Marriage arranged

"Keep your phone in your pocket." Mummy reprimanded Vivek in a whisper while carefully keeping her smile intact.

Vivek was replying to his friend over whatsapp, but for the fear of the second wave of anger, immediately kept his phone in the pocket.

Just then, an aunty from the girl's side taunted "Arey beta!! You are toh not eating anything. How will you become a dulheraja with this level of shyness? Learn something from our Tikku..." and everybody's eyes turned towards Tikku who was whispering something in her elder sister, Vidhi's ears. Tikku was stunned by this sudden attention.

"Kyun Tikku?" The aunty said to Tikku in a teasing tone.

"Bua!! Say 'Vishakha', please." However, low Tikku spoke, everybody could hear and all burst into laughter.

Vivek's father's said, "So Beta Vishakha (pronouncing 'Vishakha' too clearly) Give us your opinion about Vivek. Are you okay with this...?"

"Uncle..." Interrupted Vidhi, "Can we allow them to have a personal conversation?"

Vivek's smile could not be hidden. He was waiting for this moment from the time he entered the hotel. Thank goodness Vidhi didi said this. Had he relied on Vaibhav bhaiya and Madhu bhabhi, this chance was gone.

"Oh yes! Of course!" Uncle said enthusiastically. Turning towards Vivek, he added, "Go young man." and then whispered, "Impress krke aana. Naak na katana."

They went to an adjoining room.

"Tell me when the conversation is over." Vidhi went out with these words.

There was silence for about half a minute and then, thinking that a moment gone in silence is a moment wasted, Vivek spoke, "So, you wanna ask anything?"

"I don't want to marry." Vishakha said in a low voice but without treble.

"Sorry. Whatt??" Vivek couldn't believe his ears.

"Yes you heard that right. I don't want to...." She spoke a little louder than previous attempt.

"Fine. That closes the case. Let's tell our parents...." Vivek was neither sad nor angry; he was both. He could not understand what to do in such extraordinary circumstances. Subconsciously scratching his sideburn, he briskly got up.

"Nooo. Please listen to me completely for once and then decide." She pleaded.

"Whatt? That you love someone else and your parents will not agree for.... I am not that typical hero of Roja, you know?!! Just keep me out of your love story." He was extremely disturbed.

"Please. For once. Listen to me. I swear it is not a matter of another guy. It's about my job." Vishakha pleaded again.

Vivek's mood changed a bit at this. Vishakha slowly raised her head and looking straight into his eyes said, "Please?"

Her eyes had an appeal. They were innocent and beautiful. Though still not convinced, he sat down to listen to her and she began to narrate.

"I have a job in Bangalore. Joined it about three months ago. So, there is no chance of getting transferred this soon. I asked Dad to look for guys who have job in Bangalore but he summarily denied saying that it will "look like" a love marriage." She exhaled in disappointment. Vivek was listening, though pretending not to be very interested in her story. She continued.

"When I conveyed him that I won't be given very long holidays by the company post marriage, Dad asked me to leave the job right away, saying that after marriage I invariably have to leave it for I will have to live with my husband. I don't want to leave my job. It's not about money, it about the feeling of being employed. I am working hard for promotions and once I get a level up, tranfers will be ...." 

"So, what do you want?" Vivek was sympathatic for the girl but still said interrupting her in a blank tone.

"Unless someone says 'yes' for marriage, Dad will keep insisting me to meet new boys. If you say 'yes', while knowing that it's a 'no' and just before wedding we can create some drama and...."

"Excuse meee... Is it a movie going on???" Vivek interrupted, bit loudly.

"Shhhh! Please don't convey this outside. If you don't want to do this, please simply say that you don't like me and reject me. But please don't tell them what I just told you."

"Why have I to do this? Why didn't you tell this to the other boys you met? I mean... If in case, you met any" Vivek said in frustration.

"I told them all." Vishakha said.

"Whatt!! And what did they do?" Vivek shockingly asked.

"Rejected me." Vishakha replied.

"Understandable" Vivek murmured.

And then again there was silence.

"I am sorry if I...." Vishakha tried to break the silence.

"Oh! Please. Let me think." Vivek irritatingly yet not harshly said, "Even if I agree to help you, how will we get out of it at last? Do you have a PLAN for that too?" The tone conveyed a feel of taunt to which she replied, "Yes."

"On the day of marriage, you will have a fake accident and you and some of your friends will convince your parents and relatives that I brought a bad omen to your life. And thus, I am a bad luck. And with this blame it will be hard for my parents to get me married and I can do my job."

Vivek was extremely surprised, "You have no problem with a bad omen being attached to your name. I mean seriously? Just tell me one thing... Do you ever in your life want to get married?"

"Yes I do. But not now. Not at the cost of my job. I want to be an equal half of my better half in all situations. Don't want to be dependent in any case."

"But what about me? I had come here for marriage" Vivek said in disappointment because of the one sided deal.

"Oh! I shall help you find a suitable girl." Vishakha smilingly said with a stress on 'I'.

"Oh yes. You. And suitable girl." Vivek smiled back in taunt but then said changing his tone to normal, "Okay I shall help you. But on a condition."

"What?" Vishakha was worried.

"No one. Absolutely no one other than me and you will know about this plan of ours. Papa has already had a cardiac arrest on Baba's death. I wonder what the consequences will be if he gets to hear...."

"Don't worry. No one will know about it. I promise. We shall act as if we are actually going to get married. Is that okay?" asked Vishakha.

"Okay." Vivek smiled. And just then little Summu, Vaibhav bhaiya's daughter, came into the room and said to Vivek, "Chachu! Papa says, 'Saari baatein aaj hi kr loge kya?'" Her tone was so innocent that they both started laughing and came back with Summu. Summu ran and jumpingly sat beside her mother on the sofa.

"So?" asked Vivek's father. Both, Vivek and Vishakha nodded in agreement.

"Arrey waah! Fir se muh meetha kriye." And Vivek's father pushed a Rajbhog in Vishakha's Dad's mouth.

Vivek's days began to be mystified with thoughts of marriage. He had to remind himself again and again that it was all fake. Vishakha remained indifferent for the initial days but the day of engagement seemed to have some impact, even if a little. The push on the ring that she reluctantly applied to give it a place in Vivek's ring finger, that very push seemed to push her towards him a little. They held each others fingers, wrists, shoulders, all thanks to the cameraman. They also exchanged phone numbers after engagement on the insistence of relatives. Yes their engagement was all fake as per their plan but what were not fake were the presents, the rings, the blessings and the feel; the feeling of getting one step closer.

A day after engagement, Vivek opened his whatsapp, customized the notification for the new contact and typed a message, "Hey! All okay?" But then deleted it without sending. "It will look impatient." He thought.

And he kept the phone screen off. Just then the customized notification ringed. His heart stopped for a fraction of second and then beated faster. Again a ring and again. Three messages in a row. He picked up the phone with a happy shock and opened the chat. But as soon as he touched the chat he realized, "Damn it. I should not have opened it this quick. She will think I was waiting for her message. Damn it. Damn it." Vivek was pulling his hair when Madhu bhabhi saw him from distance and with eye and hand movement asked, "What happened?? Okay na??"

Vivek immediately coming back to normal nodded in a yes like an obedient boy. Bhabhi smiled and went and Vivek sneakingly then looked into the chat.

Message1- Hello Vivek!

Message2- It's Vishakha.

Message3- I hope yesterday's function did not change your mind about our plan.

All his excitement was washed away. He typed, "I thought you would change your....". Deleted. Then typed, "Why? Did it change yours?". Waited for a while. Deleted and typed, "Don't worry. It didn't." And sent.

A thumb emoji came in return.

He deleted the chat and kept the phone.

In the evening he got a call from an unknown number.

A very melodious voice said from the other side, "Hellllo Jijjajji."

"Hello. Who's this?" Vivek wasn't in a mood to joke, especially in a matter where the whole relation was a joke.

Somebody seemed to snatch the phone and then a male voice said, "Hey Vivek! This is Prashant. One of Vishakha's friends. Sorry, we stole your number from her phone. We have planned a birthday surprise for her tomorrow and we eagerly want you to join. Nothing can be more surprising for her than your presence. Can you please?"

"Oh!" Vivek couldn't speak. He was still thinking when a group voice came over phone both male and female voices mixed like a co-ed classroom saying, "Pleeeeeeease."

He said, "Please let me think. What time?"

"We are planning to keep it 7pm. But it can be shifted to anytime comfortable to you." said Prashant eagerly.

"No that's fine. I just want to be back home by 10pm." said Vivek and after a short friendly conversation kept the phone.

Vivek did not know what he did was right or not. Neither was he willing to impress or be close to Vishakha anymore but there was something in the air that made him feel happier with the thought of surprising Vishakha. Next morning, he bought a present for her, 'A lockable diary'.

And then came the evening when he was surrounded by Vishakha's friends, each one eager to meet him and talk to him. He was given very special treatment and then came the time when Vishakha was to arrive. He was send to hide in a room. She came in and was greeted by everyone and then Prashant said, "We have for you the biggest surprise of all." and then calling out louder, "Please come out."

Vivek came out with a bouquet and a gift in hand and Vishakha could barely believe her eyes. She was getting overwhelmed but she tried to prevent herself from falling in love with him. But her beautiful reaction couldn't be hidden, at least from Vivek, who was looking nowhere but straight into her eyes.

Little later while having their dinner, Prashant got in a conversation with Vivek, which Vishakha happened to unintentionally overhear.

"I am actually surprised that Vishakha agreed to leave the job. I have seen her work so hard to get it." said Prashant.

"Who said she's leaving her job?" said Vivek.

"Oh. I mean." Prashant initially hesitated but then continued, "I mean. You stay here and her job's in Bangalore. So?"

"So? Is it like mandatory to live together after marriage? What if I was working abroad and she had to stay back here?" Vivek replied firmly.

"That's really a great thought. So, she will continue her job after marriage?" Prashant smilingly asked.

"Definitely. And we both will keep looking for transfer to a common place." Vivek said with a wide smile on his face.

Once the party was over, Vivek humbly asked Vishakha, "Want me to drop you?"

"No. I shall drive back." She replied. Just then Bindiya called from behind.

"Tikku! I'm taking your car yaar. Mine one's stalled. Tyre deflated. Jiju! Can you please drop her?"

"Sure" said Vivek and then turning to Vishakha, "Come."

Vishakha reluctantly went with him. And as they drove across the parking, Vishakha spotted Bindiya's car.

"The tyres are all fine. She lied. Let me teach...." Vishakha said angrily unlocking her phone.

"Wait a minute. May be she wanted us to spend some time together." said Vivek.

"What is the need? We aren't getting married, are we?" Vishakha said in frustration.

"She doesn't know this, does she? And besides, can't we be friends even?" asked Vivek calmly.

Vishakha went silent. And after a moment she said, "What all you said to Prashant, was it just for the sake of saying or there was some truth in it?"

"What are you talking about?" Vivek pretended to be ignorant.

Vishakha replied, "Me not leaving job after marriage and all? I heard it all. Was it..."

"It could have been the truth had you...."

"Why didn't you tell me the day we met?" Vishakha asked somewhat irritatingly.

"You didn't give me a chance to ask you. You started with, 'I don't wanna marry'..."

"But you could have..."

"See! Don't fight with me like you are my wife." Vivek interrupted in a taunting tone.

"I am your fiance...." Vishakha replied angrily but immediately tightened her lips, realizing what she had just said.

There was silence for a moment.

"Please drop me some fifty metres before the house." Vishakha said in a serious low tone.

"Sure." Vivek replied with the same seriousness without taunting.

While going away from the car towards her house, Vishakha felt like she was leaving something behind. Not just a man who deserves her, but an opportunity that she might never get again. Vivek didn't move until she reached her gate. Something compelled her to turn back and wave hand with a reluctant yet willing smile. A smile that she wanted to express but also hide. Complicated it was.

Vivek waved back and drove away once she was in.

The subsequent days had numerous such events, where she realized that she won't get a man better than Vivek. But that little thing called ego, stopped her from expressing Vivek what she felt for him.

Vivek on the other hand, had been working hard to get through the fact that it's all fake. He so much wanted to marry Vishakha. They spend a lot time together in some gathering or the other, conversations over phone had become part of routine. Days passed like minutes.

About a week before marriage, the groom-side Pandit ji exploded a problematic fact, "The bride and groom should not meet or talk to each other until marriage. This is extremely important for the wellbeing of the groom."

The order was taken down word by word by both sides. No chats, no call and no meetings.

The first day wasn't that problematic. The second day was, a little. The third day made them a little more impatient. The fourth day was a type-then-delete day. They opened the chat typed something but didn't send it. Vishakha was more impatient, because she knew she was going to lose a gem.

On the fifth day, amidst the function in the house, she sneakingly opened her whatsapp. Vivek had changed his DP. It was some quote. Vishakha opened to read it, "Mere thought of owning a diamond makes me feel rich, no matter, in the end, I own it or not."

Vishakha couldn't stop her tears, and while she cried everyone thought she was crying for the pain of parting. Vidhi didi teased, "Arrey! She isn't crying for vidai. She is crying because she couldn't talk to her Saiyan ji for past five days." And everybody laughed. Vishakha too smiled with teary eyes. Later she put a DP with words, "The diamond awaits the gold to embrace it, wrap it and hold it for eternity."

Vivek must have seen it. Oh yes! He did. But he didn't reply. He typed a message, "I really love you and wanna marry you." But didn't send it.

The next morning, the alarm didn't wake Vivek up. The customised tone did. He opened his whatsapp, with a thought of not opening the chat immediately, unlike what he did the first time. But he couldn't resist once he saw the message on the whatsapp home screen.

"I wanna marry you." The message said. And then 'typing...'

He immediately opened it and the next message arrived.

"I am extremely sorry for messaging you. I didn't want to put your life in danger, but I had no other way. I want to spend my life with you and god forbid...if something happens to you, I promise the same will happen to me too."

Vivek's eyes were too blurred to read it. He inhaled and then wrote, "I love u too."

"And nothing will happen to me. I am coming to fetch you soon. Be ready... (Wink emoji)"

Vishakha replied, "Thank you so much. I am lucky to have found you."

"So am I..." Vivek replied.

The day of the marriage arrived. Dholak and Nagada couldn't take rest. Everything went as per planned. Not the fake marriage plan but the actual marriage plan but when it was time for the Baraat to arrive, a news arrived. The news of accident.

The car had flipped several times before crashing at the railing of the bridge and then had fallen down.

Vishakha was shattered. As if someone had robbed her of all she had. She sat in the sofa, almost lifeless and then with a jerk started searching for her phone. She immediately called Vivek. Switched off. Her last hope was gone. She was crying like hell.

Vidhi didi came running inside the room and hugged her tight.

"Take me to that place didi. I want to jump from...." cried Vishakha.

"Shut up Vishakha." Didi stopped her from completing the sentence.

Just then Vishakha got a call from unknown number. Being uninterested, she gave her phone to Didi.

"Hello! ...Oh! Vivek?" Didi was surprised, "Oh yes! Here she is." 

"Hello?" When Vivek spoke over call, Vishakha broke into tears and Vivek was extremely surprised, "Oh my god!! What happened dear.... Shhh... I am just late..."

"How are your injuries?" Vishakha asked still sobbing.

"Injuries? I am not injured? The tyre is though? Someone had put a large nail on the road and the tyre got punctured. When we came out to see it, two bikers snatched away our phones. And we were...."

"There wasn't any accident?" The surprised Vishakha asked.

"Accident? No." Vivek replied with shock.

Vidhi quickly went out to inform everyone that Vivek is safe.

With a pause Vivek sadly said, "I thought you wanted to marry me. So, I did not.... Do I have to have a fake accident?"

"Nooo... I do want to marry you. Everyone here knows your car fell down the bridge. I do not know where this news came from but I too was going to jump from....." and she began to cry again, "I wanna marry you. I love you."

"Oh my god! There is nothing like that. It must have been the other red i10. We had noticed it several times on our way. Oh my god. It was also a wedding car...." And he kept silent for a while and then poured all his love in his voice, "I love u too dearest one. And please do not waste all your make up money in tears. You will spoil all photos." he laughingly said.

Vishakha too laughed with tears rolling.

During their wedding, Vishakha gave Vivek the most precious gift. She gave him the key of the diary he had once gifted her.

"If there is ever a secret, it can never be mine, it will be ours." she whispered.