Monsoon Rain - Chapter 5

Chapter 5

1 year later,

New York, USA. Time – 11:00 pm, Tuesday

Indian time – 8:30 am, Wednesday

Khushi look down to the street below connecting their residential area to the main road. Unlike India here is no fix time for the city to slow down take rest. Some people buzzing in some out. Overly the city never sleeps.

The monsoon has begun recently, bringing with it drizzling rain all the time. She likes monsoon in general, but the feeling of rain here in a foreign country is far more different than her own country, India. Here no ‘Mitti di khushboo’ (smell of the soil), whenever the first rain appears. No people drenching in rain, playing with mud. No flooding roads, no people rushing here and there to escape from rain. All in all, a whole a lot difference from her country.

But then it’s not like the Monsoon here is very dull. It just not like her own, but a foreign strange feeling which she started to love each day but then at the same time unfolding layers of layers of new things, trying to understand it, trying to absorb it as much as it offers. It’s like if she slows down today, she might not able to understand it ever or make it her.

She put aside her laptop, where she is writing down a story, an occasional hobby which now become a daily routine, and focused outside the window. AA strange smile crept into her face, as she looks on to the couple kissing each other while enjoying in the rain as they walk pass her building. Who said love doesn’t exist in big cities! It’s just that they don’t have the time to slow down and express their love, much like her marriage.

Unconsciously her eyes fell on their marriage picture frame, the only life size portrait hanged on the big hall. Anyone who entered into their house, the first thing their eyes fall is on this portrait and they can’t keep mum but praises the picture. It was a still from their marriage at the time of ‘Barmala’ (a ritual where the bride and groom face each other and garland each other). It was a candid picture of course.

Initially Arnav was reluctant to put it here instead their bedroom, but she was adamant, it has to put here only. Cause there are some emotion that can’t always be expressed through faces, but through some gestures, these gestures are so pure and void of any pretence that it touches heart more. But he as usual doesn’t understand any of it and whenever anyone go gaga over the pic he will just dismiss it saying that it’s the rich Indian culture they are aww at.  

She used to seat beside this large wall size glass window and spent hour and hour adoring the picture, waiting for him to come back from office and join her. Together they will enjoy such accidental down pour of rain with tea and some snack. But that day never happened at least not in this short course of 8 months they shifted back to USA.

The portrait is as solitude as the person adoring it.

She turns her face away from the portrait, in the fear that it might make her face the reality. Now-a-days, it doesn’t give her the satisfaction or belonging as it used to be before, but a hollowness that even if she got everything she ever wished for, even had lost the hope for getting it, she has nothing to actually lean on.

It’s not like Arnav doesn’t care for her, he must be among the most caring husband. But then things are not exactly like she has ever imagined. She somewhere missing the emotional connection. In order to hold onto someone dearer in this whole foreign land and that to someone like her husband, her once upon a time crush, her expectations are never ending. It is as if the more the days pass the more and more she becoming dependent on him and expecting more and more.

She has expressed these to him a lot of times, Initially, he would say that it’s just she is not acquainted with the place and once she gets used to she will even forget him. Sometimes would joke upon her extra filminess. Now-a-days he will just become silent, giving her a feel that she is putting extra pressure on him. For God’s sake, she is the one who had a huge crush on him, she was the one who was hell lot excited to get married to him and it just a normal arrange marriage to him.

And with that she had stopped complaining about the time, instead has made a point to make use of whatever time she is getting.

It will be false if she will say that she is not missing home back in India. She misses terribly her family, his family, specially Arnav’s Grand-mother. She was a sweet heart. Initial days, she was the one who made her comfortable with all her new family members. What she can do no one can. She was a strong lady, even in her late life she has that authority to rule over the family. And the way Arnav adore and respect his Grandmother always fill her heart with warmth.

He demise was a huge loss both emotionally and physically. Whatever the little time she has spent with grandmother she will always cherries them, after all she was the one who has kept the family close in the smooth thread of love. After her, she and Arnav has shifted to USA as work here demands his presence.

The shrill ringtone of the phone broke her thoughts as she registers her surrounding, the clock strikes 11:30 pm, Arnav has not returned yet from office. The food still lay on the table untouched, probably cold by now.

“Namaste Maa,”

“I knew it, Auro must have not returned from office yet! let me talk to him today.”

The irritation in her mother-in-laws voice can be marked clearly. Did she mention, her mother-in-law is the sweetest mother in the world. Although it is rare that her mother in law say or least listen anything against her son, Arnav. But she has accepted her as if her own daughter down the line. Nevertheless, it was always Maa and Arnav in one team, and she and Granny. Father-in-law is one of the sensible person in the family who always abide by logic and reasonable talks.

But when it was the talk of Arnav’s job and shifting to abroad, it was always Arnav vs she, Maa and Granny. While father would choose to keep silent at the moment.

She could hear father’s faint voice reasoning with Maa about how it will be too late to talk upon some sensible issue with Arnav at this hour, but Maa is on her own mission to care less about anything.

She smiled, something never changes.

“No Maa, its totally fine, he had informed be before that he will be late again. It’s me who is waiting.”

“Don’t give me such silly reasons Beta, it’s because of him you are awake till late. Can’t he come early, he is a married man now”.

Ohh, seems like she will have to put more efforts today to pacify her mother today guessing from her voice.

The door cracked open at the same time, using the spare key Arnav come into the house. Seeing her in phone he just shook his head in defeat, even he knows that he had a long time before he rests.

“No, Maa, he is really having much work at office, he had just come, talk to him.”

Giving the phone to him, she rushed to do her work, keeping his cloths ready, keeping her things aside, closing the half written story in laptop close. It’s the time for them.

Latter at night, when both sat together to dine.

“you should have gone to bed by now, Maa is highly irritated.” Arnav said which having food.

She knows even he is concern for her, but she wants to enjoy whatever time she is getting with him, now who will make him understand this!

“if I will sleep, then who will do all this?”.

“I can have my dinner outside or we can hire a maid” Arnav reasoned unfruitfully. He knows, she will never opt for it.

“shhh… it’s all fine. Even I want to do this.”

Khushi smiled contently, the previous gloom now vanishing slowly, she is not alone, he is with her always. So what they don’t have much time for each other, whatever they have is special. They have a whole life with each other, it is just the beginning.

With this she hummed a happy song to herself as she does her daily chores, before going to her safe cocoon in the binds of his arms.

Note: it just an insight into Khushi’s married life, as she and Arnav has married for a year now, and settled in USA. Amidst all the adverse situation how she is fighting with all the negative lacunas of her life, in the mean time keeping her positive, hopeful and determined for a better peaceful life.

In one way or other we must have come across this situation in life where keeping yourself positive is one of the difficult task of all. Hopefully, some people out there able to connect with her.

Keep reading and expressing your views about it.

Will post Arnav’s insights into his married life soon.

With love Puspa !💓