chapter 25

Chapter 25A storm brewsHe panicked, sensing her trembling against him, her cheeks wet against his chest as she lay with her face buried there. He had cherished every moment of their togetherness and worried that maybe, he hadn’t respected her feelings. He held her close to him quietly. Had he been too hasty? “Anu,” he whispered, admonishing himself for being so selfish and insensitive.He felt her body shake with suppressed emotions. He moved back and tilted her face up. He was perplexed to see her expression and peered at her closely. Tears stained her cheeks but she seemed to be laughing. “Oh Chintan!”She rolled onto her stomach and lovingly ran her fingers through his hair, tugging his moustache and playing with his beard. “I have never felt so alive, so loved.” She bent down to kiss him again.Relieved and happy, Chintan touched her cheek, wiping the tears away, and then gathered her in his arms. She rested her head on his chest. Stroking her back, he asked softly, “Why did you cry?”“Did I?” She looked up. “Did I, now? I didn’t know I had.” She lay against him, closing her eyes, happy to be there. Imagining she would always be there, next to him, protected and loved. The room turned silent and they spoke through their silence, touching and kissing each other. Suddenly, they were making love again, fiercely, with more abandon, with less inhibition. When they lay beside each other, sated and yet not, they were silent.They failed to hear the discreet knock on the door the first time. When the knocking became louder, they sprang apart. He hurriedly pulled on his shorts and vest, placed his glasses on his nose and straightened the bed while Anu rushed into the bathroom. She came out dressed in her damp clothes. In the glance they exchanged, both acknowledged that she should leave after dinner.Their hands remained linked as he drove back. They remained silent, their bodies and minds still in his room, at that moment when they knew that living apart was not possible anymore. But they had to part, briefly, till they could be together forever.When they reached her home, she lingered, not wanting to go in. He let go of her hand and stepped out of the car. She did the same.The rain had stopped. He came around and took her by her arm. Locking the door behind him, he led a surprised Anu through the gate silently. As they reached the door, it opened before Anu could take her key out.Her mother stood there, as surprised to see a stranger there as they were at seeing the door open unexpectedly. Her mother took in the stranger’s hand around her daughter’s and the blush spreading on her daughter’s face. Chintan didn’t let go of the hand but smiled his gentle smile.Her mother drew herself up and turned a questioning look on Anu. “Ma…this is Chintan,” Anu said. It felt strange, to be introducing someone new to her mother, after so many years. Her mother remained cold. “Come in,” Anu invited Chintan in and led him to the drawing room. Her mother followed slowly. Kaki stepped out, and seeing a visitor, shrank against the wall shyly.Anu was perplexed by her mother’s lack of warmth. She fumbled. “This is Chintan Arya ma…remember I told you about Mr. Arya in ‘Industry Matters’?”Chintan placed a hand on hers gently, and said softly, “It was raining so I came to drop her and thought I could meet you too.”“And where did you meet her? She doesn’t work for that magazine anymore…” her mother asked suspiciously.“Nor do I.” He realised that he was not going to be able to lead up to it gently, so taking the bull by the horns, he quickly said, “Aunty, Anu and I like each other. We would like to get married. I came to seek your blessings.”Anu’s jaw dropped and she turned to look at him in surprise. He had given no indication that he intended to speak to her mother today. And yet, she should have known. She felt his hand squeeze hers reassuringly.Anu’s mother crossed her arms across her chest and studied him. “You never said anything about this, Anu?” she asked without looking at her. She didn’t wait for Anu to respond. “Has he been bothering you?”“Ma!” Anu said, shocked.Staring intensely at her, her mother said, “You left your job because of Arya, isn’t it? And now you want to marry him?”“Ma! That was the father. This is the son!”“You think that makes a difference? You marry the son, you think the father is going to let you be happy?”“Aunty,” he intervened before Anu could say anything, “Keeping her happy is my responsibility.” “I am sure... But how can I let her enter the lion’s lair without assurance that she will be safe? She left the magazine in a tearing hurry because of your father, if I remember right.” She walked up to Anu, who stood frozen in her place. “My daughter has had to face many hardships. You think I will knowingly send her to a place where she is not even respected?”Chintan tried a different approach. “Aunty, I don’t even live in Delhi. She will have nothing to do with him.”Anu’s mother’s eyes widened. “What?”“I have a farm in Himachal. I am there all the time.”“Farm! You are a farmer! How did she meet you? Anu, what’s happening? That trip! Anu!” Her mother’s voice rose in a slow crescendo of panic.Anu realised that she had to end this conversation. Oh, why hadn’t Chintan warned her! In a tear-choked  voice she said, “Ma, Chintan, please! This is ridiculous! Please leave now, Chintan. Ma, I will explain everything.”“You have a lot to explain,” her mother said and stalked off to her room, clearly upset. Kaki followed her. Her mother stopped at the threshold and turning, said, “Anu, I don’t care for your explanations. I can see that you will be stubborn. But let me tell you clearly, unless I get an assurance from his father that you marry this man with his permission, I will not accept this.”Anu stood looking dismally after her mother. Her mother had hit her where it hurt the hardest.Chintan put an arm around her waist as she stood ramrod straight. “I will get father to speak to her, if that’s what your mother wants.” Anu looked so hurt and vulnerable just then that he felt a lump in his throat; he took her in his arms. “Anu, I had to do this, even if it all went wrong. I can’t bear this separation. And after this evening…I just know I want you with me, where I can see you every day. I would have preferred to keep father out of this…” he murmured.Numbly she nodded. “I know… And I don’t think any way we do this, it could have turned out any different.”He lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. “Anu, nothing can come between us. My father…your mother… Nothing.”She nodded, aware of her mother in the other room.He left immediately after. She sensed his tension. She closed the door and turned to see kaki waiting for her, looking on with sympathetic eyes. She ran to her and hugged her, crying.“Poor child,” the lady murmured, stroking Anu’s hair gently, as if knowing what was to come.