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y ears felt a sense of relief as the DJ’s music faded out as we left the function room. We
came out to the Marriott garden, dark and silent at night. The December air had a mild chill
to it and I rubbed my hands together.
‘Where are we going?’ Brijesh said.
‘Out of sight,’ I said. I found a palm tree with a bench underneath it. We sat down, adjacent to
each other, facing the sea.
‘Isn’t it nice to just breathe?’ I said.
‘It is, but they will look for us,’ Brijesh said. ‘A search party will be sent soon.’
‘It’s all a bit crazy. This whole jingbang of two clans. Getting too much now,’ I said.
‘Don’t worry, in two days all the guests will be gone. Just you and me then.’
‘Yeah,’ I said. I wondered how and where to start. He continued to talk.
‘And soon we will be on a plane to Bali,’ he said.
‘Yeah, Brijesh, about that.. .’ I said.
He ignored me and continued to talk, all excited. ‘And once we get back from Bali to SF, I
have lined up apartment viewings that weekend. Hope that’s okay?’
‘Brijesh, I can’t do this,’ I said.
‘What? Too hectic? Okay, we can see apartments later. It’s just that my current apartment is too
small and.. .’
‘I am not talking about the apartment hunt.’
‘Then?’
‘This. Whatever is going on. I am sorry. I can’t do this.’
‘What? Relatives? They are getting on my nerves too. How many more feet do we have to
touch?’
I held his shoulder. I turned him towards me.
‘Brijesh, I cannot get married,’ I said.
‘What?’ he said in genuine confusion. ‘Sorry, beg your pardon?’
‘You heard me.’
He looked at me and laughed.
‘What?’ I said.
‘You are so funny. Sweet also.’
He pulled my cheek.
‘Sweet?’ I said. What is so sweet about me leaving him high and dry at the altar?
‘You are nervous. And so like a little child, you are saying I can’t do this. It’s sweet only.’