Get up.. grandpa.. (Part 3)

(This is the third part of the short story series. Hope you guys like it. Do leave your feedback and comments. They really inspire me :) )

Please read the 1st and 2nd part also.
Part 1 - Back to Home

Part 2 - US Syndrome
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“Don’t go” ordered Arul’s mom.

“Amma, you don’t understand..” protested Arul.

“There is limit to everything Arul. Just because we allow you to go and convince her, does not mean she can speak like this”. Arul could see his mom’s head and finger wagging violently at him.

“Amma, listen..” Arul held his mom and made her sit down. “She is a very good girl. She just makes decisions in a hurry. She has not seen the outside world as much as you or me. Give her a last chance”

“My decision is final” declared his mom. “You want us to attend your marriage, right?”

Arul was taken aback by this threat. He sat there thinking what would happen now in his already fragile relationship with his parents. I have seen so many brilliant girls, so many studious ones.. but what I need is a girl like Anjali. Just a simple beautiful house wife.. He wanted to share his thoughts with his mom but decided otherwise.

He walked to the hall and saw his dad lying on the couch and watching an old movie. A few streaks of white hair certified that his dad had entered the late fifties. His dad was dressed in a white baniyan and a checked lungi. He realized that his dad was the least affected by the commotion in the bed room.

“Dad..” Aul’s dad looked at him, literally shocked. “I want to speak with you for five minutes”

Arul made his way up the stairs to the terrace. His dad got up and followed him. Arul stood near the terrace walls overlooking the main road. His dad followed him and stood beside him.

They didn’t speak for 5 minutes. Arul wanted to break the silence but did not know where to start. “Appa..” His dad turned towards him.

Before his dad could say something, Arul hugged his dad as tightly as he could. Tears flowed from his eyes on to his dad’s baniyan.

“I am sorry” he mustered to say.

“It’s ok da” his dad spoke back “It was my mistake also. I should have spent more time with you and our family”. Breaking the hug, dad looked at his son.

“I want to marry Anjali pa. She is a very good girl”. Perhaps it was just those Anjali’s eyes that were playing on him. He had left his last love, Meera, without even making an attempt to speak with her. He definitely was not going to leave Anjali just like that.

“You know about your mom” replied his dad. Arul let out a deep sigh. “But why did she refuse you now. Why doesn’t a simple Tirunelveli girl like a US MS guy with a great job?”. Arul just didn’t want to tell his dad that she had asked him to marry her sister. That’s too big an huge atom bomb for dad to handle.

“Low-on-confidence” replied Arul thoughtfully. “She does not know that she is as good as anybody. I feel that she constantly compares herself with her sister and that puts more pressure on her. I just need a simple housewife, dad”. Arul could see that his dad understood the reason.

“I just have to marry her. I can handle her. I have lived with many emotional people in my life in US.”

Dad thought for a second. “It’s your life son. Think and act carefully. Otherwise you will be stuck up like me” chuckled dad.

Arul didn’t smile. He never liked any jokes about his mom. He believed that his dad was the luckiest person on planet earth to have such a responsible and beautiful wife.

“I will speak to her” assured his dad. Arul knew that the deal was done.

“I will join you at home in 10 minutes” spoke Arul to dad. As his father descended through the steps, Arul took out his mobile and called up.
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“You listen to me Kalyani”

“No. At least listen to me once in your lifetime” protested Arul’s mom to his dad.

“It is our son’s life. Let him decide”

“Don’t you see his life going the wrong way?” spoke his mom.

Dad remained a little silent. “By taking a decision for him, you are not doing him a favor. If he thinks he can live with her, let him live it. Whatever the problem, he will face it”

“I am not coming to the marriage” spoke his mom firmly.

Arul dad just shook his head. These women.hmm..

“Ok. I will come” Arul’s mom could never disappoint anybody, least of it, her son.
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“The flight is 1pm” declared Arul as he opened the package he had just received.

“Travel tomorrow son” advised his dad.

Arul just waved the packet he just received. “I will be in Trivandrum at 2pm and its just a 4 hour drive to Tirunelveli from there”

Arul’s mom was too angry with him to speak anything.

Dad stood up to speak something to Arul, when Arul’s I-Phone rang. Quite unusual.. Hope everything is fine in US.

“Hi Steve” spoke Arul.

“Hey my boy, how are you doing?” spoke Steve.

“Going good. Is everything good up there?”

“It is..” Steve’s voice trailed. When Steve spoke like that, it meant big trouble.

“Seeni is finding it tough to keep up with your work” Arul listened intently. “I am sorry to disturb you, but just wanted to know when you would be back”

“Steve, I have 2 more sweeks of work here. Could I come there after that?” offered Arun.

“2 weeks.. Ok. Come as quickly as you can”

“Thank you Steve”

As soon Arul cut the call, Dad spoke up “I think you should leave to US. Leave the marriage issue to cool down”

Even though Arul could see logic ingrained in his dad’s words, he knew the marriage deal was too close to be left just like that. “Just one more try dad..” pleaded Arul.

Who can defeat fate.. thought Arul’s dad.
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“How long is the journey?” Arul asked the cab driver as he stretched himself and inspected the white Indica car.

“Four hours drive sir” replied the driver as he put the suitcase in the dicky and closed it.

Arul sat in the front seat near the driver. He was soon in his own world of dreams. The hour’s flight journey had been very tiring. Arul could hardly stretch himself in the small plane and it went through the worst air turbulence he had been, in a few years.

However, Arul was very much surprised by the number of people who travelled on domestic flights. After finishing the security check, Arul waited his plane to be announced. There was no place to sit. As soon as his flight was announced, people pushed each other and hurried to form a loopy line. Arul just chuckled to himself. Worse than central station..

Dhakkkkk.. Arul woke up. The car had passed over a big pothole.

“It’s been raining badly for the past few days sir” apologized the driver. Arul closed his eyes again. He just travelled on a 12 hour journey from Tirunelveli to Chennai and he was travelling back to that place again. How crazy..

Dhakkk.. Arul was familiar as to where to sound came from.

“How far from Tirunelveli are we?” questioned Arul.

“About 30 more minutes sir”

Arul rubbed his eyes off. He could see huge dark grey clouds gather on the way to their destination. He looked around and amazed to see green paddy fields on both sides of the road. The scent of rain hung through the air.

“Let us stop over for some tea” ordered Arul. The driver followed suit and they stopped at a nearby tea shop.

After few samosas and hot ginger tea, both Arul and driver were refreshed. They sped off to their destination.
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As Arul paid the cab driver, he spotted the familiar huge gate. A few women from the nearby houses huddled as they spoke in hushed tones. Perhaps they want to know whether I missed my train yesterday night thought Arul sarcastically.
He looked at his watch. ‘It was 6 pm’. The sun peeked through the dark clouds.

Arul lifted his suitcase and silent prayed that this was the last time he had to convince his lady.

He knocked on the old huge door. Mridula opened the door and Arul just stood there staring at her. She immediately left inside without even inviting him. No smiles.. no hellos.. This is what I get to travelling 700 kilometers back and forth everyday..

Anjali came outside and welcomed Arul inside. Arul learnt that Anjali’s parents had gone to the nearby temple. Arul dropped off the suitcase in the main hall and caught hold of Anjali’s hand and led her to the terrace.

The breeze blew strongly across the terrace. An instant downpour was imminent. Arul lifted Anjali’s face so that he could look at her eyes. She turned her face away avoiding any eye contact.

“What is the problem with you?” spoke Arul.

“Mridula wants to marry you” she spoke coldly.

“That’s a lie. I want to marry you and you want to marry me” Arul tried to keep things as simple and direct as possible.

Anjali looked a little startled as she tried to figure out how Arul might have come to know of the truth.

As Arul was about to continue his long talk, rain drops pelted on both of them. Anjali caught Arul’s hands and led him to the small attic room. Soon, it was heavily raining.

Arul looked at Anjali eyes and spoke “I love you. I want to marry you”

“But Mridula is the perfect match for you” spoke Anjali.

No wonder it’s so tough to change women’s thoughts.

“Would you have said the same thing had we been married?” counter attacked Arul.

“That’s a different story. We are not married till now”

Arul immediately held Anjali close and kissed her gently on her cheek. “Are we now?” he smiled at her waiting for a volcano to burst. A tight slap in this lonely place was not that bad an option.

“You are my sweetheart” she hugged him tightly.
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“Yes.. Yes.. its this weekend” spoke Anjali’s mother. She nodded and listened intently to the voice on the other end. She spoke of some marriage details.

“Maapilai..” she called Arul after 5 minutes.

“Yes amma.. We decided that the marriage would happen this weekend.”

“No amma… listen.. listen na..” that’s all Arul could speak. “Bring my suit and 3-4 shirts and trousers when you come…. No amma… I am not coming again to Chennnai.. Amma.. Amma??”

“This weekend?” spoke his dad quite startled as Arul’s mom had handed the phone to his dad.

“Yeah appa. The earlier we finish it the better”

There was complete silence from the other side. “So it’s on 28th.. Hmm..” his dad spoke finally.

“Dad, we checked it. It’s a good date to get married”

“Ok son. We shall be there in 2 days”

“Thanks appa. Convince amma also”
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ANJALI WEDS ARUL
28-November-2007

Arul peered closely at the huge signboard.

“Enna boss, any problem?” Arul’s thoughts were disturbed by a sweet voice.

Arul turned around to see Mridula. “Just seeing if the bride’s name is supposed to be changed” teased Arul.

Mridula laughed. “You want Trisha or Asin’s name on that?” she continued his joke.

“It should be just my name on it” spoke Anjali as she joined them.

“See, that was what I was telling your sister” Arul winked at her.

“I heard your earlier comments” Anjali gently jabbed her elbow at Arul.

Suddenly Anjali’s father came rushing towards them “The marriage will start in two hours. Please get dressed”

As Arul walked in to the huge Gayathri Devi Kalyana Mandapam, he could see about 500 hundred people sitting in there. He had never figured out why people loved attending all marriages, leaving all their work behind. Good food.. gossip place.. or a good place to search for prospective grooms and brides.. Whatever..

In the midst of the entire crowd, he could see about 30 neatly dressed people waiting in front of him. He figured out that they were all Anjali’s relatives. He went up to them and shook their hands. Anjali then took Arul to a special relative.

It was Anjali’s grandfather. The wrinkles on his face resembled the crisscrossing lanes of Chennai. He was nearly bald with only some shoots of white hair that had grown at the back of his head. Arul figured that the old man was burdened with lots of gold ornaments probably equaling his weight, which was definitely more than that of any of the ladies standing there. Perhaps he would be better off without that.

Anjali gestured that Arul touch his feet. Arul followed suit and felt a big bang on his head. Grandfather’s heavy watch had banged his head.

Arul got up rubbing his head. Damn.. The last thing he wanted to tell Anjali was what he thought about her grandfather.

Arul walked towards the changing room. Suddenly he saw a dark complexioned, thin tall guy sitting in one of the chairs. I have seen him somewhere. The MLA’s son.. What is he doing here?

Arul went near him and gently tapped his shoulders. The MLA’s son turned and on seeing Arul, got up. “Congratulations!!” he extended his hand.

Arul did not want a big scene in front of the whole crowd. He caught the MLA son’s shoulder and gently ushered him in to a hallway outside the main hall. He caught his shirt collar and threatened him softly “How dare you come here?”

“Leave him Arul” spoke a sweet voice. “I called him here”. Arul could see Mridula running up to them.

“Mridula, why is he here?”

“Arul, I promise, he will not create any problems for us. I have spoken to him”

Arul looked at the MLA’s son and could see him nodding his head.

“You better stay off her dude” warned Arul.

“Marriappan..” the MLA’s son extended his hand once again. I am threatening him and he is extending his hand to me!! “Arul Vaidyanthan” Arul shook his hand.

As Arul walked into the changing room, he could see Mridula whispering something to Marriappan in a hushed voice.
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“Where is the bride? Bring her” ordered the priest.

In the midst of all the smoke, Arul sat there chanting all the mantrams. Relatives from both the sides gathered behind him on the stage.

Arul could see his brightly decorated angel,Anjali, walk towards the stage. Her purple colored saree with golden border shone brightly in all the lighting around the stage. She came and sat next to him.

He adjusted himself so that he sat more closely with her. “Asian paint?” he questioned her. She was a little aback by the question. “No.. its Nerolac” she nonchantly replied and laughed.

“A perfect Kodak moment” laughed Mridula standing right behind them.

Just then a small boy came running towards them.

“Thaata.. thaata..” he stopped to catch his breath. “Thaata has fainted. They are calling Mridula akka”

Silence loomed over the marriage hall. All the people on the stage stood shocked. Mridula literally jumped off the stage as she ran towards the grandfather’s room.

“Why are they calling Mridula” Arul questioned Anjali.

“She is doing her MBBS”

Arul didn’t know what to do and figured out that it would be best to sit in his current position.

“Call the ambulance” Mridula’s voice filled the strangely silent marriage hall.

Anjali and Arul got up. “What are we going to do now?” Arul questioned Anjali.

“I don’t know” replied Anjali as she stepped down from the dias.

Arul just stood there motionless.. Oh no!! So close yet so far..

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