One Indian Girl(45)

Day four

‘How are you?’ Brijesh smiled at me. We were on the sandy beach for an early morning stroll. When he’d asked me out on a morning walk the previous night, he said he wanted to catch up before the relatives woke up.

‘Sleepy,’ I said and yawned. I checked the time: 6.30.

‘I am sorry. I shouldn’t have made it so early,’ he said.

‘No, it’s fine. Once people wake up, chaos begins,’ I said.

I had worn pink lycra leggings and a white top. He wore a grey tracksuit. We were both barefoot. Occasionally, the waves would splash high and run through our toes.

‘Didn’t sleep enough?’ he said.

‘Four hours. It is okay,’ I said. Sleep deprivation delayed my reactions to recent events. Debu had flooded me with messages all night, right from reminding me of our first date to asking me how long before I took a decision.

‘The bhajans were wonderful. Such a great idea,’ Brijesh said.

‘My mother’s idea, actually,’ I said.

‘Yeah, it just makes the whole event more pure,’ Brijesh said.

Sure, especially pure if the bride goes to the hotel gym to make escape plans with her ex-boyfriend.

‘Mehndi today then?’ Brijesh said.

‘Yeah,’ I said. ‘Not much for you to do.’

‘Oh, they have plans for me too. They will apply turmeric paste all over me.’

‘Marinating the groom before the roast?’

Both of us laughed.

He held my hand; I didn’t protest. How could I? We were getting married. He clasped it tighter, and although it felt a bit weird, I held his hand too, not merely leaving my hand in his. I wanted support, perhaps, to decide what I needed to do.

‘You happy?’ Brijesh said.

I looked at him. His smile was childlike. He was visibly thrilled to hold my hand.

‘Yes, I am happy, Brijesh,’ I said. To make others feel better, women lie about their feelings all the time. It’s amazing how easily it comes to us.

‘So I told you about Menlo Park, right? I thought we could take a place there or near the Goldman office. That way, at least one of us can be home quickly if necessary.’

‘Sounds good,’ I said absently.

‘Although, if my start-up happens, I don’t have to be in Menlo. We could be near your office in that case. If I ever take that step, though.’

‘I am sure you will,’ I said.

He shrugged his shoulders. The morning sun was on our faces. I had worked hard to remain on a plan of regular diet and exercise before the wedding. I hoped I didn’t look fat in my tight workout clothes.

‘You are beautiful,’ Brijesh said, as if reading my mind.

I don’t know why, but I laughed. I suck at receiving compliments anyway, and laughing in the compliment-giver’s face is another way of deflecting them.

‘Did I say something wrong?’ Brijesh said.

‘No,’ I said and smiled. ‘Thank you.’

‘I have never said this to a girl. Ever,’ he said.

I looked at him. He looked like an earnest schoolboy, even though he could work the world’s most complicated computers.

‘Well, I should be flattered then,’ I said.

We walked in silence. After a few minutes I checked my phone. It had a message from Debu.

‘Good morning, beautiful.’

‘Who is it?’ Brijesh said.

‘Huh? Nothing. Didi woke up and is looking for me.’

‘Really?’

‘Yeah, let’s go back,’ I said.

‘I thought we could have breakfast outside. At a beach shack. Just us,’ Brijesh said.

My phone buzzed again.

‘I love you,’ Debu had sent another message.

I released Brijesh’s hand. I couldn’t hold my groom-to-be with one hand and use the other to check love messages from my ex.

‘We better get back,’ I said.

‘Anything happened?’

I nodded. Brijesh didn’t say anything after that. We walked back to the hotel. I kept a little distance from him, so he couldn’t hold my hand again. I held my phone tight and ignored any incoming messages.

We reached the hotel elevator for my wing. I turned to him before I stepped into the lift.

‘Sorry, Brijesh. I know you’re making an effort so we get to know each other better. I am trying too. But somehow I just can’t right now. Too much on my mind.’

He smiled.

‘We will have plenty of time after marriage.’

‘You are very sweet,’ I said.

He blushed as he hid his smile. Oh, it would kill me if I had to stab him in the back and run away with someone else. Why couldn’t Brijesh be an evil groom? Like the ones in the movies, the ones who shoot innocent pigeons for fun?

I waved him goodbye.

‘See you at mehndi,’ he said.

‘No boys allowed there, mister,’ I said.

He smiled. I gave him an extra-wide, almost fake smile in return. Thankfully, the elevator door shut. I heaved a huge sigh of relief as Brijesh disappeared from sight.

‘God help me,’ I said as the lift started to climb up the floors.





19


‘Put your phone aside, Radhika didi. How will he apply the mehndi?’ Sweety, my eighteen-year-old cousin, said.