When Time Stood Still

I checked my dress in the full-length mirror once again.

The grey coloured suit along with contrasting striped tie looked good but crumpled. I had just removed the suit from the cupboard. Why is this crumpled? Maybe I should have given it for pressing once again, I muttered to myself.

I brushed little grey hair that was creeping through, adjusted my tie and smiled.

Why not? After all these years of being in love, I am about to propose to my Shalini today. 

Engagement, my mother insisted, just a formality and need to quickly look for a suitable date for the marriage as well, I thought.

I took out the small box I had kept safely in the cupboard drawer and opened it. The gold ring with a small diamond held by an intricate designed flowers with Shalini’s name inscribed inside looked, surprisingly, a bit dull but was fabulous. I removed my white handkerchief and cleaned the ring and put it back inside the box.

My heart was pounding; finally, the time has come. 

Should I kneel down and proclaim and give the ring immediately or should I wait for her to settle down, have a cup of hot coffee and then perhaps, chose the right time? I pondered.

I have waited, God know, for a long a time. There is no meaning in waiting any longer. I decided that I would deliberately reach the hotel a little late, make sure that Shalini is sitting there (may be in anger?) and then dramatically enter and propose straight away.

My heartbeat increased several notches from the thought itself.

I did not wear any perfume. Shalini hated perfume. 

I did a last-minute check and left the house, looked for my car. Car was not to be seen. What happened to my car? I wondered. Oh my god, I forgot to bring it from 

service yesterday. I cursed my absent mindedness. 

The clock showed 11 am on my old watch.

I went below and looked at my car parked in the basement. It was shabby as if it has not been washed for years!

But I remembered to have got it washed just two days ago? The neighboring building has been doing constructions work and obviously, 

my car has become the victim of getting dirty. I pondered my next move and decided to book a taxi.

I got down in front of the quiet coffee shop where I always met Shalini. 

The shop has been re-done with new colour combination to match the valentine day celebrations!!

I went inside and looked at the seat right side corner where I expected Shalini to be sitting; fuming no doubt with anger as I was late not just by 10 minutes but a whole 25 as I waited for the taxi to arrive.

She was sitting, her back to me. I could recognize her from any angle. Her long curly hair fell lazily on her slender shoulders.

She was wearing my favorite blue designer saree.

My eyes suddenly fell on the person sitting in front of her. Why is that man sitting in front of her as if there are other tables are available?

She was talking animatedly with the person sitting in front of her; probably telling him that we have booked the seat.

I went and stood and smiled.

Shalini stood up and the mobile fell from her hand.

Her large black eyes became even larger, and she almost fell to the ground.

I tried to grab her but the man sitting in front of her got up and held her and made her sit and spoke, with all the concern in the world, in his voice.

“Shalini? What happened darling?” He looked at me. “Sorry, I think you startled her. We have booked this table!”

I just stood there breathing heavily even as the words reverberated; darling? Who the hell is this man?

“Raj? You? Where have you come from?” Shalini, her voice trembling spoke looking at me.

“What are you talking Shalu? What did you say? Where have I come from? What do you mean? And who the hell is this guy?” My body shaking, I blurted in a loud voice and people sitting around looked at us.

“Shalini? Do you know this guy?” Asked the stranger sitting in front of Shalini.

My blood boiled; without realizing what I was doing, I grabbed the collar of that stranger and pulled him towards me. He fell down heavily.

Salini shrieked loudly and pulled him away from me hugged him and helped the guy to sit.

I just stood there shocked; my Shalu hugging a total stranger? That too in front of me?

I moved menacingly towards that stranger, God know what was happening to me and found Shalini standing between us glaring at me.

“Raj? What do you think you are doing? Why are you trying to hurt my husband? For God’s sake, Raj, please behave properly.”

Husband? I did not believe my own ears. Did she say husband?

What’s happening here? Just yesterday she spoke with so much love and affection and said that she is eager to get engaged to me and was desperate to see the diamond ring?

I griped both her hands and shouted.

“Is this man your husband? What the hell you are talking Shalu? Then.” I removed one hand, held the box containing the diamond ring and shook it in front of her eyes before continuing. “What is this? You were so desperate when you spoke yesterday about wearing this ring and getting engaged to me at the earliest? How can you get married to this man in one day? Is this a joke?”

Shalini started crying, softly first and loudly even as the stranger, whom she called her husband, came and held her protectively and spoke.

“Look, Raj or whatever your name is. I got married to Shalini last year exactly on this valentine day. We came here to celebrate our first wedding anniversary. You are either mad or outright rude. May be, you have confused my Shalini with someone else. Please leave us.” He pushed me away and wiped the tears from my Shalu’s face.

First marriage anniversary? What am I hearing?

My eyes were clouded with tears and my voice shaking, I once again pulled the man away from Shalu and held her hands and spoke; hardly recognizing my own voice.

“Shalu? When did you get married to this man? What the hell is he talking? Please tell him that he is mistaken. Please Shalu, tell me all this is just a drama……. “

She pulled my hands away wiped her tears, looked at me and spoke.

“Raj, you are not well. Please, leave us and go back. You need rest. I will meet you some other time and explain but not today. Today is very special for us. It is first anniversary like Vimal, my husband told you already. Please go away, Raj.”

My mind went blank even as the words she spoke sank and I fell down.

When I woke up, I was lying down on the makeshift bed created from cushions of chairs. Almost all the customers who had come to enjoy the evening, were standing and staring at me as if to say why the hell you are spoiling our time?

I tried to get up but couldn’t. I must have hurt my head at the back as there was a plaster put on my head and when I touched it, could feel the blood.

I was searching for my Shalu.

Amongst the faces staring at me, there was no face matching Shalu.

Finally, a man came close to me and said, “Why don’t you give me your address. I will call a cab and you can go home and rest. All of us deserve to enjoy the evening and we have paid the money thorough our nose to be here.”

I had no option but to agree; I nodded my head.

Sitting in the cab – two persons held on either side while I walked, slowly – I reflected on what happened.

Is Shalu really married? How can things happen so fast?

I looked at the driver and decided to find out what was bothering me all along.

“Driver, could you please tell me today’s date?

Driver looked back and guffawed.

“Sir, is this a joke? I picked you up from the hotel fully decorated with balloons, flowers and even light in the shape of heart, but you still ask me. Anyway, it is February 14.”

“No, you are mistaken. I know it is valentine day today. What I asked you is, what year are we in?”

Now the driver turned towards me with a very serious face.

“Are you ill or something? Oh, you have bandage on head! Maybe you are hurt. Anyway, the year is 2023.”

His words, hit me like a bullet.

2023?

How is this even possible? It was yesterday that we spoke – me and Shalu – to meet here today?

I just looked outside the window without actually looking.

Drops of water started falling from my eyes slowly.

The taxi stopped in front of a house and an old lady came out running towards cab.

“Raj? Where did you go? Doctors have advised you not to venture out alone.”

I looked at the old lady, on the verge of crying and suddenly remembered the face.

It was my mother.

“Mom. What happened to me? Why was I kept away from my Shalu? Do you know she is already married?”

My mother with the help of taxi driver took me inside and made me lie on the bed. She sat next to me on the ground, held my hand and wiping my tears spoke in a soft voice. “Raj, you met with an accident when you went out to meet Shalini and lost your memory. You were in hospital till yesterday. 

You were in hospital till yesterday. 

The accident happened three years ago on the valentine day.”