Knotty Affairs Read online

  ‘But I know you well. You are sounding unusually confident and cheerful since morning. That would not have been the case if the parents had panned your idea. I bet something has happened in your favour. Go on, Aakash…tell me what has happened?’ Vishakha asked curiously.

  Aakash’s mind went to two days ago when both the families had met to discuss one of the strangest, yet most intriguing, proposals in the annals of Indian marriage traditions, ever.

  Chapter 15

  Two days ago…

  GUSHES OF A cool breeze blowing on the terrace of Poonam Heights where the Mehtas lived could do very little to soothe the turbulence that had gripped everyone’s mind. Ashwin Mehta and Bharat Doshi, both repeatedly exchanged unsure glances as if conveying the tension that hung in the air. Their wives, meanwhile, were whispering something into each other’s ears, inaudible to Aakash and Aneri. Aakash was pacing from one end of the terrace to the other, occasionally looking at the golf field below. Every now and then, he gazed at Aneri, who cut a particularly lonely figure. And yet, she was the only one completely and inexplicably at ease.

  Aakash’s dad broke the silence, ‘All this doesn’t make much sense to me. We have heard of girls going to their in-laws’ place after marriage and, in some case, an odd guy living at his wife’s place. We also know that, very often, a married couple stays alone, without either set of parents. But this…this new suggestion about both sets of parents staying with the married couple is just bizarre. It seems improper and against our customs!’

  Aneri replied, ‘Dad!’ By now, Aneri had started addressing Ashwin Mehta as ‘Dad’ and Kinnari as ‘Mummy’, as is usual in most Gujarati households when a marriage is fixed.

  She tried to reason with them, ‘How can this be termed as going against the prevailing traditions? We all follow customs and traditions that suit us! We may not follow some because we find them cumbersome. If Aakash loves you all so much that he can’t bear the thought of leaving you, why can’t I have similar sentiments about my parents?’

  Kinnari softly replied, ‘Because, Aneri, your whole point stands on a very fragile base. We would have understood had one of the parents been single and needed looking after, or if one of the families was financially unstable, or if a newborn kid with working parents demanded the attention of all the elders. But, in your case, all is well, and we are in a position to follow the tried-and-tested path!’

  Aneri had her eyes closed when she spoke further, ‘That is precisely why we would consider ourselves fortunate enough to be able to cherish the love of both our parents under one roof.’ She opened her eyes and looked straight at Aakash, who silently nodded to her as if to say that she was on the right path.

  After a moment, both Aakash and Aneri, with folded hands and pleading eyes, said together, ‘Please give us one chance. If it fails or creates unnecessary stress, we promise we won’t force you!’

  There was something in their eyes, something so compelling and naïve that made it difficult for their parents to react negatively in that instant. Ashwin Mehta said, ‘About the place…umm, you guys propose that we leave our current households for some time and go live in a completely different place, huh? Tell me, how exactly do you plan to go about it?’

  ‘Dad,’ answered Aakash, ‘we are already on the lookout for a fully furnished, ready-to-move-in apartment on rent. We will make sure that we select a locality that will suit all of us.’

  Ashwin looked at Bharat and said, ‘See, it seems everything has already been worked out by them. No matter what our opinion is, these kids will refute it! So what’s the point of this discussion?’

  Aakash was almost on the verge of surrendering, when Aneri stopped him. He let a few moments pass in silence and then retorted, ‘Dad, Bharat Uncle, I know this is not a casual decision which we expect you to readily agree to, but, please, have faith in us. If it works out, no one will be happier than An…’ he stopped himself before uttering Aneri’s name and immediately corrected himself, ‘…happier than both of us!’

  Aakash held Aneri’s hand in his and said to everyone, ‘Dad, Mummy, Uncle and Aunty, I admit that I cannot guarantee the success of this plan, but when I look into Aneri’s eyes, I see something in them which assures me that only good will come of it. Let’s keep it practical and simple. All we ask of you is a few months’ of your time to help us launch our new life after marriage. Unheard of, for sure! But impossible, no!’

  Ashwin paced around the room, looking at Aneri’s parents every now and then. After some time, he said to Aakash, ‘I want both you and Aneri to go downstairs right now. Kinjal is preparing dinner. Go see if she needs any help. We need to talk privately here.’

  The four parents sat down with their cups of tea and looked at one another.

  Finally, Ashwin broke the silence, ‘Aakash sometimes would tell us of the strangest conditions girls would put forth at match-making meets, but this proposal…it takes the cake!’

  ‘Ashwinbhai, I admit that I, too, find their idea very unusual, but if we think from their point of view, they are not totally crazy. I have heard of instances where newlyweds demand an independent property from their parents and prefer to stay away from them. At least, our kids don’t have that sort of mentality! Look at it this way: they are thinking about us!’

  Chhaya immediately interrupted him, ‘But that does not mean we allow them to go ahead with this crazy plan of theirs!’

  ‘But you know, Chhaya, how our Aneri is!’ said Bharat, adding, ‘Should something go wrong, she will, for the rest of her life, feel that it could have been prevented or worked out had we not stopped her. This generation has a hands-on, experiential attitude towards life. They don’t just accept things as they are passed down.’

  Kinnari intervened, ‘Aakash and Aneri have their hearts in the right place, but what they are trying to do will leave us all with mud on our faces. Aakash always believed that marriage is a meeting of two families and not just of two hearts. Who knew that he’d mean it so literally!’

  Suddenly Bharat declared, ‘I feel they should be given a chance.’

  ‘But, Bharatbhai,’ burst out Ashwin, ‘it’s impractical! They are talking about renting a flat. Who would lease them one without demanding a one-year deposit along with the agreement papers? If the entire thing turns out to be a damp squib, that amount would be impossible to recover. Plus, they very well know that shifting to a new place is no child’s play for us oldies.’

  Bharat replied matter-of-factly, ‘That is exactly my point! They have a noble plan to carry out, who are we to stop them? Why should we be the villains in their story? Let’s be non-committal. We will move only if everything falls into place. And we know just how impossible it is for that to happen!’

  Ashwin stroked his chin and replied, ‘But what if they do manage it somehow?’

  Chhaya said, ‘Well, the chances are rare. But if they do, then we will play along. After all, things go favourably for a reason!’

  Chapter 16

  Present Day, late October morning

  Bandra Bandstand, Mumbai

  ‘OBVIOUSLY, YOU DID not expect them to agree to it so readily, did you?’ Vishakha said in between sips of water from the bottle she carried. ‘You know, I agree with their hesitation. They can’t just overlook the fact that the society around them would look down upon such an arrangement. You should be thankful that they did not trash it outright. You both have been given a chance to give it a shot.’

  Aakash was still a bit mystified over their parents’ acceptance of the plan. It had, without a doubt, brought extreme joy to him and Aneri. But, it had also been made clear to them that they had to run the entire show themselves.

  ‘I know, Vishakha,’ Aakash said with emphasis. ‘Dad simply told us that they intend getting busy with the marriage preparations and we are free to plan the live-in arrangements on our own. Aneri and I smelled an easy victory when we agreed to go ahead, but we are realizing now what an uphill task it’s going to be. We have checked out
a couple of flats in Dadar and Ghatkopar, but the rents are exorbitant for a fully furnished flat.’Aakash looked exasperated and weary. The effort was clearly taking its toll. And yet, his determined and firm voice conveyed the fact that he was not one to give up easily.

  ‘When is the wedding?’ asked Vishakha eagerly.

  ‘Aneri’s parents are coming over tonight to finalize the dates. There is a high chance that we are looking at mid-December,’ Aakash tapped his fingers nervously on his lap and checked his mobile for any missed call or messages.

  She should have been here by now!

  ‘Aakash, you need to speed things up,’ said Vishakha.‘If you don’t find a house in the next few days, you’ll have no option but to drop the whole idea for now. You see, there will be plenty of other things which will need to be taken care of by December.’

  But Aakash’s attention was somewhere else. Although he could vaguely hear Vishakha inviting him and Aneri over for a weekend dinner, his eyes were fixed on the blank screen of his mobile in which he could now see the reflection of a familiar silhouette crossing the road from the opposite side. He turned his head with a jerk and craned his neck to look at the street.

  It was she!

  His heart skipped a beat. She looked the same. No, hold on! She has definitely put on some weight since the last time he saw her.

  He turned back and smiled at Vishakha.

  Kashish Banerjee silently walked towards the pavement, glancing sideways to avoid the speeding vehicles. She smiled and waved at Aakash from the other side of the road; Aakash waved back. He thought to himself, whatever else must have changed, she still has the same charming smile.

  Chapter 17

  MEETING AN EX-FLAME, and that too out of the blue, can play havoc with one’s emotions, and Aakash feared just that when Kashish replied to his email two days ago. They had promised each other to let the other know if one of them got engaged.

  As Aakash and Aneri had sat on the windy balcony that day, discussing the proposal with their parents, Aakash had suddenly been reminded of the time when he and Kashish had stood there and watched the distant golfers. It was a hazy memory now but one that refused to fade away. It had jogged his memory of the promise. When Kashish informed him over email that she was in Mumbai to take care of her dad, little had he expected that they would end up meeting in the next two days! He had informed her of his engagement, and was a bit unsure of her reaction, but, to his surprise, she had received the news with warmth and excitement. At least the mail she sent indicated that.

  Aakash introduced Vishakha to Kashish. After chatting for a while, Vishakha took her leave, reminding Aakash of the invitation to her house that Saturday. Aakash and Kashish were now alone.

  Whenever matters of the heart are concerned, it is advisable to never rake up old affairs. Digging up the past can very well lead to trouble. Healed hearts can become vulnerable again, sparks can fly, and, worst of all, the gap can make the past seem rosier than the present.

  As Aakash sat opposite Kashish and studied her closely, he was thankful to his stars that none of this happened to him. In a mere twenty-five days, Aneri had worked her magic, Aakash thought to himself. He knew his mind was going into comparison mode and stalled it immediately. Bringing himself to the present, he smiled at Kashish and asked with concern in his voice, ‘So, how’s Uncle? You didn’t mention the details in the email.’

  Kashish, fighting back her tears, said, ‘We had been postponing his angioplasty surgery for a year, but now, seven blocks have been detected and the doctors have advised applying stents. Since Abhishek bhaiyya and I were both away, the decision just dragged on. During the last check-up, the doctors had strictly advised against any further delay, so we both had to come. His surgery is scheduled for next week. Abhishek bhaiyya is arriving on Sunday.’

  Aakash took her hands in his and gently squeezed her palms to express his support, ‘It’s all right, Kashish. Everything will be fine. Nowadays, it is a minor surgery. Your dad will be in better shape after it.’

  Kashish wiped a tear, which had appeared in the corner of her left eye, and put on a cheerful expression. ‘Thanks! I am sorry that we are meeting without any proper planning. I was going to call you up and ask if the whole gang could get together on some weekend after Dad’s surgery…’

  ‘Hey! That’s a brilliant idea,’ exclaimed Aakash, ‘Let me know the dates and I will get Neel, Uttam, Barkha, and Apeksha together. It will be super fun!’

  ‘Aha…you forgot the most important person: Aneri! I am dying to meet her…’ Kashish teased Aakash and prodded him, ‘Oye, I am waiting for the whole story, mister.’

  For the second time in the past three hours, Aakash narrated the sequence of events that had culminated in his engagement to Aneri. When he told her about their unique proposal for post-wedding living arrangements, Kashish chuckled. ‘A crazy plan, but one which, I must admit, every girl nurses secretly in her heart.’ She gave a naughty wink, which reminded Aakash of the Kashish of yore.

  ‘So now,’ said Aakash,‘we are stuck in our search for a flat large enough to accommodate us all comfortably. The marriage date will be fixed for some time in December, but if we can’t find a place soon, the whole proposal will fall apart. And if that happens, it will break Aneri’s heart, and that will be very hard for me to bear.’

  Kashish shifted uncomfortably in her chair as Aakash expressed his feelings for Aneri. Sensing her discomfort, Aakash immediately added, ‘I had told Aneri about our probable meeting today, and she conveys her “Hi” to you. She is keen to meet you as well.’

  Kashish said that she was praying for her dad’s operation to be a success so that she could meet Aneri and others without any distress or worry. She quickly straightened up as if she had suddenly remembered something important. Then nodding to herself, she said, ‘Hey! You’re looking for a flat, right? I don’t know if this will suit you or not, but hear me out. I have a friend, Gaurav Datey, who is on the same fellowship as me in the US. His parents used to stay at Hiranandani in Powai, but about six-months ago they shifted to the US. They plan to relocate and settle there if his dad’s branch office there picks up. Gaurav, before I took my flight, requested me to spread the word to anyone on the lookout for a fully furnished flat on rent, So, what I’m saying is, his flat is on offer.’

  ‘What! Wow…I mean, this Gaurav guy could very well be my magic man. The only hitch is that the rental rates for Hiranandani are trending too high for us to afford it!’ Aakash suppressed his excitement as doubts assailed him.

  Kashish had already dialled an international number through Viber while talking to Aakash. Holding her mobile close to her ears, she muttered to herself, ‘It isn’t too late there. He should pick up!’

  Then she sprung up from her chair and paced around, talking, presumably, to Gaurav on the phone, intermittently smiling at Aakash. Aakash was very relieved and happy to know that Kashish had moved on as well. He heard Kashish shouting, ‘Gaurav wants to talk to you!’

  Aakash got up and took the phone. He spent the next few minutes having a most peculiar conversation. As soon as he said bye to Gaurav, he started shrieking with joy, ‘Can you believe it! It’s a three-and-a-half BHK flat. He insists that I not worry about the rentals, as I am your friend, and has agreed to a rent as low as fifty thousand a month without any advance deposit, wow!’

  He let out a sigh of relief and shook his head as if in disbelief, ‘This is too good to be true! He will message you the contact of his broker in a bit. I am to contact him for further procedure.’ He was about to give a high-five to Kashish, but instead he gently reprimanded her in mock anger, ‘And, Kashish, when were you going to tell me that you are seeing the guy, huh?! He seems to be an amazing guy! I’d definitely like to meet him.’

  Kashish smartly corrected him, ‘Aakash, we are not seeing each other. Yes, I do like him a lot. But, he is Maharashtrian. And now, I am too scared to fall for anyone in a jiffy. I won’t be able to handle the emotional strain a
gain. He has asked me out twice, but I am yet to give him a yes or a no.’ Kashish had her eyes fixed on the ground with a gloomy expression on her face. Sensing that the mood had suddenly veered into grim territory, Aakash immediately changed the topic and the rest of the conversation hovered around their nostalgic college memories. They even discussed the possibility of the whole group going to Imagica again some day. They parted as good friends who had had a past together.

  Aakash silently put his arms round Aneri’s shoulders and embraced her from behind. They both stood on the balcony of the ninth floor of Ambrosia, a building in the Hiranandani area of Powai. Aneri caressed his arms and admired the view of the Powai Lake as seen from the french windows. Huge buildings stood on the other side of the lake, with a billboard of the Renaissance Hotel at the centre of the view. From the balcony, they could see a jogging garden with lush green grass covering the landscape.

  ‘Awesome view!’ exclaimed Aneri as Aakash rested his chin on her left shoulder. As Aakash tightened the embrace, Aneri brought her lips close to his ears and whispered, ‘Thanks!’ Aakash placed a quick kiss on the nape of her neck before they heard the indistinct murmurs of Ashwin and Bharat becoming louder.

  The two seniors sceptically surveyed the flat, which came replete with exquisitely designed furniture, modern gadgets, wardrobes, modular kitchen, and Italian-styled bathrooms. They felt like they were taking a tour of a designer apartment, with Mr Solanki, Gaurav’s broker, showing them around. As they approached Aakash and Aneri, who seemed to be engrossed in their own excited discussions, their faces clearly gave away their astonishment on sealing such a cheap deal. The two fathers exchanged silent glances at each other as they saw a happy couple looking forward to a promising future.

  Aneri again looked back at the lake and said, ‘This is exactly how we wanted it.’