Present Day

Sunlight flooded in through the open windows and Vedant could hear the constant chirping of birds. The chirping was pleasant but it irritated him this morning. After all, he had managed to fall asleep only in the early hours, and his body and mind protested as he slowly awoke.

A few seconds later, Vedant realised that the incessant chirping was actually his mobile phone ringing. He sprang up to receive the call; after all, of all the calls he received, this could be the one that he had been waiting for all this long.

It was his Boss informing him that he would be in India mid week, and that he would like to come along and meet Vedant. There was mutual respect between the two and Vedant was happy. They agreed to meet on Friday, with Vedant promising to meet him at the Office.

"Vedant" Dean's voice was low and controlled. "Not in office, I need to meet you somewhere outside. I don't want any disturbances please"

Vedant agreed to meet him at Taj, where Dean was being put up.

The call ending, Vedant's mind raced to the innumerable possibilities that could emerge from the Meeting, and he frowned. He was able to move around now without the walking stick, and he couldn't thank God enough.

He had already discussed with Dr Rao and the good Dr had given him the go ahead for morning walks and light exercises, but had cautioned him nonetheless to take it slow.

Vedant opened the camera folder of his phone, and stared long at Saroja. It had been Diwali that day, and she had looked ethereal.

He flipped shut his phone and sighed.

"I am going to find you Saroja, wherever you are" he whispered, as he readied himself for the day.

...

Six Months Back

By the time Saroja returned, Vedant was gone. Gopi Mama informed her that his Father had called, and he had to oblige.

Saroja was disappointed but she spent her time with Radha Mami instead, who talked about her in-laws, their villages, the eccentricities of the different family members, her own parents and all. The descriptions were vivid and the dialogues funny, and it helped ease some of the gloom.

Saroja returned to her room to find another chit of paper on her table. She frowned. These chits were now becoming a regular occurrence; earlier it happened occasionally and contained some lines from a ghazal or a song; but now they were way too lewd in their suggestions. She wondered if she should speak to Vedant about it. Saroja knew her silence on this issue was damning and partly encouraging, but all she wanted to do was to get out the house at the earliest. The Rajus had after all done so much for her.

And on top, nobody would believe her if she told them that she knew the perpetrator.

It was definitely a Catch 22 situation for her.

...

Gopi Mama came to her that evening with a chastely folded sheet of paper.

Vedant's warm and bold writing spilled over as she noted his mobile number, with a request to meet him the next day at 11.00 a.m. at the Library

...

Next Morning

She returned the book she had borrowed and ambled over to the Mythology section, glancing through the titles. Saroja had not wanted to come over to the Library to meet him; she didn't want to feel or be seen as too needy. But the moment she had spied on him near the entrance her heart had skipped a beat. And then pounded painfully.

It was 11.30 a.m.

Despite everything, she loved him in her own way, she knew. He was precious to her. She also realised that for his sake, she needed to stay away.

He smiled as he walked over to where she was sitting.

"Hi" he whispered as he slid down opposite to her.

Saroja could only smile. He reached out for her hand across the table, Saroja pulled away as he looked at her surprised.

"Congratulations" she offered. "I heard the good news. Met your bride-to-be too. She's so beautiful. And a Doctor to the boot"

"I am not marrying her Saroja. I had told her the same long back, even before we knew each other. It's my parents ..."

"Of course" Saroja thought. That's what parents do. Did. To protect their children.

Silence stretched between them for a while, as Vedant shifted in his seat helplessly. After a while, he continued

"All this while, away from home, for the past 2 weeks, I have only thought about ... us"

Saroja looked up at him - "There is no us, Vedant. There has never been."

Before they could continue their discussion further, the In-charge walked over to them and shushed them out.

"No romancing inside the Library" he stated sternly.

Vedant grimaced as he guided Saroja outside. It was already drizzling and they made for a shaded bench under a hugely canopied tree. The foliage would protect them for some time; they would otherwise have to make a beeline for the canteen.

He turned towards her - "I have never said anything ... how I feel. Mainly because I myself wasn't aware. But, I think I do know now."

"This could just be an infatuation Vedant. Or maybe you are just being over protective" she ruminated, biting her lips.

He turned towards her and pulled her hand into his

"Infatuation? A knee jerk reaction?" His voice was sharp and crisp now.

"What do you want from me Vedant?" she was now plain exasperated.

He counter questioned "You really don't know?"

"No, I don't" Saroja pulled her hand away and stood up. "There is nothing for me to offer. Until and unless its the same thing that you are seeking for. What most guys seek for from ..."

"Saroja" his words rattled her core, as he sprung up. Placing his hands on her shoulder, he shook her violently

"You think ... look at me ... how could you?"

He pushed her away slightly and ran his fingers through his hair, shaking his head.

"No, no, no, this must be a nightmare. Oh Saroja "

Her heart could only break into thousand pieces as she watched him agonise.

Saroja was now partially wet, she stepped back under the foliage, knowing that she had to say something.

"I could ruin you Vedant" her words were soft and apologetic.

In a split moment, he pulled her closer, looking deep into her eyes

"Then ruin me, break me, unshackle me and then make me complete once again"

She shivered at the intensity of his words, at the anguish in his eyes

"We will never be equals; you will always pity me for who I am, for my past, for my parents, for how I have been treated. How can there be a future if there is no meeting ground? How can there be an US?

And anyway, I am going away after Diwali. Hopefully, the stupid hostel will accommodate me this time."

The anger in his eyes deepened as he stared at her for a long time. He then spat out - "I hate you for all this"

Stepping out in the rain, which had now picked up, he walked away.

She stood there under the tree, clutching her bag to her chest, careful not to let the library book be ruined, as she watched him leave, his shoulders drooping.

The rain picked up further; she did not have to wipe her tears away anymore.

...

The next few days passed away in a daze as Vedant struggled to come to terms to what had actually happened that day. The more he thought, the more he was convinced that Saroja had managed to push him away.

He busied himself with work as he thought of what he could do next, refusing to believe that this was the end of the road for them.

...

Following Saturday

Vedant entered the house and headed over to the backyard, he had not heard from her for all this while; he was numbly irritated.

It was already afternoon. He had returned from Bangalore just then. He could sense a lot of people in their house, but nothing registered except for his need to see her once again. And maybe tell her to believe in him this time.

He stopped in front of her room, he could see her standing by the window, looking outside, her back to the door, her posture arrested. He immediately sensed something was wrong.

He stepped inside; he could now hear her sobs; they were low and contained, and he could sense her struggle.

He circumvented the bed and walked towards her. It was then he noticed something bright lying on the floor, near her feet.

"Saroja" he called gently. He picked up the material; it was a saree, some gaudy stuff.

He threw it away and gently held her shoulders, pulling her to him, her back now resting lightly against his chest.

"For your engagement ceremony, sometime soon" she hiccuped.

His heart could only break into thousand pieces as he watched her struggle.

He could feel the red heat of anger course through his veins. He couldn't and wouldn't allow anybody to insult her. Even if they were his own family members. He felt disgusted.

Vedant plucked his phone out of his pocket and dialled a number.

"Hi, could we meet please? At the Cafe?" And then he was gone.

...

That night

Vedant's Mother was furious. They had received a call from Sri Vidya's parents sometime back, Sri Vidya had called the engagement off.

But she knew that it was all Vedant's doing. Not actually, she fumed. It was all that harlot's fault.

"Just like her Mother" she spewed venom.

She had gloated in pleasure that morning when she had handed over the saree to Saroja, indicating that she wear it during Vedant's engagement the following week. The girl's face had lost colour immediately, she had not been impervious to the implications of that cheap material that had been given to her.

And now, that chit of a girl had succeeded in hooking her son. Her Vedant.

She turned towards her husband sitting on the armchair, his face lined with worries.

"Its time, make the call" she ordered him. He meekly dialled a number and very soon they were joined by a third person.

"We need to think. I won't let my son suffer" Vedant's Mother screamed.

The other person nodded and slid out in the darkness.

...

End of Part 13