He woke up smelling smoke and spice. He peeped into the kitchen. Leela was busy preparing their meal. He splashed water on his face and freshened up.
“Here, let me help you.” he said entering the kitchen.
“There’s nothing left to help” she smiled, “I have almost finished. Let me know when you’re hungry. I’ll bake fresh rotis for you.”
“I’m not feeling so hungry now. Perhaps, I will be in a couple of hours. But, I’ll love baking those fresh rotis for us.”
“Oh! No.” she replied, “Till the time, we are here and I’m acting your wife – I’ll do all the work – a wife’s supposed to do.”
“Hey – Nobody’s going to peep into the house to check who does what.”
“You never know’ she said looking at the main door as someone knocked on it, “see – someone’s there to check it out already.” she laughed.
“Ok – as you wish. But not for long – I definitely will help you in all the chores.” he walked toward the main door to see Lajjo standing peeping into whatever gap she could. She had a small, deliciously smelling jar in her hand.
“Hi. Welcome.”
“I prepared a special dish. Thought, I would love to share some of it with you.” she said entering the hall, “Just peeped in to deliver it.” she entered kitchen and gave it to Leela while Sajjan quickly slipped into the bedroom and folded the mat used by Leela. He slipped out into the main room even as he watched them chitchat in the kitchen. Lajjo, on her way out couldn’t resist peeping into the bedroom to check everything was okay. She, it seemed still had few doubts about Leela’s relation with Sajjan. On her way out of the outhouse, she mischievously pinched Leela and whispered loud enough for Sajjan to hear, “Along with chulha, think about your dulha. Kindle the flame of love in your dulha the way you do with your chulha.” she left laughing loudly at the expression of embarrassment on Leela.
“My GOD” Leela muttered, “These women – they simply can’t stop meddling in other’s lives – thinking only about marriage, sex and kids.”
“What?” Sajjan asked not understanding what she muttered.
“Nothing” she proceeded toward her kitchen.
“I’m going for a small walk around the lane to understand the geography and what kind of shops are around. Be back in an hour.”
“Take me along with you.” she almost begged in her youthful innocence, “I’ve finished in the kitchen and will be bored sitting alone and doing nothing.”
“I wish. I could… But you did hear Amar say that currently, it’s dangerous for women to venture out of houses and I don’t want to take any risk.” he looked at her sullen face and added, “Maybe, we can roam around in Amar’s field which is next to the backyard after our dinner. In the meantime, why don’t you have a chat with Lajjo?”
“No. I don’t want to do that,” she said in horror and embarrassment knowing that Lajjo had accepted the story of their wedding and was now more interested in seeing a smoother, domesticated life between them, “I’ll sit here and wait for you – just like a wife.” she said watching Sajjan disappear into twilight and on a second thought stepped out and met Lajjo.
They both sat in the veranda of the house as Lajjo explained Leela about her wedding with Amar and how it feels to be married.
Her face lit up as she saw Sajjan returning as promised. She was famished with hunger and hoped that he too would be. To her relief, he was. She baked rotis for both and they ate heartily, each one amazed at the appetite of the other.
“You promised me that we will go out for a walk in the fields.” she reminded.
“Come. Let’s go.” he said knowing that it could be a torture for a girl of her age to be holed up within four walls all day.
She happily started walking alongside him. Moon was shining bright and they were easily able to see up to a fair distance. The breeze was cool and refreshing. He walked along the bank of the field and she happily tagged behind, softly humming a tune which he faintly recognized as a traditional adivasi tune. She gaily touched the leaves and the crop as they moved on. She seemed to be extremely happy in the arms of Mother Nature.
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- Prasad Deshpandehttps://storiesandme.com/author/prasad/
- Prasad Deshpandehttps://storiesandme.com/author/prasad/
- Prasad Deshpandehttps://storiesandme.com/author/prasad/
- Prasad Deshpandehttps://storiesandme.com/author/prasad/