He took the bag of groceries and her clothes, now altered to his satisfaction, to Amar’s outhouse, his mind was on whatever he had seen and heard at the Bazaar. It was hot and sunny in the near noon as he reached the door. She took few minutes to open the door. He looked at her in wonder. Heavy sweat on her face and the knee length sari she wore was wet, looked as if she had gone through a heavy physical workout.
“Don’t look at me that way, I had nothing to do so I cleaned the house and washed the clothes, rinsed all the utensils.”
He smiled and kept the small bags on the centre table.
“Check if I have missed out on anything.” he looked at her satisfied expression that everything she needed in the kitchen was available in those bags. He looked around and started the fan. He felt better as the fan started cooling the room and then at her expression as she looked at the fan in wonder.
“Here,” he held a plastic bag, “I bought you few dresses. Check them out.”
Her eyes lit up as she picked it up. She ran into the inner room and happily tried the dresses. She entered into the main room wearing one of them. ‘My guess was right’ he thought ‘fits perfect’.
“Thank you so much” she chirped excitedly, “looking at your age, I was confused about your selection. But, these are fantastic and they fit properly.”
He was about to say something knock on the door. He opened the door and looked at high school boy.
“Dad asked me to remind you for lunch with us” he said “he expects you in an hour”.
“We will be there” Sajjan smiled as he looked at boy running back to Amar’s house. He turned closing the door behind him. He saw a look of concern on her face…
‘What now?’ he thought.
“It was ok till the time Amar bhai thought that I am your wife, but now, we will be having lunch with his family and the women in the house will have many questions about our wedding”.
“Hey, I didn’t think of this.”
“I don’t know what to tell them and I know one question you answer, there will be many more” she was thinking hard when she saw him walk toward the kitchen.
“What are you doing?”
“I have to think of a story which will stop them from asking more questions” he said, “I am preparing tea so that I can think”.
She ran the distance stopping him between her and the kitchen door…
“If you want anything to eat or drink, I will prepare that for you. Now don’t give me that look. I have to look and act as if I am your wife and also it’s boring to sit and do nothing. Let me do this for you at least”.
He smiled and went back to the armchair thinking of what kind of story would work.
“I got it”, he said enthusiastically even as his sipped on the tea, “Come here”. He told her what she was supposed to tell others.
“Nobody is going to believe that”, she said indignantly, “though it sounds interesting and a kind of weird” she laughed at the idea.
“Don’t worry”, he said, “they will believe it if you keep your face serious enough”.
Her heart beat fast as they walked the small distance to Amar’s house. She was rehearsing the story over and over again.
“Welcome Mr Sajjan and your family too” Amar called out in a cheerful voice, “you already have met Lajjo my wife when you agreed to stay at my out house. This is my son Suraj. He is studying at a high school in a big city. He should be leaving by the evening train for his school.” he said proudly, “Go on sit and be comfortable” he looked at his wife, “Lajjo, welcome her to your kitchen and make her feel comfortable”.
“It’s ok” Sajan said hastily, “let her be here. She is a bit shy and confused. She is not accustomed to our ways in towns.”
“Ha ha ha” Amar laughed, “I do understand that Mr Sajjan…”
“I have a request” Sajjan said in a modest tone, “please call me brother not Mr Sajjan”.
“Oh” Amar said with gratitude, “You are too modest and yet such a good and a famous person – oops – sorry, brother…”
“That’s better” Sajjan said and they laughed.
Lajjo nodded and served the meal to all. After lunch they sat in the veranda and were chitchatting lightly about weather and insignificant stuff. Sajjan looked at the tiny little girl who had got him jug full of milk. She was watching him. She partly hid behind Amar. He smiled mischievously at her and beckoned her to come closer and offered her a seat between them. She looked at Amar who nodded her his approval and she quickly jumped over him and sat next to Sajjan. He put a hand in his shirt pocket intriguing her and brought out a bar of chocolate.
“This is for the sweet little angel who got me milk today” he said handing it over to her. He enjoyed the glint of happiness in her eyes. “Hey you didn’t tell me what to call you. What’s your name?”
“My name is Leela” she said munching on the chocolate smearing her cheeks in the process.
“Oh! Wow” the adivasi girl said “same pinch.” Curiously, Sajjan looked at her sudden friendliness toward the child even as she continued, “Even my name is Leela.”
Sajjan realised that he had never even asked the adivasi girl her name.
‘You are slipping up, maybe, the age is getting better of you’ he thought and nodded to Amar in approval.
“Thank God!” Lajjo’s tone was that of mischief, “I heard your voice. I was about to pity Sajjan Bhai. I thought he married a girl who can’t speak.” she laughed poking, wanting Leela to speak more about her. Sajjan cleared his throat hinting Leela about the questions which she would have to answer.
“Anyone wants buttermilk?” Lajjo asked looking around found both Amar and Sajjan feeling the need.
“Leela, please come in with me I will need help. We will get it for everyone.”
Leela looked at Sajjan who nodded his approval. His glance was reassuring and she felt a bit confident. She quickly got up and the two ladies vanished into the house.
“Amar… You asked me to be here on a purpose. Have you done the groundwork?”
“You have just arrived to this town and I know it was a long journey. You rest for today. Tomorrow, I will take you on a tour.”