‘Yes,’ I said.
Did I just show that I was considering Debu’s idea? Was it just about how to manage the
family embarrassment now?
‘I am here for you. We can go back to how we were. Remember our tiny apartment?’
‘Of course,’ I said, my voice softening.
My phone rang again.
‘They will send search parties for me!’
‘I will wait for you. Will you think about this and let me know?’ Debu said.
‘I don’t know. My mind is not working. I better go.’
‘I am in the resort across the road. They didn’t have rooms here at the Marriott.’
‘I know,’ I said. Thank God for small mercies.
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.