Pooja'S Filmy Fiancé

“I think I am confused,” said Pooja.

“You are just nervous,” retorted Rama. “Don’t be a snob now.”

“I don’t even know if I am doing the right thing, Rama,” mumbled Pooja.

It was her wedding in ten days. All the preparations had been made. She had been happy but something was stopping her; stopping her from taking the big plunge.

Rama, her brother, was supportive, as always. “You just have to come out clean and speak the truth. It will not be easy. However, you will have to be brave and speak what you are going through.”

Pooja looked at her henna-pattered hands. The elaborate flowery design, with her fiancé’s name hidden amongst the artistry, shook her resolve once more. However, she just folded her wrist and went ahead and signed the form.

It was two days later that the offer letter arrived. All hell broke loose.

“Are you out of your mind?” screamed her father. “You are getting married in eight days, and this is what you have been up to?”

“Papa, this is a once-in-lifetime opportunity. Please understand. I need to give it a shot,” begged Pooja.

“I didn’t know you wanted to try film-making!” cried her mother. “Beta, you have done so well academically. You are working at a software company. Abhishek is a god boy. Why do you want to complicate things further?”

“I am not calling off the wedding, Mummy. I just want to go study direction at Pune,” reasoned Pooja.

“Papa, I think she could give it a shot. I mean, she is 25! She can do wonders there,” said Rama.

“Girls in our family don’t get into such professions,” shouted Mr. Natarajan. “We study, we get jobs, and we get married. Everything has to happen at the correct time.”

The last part was absolutely true. Mr. Natarajan was a pious believer of family customs and traditions. He had topped the state in his secondary and higher secondary examinations, was an Engineer with the State Electricity Board, and had married the girl of his parents’ choice at 27. Two years down the line, Mrs. Natarajan brought Rama into the world, followed by Pooja three years later.

“Your mother didn’t work, did she?” asked Mr. Natarajan. “However, we have kept pace with time. Have we ever differentiated between you and Rama? You both are engineers; you both are working in MNCs. You are even marrying a Gujarati. We are having a cross-wedding and reception party. Now, all of a sudden, you drop this bomb.”

Pooja felt guilty. It was true. Her parents had given her every freedom. She had always done things her way and her parents had approved. They had never had arguments and she had always been confident of her decisions. This time around, she herself was terribly confused. She wasn’t finding the conviction to convince her parents. Something was amiss. May be, her decision was wrong.

What would Abhishek say? They had been dreaming of this for years now. Now, just before the wedding, she had decided to go study film-making. The course was of three years duration. Would Abhishek think that she was being selfish? Was she really being selfish?

“I think I am taking my freedom, for granted. I told you, they wouldn’t agree,” mumbled Pooja, after dinner that night.

“That is where you are going wrong. You haven’t been given your freedom. It is your right, Pooja. Why should you be apologetic for what you want to do?”

Pooja didn’t know why she wanted to study film-making. She was doing well in her software job.  Film-making was something completely new and very risky to pursue. However, when she spent hours studying film-making online, she felt a burning curiosity. She wanted to test her creativity and explore this arena. But it all didn’t make sense, if she put it in perspective. She had still sat for the examination, fully convinced that she wouldn’t be able to crack it. However, she did and signed the acceptance form on Rama’s insistence.

Her parents were not speaking to her. She didn’t want to push this further. 

“Would you do the same, had I applied to film school?” asked an irritable Rama.

“Yes, we would,” said Mr. Natarajan. “We have not differentiated between you and your sister. Had you wanted to quit your well-paying job, a week before your wedding, we would oppose. Some things are not worth it. Your sister has to understand that.”

Pooja had paid the first instalment. She couldn’t get the refund before the session commencement. However, she would not push this further, and forget about it.

“Why don’t you just talk to Abhishek once?” said Rama exasperatedly.

“Let it go, brother,” smiled Pooja. “I am getting married. Let us just focus on it.”

Her parents were happy with her decision. Abhishek need not even know. Things were all okay.

“Hello, love. I am here. Just landed,” called Abhishek.

“I cannot wait to see you! It is 6 hours to our pre-wedding party,” squealed Pooja.

“I love you. It is finally happening. Nothing should stand in between our happiness now, darling,” said Abhishek.

Pooja could hear the happiness in his voice. Thank god, she had dropped the idea of film school!

When she saw both the families so happy that evening, she was elated. A little compromise never hurt anyone. And Abhishek looked so amazing! Her heart was fluttering like a humming bird.

It was impossible to sneak out alone, but Abhishek did manage to take her into an empty room. She was just about to kiss him, when he showed her the film- school acceptance letter.

“You did not tell me about this, Pooja,” he said quietly.

“Abhishek, I am sorry. I just applied on a whim. It doesn’t even matter. I am not going for the course,” said Pooja frantically.

“Why aren’t you?” smiled Abhishek. 

Pooja was stumbled. “Wh...What?” she stuttered.

Abhishek was beaming now. “Rama and I are close friends, too. You should have known.”

Pooja was embarrassed. “Hey, I am sorry. You know, Rama is. He is always, always...”

Abhishek’s lips crushed against hers. “You don’t need to say anything. I am so proud of you.”

Pooja was still confused. “What are you talking about, Abhishek?”

“I am saying that I should thank the great Rama, for intimating this wonderful news to me. You were playing the sacrificial role very well. But I want you to go right out there, and finish your course,” laughed Abhishek.

“I had not expected this, Abhishek,” mumbled Pooja. “Are you serious?” It was all so unexpected.

Abhishek took her hands and kissed them softly. “Darling, I love you. I have loved you for so many years. I want to see some amazing films that you will make someday. I couldn’t be prouder.”

Pooja’s eyes were glistening with tears already. “Babe, I will be away. You will be in Delhi and I will be at Pune.”

“We have Skype, Face Chat and WhatsApp. We can fly down, as often as we can. Just promise me something,” asked Abhishek.

Pooja hid her face in his chest. She was crying. Now, she would ruin his sherwani too.

“You won’t ever keep secrets from me,” he whispered. “Not one.”

“Now I know why I took to films. My fiancé is so filmy!” smiled Pooja.

As they went back downstairs, Pooja flashed a beaming smile to her brother. She held Abhishek’s hand firmly and went ahead to greet the guests.