The uninvited

In her blue sleek velvet gown, Apoorva looked like, beauty personified. She patiently waited for the Baraat to enter completely. She kept herself busy looking right and left and into her phone and then scratching her neck while looking at her sandal and then pretending to be over call; all to avoid the curious eyes of the non- dancing uncles and aunties. The Baraat except for these uncles and aunties was a crazy crowd of Pink turban clad men and blue shawl clad women. Perhaps it was the dress code. She stood in darkness until the complete crowd was inside the gate of the Welcome Guest House. Then, taking a deep breath and remaining vigilant to collect data on, at least, one member of the Baraat, she went in. Her ears were, as if, fitted with microsensors. As she walked in, she saw three girls, with marigold garlands in their hands, busy gossiping.

"You did not notice Karan? How could someone NOT notice HIM?" She heard the first girl almost freak out at the second. This statement could have some crucial information for an unsuspected entry. Thus, Apoorva pretended to be busy over a call while eavesdropping the conversation. 

"She is a freak. She didn't notice him because she was busy garlanding that filthy betel chewing aunty when HE passed by." the third girl taunted.

"Okay fine!! Who is this 'Karan'? Is he some celebrity or what?" asked the second girl in a casual curiosity.

"Girl!", The first one excitedly explained, "The most handsome guy in pink turban at this venue is him. He is the younger brother of the groom."

Okay, this information was sufficient for entry, dinner and exit. Apoorva again took a deep breath. Although this was her frequent activity; once in a week in festive seasons; but today she was a little nervous because Supriya wasn't there with her in the crime. She had gone home for an occasion and the hostel's food had become too boring to be eaten. So, Apoorva couldn't resist. Well, she moved forward rolling her shivering fingers into her black shiny hairs, not worried; but cautious.

As she reached the girls, one of them approached to garland her. She quickly held it humbly and shyly smiled, saying, "Thank you."

The first girl, probably the most talkative and extrovert one said, "You look beautiful."

"Thanks." Apoorva replied again with a humble smile, while the hungry naughty Apoorva, inside this Apoorva, was pushing her towards the dining area. She could feel the music of the sizzling tikki, she could hear the kachoris diving into the ocean of ghee, the burning drops of water on the dosa tawa sounded like a spark of hunger to her. But the girls had no idea of Apoorva's compelling desire.

"We are Tarun jija's saalis. And you?" asked the second one. Apoorva wasn't prepared for this question. She needed some time to switch from delicacies to exigencies. She feared that she would fumble, so quickly bend down pretending to check the strap of her sandal. Then, got up confidently and with a proud smile, said, "I am a friend of his younger brother, Karan."

"Oh", as if someone snatched the smile from the faces of the girls, especially the first one. Seemed like she had some plans that were shattered with Apoorva's statement. Apoorva was feeling bad for doing it, but she had no other option. The girls quickly tried to be friendly again, though.

"Oh obviously. You are a perfect FRIEND for him." said another girl.

"Whatt?" Apoorva expressed mild disagreement with the over-emphasized "FRIEND" and tried to convey them, with just a shy eye gesture, that it was not what they thought.

The conversation didn't seem to end soon, so Apoorva had to play a trick. She pretended to take a call quickly, "Hey Karan! Yes I've come yaar.... At the gate.... No no you stay there, I will find you..."

Keeping the phone, she turned to take their leave and they cordially asked her to enjoy the party and the dinner.

Well, she had nothing to do with the party, but the dinner- that was the bull's eye. Her watery mouth could not utter words now. She headed straight to the refreshment stalls. However, she was vigilant to stay away from pink 'turbaned' and blue 'shawled' people. She need not worry about the yellow turbans, as they were all from the bride side and she could safely bluff being Karan's friend, if one of them asks. 

At the chaat stall an uncle noticed her waiting for long, so he offered her the plate, that he got after much struggle.

She gratefully took the plate and smiled, but as soon as she saw his pink turban, she realized the blunder she did by accepting the plate. But she could not even run away. So, she took a bite and at that point the curious uncle lovingly shot a question at her,

"Didn't recognize you. Whose daughter are you beta?"

The clever girl had dealt with such situations before. So, though nervous, she knew what to do. She started coughing heavily as if the tikki had blocked her wind pipe.

The panic stricken Uncle turned to call someone to bring water but Apoorva somehow conveyed that she will take it herself and escaped the scene. 

What she did wrong perhaps, was that she was too unwary of the yellow turbaned people. She readily told them that she is Karan's friend. 

Her eyes were always searching for the most handsome guy in pink turban. No, it's not what you think. This search was not intended at meeting him, but to stay away from him.

While she was devouring a dosa on a cornered round table, a boy in yellow turban came and sat down. He seemed to have escaped some situation like Apoorva. He was stealthily looking around, too indulged in his act to notice the girl beside. Suddenly he noticed Apoorva.

"Oh. I am sorry for disturbing your solitude." He worriedly apologized.

"Hmm...okay." Apoorva was too mouth filled to speak more than this. And the guy waited for her to finish the bite before a conversation could take off.

But, Apoorva now couldn't feel as free as she did before. She wanted solitude for a hassle-free dinner.

"You?? From groom side??" The guy confusingly asked.

"Hmm. You know Karan?? I am his friend." Apoorva was overflowing with confidence.

"Oh my gawwwd." Exclaimed the guy, loud enough to frighten Apoorva.

"What happened?" She fearfully asked.

"You are Karan's friend and I am Karan's enemy... I mean okay... Not really enemy... but we have quarreled quite a lot of times and everyone has warned me not to face him in the marriage. For him, I am not invited at the event. But I fear you will tell him that you saw me." The guy panted as he explained.

"Thank god" sighed Apoorva to herself and then said to him, "Why would I tell him?? I won't." She was more interested in the dosa than the guy and his matter.

"What should I say?" But he couldn't resist explaining, "We quarreled on various pre-marriage rituals as I am a bit conservative and he, highly radical. And eventually he placed a condition that he would come in the marriage only if I am not invited."

"Oh" Apoorva realized that she must react, even if a little, to stay in the game.

"Yes!! But it was not easy for Tai to not invite me. I am her all round worker.... I mean not servant... I am her neighbour...  But I help her a lot... Thus, she just asked me to avoid facing Karan in the party. But you know what? I think he saw me. Or may be not. So, I rushed to hide. Please do not tell anyone from the groom's side. Please."

"I won't." Saying this, Apoorva smilingly engaged herself again into another big bite of Dosa.

After a moment of silence, the guy again spoke, "Listen. Can you please do me a favour?"

Apoorva did not want to say a yes but he didn't give her even a chance to speak.

"Please warn me if Karan approaches here. I will keep hiding until Tai calls me."

Apoorva wanted to quickly deny the job but the dosa seemed to be too bulky to swallow. She kept shaking her head but the guy remained ignorant. He rushed to bring two gulabjamuns and sat down saying,

"Thanks yaar. By the way. Me, Mungerilal."

"Mungerilal??" Apoorva was shocked at the name. She somehow controlled the burst of laughter and said, "Nice name."

"Thanks. That's my Dadaji's name. It is good I know, however a little old fashioned, so you can call me Mungeri, like most do."

Apoorva just nodded her head while thinking in her mind, "Even Mungeri isn't new fashioned, I believe." . Mungeri seemed too talkative for Apoorva to handle. He would just not shut up. Moreover, Apoorva had got a responsibility to warn him against someone, whom she did could not even recognize.

However, Apoorva bore Mungeri because he made the dining for her hindrance-free. He would ask other people from bride side for different food items and they were readily brought. Apoorva had a sumptuous meal. Once she was full, she wanted to leave.

"Okay, so I will need to go now." Apoorva said to Mungeri.

"Oh! Won't you meet Karan?" Mungeri asked.

"Definitely I will. But I suppose, you won't come with me to meet him. Will you?" Apoorva laughingly commented.

"Never never." Mungeri exclaimed.

Apoorva laughed and got up to go. Mungeri interrupted, "Wait. Just tell me one last time. Can you see Karan outside?"

The clueless Apoorva pretended to look outside, moving her head almost 150° and said, "No, he can't be seen here. It seems I have to call him to meet him."

"Oh please then. Wait a minute. Allow me to escort you to the corridor and then you call him. Please." 

Apoorva couldn't actively deny. She knew, she should but still she couldn't. Mungeri's eyes had such an appeal that she couldn't just put down the request. Mungeri moved out of the corner, looked around and sighed, "You were right. He isn't here. Let's go."

Thus, Apoorva and Mungeri walked together up to the corridor but as they reached the gate, a loud voice called from behind, "Here you are."

Mungeri at once turned, as if he knew it was for him. An aunty was very angry at Mungeri. She approached him and scolded, "How can you roam around like this. You are...." but suddenly noticing Apoorva with him, she paused to quench her new curiosity, "who is she?"

"She is my friend." He said with a smiling face. Apoorva was puzzled. But out of formality she bowed down to greet the aunty, with the thought that Mungeri might have lied to not get scolded for talking to someone from the groom's side.

"God bless you, Beta! You look pretty." Aunty replied very lovingly and then turn to Mungeri with anger redeemed, "And you. What is this? Where is YOUR turban?"

"That is why I am hiding for long..." Mungeri murmured, while Apoorva stood shocked trying to smell the truth behind this tussle. This turban thing could not find a reason in her mind.

"That's not the answer to my question. I ask where is your turban?" Aunty reprimanded.

"Ask Bhaiya's Saalis. Why are they behind me?" he replied in a fake irritation, "They should put their mind in stealing his shoes but instead, they stole my turban and now they are behind me to rob me off my wallet." then with a pause he added whispering, "so I stole a turban from their side and hid myself." Saying this his eyes effortlessly turned to Apoorva, who was stunned with the truth; a truth, that she was praying not to be true. 

Aunty clapped savagely and asked him to tie another pink turban that she had brought as extra.

The moment he tied a pink turban, Apoorva could see the most handsome boy in pink turban at the venue. But there was no escape. Her warm breath was suffocating her with the vapour of guilt and fear. She was lost in the nightmarish imagination of being laughed at, being mocked about and being pushed out with insult. She was so lost that she could not hear anything around and the pink turban clad Mungeri aka Karan had to gently shake her, "Shall we go?"

"Oh... Oh ya... sure." she answered, hiding her expressions, as if her imaginations would leak from her expressions. Both walked out of the gate for a couple of metres.

Apoorva shyly said, "I can go by myself...."

Karan humbly said, "Sure." and stood with a killer smile, waiting for Apoorva to move.

Apoorva moved a couple of steps and then gently turned back, slowly raised her eyes and said, "I am sorry."

Karan was quick to respond, "Come again?"

Apoorva knew it was not inaudible to him, he just wanted her to say it again; to feel the guilt again. Though she didn't like it, she shouted a little louder, "I said I am sorry."

Karan replied, shouting a little louder, "I said, come again.... in the morning... If the breakfast at the hostel is boring."

Apoorva didn't expect this and thus effortlessly stretched a wide toothy smile.

Karan reciprocated.