But how you……………….” his words were halting in the midway as he looked at her.

“Don’t worry. I haven’t sneaked into your first night scene,” she said jovially as showed her white teeth which glistened.

Jitesh didn’t feel like laughing at the joke. But he was terrified instead. Because he had to reveal the blunt truth that he and Parami didn’t do anything to wield a blushing face.

“Thank God,” he muttered finally in a hard tone. There wasn’t a spark of good vibration in his words. He just made this statement to let her not guess wildly about his insecurities. He thought Nisha would say hello and go after jogging. Because he didn’t still forget the bitter moment happened yesterday in the wedding reception.

“Huhhhh, but I still wonder how Parami had let you to wake up so early. I mean she never woke up before eight o’clock in her life. I think you would have done something silly to escape from her clutch, isn’t?” she said, still smiling. She looked great in the black track pants and pink cardigan. Her ponytail swung either side whenever she shook her head and turned to look at other side.

“She.She………….” he stammered to form the sentence like the first-grade student.

She sensed the inability and horror on his face. She guessed he was frightened to share the acute truths about his wife.

“Please sit there, I think people are getting disturbed as we stand here on the track,” she said and genuinely guided him to sit on the vacant stone bench. It was in brick color.

Jitesh felt the coldness on his buttocks when he sat on the bench, since the dew wasn’t evaporated yet. The orange sun was slowly rising on the east, and it would take at least half an hour for the strong rays to eat these clinging dews on the grass and benches.

“Now tell me,” she said, a serious expression started to take over her.

“Parami is still sleeping. I just came out to get some fresh morning air,” he said.

“Ohhhh, that’s nice. But still I don’t believe your words. I think there is something wrong,” she said.

“No, no. I am all right and there is nothing to hide,” his words rushed at top speed than his expression did. There was a little panic glimmered on his eyes. He didn’t want to let her guess everything inside his brain. He was feeling naked when she asked such probing questions.

“But your eyes didn’t say it,” she said, looking into his eyes. The joggers on the park thought these two were love birds, and they even turned a blind eye whenever they crossed them.

Jitesh stood up hurriedly as if he didn’t like to hang on with her.

“Hey, what happened? Am I asked something terrible?” Nisha said. Her hand almost rushed to catch his wrist, but stopped in the midway. She didn’t feel it was right to hold his hand, because the last night trauma didn’t leave from her mind yet.

There was no response; he turned his back to her. He was breathing harder now, but you couldn’t able to see the fast rhythm of pulse from his heaving chest. All he wanted to do was to escape from this place and find a secluded place where he can’t meet anyone but himself.

“Jitesh, are you there?” she asked, as stretched her long neck. Yesterday when she had left to her home after reception, the first thing she did was drunk the whiskey. That doesn’t mean she was an all-time drinker, but whenever she felt her heart was thrashed by someone she had to find this companion to douse her wild feelings. Yesterday was a fitting day for her to swim in the drink since she was hurt more than she could tolerate. She didn’t want to name the hurt because her burnt feelings were bigger than the mountain. She felt ostracized and driven out with a big hole in her heart. When she tried to call her best friend to ask sorry, Parami didn’t even respond to her. It was the first time her call went unanswered by her. The pain was spurious and mangled her soul like these two were separated lovers after their intense relationship. Yeah, they really had strong friendship than the usual one. Parami knew well about it. But Nisha didn’t expect the silly fight in the reception would bring this sturdy situation from where it was inescapable for either of them.

He turned to look at her now as if he had forgiven her mistakes and leveled his head as prepared to say this, “Yes, I am. Nisha, I don’t want to hide anything. You guessed right. We both didn’t make love as everyone expected. She didn’t even try to speak with me. All right, I think she hates me and didn’t even like to show her face to me,” he said in a slightly heavy voice. You could sense the last night clamor hadn’t evaporated from his soul yet. He didn’t want to tell anyone that he had even prepared how to talk with Parami at the first night, like he was preparing for an interview. No, it wasn’t told to laugh at him. It shows how eagerly he had waited to speak with her. But his dreams were sucked in the end like his feet stuck on the mire.

“I am sorry, that must be hurting you. I don’t know why she was behaving like this. I know she is sensitive but never thought this way,” she said, obsessed with worrying thoughts as what happened to her friend. Her fingers shivered as if she had done a big offense. She ran her long fingers hastily over her face and reminisced about the last night debacle. She still didn’t have any idea why Parami was behaving rudely with him. Is giving a handshake and speaking with her husband was a crime in her point of view? No, way. She wasn’t such a brute woman. Then what was the problem? Why she didn’t even pick up my call? There must be some big problem. She must be trying to hide from everyone, including her newly wedded husband. Niru’s mind whirled and spun tirelessly as she thought about the true reason why Parami distanced herself from the last night.

“It’s okay, I am leaving now. I will you see you again,” Jitesh said to her.

“Uh, why don’t you come to my house and have a cup of coffee. I am sure you haven’t had coffee yet,” Nisha said. She rightly guessed.

“No, I should go back. I didn’t even inform my wife that I came to the park. Her mother too will be waiting for me,” he said. His voice was very mild just like the wind. Also, he didn’t feel like going to her home in the early morning and disturb her parents who may enquire a lot about his marriage. But he didn’t have guts to say it uprightly with her. He hesitated before he said.

“That’s fine. I can take care of her. You know one thing; her mother and my mother are thick friends as how we are. I mean Parami and myself. Actually, my mother and her mother worked in the corporation bank for five years before her mother switched to Federal bank. Our two families are always excited to meet at weekends. Oh God, I don’t know why I am telling all these things to you. You know, sometimes I even forget what I am talking and irrespective of the situation I will start chattering continuously. That’s my weak point,” Nisha said in a stormy voice and a strong womanly gesture danced on her face which was splendid to look at. The way she blushed and tipped her head to other side was a beautiful way of expressing the feminism. She must be scoring thousand marks for this.

There was a sudden drop of heaviness from his heart which felt light and hassle-free now. He even felt like going to her home to meet her parents. But he wondered why he didn’t see her mother in the wedding reception. He thought he would have missed to notice her in the big crowd. This question least bothered him now anyway.

“Okay, will go,” he said.

“Wow, that’s great. Come on then, we shall proceed. But you must be following me like a pug, okay?” she said and laughed at her own joke, still Jitesh grinned not to hurt her.

“Yea, sure.”

They both walked down on the track and exited the park as she pushed the revolving gate. The edge of her pink T-shirt caught at the gate as her white stomach revealed. But Jitesh averted his head immediately.

“Oops,” she said and smoothened her T-shirt. “I had informed at least hundred times that the space to enter and exit from the park is very narrow and it should be widened. But these corporation people never take a call to solve it. If one can’t show interest to solve a small problem how can we trust them for solving bigger problems? No, the trust will be lost, isn’t?” there was irritation shown on her lips which twisted slightly and her long nose puckered. But still the smooth ambience wasn’t left from her face at all. She looked tenderly beautiful at every expression. If you have a camera, you would like to take a photo all the time. She was a godly exception from others. She had something in her heart, which glittered and exposed her glory to the world.

“Oh, oh. I think you can’t live a peaceful life, if you are upset by the small facts,” Jitesh said. He was rightly tempted to say this. It was fine to offer an advice seldom to girl, he thought.

Her hands on her hips now, staring at him with puffed eyes. He anticipated thunder would pass in front of him. But eventually her anger slackened and she threw a soft face and said, “I didn’t expect this from you, Jitesh.”

“Forgive me, it’s my mistake not to raise my voice against some corrupt people,” he said, not quivering though.

“That’s my boy,” she said and twinkled her eyes. “Now follow me.”

The sun rose steadily and the rays sharpened at every minute. Her black eyes blinded when she tossed her head to look at the glowing sun at the east. If she had continued jogging, her T-shirt would have drenched in the sweat, and she might have wielded her kerchief to rescue her face from pouring sweat. But today she didn’t have to take such arduous task. They walked down slowly on the grassland and connected to the side road before they took a right turn after hundred meters. It was a decent residential area and you could see a lot of apartments sprung on either side.

“Still how long should we go?” he asked.

“Don’t worry. We have almost reached my house. Just three blocks away from here,” she said, smiling gigantically.

A moment Jitesh was shocked when he had thought that he should have married Nisha instead. But he didn’t want to entertain this thought longer. He was aghast himself. He couldn’t resist his eyes from looking at her wonderful eyes, the ecstatic face, the lavish bosom and her sprightly legs. Each stride of hers made his heart skip a beat. What’s happening with me? I am behaving insanely now? he asked himself as he followed her.

“There it is. My home has come,” she announced suddenly as turned her heel to see his face.

“That orange color house?” he asked with heavy doubtful eyes.

“Nooooo, that is one of my uncle’s house. The next to that green color double floor house is ours,” she said, as stomped her left foot on the ground in disappointment. She wasn’t happy visibly, and you could read the disappointment in her face. But she was all right after a few seconds and asked him to come.

“Can you forgive me for the offense I have committed?” he asked as dug her eyes with his. There was a little provoking smile leapt out of his upper lip, but it couldn’t be deciphered.

She gave a thoughtful look at him and yanked his hands like a kid, “Come, let’s go in,” she said and they both entered into the house.

“Nisha, why did you come late?” her mother was standing in the hall, tossed a rough face. She didn’t see Jitesh yet. He had removed his slippers and put it on the shoe rack.

“Mom, I got a new friend with me. That’s why,” Nisha said to her mom, who thought it was her girlfriend but on seeing Jitesh’s face her expression took a wild form. She flicked her eyes left and right as if something amiss happened now. She needed an answer from her daughter immediately to resuscitate again.

“Who is that?” Nisha’s mother directly wielded the axing question.

“Mommmmm,” Nisha said and held her hands on her hips, “Is this how you greet the new visitors to our house?” There was a sheer contempt brewed on her eyes when she faced her mother sternly and threw this question at her. But her mother had enough resistance to thwart this question straightway.

“What’s wrong with it? How should I ask then? You tell me,” her mother said.

Jitesh was still standing behind the main door, and it would take at least ten minutes for him to unearth the embarrassment. All he wished was that he can get away from here as soon as possible so that he can go and take a look of his newly wedded wife. He still had a great confidence that she would accept him today and pour some love on him.

“It’s fine, aunty,” Jitesh said.

“See, he understood me immediately. But you are my daughter and living with me for more than twenty years and still struggling to understand me, huh?” her mother frowned a bit. She wasn’t criticizing harshly, but her body shake had meant it.

Nisha threw her head up and blew some air and said, “Okay, are you going to ask him to sit down or keep talking with him like this,” she pointed her long hand at him.

“I am sorry, my son,” her mother said, immediately realized she had done a mistake. She hastened to make amendments now.

“It’s all right. I am getting late, I will come another day and spend some time with you all,” he said. He hastened to get out of here since he thought her mother wasn’t impressed with him. Worst, he even thought that she was going to beat him for coming with her daughter.

“Nooo, you can’t step out of here without drinking a cup of coffee. Do you think I am mad and won’t treat you well,” her mother said as pressed her lips firmly, “if you have such thoughts I will kill you, mind it?”

He swallowed a mango size lump down his throat as his eyes rolled in. A gust of fear was trodden down his spine on hearing her audacious statement. He looked at Nisha to save him from this interminable situation.

But Nisha simply threw a smile and said, “Hey Jitesh, don’t worry. She is just like that only. She always wants to mock at my friends, especially at boyfriends. But she is my lovely mother,” she said and came to hug her mother. She also kissed on her forehead for the token of love she had shared with her mother. Jitesh loved this moment, it was a delicious and crispy gesture of love. His heart ached to say such lovely things to his mother, who had taught so many life lessons to him.

“Have you scarred of me?” her mother asked, there was a big smile enveloped her eyes. Her skin was as soft as her daughter’s but she had round face instead of square one. She was little fatter but still she looked younger to her old age. If you would have seen her for the first time, you would have guessed she was Nisha’s elder sister.

“Not really, I didn’t. But if you would have continued talking that way, I might have retreated from here for sure in fear. Thank God, it didn’t go that way,” he said and looked above to thank God.

There was a giggle from Nisha, followed by heavy laughing from her mother. Nisha looked at her mother for a long time until she had stopped laughing. Nisha’s eyes crinkled a bit. But she didn’t show her face to her mother. She knew how many months since her mother had laughed like that. She can’t remember, maybe she had forgotten to recover her blossoming face.

“Have a seat, I will come back immediately,” her mother said to Jitesh and rushed to the kitchen.

Jitesh sat on the three-seater leather sofa and looked around the place. Nisha had gone to the bathroom to wash her face because she felt the salt on her lips after jogging down the park. Jitesh thought of looking at the remaining rooms in the house. He was impressed by the delicate pictures hung on the wall and it looked like Nisha parents’ marriage photos. He stood from the sofa and walked down slowly to look at the pictures one by one. It was darker and had black shades but still kept intact. The first picture gave him frantic shivers to his arms and legs because the groom was sitting on a wheel chair and standing next to Nisha’s mother. Yes, she got married to a man who was paralyzed and she was proud of it. In fact, they both did love marriage. How such a beautiful woman had accepted to marry him? She must be so generous person to do such a lofty act. He wasn’t against her decision but he wondered how she had agreed to live with him. In this electronic world, are people there to even think about the paralyzed victims and come forward to share life with them? How noble she must be to take such a tough decision to extend her hand for him. How many challenges she would have faced from every corner for taking a decision to marry him and to live with him? his brain fuzzed with questions.

Nisha came out from the bathroom and looked at him stupefied, “What’s happening? I know you have so many questions to ask me, am I right?” she gently toweled her soft face as the pearls of water disappeared.

He shook his head slowly, “I wanted to ask your mother.”

“That’s all right,” she flashed a beautiful smile as said.

Her mother had come up with hot coffee in a mug, the steam slowly went upward. She had seen a drop of tear stood on Jitesh’s eyes. But she didn’t try hard to see it.

“Any problem?” she quizzed softly.

“No, nothing. I am good,” he said.

“No mom, he is lying. He had seen your marriage photo,” Nisha said.

“Ohhh, that’s what your problem, eh?” her mother slightly teased him. There wasn’t slightest change in her appearance, and her face didn’t whither to talk about her marriage.

Jitesh nodded with blank eyes, but his eyes were keen to hear.

“You wonder why I had married him?” she gave a twist to her pupils and continued, “that’s what the magic of love. I had fallen in love without even knowing what’s happening inside me. Yeah, we studied in the same college, both have done MSc psychology. He was a meritorious student and has done PhD too. I know what you are thinking,” she said and gave a strong look at him and continued, “you think that I have been living with him because he was a topper in the studies. If you have such thought then it’s my duty to tell the truth that I and he were friends from the schooling. But we never thought would be living together in our life. Everything has happened just like a dream, a passing cloud in the sky. I must say this now. Even if I had married other man, it is still doubtful he would have taken care of me like he did. I have thoroughly enjoyed my life with him. Yeah, initially my parents protested but after that they are jealous about our intimate relationship. It’s been twenty-five years since we got married, but it went like a holiday trip to the US,” she chuckled as her daughter and Jitesh gave silent nods. Nisha too remembered about her past life. How her father would toss a ball from the wheel chair and she used to knock the ball with the bat in her hand. She used to sulk for missing most of the balls and put a whimpering face in front of her father saying he was tossing the balls speedily and she wasn’t able to get the timing right to hit the ball hard. Her father would return a warm smile and slow down the pace and make sure she won’t miss the ball this time. That was funny memories. She enjoyed her time with her father as her mother did. Her father was such a lovely person to hang on with.

Jitesh’s heart fluttered to see such a great person now.

“Shall I meet him? I hope he is inside the bed room,” he said. You could see the storming expression blasted across his face to meet her father.

Nisha’s mother’s head dropped down suddenly as if someone had embarrassed her. Jitesh turned his head to meet Nisha and questioning why her mother was silent now. He was shocked if he had asked some detestable question at her.

A frightening feeling caught his breath as he narrowed his face to look at her mother, who lifted her head slowly and said, “He is no more. He is dead. He died three days back when the drunkard lorry driver hit him from the front while he tried to cross the signal,” she can’t help from the tears falling down copiously. Worst, she had seen this tragedy from a couple of feet and her heart blasted as if balloon was pricked by a hook. If only she hadn’t diverted her attention to look at the small boy and helped her husband to cross the road safely, this tragedy would have easily avoided. Or if her husband had asked her to stay behind him while crossing, he would have long lived. She believed her husband would be safe and can do this task single handedly, it wasn’t something new that he hadn’t crossed the traffic signals earlier. He had done it so many times without taking her help. But in the end, the drunkard had decided whether he should live or not. He was the Yama who rode in the lorry and took his life. The wheel chair on which her husband sat was tossed about fifty feet and came down with an impending collapse. The blood gushed out of his mouth, his hands and legs were cracked and bled profusely, and it wasn’t the sight she had to behold. But she did, her heart frozen suddenly and her breath staggered. All she did was to stare at him with pale eyes as if some stranger was wounded, her eyes refused to cry and she couldn’t believe it was her husband. When she had seen people rushed to the spot and grieved for his death, she screamed out there relentlessly, at least for fifteen minutes. Her screams must have reached the God’s ears for giving such a terrible gift to her. What she was going to do in her remaining life without him? No, it was impossible to even think of. From the age of nine, she had never lost the sight of him, but today? He is no more. Oh God, what sin I have done to undergo such inimical phase of life. No, I can’t. No, I can’t, she thought as shook her head wildly and walked down to see the mangled face of her husband. Her body shivered wholly, each and every cell refused to even take a look of his deformed body. When she neared him, a whooping pain knocked her heart down, she stumbled even to see him. She didn’t have the courage to see him lying on the road motionless. She thought he would call her sweetheart again on seeing her face. She carried this expectation in her heart. But he hadn’t addressed her. He didn’t even know if she stood nearby him. This was the peak of mental turbulence she had faced in her life. She wished to die along with him.

“Jitesh, my father is no more. He died in an accident,” Nisha said in a low voice.

Jitesh thought she was joking, but when he had seen her eyes moistened he knew it was truth. He didn’t know what to say now. His tongue was tied and he lost words, maybe his memory was fading. How I am going to console this family? Am I the right person to do this for them? he thought as shook his head. He looked at the photo again, the person in the wheelchair was smiling at him innocently. His eyes couldn’t stare this photo now, because it trembled and jolted. He swallowed a thick lump down his throat and praying this moment wasn’t real. But he can’t do anything about it. Now he understood what the real pain would look like while he had seen Nisha’s mother. He understood why she had tossed an unwelcomed face when he entered into the house, and he knew it would take many days to heal the wounds deep in her heart. It may even take months to heal completely, sometimes it mayn’t happen.

“No, we don’t want to give our sufferings to you. You are a newly wedded person, so you should enjoy your life, okay?” her mother said, as wiped her tears hurriedly and smiled at the same time. You knew the smile was artificial like the sugar coating, but she had to do something to make this moment brighter and she had to fight back the gloomy feelings sneaked inside her. She can do it now, because it was her duty to make the young lad smile.

“No aunty, there is nothing wrong with you. I think I should have come after a few weeks. You would have been in a better position to welcome guests like me,” Jitesh said generously. He didn’t have much to say than this. But Nish’s mother hated to hear such pale words from him.

“You can’t easily escape just like that,” Nisha’s mother said in a mocking way.

Nisha smiled imperceptibly and said to her mother, “Mom, do you know one thing? He is the husband of Parami.”

“Is it? You married Parami? Oh God, how sweet it is. She is such a lovely girl and you are so lucky to get married her,” her mother said vibrantly. There was thousand watts power shown in her eyes. Her face was suddenly brightened as if she had come out of the grievance effortlessly.

His head came low before he looked at her again and said, “Yes.”

“She is like my second daughter. I am seeing her coming to this house from the time she wore a frock. Though my daughter and she were close friends, she loved to hang on with my husband, who had never disappointed her to entertain. He used to buy whatever she asks him. In fact, he loved this girl more than my daughter Nisha,” her mother gave her a warm look.

Jitsh was stunned and speechless. The truth was slowly dawned on him. His lips twitched to ask question, but his brain stopped from functioning a couple of seconds.

He then nodded and asked, “Does Parami know about his death?”

Nisha’s mother took a deep breath and said, “Yes. But she knew about it only after her marriage. I should have asked her sorry for hiding this truth from her. I don’t want to ruin her marriage because of my husband’s sudden demise. She definitely wouldn’t have sat on the marriage stage if she had known that he was no more. That’s why I told Nisha not to tell her anything about it. She denied initially but later accepted only because she knew the value of this marriage life. She knew how sensitive Parami was. That’s why she also stood by me on this matter. But you know, I couldn’t hold on this matter for a long period of time, the truth must be conveyed otherwise she won’t forgive us for what we did. Yes, post the wedding reception I had called Parami and told what had happened. She didn’t speak for a while. I know how disappointed she must be. I thought she had broken her mobile by hitting it on the floor. But she spoke after a long pause and said ‘aunty you never speak to me again’ and cut the call immediately. I didn’t dare to call her again because I knew she won’t take my call. She is such an emotional person and very sensitive when it comes to relationship and friends.”

Jitesh didn’t need more explanation. He could imagine exactly what had happened at the first night. He now knew what made her feel so blighted and she even refused to speak with him. His initial perception about her was proved wrong. First time he understood how girls were unable to react to the situations because they had been wed locked. You can’t weigh the situation with your eyes all the time, the equations would be changed. Jitesh realized it now. He wanted to see his wife immediately and talk about it. He wanted to tell her that he can able to bear anything in the name of Parami. Yes, the statement maybe weird, but his love on his wife was dripping even from his pores. There was astounding joy sprinkled on his face, you could see it upfront. The worries and tormenting disruptions didn’t stay with him anymore, and he was like a bird, got wings to fly with soaring new aspirations. He knew his life was going to blossom from here on. The struggles he had in his life was about to show a way to lead a wonderful life. A storm of confidence lurked behind his soul. It was like he found a billion-dollar treasure somewhere suddenly. But that doesn’t mean he didn’t grieve about Nisha’s fathers lose. In fact, he was deeply disappointed to hear such bad news, but he knew that he had to move forward and didn’t have to live with the same sad thoughts again and again. It was the time to prod his wife and give her confidence that he was along with her all the time to take care of her. Yes, she needed such blissful words from this guy. If he constantly worries about his demise, who was going to take care of his wife? His toes were shifting up and down to go to his house and meet Parami and talk with her the whole day. He wanted to understand her better. He wanted to tell her that he loves her so much and can do anything to ensure her happiness. Oh God, can you pass this info to her? I would be indebted to you forever if you can do this and make her to believe me. That’s what he needed.

“Thanks aunty for telling this now. The foggy thoughts about my wife are disappearing as you rose like a sun in my life. Thank you,” he said, tears licked his cheeks now. But he had least bothered about it. He had to hurry up now and hug his wife tightly. Nisha just gave a warm smile to him, and she understood the reason why he was so excited. There was no force stronger than the love force, she thought.

Jitesh waved bye to them immediately as ran back to his house to cuddle his wife.