Till The Next Storm

Till the next storm

It was getting late enough to be worried. I once again stepped into the balcony and looked down. Except for a drenched street dog that was lying down miserably near the gate, there was not a soul to be seen anywhere. Rain water had puddled under the lamp post. A breeze ruffled the mango tree in the courtyard and a few twigs fell down and broke. Thunder rumbled in the distance. Did I hear a soft knock at the door? I turned back with hurried steps and opened the door. Nothing! I stepped out and again looked, nothing! It must be my imagination playing games. With an inward sigh I walked back to the balcony, pulled up a chair and sat down.

How things can come to such a pass in such a short time. It was only three years back that we have met. We still celebrate our meeting anniversary! A wistful smile spread across my face when I remembered that glorious February late afternoon in Lucknow. The winter chill has gone but its remnants were still reluctant to leave this glorious erstwhile city of Nawabs. A balmy sunshine was spread across providing that warmth which makes you feel that nothing is wrong with the world. At twenty three what can go wrong with the world anyways.

I was slowly strolling along the sidewalk of elegant Hazratgunj market looking for a rickshaw when I saw one and called out for it. Almost simultaneously I heard another voice coming from behind for the same rickshaw. I turned and momentarily got transfixed to behold the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. Side locks swaying over her oval fair face, cheeks flushed with that slight red warmth, kajal outlining the almond shaped eyes, lips with that colour which no red lipstick can do justice to, and it was Kavya. She stepped hurriedly past me and said to the rickshaw wallah “Mall Avenue”. The voice broke my spell and brought me back to reality.

“But listen, I had hailed him first”, I said.

“Certainly not”, she protested “I had called out first”.

“Well see” I said, “I had been waiting for quite some time and fact remains that I had hailed him first”.

A look of annoyance came over her face and she started to react angrily but thought better of it.

“OK” she snapped “You carry on, I will take another”.

Suddenly a thought struck me and I hesitatingly ventured.

 “See I have to go to Vidhan Sabha and I heard you saying Mall Avenue. Why don’t we share”?

She looked at me for a moment and to my utmost joy agreed. That half hour rickshaw ride with Kavya was the most cherished moment of my entire life. We didn’t exchange any words and went our ways once it ended.

As luck, chance, destiny whatever would have it, I again bumped into Kavya in a marriage function one week after our rickshaw ride. We were both pleasantly surprised and started talking. One thing led to another and in couple of months we were inseparable. Lucknow is still a conservative city as compared to any metros. So it took us a lot of courage and planning to break the news to our families of our decision to marry.

The families came to conclusion that this match is made in heavens and we were engaged and got married in May the same year.

My train of thoughts broke with the sudden booming sound of thunder. I literally fell out of the chair. It started to drizzle. The dog scurried to take cover under the mango tree. My eyes never left the road leading to our house but nothing stirred into the view. I dialed the number again with the same result-switched off!!

With a thud a flopped down on the chair and resting my chin in the cusp of my hand again drifted back into time. Those were the times when it seemed that we never stopped smiling, giggling or laughing. We needed nothing to be happy, just the two of us spending time together was enough. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months and there it was we were celebrating our first marriage anniversary!  But somehow things were not the same. We had started arguing and with time ,the pitch and decibels of these arguments were increasing.

Kavya is an extrovert, a ferocious social animal. In contrast I am an introvert, doing my best to me by myself all the times and always trying different ways and means to avoid social interaction. Me, my books, my Discovery and National Geographic channel is all that I need in my spare time. Kavya is exact opposite. She has to be talking to someone or going out shopping with friends or inviting one all or accepting party invitations on the go.

After the initial euphoria had evaporated we both started to take each other for granted. Both wanted the other to see his or her viewpoint and adjust accordingly. Initially the arguments used to be short and we made up. But slowly and surely they started to become lengthy. Though we still made up for sure. To add to this my career was on an upswing and resultant work load was not letting me spend quality time with her. On the other hand when I needed her she was usually found shopping or in a kitty party. Both of us justified our own actions and found fault in others.

Things came to head one evening when I returned home a little early without having her informed.

“Oh, wow you are early today” she exclaimed seeing me on the door.

 I entered and found Kavya with her friend noisily engaged in playing cards.

“Hi Ravi!” greetings rang out from her friend which I responded to mechanically and entered the bedroom. It was a chaos and mayhem there too.  Music was playing loud and kids dancing all around.

“Please honey, you can surely get coffee for yourself today. I can’t leave this hand in the middle you know!" Kavya chortled from the drawing room. It was my fault that I hadn’t informed her of my coming home early. But how can I accept that. She was to blame for all the mess and chaos all around in the house. I seethed in anger the whole time till the card party went on.

The moment the last of her friends were out of the main door I exploded. All hell broke loose. The fighting went on and on, till well past into the night. We didn’t spoke to each other for two whole days. Then as it usually happens, there was a thaw and things limped back to normal.

Today was Sunday and after lunch we had a flaming row again. Kavya wanted to visit one of her aunts who was asking her to visit for more than a month. But I just wanted to sit in the balcony with hot cup of coffee, snacks and a book. This was bliss for me. It was anathema for Kavya!! We argued well into the evening when suddenly I shouted back to one of her pointed barbs “if that is the case you can very well go permanently to your aunt and stay there!!” Silence, pregnant silent! Kavya stared me with her flaming eyes and didn’t speak for a moment.

“O.K.” She turned in a whirl put on her slippers and thundered down the stairs in one swift movement. I had turned my back to her in a fit of fury!!

It was now full four hours she was gone. Her phone was switched off! I was now cursing myself with the choicest of the expletives of having landed us into this situation. I couldn’t take into confidence any of our friends or family. What will I tell them? All kind of doubts were swirling in my head. Surely Kavya is not a fool. She is not going to do anything foolish. I was comforting myself with such thoughts, but with the hours slipping by my anxiety was increasing proportionately.

The drizzle had turned into a heavy shower. I was now desperate and willing to start calling friends and family. Let them think whatever they want!! The rain's intensity increased.  Just then a pair of car headlights turned into the road leading to our house. I desperately wanted the approaching car to stop at the gate and not turn left. Yes it stopped and I after a while saw Kavya alighting!! Oh she is back!! My joy knew no bounds. I turned back and ran, opened the door and bounded down the stairs. She was there standing at the bottom.

“Settle the fare of the taxi” with that she hurried past me on to the stairs.

“OK, OK” I mumbled and ran back again.

About an hour later and lots of apologies from my side, we both sat down in the balcony. The heavy showers have now tapered into a drizzle and it looked like the storm has passed literally.

We looked into each other’s eyes and I said with a smile “till eternity let us not ever part” and she replied with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes “till the next fight we shall not ever part!”