One Indian Girl by Chetan Bhagat

‘It’s not.. .’ I said as he interrupted me.
‘I am scared too. I live alone. Now I will have this other person living with me for the rest of
my life. It petrifies me.’
‘It does. Yes. And this is just too soon.’
‘Too soon? We have planned this for months.’
‘We planned the event for months. However, we decided so soon.’
‘You said yes. I said yes. We had to reach a decision, right?’
‘Brijesh. Can you please trust me? I can’t do this.’
He smiled again. He placed an arm around my shoulder.
‘From now on, your fears are mine, and mine are yours. So be scared or whatever, I am with
you.’
I got off the bench. I turned around to face him.
‘Brijesh, I don’t think you are getting me. It is not nervousness. There’s stuff I need to deal
with and my head is a huge squishy mess.’
‘I am sorry to hear that. But.. .’ he paused.
‘But what?’
‘But 200 people are dancing inside to celebrate us coming together. A mood swing cannot
dictate our decision now.’
‘It’s not a mood swing, Brijesh.’
‘What is it then? Something you want to tell me?’
‘It’s my past. I still have to come to terms with it.’
He paused to look at me, wondering what I meant.
‘We all do. It happens over time.’
‘It’s about my future too. About what I want.’
Brijesh’s phone rang. He smiled.
‘There, the search party is out,’ he said and picked up the phone. ‘Yeah, dad. I am here,
stepped out for some air. Yeah, Radhika is with me. Just chatting, dad. Okay, we are coming.’
He ended the call and turned at me.
‘The elders are leaving. They want to bless the couple before they go to bed,’ he said and
smiled.
‘Sorry Brijesh, I.. .’
‘We have to go now. Listen, Radhika, I am no expert on women. Maybe this is how all women
think the night before their wedding.’
‘Not all.’
‘Maybe in arranged marriages they do. We still don’t know each other. Can I suggest
something?’
‘What?’
‘Go to your room. Rest. Please sleep. All these guests and huge celebrations are bothering
you.’
‘Well, I only chose to have a grand wedding like this.’
‘Exactly. So maybe your doubts are just irrational last-minute fears. Sleep on it. You will feel
better. Let’s go now,’ he said.
‘But.. .’ I said.
‘Dad’s calling again,’ Brijesh said as he picked up his phone.