Part 30

Next Day - In the Village

Saroja woke up to the strong smell of coffee wafting through her small room. She snuggled into her bed further, pulling the comforter around her tightly; the early morning rain had magically romanticized the atmosphere.

She knew that Vedant was brewing his coffee the way he loved it. She wondered if he had slept at all. She felt tired and groggy herself, her eyes were heavy with sleep and tears. All she remembered was Vedant cajoling her to get up from the balcony steps early morning, once it started raining. A distant part of her brain wondered why they were out there in the balcony till so late?

And then ...

... she remembered everything.

Her Mother ... her flight from Hyderabad ... Jimmy and his goons ...

Saroja struggled to wake up, her nightmares taking a more distinct form.

She suddenly felt a warm pair of lips on her cheek and eyelids, and she forced herself to wake up. Fully.

Only to be met with a pair of almond shaped eyes dancing in front of her.

Aaru was huddled on the bed, beside her, her baby eyes fixed on Saroja's face, her palms supporting her face.

Mwah ... she went again, this time her lips landing on the tip of Saroja's nose. And then she squealed in happiness, as Saroja pulled her under the comforter.

"Oh baby. When did you come?" Saroja asked the child.

Aaru wriggled in her arms, as Vedant settled down on the bed. He leant forward to kiss their foreheads and then returned to sipping his coffee.

"Madam wanted to be the first one to wake you up in the morning. That was our little secret last evening. So, I went to get her here"

Saroja pulled Aaru closer; her soft baby smell enlivened her, made her feel positive. She wasn't sure of how she felt about Vedant however, at that particular moment, though she realised that he was not at fault. It had never been.

After a few minutes, Vedant pulled Aaru up, into his arms, as she got down from the bed

"Don't fall asleep Baby. We have a train to catch ..."

Saroja bolted up from her bed

"Ved ..."

He turned towards her and smiled gently

"Sunitha and Aaru have to return today ... the tickets are for 10 a.m."

...

A While later

Saroja was nervous. She paced around the balcony, waiting for Vedant. He had escorted Sunitha and Aaru to the Station; the child had been crying throughout once she realized that she was leaving Saroja behind.

She glanced at her wrist watch. It was way beyond 10.00 a.m.

The smell of burnt breakfast emerged from the room; she rushed back inside to turn the stove off, her eyes glazed with tears.

Vedant was her only link to the living world now; and she wondered where he is. Whether he had returned along with Sunitha and Aaru?

Her eyes fell on his bags as she hurried towards the door, and she stopped dead in her track. She mentally chastised herself for even thinking so, now that they were together. The same Vedant who had gone through hell himself to find her; and to love her back the way no one would.

She heard his footsteps on the balcony and wiped her tears away; she could recognise his steps anywhere.

A minute later, Vedant was met with a ball of unfurling emotions, once he stepped inside the room.

"I thought you went away ... leaving me here alone ..."

Her eyes searching his face for his response.

"Marry me ... Saroja" he said, as he pulled her to himself, into a great bear hug.

"Yes ... yes ... yes" she whispered audibly.

...

Sometime in the Evening

Dayal was beaming when he arrived with an electrician.

"Akka, Amma has sent jalebis for you both. Oh, I am so happy" he hugged Saroja, while high fiving Vedant.

"Jalebis?" Vedant's eyes widened "I hope there is some rabdi too"

Saroja hugged Dayal affectionately. He was the angel that God had sent to keep her safe.

Dayal picked up a jalebi himself as he sat down on the bed

"You know what? I am so excited. A wedding in the family ... after so long. And you know what? We are going to have guests as well?"

"Gopi Mama? Radha Mami?" Saroja asked excitedly.

Vedant and her had decided to get married the next month, in the village only. It was an on-the-spur of a moment decision but they would have it no other way.

...

At Night

"Saroja, I hope you are not double thinking about your decision" Vedant asked suddenly, as he set up the laptop that he had gotten for her.

Saroja looked up from the books that he had unpacked earlier. She had been elated. She could now have more stories to share with the children.

Keeping the books down, she walked towards Vedant.

"Never ... I realise you can't survive without me" she smiled, as she sat down beside him. Vedant laughed at her small joke and intertwined her fingers with his. He looked into her eyes, as he brought her fingers up to his lips

"I am scared too, sweetheart. All this is very new for both of us. But I know, we can make it through. All we need is love ..."

"Waxing eloquence, are we?" Saroja teased him.

"I hope you have forgiven me Saroja for sharing the news later. I can't survive with your sadness, your anger, your tears ..."

She kissed him in response. His arms went around her, bringing her body flush against his.

...

Next Morning

Monday

"Where are you taking me, Vedant?" Saroja asked impatiently. They were walking towards that part of the village where the population were mainly concentrated.

He smiled as he pulled her ahead.

After a while, they both stood in front of an elegant house, usually found in villages, not too big, not too small. A single storey house, with a garden at the front. Sunlight flickered in through the palm fronds as they swayed gently in the morning breeze. A middle-aged man walked towards them as Vedant slipped his hand into hers, whispering to Saroja

"Our house"

Saroja stared at him for a while, shocked to the core. The man had reached them by now.

"Congratulations. Here are the keys."

...

Vedant pulled Saroja inside.

She stopped at the middle of the courtyard, looking all around her. Vedant stood at the entrance, intently watching her. She now rushed from one room to the other, to the kitchen, to the store room ... everywhere.

She then rushed back to Vedant, breathing heavily

"They are all empty"

Vedant held her hands

"It's your home. You are in charge. You set them up as you wish ..."

Her arms went around him, as she settled comfortably in his arms.

End of Part 30