Part Seven
Meera followed her daily routine diligently. Even though she was heart broken she didn't want her parents to worry. Next morning after breakfast, she checked her emails with a false hope that Rahul would email. He didn't. With a dejected heart, she logged in to IF just to show her mom that she was busy with the computer doing something instead lying in her bed and crying. Even IF which was like her addiction, felt dull and uninteresting. Her friends in IF were excited about buaji's entry in the serial. Sindura was as usual trying to portray Vidya as an axis of evil in Buaji's eyes. Sagar didn't want Vidya as his wife. Even amidst her sadness, she found it amazing that BMTD in many ways ran parallel to her life. Rahul went away without saying anything. She knew Rahul wasn't well either, his love for her didn't not die, it was his pride that was hurt. Sagar too loved Vidya but had such an ego to admit that to himself. She checked her emails again. No new emails. "No one wants me", she sighed!
She didn't blame Rahul for leaving India without even saying goodbye. She wrote so many emails to his hotmail address but the mails kept bouncing back. Probably the account was inactive. She couldn't explain to him why she went out withTushar and why she went to Goa with her family.
She remembered with a heavy heart that terrible day!
"Rahul, I don't know what will happen to us. I may not be able to go to Canada for College. Mom and Dad are being so adamant and imposing really strange and absurd conditions. I don't know what to do. I agreed to all of their wishes, abided every rule they imposed on me without a single protest, but this time they are being really unreasonable."
"Tushar isn't that bad. Actually he might be perfect --the docile kind for a feisty feminist like you." He chuckled trying his best to lift her spirit up.
"Will you please be serious for once! If you act like this I will marry him and you will be the crying heart broken Devdas."
"Ok" Rahul said thinking deeply. "So your parents would only let you go to U Toronto if and only if you get engaged to Tusher. And this is because they don't want you to repeat the mistakes that Neera didi made." He paused for a second and added, "Hmmm…did it ever occur to you that may be Tusher is not the problem here?"
"What do you mean?"
"Tell them about our relationship. That would assure them that you would not fall into any trap like Neera didi because you are in love with me!!" He smiled his crooked smile.
"That is a stupid idea. They are all set on Tusher who is settled and well established. We are of same age and you haven't finished college yet. How would you bear my responsibility? They would be utterly shocked to know all of a sudden I have a relationship."
Rahul didn't reply, rather he became quiet. They sat quietly for a while, both lost in thought. He broke the silence.
"So you believe your parents would think I am not worthy of you-- good enough for you. Do you think the same way?"
"What kind of a stupid question is that?"
"I don't know. The way you were comparing Tushar with me, it felt like I am a midget compared to him.." He said in disconsolate manner.
"That is not what I meant. You know me better than that. I am just thinking telling my parents about us now would even complicate things."
He just looked at her and didn't say anything.
"Please Rahul don't make an issue out of nothing."
He smiled sadly and ruffled her hair. Her cell rang at that moment.
"Hello Mom.., yes..I will be home soon….See you in a bit."
She turned off her phone and looked at Rahul.
"I have to go. Tusher's parents are at our place." She winced.
"M, you would never leave me right? I won't be able to bear seeing you with anyone."
She leaned towards him, held both his hands with hers and kissed on his cheek.
"That situation would never arise. You won't ever have to see me with another man. Never ever." She smiled. "I should go. Mom would otherwise go into a frenzy of worry and fury! See you tomorrow!"
When she got home, her mom was serving tea to Tuhsar and his parents.
"Meera here you are. You were talking about you." Tusher's mom said joyously.
Meera could only smile. She was informed that the two families already decided to go on a trip to Goa the very next morning! She was shocked. If we leave tomorrow I won't have time to talk to Rahul before we leave!
Tusher's parents congratulated her on her admission to U of Toronto. Tusher was sitting there quietly and seemed bored. He looked at his mom and said "I was thinking I will go out for a bit. I have to meet a friend but I will be back for dinner."
"Why don't you take Meera with you and have dinner in some nice restaurant. You two would be bored among four of us oldies."
"That's an excellent idea." Exclaimed Meera's mom.
Meera didn't understand whether this was a preconceived conspiracy or a spontaneous thunder strike, she became dumbfounded at this proposal.
"Ummm…actually I have some work to do and you would need help preparing dinner mom" was the best protest and excuse she could come up with.
"You don't have to worry about dinner and this is summer break, you should have some fun" concluded her mom sealing the deal kind of way.
As usual subservient Meera didn't want to disappoint her parents in front of guests and got ready to go out with Tusher. She even obediently wore the red churidaar her mom picked out for her.
"I am sorry Rahul. I will make it up to you. This won't happen again." This is the first time she was really annoyed with her mom for making her do this.
They went to a nice restaurant. She told Tusher everything. Tusher was really sporting about it. He wished them luck and just wanted to be friends.
On their way back, when their car stopped at the red light, Meera idly looked outside her window. She missed a heart beat. He saw Rahul staring at her with utter disbelief and distress. She immediately thought of getting off the car and run to him but Tusher speeded as soon as the light turned green. That was the last time she saw him.
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Dearest friends, I hope this is long enough for you…supplied as demanded…😉
Thanks a lot for reading…These parts are just to take the story forward...so please bear with me...Love you loads and loads…Nishi
Edited by Isha - 15 years ago
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