Crazy but Intelligent
1677 Words
Arshad was dressing up after taking a bath. Aanandhi brought coffee for him. She extended the cup towards him. He took it from her hand and kept it on the table. Aanandhi was about to leave the room.
Arshad: Aanandhi wait.
She looked at him, turning her face. Arshad opened the closet and removed a bunch of money.
Arshad: Take it.
He gave it to Aanandhi, whose eyes became wide in shock.
Aanandhi: Hey god….. What’s this Arshad?
Arshad: Your pocket money.
Aanandhi(biting her nail): Pocket money? But I have no pockets in my dresses.
Arshad(rolling his eyes smilingly): OK fine. keep it in your purse.
Aanandhi: But why?
Arshad: For your expenses as you are going to go to college from tomorrow.
Aanandhi: Am I going to go by taxi?
Arshad (frowning): Not at all. I will drop you every day by car.
Aanandhi: Won’t I take lunch from home?
Arshad: Obviously you will. But why are you asking this?
Aanandhi: If that’s the case, then what’s the need for money? That too much? She asked nervously.
Arshad (amazed): Won’t you spend money on your own needs? (she nodded no) You should keep money in your hand when going out of the house. We should be alert all the time. Because we don’t know how the situation will be. Ok?
Aanandhi: Fifty rupees is enough.
Arshad: You don’t need to spend it, but keeping it with you won’t harm you. Is it that much weight or what? He asked smilingly.
Aanandhi: But what if I lose it? I would be tense if I carried this huge amount. She said nervously.
Arshad: Get used to it Aanandhi. You have to handle such situations. No problem if you lose it.
Aanandhi: Won’t you scold me?
Arshad: No.
Aanandhi: Why?
Arshad: Does anyone lose money intentionally?
Aanandhi: No.
Arshad: Then what’s the point in scolding?
Aanandhi nodded yes affirmatively. He took her palm and kept the money in it. Aanandhi was staring at the money without blinking as she was seeing this much money for the first time, that too, for her personal use. She thought for a while and took two hundred from the bunch.
Aanandhi(hesitatingly): This is enough for now, Arshad.
Arshad nodded no smilingly. She forwarded the remaining amount to him.
Arshad: Keep it with you. You can use it whenever you want. And you can ask me if you want more.
Aanandhi (panicking): More??? No, it’s enough.
She kept it in the closet.
Arshad (self-talk): Arshad Sinha Raut… seems like your bank balance will never get decreased. What wife have you got? Mrs.ASR is frightened of handling money… Try to get attached with her soon to get children. Then only your earnings will get its value. He smiled inwardly.
Next day
Aanandhi woke up earlier than usual. Arshad was glad to see excitement.
Arshad: Aanandhi, take it.
He extended the box.
Aanandhi: What’s this Arshad?
Arshad: Open it.
She opened it and it was a mobile phone. She was about to say something…
Arshad: Don’t say “I don’t want”. This is not for you but for me. I want to contact you whenever I want. Ok?
Aanandhi: But I don’t know how to operate it.
Arshad: Did you know me before our marriage? (she nodded no) do you know Raut's? (she again nodded no) and Mumbai? (she
nodded no) but you get used to everything. At the same, you will be expert at using this phone in one or two days. (Aanandhi gulped looking at the phone) Everything will be odd until you keep distancing yourself from that. You will get to know about it completely only if you get close to it. So try to get close to everything which is yours, Aanandhi.
He uttered the last sentence with extreme calmness and a deep look to make her realize exactly what he wanted to understand.
Somehow, he succeeded too. It churned Aanandhi’s stomach and, for the first time, she couldn’t take her eyes off of his face.
Aanandhi saw Mythili coming with Pooja thali. Aanandhi rushed to her smilingly while Arshad sat on the recliner to check mail on his Laptop. Mythili kept a pinch of vermillion on her forehead and fed her sweets. She moved to Arshad and was about to keep vermillion on his forehead,
Aanandhi: Mythili, he won’t believe in God.
Mythili(smilingly): I know, but my Chinni won’t refuse me. Ever. Is not it Chinni?
Arshad smiled, looking at Aanandhi, who was in confusion.
Mythili(touching Aanandhi’s cheek): My Chinni loves me so much. Nothing is more important than me for him. That’s what I love
Aanandhi.
Aanandhi put on a smile and Mythili left the room. Aanandhi sat on the bed with a deep thought, biting her nails.
Arshad(murmuring with a smile): Don’t know what’s running in her mind.
Arshad: What are you thinking?
Aanandhi ( nodding no): Nothing.
She left the room hurriedly, leaving Arshad frowning.
….
Aanandhi got ready to go to college. She took blessings from Grandma and Nirupama and wishes from other Raut's.
Arshad: Shall we go?
Aanandhi nodded yes and followed him. Arshad smiled, seeing her excitement. Aanandhi got confused because that was not the route to her college.
Aanandhi: Arshad, where are you taking me? This is not my college route.
Arshad: Are you sure?
Aanandhi: Haa. We went on another route that day.
Arshad: Not bad. You are more intelligent, Aanandhi. I thought you would have forgotten the route because you went to your college only one time.
Aanandhi(with pride): Yes, I can remember everything easily.
Arshad: Good, Aanandhi Kumari Solanki Sinha Raut.
Aanandhi (widening eyes): How big is my name? Should I say my name like this every time?
Arshad(chuckled): Your wish.
Aanandhi: Where are we going?
Arshad: To meet important people.
Aanandhi: Whom?
Arshad: You will get to know that in a few minutes.
Aanandhi: But we will be late for college.
Arshad: No. we started earlier.
After that, Aanandhi didn’t ask anything. Mumbai was new to her. So she was watching the city through the window. Arshad stopped the car and gestured her to get down. Arshad rang the bell of a small house.
Aanandhi shouted in excitement when the door got opened, as it was Mahima who opened the door. Aanandhi hopped on Mahima, making her take a step back. Arshad chuckled at her antics.
Arunita: Ohooo… won’t you behave like a married woman? (looking at Arshad) Namaste My boy.
Mahima: Please come inside Son.
Aanandhi: When did you come here Mom?
Mahima: Yesterday night.
Aanandhi (looking at Arshad): Why didn’t you say it?
Arshad (raising his brows): To surprise you.
Aanandhi (to Mahima): Mom, do you know, I got admission to college.
Mahima(shocked): What!!! College? Did you trouble him, Aanandhi? What would Raut's have thought?
Arshad: No aunty. She didn’t say anything regarding it. It’s purely my decision. I want her to study because she is that capable.
Aanandhi raised her imaginary collar proudly, which Arshad definitely liked very much.
Mahima: She always wanted to study Son, but our financial state was not in favour of fulfilling her wish.
Arshad: It’s ok aunty. She can study whatever she likes.
Arunita: You are so lucky to have such a good husband. Crazy girl. You are studying doesn’t mean you can skip your duty at home.
Try to be a good daughter-in-law to your family.
Aanandhi nodded ok.
Arshad: she is an understanding girl aunty. She will manage everything cleverly.
Mahima and Arunita admired him, praising Aanandhi.
Mahima: What do you like to have?
Aanandhi: No Mom, I’m getting late for my college. We will come another day. Is not it Arshad?
Arshad: Sure.
Aanandhi: Bye Mom, Bye Aunty.
Aanandhi took blessings from them and left. Mahima’s eyes brimmed with tears.
Arunita: Don’t get emotional Mahima.
Mahima: I never expected my child would get what she wished.
Arunita: So true. A crazy girl is so lucky to get such good in-laws.
Mahima: Shashi is not lucky enough to see his daughter going to college.
Arunita: It’s all fate Mahima. Don’t think about what we don’t have. Be happy for Crazy girl.
Mahima nodded yes with satisfaction.
On the way to college
Arshad: Aanandhi, this is the first day of your college.
Aanandhi: Haa Arshad. She said joyfully.
Arshad: I don’t need to say anything as you are an understanding girl. This society will be new to you but not so hard to cope with.
People will not be the same as us. Don’t bother about them. Try to learn something from everyone, then you will succeed.
Aanandhi: From everyone?
Arshad: Yes. Learn from good people how to be and learn from bad people how not to be. Ok?
Aanandhi: What should I learn from you?
Arshad( chuckling): You have to find it. Take good things which you like in me. Ignore what you don’t like.
Aanandhi drowned in deep thought. Obviously, she was analyzing about Arshad and Arshad knew that. So he didn’t disturb her. They
reached college.
Arshad: We reached.
Aanandhi looked outside through a window.
Aanandhi: Thank you.
Arshad: For?
Aanandhi: for sending me to college and also for advising me.
Arshad: My pleasure.
Aanandhi smiled pleasantly at Arshad, making his heart pleasant. When Aanandhi got down from the car, she saw Loli was waiting for her. Arshad gestured her to take care of Aanandhi. Loli nodded yes. Arshad was supposed to leave, but Aanandhi called him.
Aanandhi: Arshad… as you advised, I have started learning things… (Arshad raised his brows curiously) that we should encourage everyone to make them happy (pause) I learnt it from you, Arshad, because no one ever praised me like you do.
Arshad got stuck. Aanandhi smiled at him and started towards Loli. So she understood that he was encouraging her so much. Then she was really intelligent.
Though sometimes she looks crazy, sometimes she looks intelligent as well. Arshad was looking at her retreating figure smilingly.
He went to the office with the same smile throughout the way to AR.
- Writer
