Mo Yaling

I was so exhausted with all the meetings with the event managers of my own marriage! Initially I had thought that I will be excused at least at MY marriage occasion! But what a shame to my family members! Everybody exposed their bright white or paan-blended, well structured or broken uneven pairs of teeth and turned their tails! And the excuse they presented was so ridiculous! That is – as I have managed all those previous ceremonies of my cousins I am the best person to handle all these staffs! No doubt I am the jack of all trade playing the jack-ass part of my own event! It wasn’t that hard even a few twenty years back – in my childhood, where I have seen my elders having meetings face to face. Those peoples, those managers were so intelligent and would have catch what their client’s requirements are - in an instant! But the app culture has brought down all the intelligence of the new age managers to their knee level. You have to instruct each and every detail through the app or else the ‘managers’ will make a mess out of it! Whatever – I have managed everything somehow. I entered my room, freshened myself up, prepared a large on-the-rocks and cross-checked the list to see if anything is left to do. No! Nothing is left. I have done a good job. I patted my shoulder as I finished my drink. It was one of the cold winter midnights when the call awaken me up from my deep sleep with a jolt. Initially it took some time to gather myself around. I get hold of my phone to see the smiling face of my dearest old haggard, It was none other than Professor Steve Oda from Tohoku university. ‘What's up man in this midnight!’ I yelled at him with a mock angry tone, ‘well – if you have come to know about my marriage – you could have congratulate me afterwards also!’ ‘To hell with your marriage darling! It is just a beautiful winter midnight in your country and you are just wasting it by silly marriage dreams under your quilts! Shame on you young man!’ ‘So what does you suggest to do in this ‘cold’ night my dear sweet old man!’ ‘Oh! Come on! BE with your friends! Enjoy the last days and nights of your celibacy man! GO! Drink yourself out! Party!’ ‘Well professor! I will – of course! But-’ ‘Oh shut up!’ The Professor cut me off as he speaks, ‘just get up and pack your bag man. Remember the promise I made you? I have got all the permissions required. don’t worry about your papers. They are done and with me. Just grab your bag and meet me at the airport at eight sharp!’ What the big F! NOT again! This cannot happen to me! May be I am dreaming. I twitched my head vigorously as if to shake it from my head. I clutched my hairs and gave my head-ball a shake just to found I am really awake strongly! ‘But professor-’ my own voice heard so feeble to my own ears. ‘Cut your crap darling! I know you are coming! See you at eight!’ the man disconnects his phone. What shall I do now? Should I call him back? Will he listen to me at all? NO WAY! The infuriated face of my fiancée in my cognition took away my breath as well as my sleep! I bite my nails as I sweat badly as I thought of my sweetheart’s face. How can I bunk my marriage for the THIRD time for the same old man? What is this sign? Does the supreme power, if there are any, doesn't want me to get married with her? Why it happens all the time, that, when my marriage is arranged this old friend of mine calls for an adventure? What shall I do now? My previous experiences are fifty fifty. The first one was a success. The professor took me to search out the trails of an extinct species of a butterfly. We not only found them, but also strained out a generation from their eggs. So, when the next time the same thing happen – I didn’t hesitate to bunk my marriage and join the professor. But that expedition FAILED! And I had to acknowledge all the abusing bad names from my sweetheart – AND believe me – they weren’t sweet at all! What will happen this time? Shall I join the old friend after a couple of days? What will make the difference? Oh man! What am I thinking! Of course it WILL make a difference! Being with Steve at the starting of an adventure has of course a particular meaning! I will miss so many things! Waves of thoughts flooded my mind but I couldn’t grasp a single solution! The very next morning I entered my fiancées’ house with a bunch of roses, that I collected (as the thieves do of course!) on my way, from a neighbours garden. May be the droplets on the petals will soften my approach! As I thought of the situation – I felt more and more confident. After all she loves me. She knows my passion for adventures. She knows that she is mine. She will understand that a marriage can wait for fifteen-twenty days but an adventure cannot. What difference a marriage will bring between us - a little early or little late! I stood under the tent with the bunch of roses in my hand, a little embarrassed. This is NOT a customary to visit the bride when the marriage is just two days to go. But what anyone can do in this situation? It is almost five thirty. I couldn’t see a single person except a few workers who are coiled in a bunch under their quilts in a corner of the tent. Then suddenly my luck opens as I saw the old lady, the dai-maa, who takes care of my fiancée from her childhood. She opened the door amazed, made me comfortable in the drawing room and went inside to inform her. Not very late, she came running, wearing a robe over her night dress, her hairs rumpled. ‘What is it my dear? What happened?’ ‘I … er … was … just … er ...’ suddenly I saw the roses in my hand. How could I forget them! ‘Actually I just collected them to give you! Fresh! Aren’t they?’ She took them from my hand with a little disbelieve in her eyes. Of course – I am NOT a ‘rose’ guy – she knows! ‘Actually I was thinking-’ my confidence was coming back, but she stopped me. ‘Baby!’ she spoke in a very soft fondness as she touched my unshaven chin with her mehendi coated palms, ‘you didn’t slept last night!’ ‘No! No! Actually the call – I mean – the phone – I was scrolling through your pictures ...’ I managed somehow. It was close! I have to break the news slowly. ‘You look exhausted dear! Come – we will discuss everything over some tea – come with me.’ She smiled and grabbed my hand. I followed her to a room. Some of her cousins were sleeping there. She literally kicked them out off their slumber and turned towards me when they are all gone, kissed my lips and said with deep emotion, ‘Everything will be sorted out dear – I promise!’ I was so overjoyed that I couldn’t utter a word. I think she has understand my situation! Of course! She is my soul-mate! BAM! KHATAK! The strong sound of slamming the door and locking the latch brought back me to reality in a Giffy! I am a CAPTIVE!