I had always considered my internal contortions as the only obstacle in the way of me getting married. So after overcoming my partial pursuit of self-destruction and recognising my feelings for Devika, I thought happily ever after of my story was just around the corner. Little did I know that there were around hundred more people to be buttered before I could drive into the sunset with her. Talking about fighting for your love is one thing, but the thought of literally sword-playing with ferocious men who’d shred you like confetti in the blink of an eye made me piss my pants. Not only men, even the women with their moustaches akin puberty hit boys looked barbarous.
“Pussy you are, but that’s what makes you adorable.” Devika giggled as her fingers gripped the back of my hand, “Besides they don’t really fight for a living these days.”
“Are you both going to stand there and keep talking to yourself?” Thundered Digvijay Uncle, Nishi bhaiya’s father. On the flight to Gwalior, I had mugged up the names of all of Devika’s three grandparents, eleven uncles, eight aunts their respective spouses and some fifty-six cousins, even maids just in case. I somehow had a knack of consistently getting myself in the utmost complicated situations possible. As though once wasn’t enough, I was here again in front of the ‘To be Father-in-law’ to convince him to let me marry his daughter, after him agreeing to it once.
“Sir...” I said clearing my throat, “... sirs I mean, and ma’ams, and brothers and sisters...” I said as I looked at everyone. I had no idea what I was saying or what I was going to say. All I could think of then was to turn around and run away. I did turn, but then my eyes locked themselves on Devika who stood behind me, absolute as always, her eyes exuding warmth and love. Something she had done for the past nineteen years. I had an intense urge to smack myself every time I wondered what took me so long to realise how I felt about her. She had been right there in front of me all this while and I couldn’t see it. it was only when I lost her that the blood rushed to my brain. It was time for me to man up and face the warriors.
“I-I am sorry...” I said walking up to Devika’s father but maintaining a safe distance. “No words can justify what I did, so I can understand the anger and hatred you might have for me. I know you love Devika dearly and don’t want to see her hurt in any way. I love her too, it is my love for her that gives me the courage to stand here in front of all of you, and if it’s anything to go by, then believe that I’ll never let anything break her heart again...” I turned to look at Devika’s gleaming eyes. her smile made my heart pound and I began firing words straight out of it. Fifteen minutes later when I was done with my monologue, except for the ‘To-be Father-in-law’, the moustaches of all the men and women sitting in front of me were soaked in their tears. I stood there with my eyes fixed on Devika’s father for a reaction. He motionlessly stared at the floor for exact three minutes before he got up. It felt like all my innards had begun to run helter-skelter as soon he took his first step towards me, sweat began to drip from every corner of my body. I anchored my feet to the ground to keep myself from running away, but what happened next flipped all of the discomfort within me.
“Welcome to the family...” he said extending his hand towards me. “Lemme know when we can meet your parents.”
Devika jumped to hug him. I too wanted to do it but controlled my emotions, lest he would change his mind. Nishi bhaiya satiated my itch to hug as he pounced on me.
“You broke my heart...” Nishi bhaiya said hugging me, I felt few of my bones crumble inside me, “Don’t do it again, okay?” his rugged voice choked.
“I’m sorry bhaiya...” I said as he released his grip on me.
I spent next one hour hugging and touching the feet as Devika’s father introduced me to everyone. My forehead had never gotten so many kisses all my life. I was overwhelmed with all the love showered on me. I stood there smiling as people pulled my cheeks, clicked photographs, stuffed all sort of sweets in my mouth, asked questions after questions about filmstars, but to my surprise, I had no qualms about any of it. I gelled with all of them as if I forever belonged to the family. I guessed ‘The right time’ had come. I looked at Devika, covering her smile with her hand, rolling her eyes in mock anger, strands of hair falling on her face. I swear if it was a film, there would be a romantic song playing in the background. I loved her, so much that my heart somersaulted looking at her. All I could think of was hold her close and never let her out of my sight for a single second.
“Thank you...” I muttered looking skywards.
“Done talking to God?” She said as she hugged me.
“Hmm...” I smiled as I turned to face her. Somehow I couldn’t get enough of looking at her.
“Thank you...” she said hugging me, “The master shall reward you handsomely for it...” she said whispering in my ear.
“How handsomely?”
“Handsomely enough to fry your brains useless,” she said pecking a kiss on my lips. “But that’s for later, for now I have work to do.”
“Like what?”
“Like flying back to Mumbai and convincing your mother?”
“Shit!”
and the story continues…
Part-Time Devdaas... Page 26