It’s Not Right…but It’s Okay

by Anuj Tiwari

  ‘It’s great that you have come to meet us. By the way, any plans to apply some of that romance in real life or will it continue in books only?’ Dimpy aunty teases him before going into the kitchen.

  ‘I’m very hungry, just give me something to eat,’ he says.

  ‘You haven’t changed at all,’ Aunty runs her hand on his head.

  Years have passed but Arjun has maintained his relationships in a way that they only become stronger with time.

  Dimpy aunty is cheerful but also calm. She has a romantic husband who spends most of his time with her but these days he is travelling on some business. They have raised two girls together. While one is there with Arjun in the room, the other is yet to make an appearance.

  ‘Ya mamma, I am hungry too,’ Anushka demands some food.

  ‘Just give me ten minutes,’ Aunty replies from the kitchen.

  ‘Arjun, come, I will show you my room.’

  They go to the other room.

  ‘It used to be the library when you had come last. We used to have such great discussions there,’ Arjun says

  ‘Yes, you were boring since college days,’ she chuckles and takes him to her room.

  The room is dark when they enter. Anushka switches on the lights. It seems the room is shared by Angira and Anushka. Arjun finds Angira’s notebook on the table, a few cosmetics like lip-gloss, eyeliner, a bra in the corner of the bed and few of Anushka’s pictures, with Angira and Dimpy aunty, hanging on the wall just above the table. Anushka hides the clothes under the pillow before Arjun notices them. He lies down on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

  ‘I am sorry, Arjun, about lying that time that you wanted to meet Mom but I had no other option.’

  ‘That’s okay. I know you didn’t have any other option. What do we do now? Should I beg her to send Angira with me?’

  ‘You know Mom very well, she’ll listen to you. If you can assure her that you will be there for her and take Angira under your wings, then she will send her. Angira will be stuck here forever otherwise.’

  He picks up a notebook. Turning the pages of the book, he notices the sketches on the last page.

  ‘You sketch?’ he asks her.

  ‘That’s Angira’s,’ she answers, taking the notebook from his hand. She sits next to him and the bed creaks.

  ‘Anushka, start dieting,’ he says, and immediately bursts out laughing.

  She is a little embarrassed. ‘Shut up! Are you done laughing?’

  ‘So are all these related to fashion? These designs are really nice.’

  He flips through the pages of the notebook while talking to Anushka about random things.

  ‘I feel Angira needs to go out. She has changed a lot, but just because she is going through a heart break doesn’t mean she should pause her life. I know she can manage herself very well. She just needs some time to get her life back together,’ Anushka says.

  ‘Hmm, I agree. So where is she? When is she coming home?’

  ‘Must be on her way back by now.’

  ‘So this is the only reason why you girls made me come from Kolkata to Delhi. You owe me a treat if Aunty agrees.’

  ‘Promise,’ Anushka says, crossing her fingers.

  She is lying down on the bed next to Arjun.

  ‘It’s been a long time since you last came home,’ she says, staring at the ceiling.

  ‘Yes, more than two years.’

  ‘Did you notice Mom? She became so happy after seeing you. She misses a son in the family.’ Anushka pushes his legs making more room for herself on the bed.

  ‘I am always there for her. The son of this family…’

  Arjun doesn’t let her feel that she lost a brother and that Aunty lost her son in a road accident two years ago.

  ‘I am hungry, let’s go,’ he says.

  All Indian mothers operate from the kitchen.

  Aunty announces, ‘Arjun! Anushka! The food is ready.’

  They all gather at the dining table in the hall, and relish each bite of the aloo parathas with curd and butter. Along with dinner, Dimpy aunty brings her humour to the table as well.

  ‘Before marriage, Punjabi girls are hotter than the girls of any other state. After marriage, they are fatter than the women of any other state!’

  ‘Speak of the devil and devil is here,’ Anushka says as Angira appears in the hall.

  ‘We were not talking about her, were we?’ Arjun jokes.

  ‘She’ll kill you if I tell her what you just said,’ Anushka says.

  Arjun looks at Angira and murmurs, ‘I didn’t say anything.’

  ‘Hey, how are you? I didn’t say anything about you.’

  Wearing a salwaar kameez and her hair in a braid with a ribbon, Angira looks like a typical Punjabi girl. Her natural jet black hair curls around her forehead. She looks rather cute with a reluctant smile. Her lips are pink, always ready to curve into a smile. She has the perfect curves. At five feet four inches, with beautiful eyes and red cheeks, her soft and flawless skin possesses a natural glow, almost radiating a positive energy.

  ‘I am good. Hope you are doing well. Good to see you home,’ Angira says, smiling.

  ‘Yeah,’ he replies while eating the last bite of his paratha.

  Keeping his word to Anushka, he asks Dimpy aunty, ‘So Aunty, Anushka told me that Angira is coming to Mumbai for fashion designing.’

  ‘Yes, she wants to,’ Aunty says from the kitchen.

  ‘When is she going then?’

  ‘Beta, we don’t know anyone there. It’s a new city. I am telling her to get into a good college in Delhi if she really wants to study.’

  ‘Oh Mom, don’t start again. I have decided, that’s it,’ Angira says, and goes to her room.

  ‘See,’ Aunty says, frustrated with her daughter’s tantrums.

  ‘Every day we hear something in the news. So I asked her to look for something here in Delhi. I don’t feel safe sending her out of town,’ her mom explains. She has already lost a son. There’s no way she is going to leave her daughters alone.

  ‘That’s true but Mumbai is a safer place, you know. She can go there if she wants to go. I saw her sketches in the room and she really has potential,’ Arjun openly declares his support for Angira.

  ‘Yes, mamma, he really liked them. I mean he is impressed.’ Anushka adds, trying to make a strong case on behalf of Angira.

  In Arjun’s mind, things are taking a different direction. He is not sure yet about looking after Angira in Mumbai. What if something happens to her in the future that Dimpy aunty might not appreciate?

  Angira comes back and joins them.

  By the way mamma, because Arjun is there in Mumbai, if Angira wants any help she can simply call him. Plus, living in a new city might help her feel better as well.’ Anushka looks at Angira and then at Arjun.

  ‘Yes, I agree,’ Arjun says while smiling reassuringly.

  ‘Yes, Mom, please let me go. My friend Charu is also going, please. I will study hard, promise. Please…please…please,’ Angira pleads.

  ‘How will you manage your accommodation and food there?’ she asks, finally showing signs of agreement. She is warming up to the idea, but her heart is still not completely convinced.

  ‘I can take care of that, don’t worry. If she wants to come to Mumbai, let her come, but she must promise that she will study hard. No late night parties.’ Arjun puts forward his conditions, though he knows Angira will not follow these rules.

  Angira gives him a puzzled glance as to why he would say the last sentence—‘No late night parties’—because her mom anyway doesn’t know about the night-outs she goes for.

  ‘Yes, I promise, Mom. Let me call Charu.’ She texts someone on the phone.

  Arjun understands that things seem to be going as per plan for Angira, but he’s still clouded with doubts. He realizes that one can walk with someone but can’t walk for someone.

  ‘I don’t have any problem sending her to Mumbai, but given what happened with her in the past
I am really scared,’ Dimpy aunty says while seating herself on the sofa.

  ‘Mom, let’s not go there. Everything is fine now. So why are you worried?’

  ‘But…’

  ‘No ifs and buts, everything is fine, Mom. Let me go,’ Angira says, kissing her mom on the cheeks.

  ‘Ask your father once,’ Dimpy aunty says.

  ‘I have already informed Papa that I got into a good college. He was waiting for your green signal!’ Angira seems set with her plan.

  Arjun is just listening to the whole conversation like a school kid in a classroom.

  ‘Okay, so everything is done. Happy? Now go pack your bags and get ready,’ Anushka announces.

  ‘Mom, make us some coffee for now. I am taking these guys out later and will drop Arjun as well. He needs to catch his flight back to Mumbai. I will call you if I get late.’

  ‘Coffee is ready,’ Angira says.

  She looks like the real Angira now—happy and cheerful.

  ‘You came just for a day?’ Aunty questions Arjun.

  ‘Yes, I came for some work and thought I must drop by to meet you. I have to come again next week,’ he says, giving Anushka a nervous glance.

  ‘But you…’

  ‘I couldn’t prepone the plan,’ Arjun tells Anushka. She remains silent.

  ‘Very nice, beta. Thanks for coming here. Come again. Whenever you come, I feel so happy,’ Dimpy aunty says while Anushka and Arjun are busy gossiping.

  ‘Adopt me then,’ he says, making her laugh. That is what she likes best about him—his ability to make someone laugh no matter how tense the situation gets.

  These are Arjun’s best known qualities amongst his loved ones—to infuse every moment with humour and the tendency to look ahead with a positive attitude.

  ‘Anytime, beta,’ Aunty runs her hand over his head.

  Anushka hands over the car keys to Arjun as they begin preparing for their departure.

  ‘Am I going to drive?’ he asks.

  ‘Yes. While you are in Delhi,’ she responds.

  ‘But I don’t know the roads here.’

  ‘You have roamed around more than I have for sure. Don’t make me open my mouth,’ Anushka mumbles so that Dimpy aunty cannot hear their conversation.

  Arjun smiles and remembers how years ago he used to roam around the streets of Delhi with Anushka by his side.

  Arjun is ready within minutes, and after seeking blessings from Dimpy aunty, he leaves with Anushka and Angira.

  ‘It was nice meeting you. You can come anytime you want to.’ Aunty pats on the back of his head when he touches her feet. She gives him her blessings, ‘Rab rakha puttar, jeeta reh.’

  ‘It always makes me so happy to meet you Aunty, and I’ll miss your aloo parathas with curd and butter!’ Arjun says with a smile.

  ‘You sit comfortably, I’ll drive,’ Angira says, taking the keys from Arjun and getting inside the car.

  He sits on the backseat of the car with Anushka.

  ‘Thanks a lot, Arjun,’ Angira says while putting on the seat belt.

  ‘For? Convincing your Mom to let you go to Mumbai, is it?’

  ‘Yes, Mom wasn’t ready as you know,’ she says, as she accelerates and drives the car.

  ‘The credit goes to her. She brought me here and lied to Aunty saying that I wanted to meet her.’

  ‘I didn’t lie. I just manipulated a little. By the way, lies are not lies if they are spoken for good reasons.’

  ‘Oh, my philosopher,’ Arjun says in an exasperated voice.

  ‘Actually, this was our plan. I was aware of it,’ Angira says. ‘Let’s drop the subject. No point going on about it. What’s done is done. Let me take you somewhere we haven’t been before.’

  ‘You both will get me in trouble one day,’ Arjun says.

  Angira slows down in front of a karaoke lounge bar.

  ‘Are we going in there?’ Arjun asks, feeling relaxed now that he does not have to convince anyone anymore.

  ‘Yup, today is your day. This place is all yours,’ Anushka says pointing at the lounge.

  ‘You know I don’t sing,’ he says, smiling.

  ‘Shut up and come quietly. I know everything about you. What you do, what you don’t,’ Anushka says as they get out of the car.

  They enter one of the best karaoke houses in Delhi—a vibrant, upscale leisure destination for those who believe food is for the tummy and music is for the soul.

  ‘Wouldn’t you just love to get high and embarrass yourself in front of everyone?’ Anushka pokes Arjun in his waist.

  ‘Is it? I am always embarrassed when I am with you.’

  ‘Oh thank you, thank you. So go ahead, discover the singer in you,’ Anushka nods.

  The menu is irresistible with classic vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes and salads. The ambience with its dim-lighting and cozy décor is romantic to say the least. Everything looks just perfect. Angira is about to say something but she takes a sip of water and leans back instead.

  Arjun orders Paneer-e-Shola, while Anushka asks for Kakori Kebab. Angira decides to skip food altogether and asks the waiter for vodka with orange juice.

  ‘Make that two,’ Anushka says with a smile. ‘You want some?’ she asks Arjun.

  ‘No, I am good,’ he says.

  ‘So have you also come here for the first time?’ he asks Angira while Anushka is busy texting someone.

  Though she replies with a nod, he senses that there’s something on her mind. He decides not to ask anything further.

  ‘So are you still single?’ Angira asks, fiddling with the potato skins on her plate.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Either you aren’t able to get the right girl or you are too reclusive. Which one is it?’ she asks with a husky voice.

  Clearly taken aback, he shrugs his shoulders. ‘May be. I need to analyse this tragedy.’

  They both laugh.

  There is an unexpected announcement, ‘Now let’s have a big round of applause for Anushka!’

  Anushka looks stunned as people clap for her, forcing her to come to the karaoke area.

  ‘Go, this is all yours.’ Arjun shows her the way towards the stage. ‘I’ll kill you. Did you give them my name?’

  ‘It’s already announced, go… Now go and rock the floor,’ he repeats.

  She gives her cellphone to Angira and goes to the stage confidently.

  ‘She is good at singing,’ Angira declares proudly.

  ‘Yeah, I had heard her during our college days,’ Arjun says as Anushka is walking to the stage.

  Anushka holds the microphone. Music starts to play in the background and everyone is stunned the moment Anushka’s voice comes on.

  This is where I long to be

  La isla bonita

  ‘She is so much better at singing now.’ Arjun is glad that he is enjoying the day with these mischievous sisters, which he didn’t think was even a possibility earlier.

  ‘I told you,’ Angira says with a knowing look.

  ‘Very nice, Miss Anushka.’ Arjun gives her a glass of water.

  ‘Hey, I need my cellphone,’ Anushka takes her phone. ‘I’ll come back in five minutes.’

  ‘So what happened? Anushka told me a little bit, but I wanted to ask you in person.’

  Angira takes a large sip of vodka, before looking at him to answer. ‘Who knows better than you that when you love someone more than anything and they leave you for no reason, then you just breathe but don’t really live. Am I right?’

  ‘Correct,’ Arjun nods.

  ‘You know, Arjun, I had faith in God but whatever happened in my past has turned me into an atheist. There is no God in the world. There is just a…’ She doesn’t say anything for a while before finishing with a smile, ‘…let’s not go there.’

  ‘I can only say that things happen for a reason and for a good cause.’ He lets the waiter serve the drink that he ordered for Anushka when she had gone to sing. Anushka joins them back.

  ‘Sometime
s I feel like finding a rich guy even if he doesn’t love me because people eventually ditch you anyway. At least if I know he doesn’t love me, it’ll hurt less.’

  ‘It seems like three shots of vodka have done the trick,’ Anushka comments.

  Angira is emotional. People behave weirdly after drinking actually, because that’s when the truth comes out. They say what they have always wanted to say, but never had the courage to do so. And this very behaviour is considered ‘weird’ by society.

  Arjun finishes his glass of beer.

  ‘What?’

  ‘Now it’s your turn,’ she says, sounding playful and revengeful all at once.

  ‘The sun will rise tomorrow so just get up and keep walking. Don’t stop.’ He tells Angira he’ll be back soon.

  ‘You are going to sing? Seriously? Oh my goodness. I am blessed. Go! Go! Go!’

  Arjun is not only a guitarist but a decent singer as well. He reaches the stage and holds the microphone in his hand, and looks into Angira’s eyes.

  ‘For the sisters who accompanied me to this karaoke bar tonight,’ he says with a smile.

  I’ll love you long after you go.

  And long after you’re gone gone gone.

  Once the song finishes, everyone gives Arjun a standing ovation.

  ‘You were just OMG,’ Angira says to him in amazement.

  ‘Thanks,’ he replies shyly.

  Forgetting Social Boundaries

  ‘Let’s go, we need to get Arjun inside the girls’ hostel,’ Anushka looks at Angira with a naughty smile.

  ‘What? Are you mad? I don’t want to get into trouble. I am not going anywhere,’ Arjun replies firmly.

  He is enjoying spending time with them but it is not fun jumping the wall of a girls’ hostel, especially when you’ve had one too many beers.

  ‘Oh come on! Don’t be such a spoilsport,’ Anushka says with a giggle.

  ‘I am not a spoilsport. I just don’t want to go to jail. I know how terrifying Delhi can be.’

  Anushka pinches him and pulls him by his arm outside the bar while Angira pays for the meal.

  ‘Come on, let’s go.’