Wake up, girl!

by Niharika Jindal

I felt tears well up in my eyes. They were making such an effort to cheer me up.

  I smiled and played Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast from Mohra. There’s just something about the Nineties that I love.

  The cheap thrills were about to begin.

  Chapter 17

  My phone was pinging.

  This was becoming somewhat of a pattern. I needed my sleep.

  Another ping.

  What was going on?

  Whatever it was, it could wait. I had been dreaming about being on a yacht all by myself, surrounded by the vast ocean, listening to my favourite Coldplay tracks. I really wanted to get back to that dream.

  Someone was calling me now. My phone was vibrating.

  ‘Ugh,’ I groaned.

  I looked around me and saw that the bed was empty. Avishi and Sunaina were already up and about.

  Another ping.

  What the fuck was happening!

  Just check your phone and see what the big deal is, instead of cribbing about it, you fool!

  I finally took my phone out from under the pillow where I generally keep it at night, and saw that I had fifty WhatsApp notifications and ten missed calls. It was barely noon yet. Apart from my birthday, I had never been so popular.

  Intrigued, I opened my WhatsApp inbox. My family groups had gone barmy. Both Dad and Mom’s sides of the family. WhatsApp groups were quite annoying most of the time, especially the family ones. The older generation had finally found a new forum of staying in contact with each other, and couldn’t get enough of it.

  My family inboxes were basically overflowing with messages offering heartiest congratulations to someone. It seemed that some unfortunate soul had just got engaged.

  I scrolled back up to the beginning of the message thread, and when I finally reached it, my heart stopped beating.

  ‘Our darling daughter, Naina, has finally found the special someone she’s going to spend her life with! The boys’ side said “yes” this morning! We are super thrilled!’

  OH MY GOD!!!!

  With my hands trembling, I dialled Mom’s number. Busy.

  My mind had gone numb. I couldn’t think.

  What do I do?

  Naina. Get up. Talk to Mom and Dad.

  I quickly changed into whatever clothing I could get my hands on and took the elevator to my parents’ room. My mind was still numb. I didn’t have a single thought in my head.

  Was I really the one who was engaged?

  I reached their room, and knocked on their room door. I could hear excited voices from within.

  The door opened and I entered. Mom and Dad were both on their respective phones.

  ‘Yes, we are so happy…They are extremely kind and good people…Rohan is an amazing boy…’ Mom was talking animatedly into the phone.

  ‘Bahot acche log hain. Naina is very lucky.’ Dad mentioned to whomever he was talking to.

  I could finally feel rage building up inside me.

  ‘Mom. Hang up.’

  She must have sensed the urgency in my voice and on my face because she immediately hung up. ‘Naina beta! I’m so happy! Congratulations!’

  She tried to hug me but I pushed her away.

  ‘How could you do this? You didn’t even ask me once before consenting to my marriage!’ I screamed.

  Dad hung up, too. Tears started streaming down my face.

  The worst part of the situation was that they seemed bewildered by my tears.

  According to them, I should be happy. They didn’t think that they had done anything wrong.

  ‘I’m the one getting married! Don’t you think you should have asked me before saying yes!’

  My parents’ expressions changed. They looked mildly annoyed rather than concerned.

  ‘Naina, stop this drama. The Agarwals really like you. Suchitaji and Sanjayji called this morning to tell us that Rohan accepts the rishta. What more do you want?’

  ‘I DON’T WANT TO GET MARRIED!’ I shouted. ‘Why can’t you both wait for a year or so before getting into this matchmaking frenzy? I’m still very young. It’s not like I’m pushing thirty and about to miss the marriage boat!’

  ‘Did you not hear a single thing I said to you the other day?’ Mom fired back. ‘Good rishtas like these don’t come again! Naina, you may not like to hear this, but don’t be under the illusion that boys are lining up to propose to you. Who knows if we’ll find a good match a year from now? What will you do then?’

  ‘All this talk about not wanting to get married now is pure nonsense,’ added Dad. ‘You always knew that you’d get married early. You should consider yourself lucky that you’ve found such a nice boy and family in the first attempt. Not everyone is so fortunate,’

  ‘I don’t want to be fortunate!’ I howled. ‘I’d rather be unfortunate than get married to Rohan.’

  ‘People don’t have enough food to eat or a roof over their head, and, look at you, acting so high and mighty! It’s all because we have pampered you too much. You think you know it all? You haven’t seen anything yet, Naina. The world is not so rosy as we’ve painted it for you. Reality has not struck you yet, which is why you’re talking such nonsense right now,’ Mom said.

  ‘I don’t even like him, Mom! How can you expect me to get married to him?’ Tears were flowing copiously now.

  ‘What do you mean you don’t like him?’ Mom repeated. ‘What’s not to like?’

  ‘He smokes around ten cigarettes a day! He’s extremely stuck up. All he does is talk about himself! He hasn’t even asked me a single thing about myself. When I did try to talk about my life, he shifted the topic back to himself! Plus, he has no manners whatsoever! He brags about his wealth constantly! Rohan behaves as if he owns everything around him. I’m afraid if we get married, he’ll think he owns me too,’ I sobbed.

  ‘You should hear what you just said. Not one of these is a good-enough reason for you to reject Rohan. So what if he smokes? Don’t act like a hypocrite, Naina. Don’t think we don’t know what you’ve been up to at this wedding. You’ve been drunk almost every single night. The fact that Rohan knows you drink and is fine with it, is a big positive. If he’s fine with you drinking, why can’t you accept that he smokes? Doesn’t everyone your generation smoke these days? You ask us to be progressive, and then go all traditional on us. You can’t have it both ways, Naina,’ Dad exclaimed.

  ‘Maybe, he was talking only about himself because he was too shy to converse with you! It’s like you’re the biggest conversationalist in the world, Naina. If you weren’t talking much yourself, how could you expect him to talk all the time? Maybe, that’s why he was just sticking to topics he knew!’ Mom reasoned.

  Mom continued, ‘Also, why shouldn’t he brag? Their company is among the top ones of Delhi. No boy his age is doing as well as he is. Rohan brags because he’s working hard and is proud of it! Naina, we live in an Indian society. Girls have to compromise. You don’t have a choice. A husband is the bread-earner of the house; you will have to adjust. Look at me! I’ve been compromising for the past twenty-five years with your father.’

  Oh, please. He adjusts more to your tastes, than you do to his.

  ‘So, what if their company is among the top ones? Is money the only criteria when it comes to marriage? Being rich does not make Rohan the right life partner!’ I countered.

  ‘Naina, stop being so philosophical and filmy. You’ve seen too many Bollywood movies. All this love bullshit does not last beyond a point. Once the honeymoon period is over, you’ll realize that love is just a phase. Don’t make me repeat your cousin bua’s story to you. You know how much she repents her decision,’ reminded Mom.

  I recalled the reason why Ayaan and I had broken up, and it made me even angrier.

  ‘Mom, I don’t care. If I do have to have an arranged marriage, I’d rather meet the other boy, Akshay! I felt more of a connect with him compared to Rohan.’

  ‘That boy? He couldn’t say a word in front of his parents. His father was the one who did all the
talking. Akshay didn’t say a word. Rohan, on the other hand, was so confident. He described his role in their business, rather than his father. Besides, they are nothing compared to the Agarwals in terms of money. Rohan is the right choice,’ Dad said.

  ‘I don’t think I can adjust to life with Rohan. Why can’t you both understand that? He’s completely against women working or doing anything after marriage! I know I’m not working right now, but what if I want to in the future?’ I said.

  Inner voice, any words of advice?

  Sorry, Naina. You’re on your own here. They are on a rampage.

  ‘Naina, don’t be insensitive! Act your age! Our generation didn’t even have the liberty of meeting the boy before getting engaged! Hamare time pe aisa nahi tha! Our parents decided for us, and we met on the day of the engagement. That’s what happened with your Dad and me. At least we got you to meet the boy beforehand. Don’t act so ungrateful! Do we look unhappy to you? We adjusted with each other, and have spent the last twenty-five years happily together. Once you spend enough time with Rohan, you’ll realize what an amazing boy he is! Handling such a huge empire at such a young age. Don’t close your mind to him from now itself. When you have a daughter of your own, you’ll understand what we go through for your happiness. Also, don’t do all this naatak of wanting to work after marriage. You’re so used to your life of luxury and of not doing anything. You’ll fit right into their household,’ Mom said angrily.

  Through my incessant sobbing, I managed to cry, ‘I don’t care about all this! Please tell them, no.’

  ‘We have given them our word, Naina. There’s no way we are going to say ‘no’ to them. I suggest you give Rohan a fair chance; otherwise this situation is going to be all the more difficult for you. Your engagement ceremony is day after tomorrow. You better get over this nonsense before that,’ Dad warned.

  Suddenly, my phone pinged. It was a text message from Akshay.

  ‘Hi. Are we on for lunch today?’

  Amidst all the chaos, I’d forgotten that Akshay had texted me the previous night when I was out for dinner with Rohan, and we’d made plans to meet for lunch today.

  I called Sunaina. ‘Hey. Do you mind going for lunch with Akshay today? Yes, the first boy I met. There’s a situation I need to deal with, and I don’t want to cancel on him last minute. Seems that I have a fiancé already.

  Chapter 18

  ‘Naina, smile, please. You look like someone’s died,’ Mom whispered.

  Yes, Mom, I have died from within.

  Her eyes were popping out with restrained anger and growing worry that I’d mess up the situation somehow. We were entering Emporio to shop with Rohan’s mother for tomorrow night’s engagement ceremony.

  Sorry, my future mother-in-law.

  I wanted to throw up.

  I’d spent the entire day yesterday crying and trying to salvage the situation somehow. But, there was no budging from either side. I was getting engaged to Rohan tomorrow night.

  How was I supposed to get engaged to him, let alone marry him?

  Why had he said ‘yes’ to me? We had no emotional connect whatsoever. He had never given me any indication that he was even remotely interested in me.

  After our apparent commitment to each other, all I’d received was a single text from Rohan that said: Hey. I’m glad this worked out between us.

  Maybe he does like you, Naina. He just doesn’t know how to show it.

  Oh, please, inner voice. He lives in Delhi, for Christ’s sake. From whatever he says, sounds like he’s had enough exposure to know how to woo a girl.

  I was wearing huge black sunglasses to cover my puffy, bloodshot eyes. Yesterday and today’s crying jags had taken a toll on my face.

  ‘Remove the glasses, Naina! What will your mother-in-law say when she sees you?’

  ‘She’s not my mother-in-law yet, Mom! Stop saying that!’ I said in defiance.

  Were my parents a part of Hitler’s crew at some point of time?

  Cause they were definitely acting like they didn’t have a heart, and didn’t care about me even a single bit.

  I removed my sunglasses and composed myself. I was wearing a semi-formal Indian outfit. Apparently, I had to look traditional for my first official meeting with my soon-to-be mother-in-law.

  We entered Ensemble and there she was, waiting for us.

  Mrs Suchita Agarwal.

  Rohan’s mother was a petite woman, with a tiny, pretty face, and chin-length hair.

  She rushed towards me in delight and gave me a long hug. ‘Naina beta! I’m so happy! I’m going to have another daughter in the house! My son is so lucky to have found such a beautiful girl.’

  I touched her feet, as I’d been instructed. I kept a small smile on my face. I didn’t want to create a scene in the middle of the store by bursting into tears.

  ‘Are you okay, beta? You seem a little pale,’ she asked in a concerned voice.

  ‘I’m fine, Aunty. Just a little overwhelmed,’ I answered.

  ‘She’s fine, Suchitaji. These things take time getting used to,’ Mom said quickly with a fake laugh.

  ‘Beta, please call me Mom or Mummy or whatever you want! I’m your mother as well now.’ Rohan’s mother stroked my hair.

  This was getting more out of control by the second.

  ‘Okay,’ I said. My smile was definitely much more forced this time.

  ‘Sapnaji, please get mehendi put on her hands before the function tomorrow!’ Future mother-in-law instructed Mom.

  ‘Yes, Suchitaji, will do!’

  Once Mom had gone a bit ahead in the store, Rohan’s mother turned to me. ‘Naina, you are happy with this rishta, right? I want you to feel completely comfortable around me, beta. If at any point, you are unhappy with anything, please tell me. I meant it when I said I’m your mother now, too. You are equal to Shreya for me. In fact, you’re coming into my house by marrying my son – for me, you mean much more than even my own daughter.’

  Okay, I’m sure this was a lie. This was just a typical Indian melodramatic statement. No daughter-in-law could mean more than an actual daughter. Rohan’s mother seemed really sweet, in all honesty. I’d thought she was just another Delhi socialite who didn’t have a sensitive or sweet bone in her body.

  ‘I know you and Rohan haven’t been able to spend much time with each other. You like my son, don’t you, Naina beta?’ Rohan’s mother asked me with adoration in her eyes.

  It was the same look Jaya Bachchan had in Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham whenever Shah Rukh Khan came on screen.

  This was my chance. I could easily say no to her face, and this entire situation would just fade away.

  I fake smiled at her again. I could see Mom staring daggers at me from behind Rohan’s mother.

  What was wrong with me?

  I could have easily solved this debacle on my own. But, looking at future mother-in-law’s hopeful and sweet face, which had so much love simmering in her eyes, I just couldn’t make myself say anything.

  ‘Suchitaji, come take a look at this lehenga!’

  ‘Oh, wow! My bahu will look mesmerizing in this…’

  ….

  The Agarwal estate on Aurangzeb Road looked opulent and decked up for the engagement function. They must have hired someone at the last minute, at an extremely expensive rate, to do such a good job overnight.

  I, on the other hand, was decked up in my midnight-blue Sabyasachi lehenga, with diamonds glittering in my neck and ears. I was amazed at how good I looked, considering I felt anything but good from within.

  Avishi, Yohaan and Sunaina were given the duty to make sure I maintained proper decorum, and didn’t create a scene.

  Since I had been crying continuously since the news of the engagement, my parents were scared I might do something stupid at the ceremony.

  ‘What should we call Rohan?’ Yohaan looked skeptical.

  We had just reached the venue, and were walking in.

  I didn’t even feel scared any longer. My min
d was perpetually numb these days. I was just going with the flow. I didn’t know what else to do.

  ‘Huh? I don’t know. Rohan, I guess?’ I answered.

  ‘Naina, when will you grow some brains?’ Mom said. ‘You have to call him jiju, Yohaan!’

  Yuck. I was glad Yohaan was mirroring the same disgust on his face that I was feeling.

  ‘Welcome, beta!’ Rohan’s parents and Shreya were standing at the entrance, waiting for me.

  I touched their feet, and Rohan’s mother kissed me on both my cheeks. Shreya gave me a semi-hug. She looked extremely pretty in her off-white colored lehenga.

  ‘Welcome to your new house, Naina.’

  I took a huge breath and walked in.

  I noticed that guests were already mingling in the huge garden. All these guests were obviously from the Agarwals’ side. My parents hadn’t informed anyone, as it was such short notice. It was only my immediate family, Nana and Nani, and Sunaina. Mama and Mami had already flown back to Mumbai with Neesa.

  Rohan’s mother still held my hand in hers, I noticed. She really was quite sweet.

  I was ushered to the centre where a small stage had been set up. My siblings and Sunaina, my own version of a security detail, followed me. Rohan was already present there, with seven or eight boys hovering around him.

  ‘I’ll leave you in Rohan’s care now,’ Rohan’s mother said with a wink and left.

  Don’t leave me and go, future mother-in-law! Take me with you! I’d rather be in your loving care!

  ‘Hi, Naina. How are you?’ Rohan asked me.

  That’s it. Nothing else. He didn’t even greet my brother and sister!

  ‘Oh, before I forget. These are my boys,’ Rohan said.

  He gestured to the group of guys around him.

  By ‘boys’ I guess he meant his close friends. I saw that Vidur was one of them. I waved to him.

  I waited for Rohan to say something to me, but he had already turned away and was engrossed in a heated conversation with one of his ‘boys’.

  ‘See what I mean?’ I hissed at Sunaina. ‘He doesn’t even like me!’

  She nodded, ‘Sshh! His parents are coming!’

  Rohan’s mother seemed to be upset about something. I could see it on her face.