Part 17

"Vedant, what are you doing this Friday?" his Mother asked, as she served him food. The entire family had gathered together for dinner.

"Why? Is there something special?" he asked as he picked up some food.

"Your cousin sister, Siddhi's engagement is on Saturday. They want all of us to visit the village and participate in the engagement" his Mother offered, as she moved around the table, offering food to all the family members. His Aunts were in the vicinity helping her out.

"Well, I am in Jhajjar for the next two days, at least. In fact, I have a flight to catch tomorrow morning" Vedant said, his mind now busy with the calculations. Saroja would be shifting to the Hostel on Sunday, and he wanted to be present when she left. But of course, he didn't want to mention the same in front of everybody.

"But you could always join us there? I am sure they have a direct flight" his Father said.

"I am not sure, I will have to check" Vedant mumbled aimlessly. "Why don't you guys go? I could always come for the wedding ..."

"Exactly" Ravi added. "Why do we need to go to the village now? I am not even sure whether I would get leave even"

"You guys should be ashamed of yourselves" Vedant's Mother frowned, as she sat down for Dinner. "And you call yourselves Brothers. Just because she is your cousin, and not your own sister?"

What Vedant could remember of Siddhi was a gangly youngster whom he had met before going to US. He looked down at his plate, toying with his food. Time surely does fly.

"Ravi and Vedant could always join us later on the day of the engagement itself" Sunitha offered helpfully, her eyes on her Brother.

"Once the engagement is over, they could fly back. We could all stay for a couple of days more."

Vedant sighed as the discussion continued. This was definitely not going to be easy, he realised.

...

The next morning

Saroja stood in front of Vedant's parents, in the hall.

"So how did your exams go?" his Father asked.

"Good" Saroja replied, wondering what was coming up next.

"And when are you shifting to the Hostel?" Vedant's father asked.

"Sunday, I was just going to send a message through Gopi Mama" Saroja said. She was tired of everything now. Though Vedant was still talking to her, yet she knew that he was upset about those earrings.

His Mother nodded her head appreciatively, as she walked towards Saroja.

"Good to hear. Anyway, we will all be away for this entire week, and will return only mid next week. We will leave today evening itself. So ... we will meet later. Hopefully. All the best for your results"

Saroja's heart broke. Though she was looking forward to moving to the Hostel, yet the very thought of being away from Gopi Mama, Radha Mami, Little Aaru ... and of course Vedant, tugged at her heartstrings.

"Thank you" she mumbled, as she turned away. She didn't want to cry. Her tears were always for her solitude.

"One more thing" Vedant's Mom stepped forward.

"I realise you are a good girl, but your parentage will always be a part of you. While I do really want the best for you, yet I want you to stay away from my son, now that you are leaving. He is precious to me, to us, and we have great plans for him. And you don't fit into any of those plans somehow.

This may come across to you as harsh, but this is how life is. I wish the circumstances were different, and that I would not have to say all this to you. But I guess this is not too much to ask from you, given that we have sheltered you for all these months."

Saroja walked out of the Hall unseeingly, not even noticing that she had accidentally bumped right into Vedant, who was on his way to meet his parents before leaving for the airport.

...

In the Flight

Vedant was in a daze. It was like a nightmare, one that never seemed to end.

He had heard what he had not been supposed to hear, and his parents had been caught off the guard.

"How could you both be so heartless, so cruel?" he had shouted at his Mother, before turning around to leave. All he wanted to do was to find Saroja and hold her in his arms and promise her that everything would be alright. That he would make it alright this time.

"We are your parents, we have the right to protect you" his Father had said.

Vedant had stopped -

"Protect me? Can you protect me from yourselves? And from your narrow approach to life? And to think of it, I painted you both as God in front of my friends in Pennsylvania"

He hadn't waited anymore as he debated whether to take the flight or not. Saroja needed him, he had known immediately.

He was met by her forlorn figure, standing by the window, her right hand clutched, resting over her heart. And his heart had broken into million pieces in turn.

"Saroja ..." he had called out for her, stepping inside. These superficial boundaries had long since ceased to have any meaning whatsoever.

And she had turned towards him, with a smile on her face. He had walked upto her and pulled her into his arms, forgetting everything else.

"Promise me Ved, you will meet me once before I leave" she had clutched on to his shirt sleeves, hiding her face in his chest.

"I know you all are leaving for the engagement. I will miss you all so much, mainly Aaru and Gopi Mama and Radha Mami."

He had smiled that she had not taken his name. He marvelled at how she never uttered anything against his parents or his family members. He had kissed the top of her head in response.

He realised once again what he had known all this while. She had never been weak, never been selfish. She had just been too magnanimous in every situation life put her in.

After a while, she moved away from his arms and looked up at him

"You have a flight to catch I remember. Go ..."

"I don't want to, I will call my Boss" he had said.

"Go Vedant, I promise to be here when you return. You work is important as well" she had reassured him.

And now he sat on the airplane feeling nothing. But he knew one thing, he had to act fast. It was time.

...

A day later

Vedant had returned on Thursday morning in a hurry. His colleague had insisted on leaving in the evening but Vedant couldn't wait anymore.

By the time he reached home, it was afternoon already and it was raining heavily. He had wanted to rush to Saroja immediately on entering the house, but he decided to freshen up and collect his thoughts.

He had messaged her in between, from Jhajjar, but all he heard was how vast and silent and lifeless the house seemed without his family.

Again, not a single word about him.

Vedant was surprised to know that Ravi and his parents would also accompany him to the village the next morning He frowned; he had not been expecting nosey parkers as company.

Post lunch, he sat down to complete his Report. His Boss had asked for it expressly. Once satisfied, Vedant quickly sent it over, noticing that it was almost late evening. He found the doors to Saroja's room partially open, and he sprung down the stairs, mortified that he had let precious time fly away.

Saroja was in Radha Mami's room; her face lit up when she saw him outside, and then beautifully blushed when Radha Mami waggled her eyebrows, indicating towards him.

Vedant caught hold of her wrist and pulled her into her room.

Once inside, he cupped her face and looked deep into her eyes.

"I missed you so much"

"Me too" her palms now rested on top of his hands. She continued

"I wondered if you would be back before I left"

"How could I not? I had promised you Saroja" he was sincere in his response.

Saroja smiled sadly, she hugged him tightly

"I will miss you so much Vedant"

He gently rocked her in his arms - "Only for a while, I promise"

She knew he was promising her the moon, the sun and the stars ...

"I have a favour to ask of you" he said, as he peeled her away from him.

"I want you to have these earrings ..."

Saroja refused once again.

"Ok, could you at least put them on and show me how you look? I want to know whether I have primed enough to buy jewellery" he continued.

Saroja laughed at his efforts. Taking the pair from his hands, she put them on, and he stared at her mesmerised.

"Beautiful" he blurted out.

Saroja turned a deep shade of crimson, she removed the ear rings and handed the box back to him.

"For safe keep?" he asked.

"For safe keep" she relented.

...

Later, they sat outside on the steps leading down to the backyard, now glistening with rain water. Only three steps, all around the backyard, but the rain and the misty atmosphere made it almost celestial.

"This is so beautiful and peaceful" Vedant said, as Saroja leant sideways against the thick pillar. She knew what was happening.

While Vedant was creating his future, their future in these moments, she was busy storing these moments, their moments, to help her deal with her future.

She stayed silent, as he intertwined his fingers with hers, pulling her closer, his other hand going around her waist lightly. She could feel his touch burning through her skin.

The magic of the moment was too powerful for either of them to ignore.

The feather touch of his lips on her skin ... oh so soft, oh so sweet. A soft moan escaped her as he continued burning a trail across her shoulder blade to her neck, as if he was in search of a Holy Grail. His.

"Vedant" she whispered, trying to unloose his hands from across her waist, her body trembling with intensity.

His lips carved into a smile across the pulsing vein of her neck, his nose now moving up to nuzzle the soft skin behind her left ear.

"Vedant" her voice now held caution, and she freed herself forcibly, turning around to look at him.

It was abrupt and the wet courtyard did nothing to stop her fall, as she flailed her arms helplessly.

"Sarojaaa ..." he shouted, moving forward to catch her hand, his heart beating wildly.

She actually slid down those steps, landing on her back, her arm caught behind to arrest her fall. Reflexively, he had lunged forward to catch her.

"I am so sorry" he repeated again and again, as he helped her up. She looked a little flustered, a bit annoyed ... no no no, not annoyed, just a bit alarmed at how things escalated so quickly.

She had no doubts about him whatsoever, this is what she wanted, as much as he did. But she knew this was probably not what should happen. Not then at least.

He was breathing heavily

"Vedant, you need to go. Now." She insisted

"Yes, yes" he ran his fingers through his hair, messing them up further.

And then he was gone.

...

End Part 17a