QUORA DIARIES

NINE

@AULINEESEN

“But we don’t even know each other so well..and..and honeymo..” Nandini stopped abruptly as she saw her mother-in-law entering.

Nandini and Manik’s marriage was an arranged one. Typical Indian Marriage. She had got only 20 minutes to talk to Manik and their parents had decided to marry them off. You can always trust Indian parents to do these things. They are quite unique you know. It was the 6th month of their marriage. It takes so many years to know who you truly are, leave alone your better half!!

“Yes..mummiji..I was just packing my suitcase.”

“You better take some thick sweaters of yours as well..I don’t want my bahu to come home freezing or like an ice manikin from her honeymoon in Kullu and Manali” said her mother-in-law. “Don’t you worry mom..we will be Ok.” said Manik eyeing Nandini apologetically.

No doubt that her in laws loved her dearly but she was not very comfortable with Manik  and neither was he but still they had agreed on their honeymoon trip only because of their parents. The next day they took a flight to Kullu and Manali. They reached the Hotel, took the keys of their room and entered it. “I am going to sleep on the couch. You sleep on the bed” said Manik. Nandini nodded her head. The view from the room was so beautiful-the mountains, the pines, a small channel of water and beautiful meadows. It was a mini replica of paradise!!

“Let us go outside and enjoy the weather.”

The weather was a bit cloudy with high chances of rain and huge gust of wind was blowing. They sat on a bench,rigidly. Nandini loved these kinds of weather. Nearby small native children were playing ‘Touch me if you can’. Nandini loved to play with children. Suddenly she got up,declared herself as the denner and started playing with the children.

“Atleast she is having some fun’ sighed Manik.

He got up and went to the cafe of the hotel to order two coffees. Meanwhile in that cafe, a kid started choking and taking big gulps of breath. His parents started shouting for help. Knowing no doctor better than Nandini, he hurriedly called her. Sensing the situation,Nandini came hurriedly and started checking the child. She started pressing his chest and told him to calm down. The child fainted. Nandini  started giving him C.P.R and stuck her fingers in his throat to take out a huge chunk of cake. The boy was immediately rushed to the nearby hospital. Though being unknown to him, she stayed with him the whole day only to know his condition. The doctor said there was nothing to worry and she had moved him to the hospital in the right time. She returned to her hotel at 3 p.m in the afternoon only to find Manik sitting on the bench and looking worried. After she had gone, he had not even got up from the bench and had drowsed there with his neck tilted.

“Are you Okay?” was the first thing he asked.

“Hmmm” said Nandini.

“What about him?”.

“He is fine..no worries…” returned Nandini .

Manik smiled a bit and then the rain started pouring.

“You want to stay outside?”

“Very much!!” said Nandini excitedly.

The rain fell first on her face and then drenched her on whole. She began smiling and laughing. Even though they both were tired, Nandini did her duty and Manik waited for her. Seeing her in the rain, Manik felt a tug in his stomach. He had started loving her from the second month of their marriage but allowed her to take her time, thereby not telling her. Nandink was too touched by today’s act of Manik. He brought themselves another two cups of coffee and kept it under the shade. Maybe he understood her and was always there to support her.She smiled and asked Manik to join her.

“We can enjoy our honeymoon, you know and not act as strangers.”

Manik was taken aback. The rain was pouring. He knelt on his one knee, took out a ring and asked “Will you be mine Nandini,  truly?”

Nandini looked at him joyfully and said “Yes my dear husband, Iwill. Let’s convert our arranged marriage into a love marriage!” They both started smiling and kissed each other. This was both of their first kiss. The rain poured and they enjoyed, but the coffee remained untouched once again…