Chapter 3
The first rays of the sun quietly made its presence felt through the beautiful cream curtains taking a peek at the lovely person who slept.. she had an angelic face…the innocence of a baby. The birds seemed to want her to wake up too..they seemed especially enthusiastic today as they sat on the window ledge and wanted her to wake up. She woke up, a small smile on her lips, said a silent prayer and got out of bed. She tip-toed her way around her room, got dressed in her track pants, t shirt and a jacket. She quietly went down the stairs, took her ipod, wore her nike trainers. She looked around hoping she did not disturb her sleeping parents and the rest of the staff.
The beautiful narrow roads of Kodaikanal, awaited this ethereal beauty..to see her jogging across, her silken hair twisted and secured with a clip..as she quietly jogged along. It was a beautiful dawn..women working in the estates were already on their way to work and they all wished her with folded hands. She smiled at them all..they were happy to see a glimpse of this lady- the epitome of grace and beauty. Kodaikanal was slowly waking up.. the sun’s rays fell on the beautiful hills bathing the entire valley with its golden touch. At a distance she could see the Silver Cascade falls, quietly asking her to acknowledge it..she could feel the cool water flowing…hear the gushing of the water falls..she loved the beauty and tranquillity of this place.
Her 6 km jog done, she sat down on a bench overlooking the Bryant Park, remembering the promise she made to her parents to go with them on their walk this evening. She sat down inhaling the scent of the Eucalyptus trees. Her ipod played a wonderful Beethoven symphony.. she couldn’t help but smile- both of them were poles apart. She liked Beethoven, whereas he loved rock music..but she listened to that too, trying to cultivate a taste-but could not. She did not have the heart to tell him she preferred something else.
She stopped by the market place to get the day’s newspapers and jogged back home. People looked at her with respect and awe, not quite knowing who she was- the elusive writer- Ms Priya Sharma. Little did they know about her, just that she came from Mumbai and spent around 6 months in this beautiful estate.
Priya came out to the lawn, fresh after a shower, in a beautiful white Lucknowi salwar kameez with a bandhni dupatta thrown across her left shoulder. She hair was not quite dry, her face devoid of make up except for a layer of moisturiser, her eyes lined with kohl. She carried a tray of tea and biscuits and walked to her parents with a lovely smile.
Priya: Good morning ma, good morning papa..
Their eyes lit up at the sight of their beautiful daughter..
Sudhir: Arrey good morning beta…itni jaldi tayyaar ho gayi..chutti hai na, why don’t you relax Priya?
Shipra: Aur waapis aatey hee ghus gayee kitchen ke andar? Beta, why do you have to do this? Don’t we have staff to take care of all this?
Ramu kaka came to them with a long face ..
Ramu kaka: Sirji, please don’t pay me salary for this month..
Sudhir: Ab tujhe kya hua?
Ramu kaka: Aur nahin tho kya..jab bhee Priya memsaab yahaan aatey hain, hamen kuch kaam karne nahin dete..its like Ramu kaka, papa ko yeh pasand hai, ma ko woh pasand hai, bhai yeh khaatha hai..tho mera kuch kaam hee nahin..why pay me when I don’t do a thing in the house?
Priya: Ramu kaka, aap bhee na, kitna jhoot bolte hain? Aapne itney saalon se hamarey liye jo kiya who sab bhool gaye? Ab main hoon tho kar rahi hoon, otherwise aap hee tho karte hain na iss ghar ki dekhbaal?
Sudhir and Shipra look at each other with pride.
Priya: Papa, yeh leejiye your newspaper..aaj pata hai difficult Sudoku hai ismey..
Sudhir: Arrey wah! Phir tho mazaa aayega Priya..
Shipra: Priya..ab tere papa yahaan se hilenge nahin..I asked him to come with me to the temple..ab inki expressions dekhney laayak honge..jab yeh puzzle solve nahin kar paathey na tho bachon jaise sulk karte hain!
Sudhir: Aisa kuch nahin hai Priya..my solve karoonga..mera dimaag kitna tez hai pata hai na!
Shipra: Haan pata hai..har baar Priya se chess mein haarte ho..tez dimaag!!!
Priya looked at her parents with joy..she did not have big wishes in life..all she wanted was her family to be happy and healthy. She smiled and went inside to let her parents have some moments of togetherness.
Shipra: Sudhir, aapko Priya se baat karni chahiye, she is 35. Ab tho ussey shaadi ke baare mein sochna chahiye naa? Uske umar ki doston ki shaadi ho chuki aur bachey school jaa rahe hain. Please Sudhir, who aapki baat nahin taalegi..
Sudhir: Mmmm Shipra..baat tho sahi hai, but you know Priya is so special. She needs a person who will understand and love her. Kahaan se laaoon aisa special damaad ko? But I will talk to her and find out if she has someone in mind.
The same evening, Sudhir and Priya were at Coaker’s walk-her father’s favourite place taking a leisurely stroll.
Sudhir: Priya, can I ask you something?
Priya: Ji papa..kahiye
Sudhir: Beta, tumne apne baare mein kuch socha hai?
Priya: Matlab?
Sudhir: Priya, you are highly qualified, an award-winning writer, very successful at whatever you do. But what about marriage, kids?
Priya: Papa, main aisa hee khush hoon..with you both.
Sudhir: Beta, but as parents it is our duty to see you happily married and settled in life.
Priya continued to walk in silence. The fact was that she never gave it a thought. She was so busy studying and following her dreams that she did not feel the need to get married to someone. She worked with a lot of NGO’s so she treated all those children as her very own.
Sudhir: Priya, kahaan kho gayi?
Priya: Hmmmm, kuch nahin papa..bas yun hi
Sudhir looked at her-his joy and pride- she said very little. But he had to know.
Sudhir: Priya, what kind of a person would you want to marry?
Priya was taken aback at the direct question . She thought for a while..
Priya: Papa, I do not think I will find that person. He just exists in utopia!
Sudhir: Arrey, tell me and let me see if any of the boys I know will fit the bill.
Priya: Papa, you know me- I am a simple person- I would like to marry a simple person too- an honest, simple guy who values his family and who does not care about my wealth or fame. Priya continued ..aur my dear papa..aisa ek aadmi ke liye you will have to place your order with the Creator!!! He only exists in my dreams..so papa..aapko mujhe jhelna padega…
Pre-cap..Priya’s phone rings..she looks at the number, a smile lights up her face but a sudden change in expression..Sudhir looks on perplexed!!!
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