“This is our kitchen” Lajjo said as they entered, “please be comfortable” she poured the ingredients into a mud pot and started pulling at the strings attached to the stirring rod which blended the ingredients.
“Let me do that for you.” Leela said.
“You are visiting my home for the first time and we don’t allow newlywed brides to do any sort of house work on their first visit. We treat them as a Goddess – maybe, tomorrow, I will allow you to do that.” she smiled at Leela.
Leela was tense; awaiting the moment Lajjo would start inquiring how and why she married Sajjan. She was not yet sure that Sajjan’s story would work and started to think hard…
“Sajjanbhai visited us last week on invitation from my husband” Lajjo had to start the topic somewhere – she started a bit cautiously, one eye on Leela to check her reactions, “I was happy when he agreed to stay with us on a condition that he would pay a rent for 90 days. We didn’t want any rent from him.” her eyes were still searching for reaction from Leela who sat there – tense… her gaze fixed on the pot of buttermilk. “I understand and I can see,” she continued her eyes still on Leela, “that Sajjanbhai is a learned person. He has immense knowledge on various subjects. He is a saint who believes in helping others.” Leela was still tense and her gaze was still fixed on the pot. Lajjo understood that Leela wanted to avoid the topics related to her and Sajjan.
However, Lajjo was curious and wanted to know Sajjan’s character and who else could be the best person to know him – Leela, his wife. She couldn’t beat around the bush anymore. Leela simply wasn’t responding.
“He said he’ll be staying here alone. He doesn’t have a family.” Lajjo said looking straight at Leela, “This means – you met him sometime last week and married him. How did this miracle happen? I mean he should be about twice your age. You should be in college if you belonged to a town or city. You’re too young to be his wife. I’m curious of your love story.”
“I don’t love him.” Leela said in a low but confident voice. Her words and her tone astonished Lajjo.
“If you don’t love him, why did you marry him? Why are you living with him?”
“Didi – Could we talk about this later – please.” she pleaded.
“Okay. Let’s get the buttermilk to them outside.” she poured her preparation into glasses and they walked out together.
Leela handed a glass to Sajjan and then took a glass for herself – just as a wife would. This confused Lajjo even more. She handed out a glass to Amar and whispered her confusion to him.
“Sajjanbhai” Amar said, “With all due respect to you, your knowledge and all the good work you do. I – I – I’m – actually I don’t know how to ask you.” he looked embarrassed and confused trying to find correct words.
“Go on.” Sajjan said. “Ask me what you want to. I’ll be glad to clear all your doubts.”
“Actually – Lajjo, here, is confused about your sudden wedding with Leela. You’ll agree that I’m a family man and I’ll be comfortable only if my family is comfortable with you around.” he gasped for breath.
Sajjan looked at Leela who sat nervous, next to him. Then at Amar who looked terribly embarrassed. Then at Lajjo who looked confused and doubtful. “Please do clarify whatever doubts you have.” he pleaded to Lajjo.
“On your visit last week, you told us that you don’t have a family. You arrive today with a wife who is much younger to you – almost half your age. She acts like your wife but her behaviour doesn’t match to that of a newlywed bride. She obeys everything you say, but sorry to say, don’t find the attachment found in newlywed couples.” she blurted out hastily.
Sajjan glanced at Leela and noticed, she now was shivering in her nervousness. He put a reassuring hand on her shivering hand and looked at Lajjo laughing out loudly much to her annoyance and adding to her confusion even more.
“That’s all? Is this your only concern?”
“Yes” Lajjo said with a bit of remorse and embarrassment, realizing that her question could have hurt their feelings, “I just want to be sure that your wedding was legal and correct.”
Sajjan started patting Leela’s hand reassuringly and laughed out aloud.
“The circumstances were such that we had no other option.” Sajjan said adding more, to already confused Lajjo. Her face now showed her doubts about Sajjan’s character a bit more clearly.
“The story of us coming together is different than the normal love stories. I don’t think anyone would believe us if we told the truth. Anyways, we need to stay together and I want you to hear it out. It actually seems straight out of a movie.” laughing at their expressions, he gently patted Leela’s hand, “It is okay. Leela, go on – tell them our story. I want you to tell it because you know the background better than me. In fact, even I didn’t have a chance to ask you…”