9

The music was light and mellow. The lighting was just good enough to catch the jolly faces around. It was a fun evening for everyone around. The servers were busy taking and serving the orders to the customers while Taluk and Waikeit were behaving animatedly in front of Waikeit’s parents. It was the time when Taluk had to leave a good impression on the parents, and because of the same, Waikeit was a bit nervous, but Taluk was pretty normal. It was just another regular evening for him.

“Son, we are delighted to have you as our son-in-law.” Waikeit’s father was quick to announce his excitement. Waikeit rubbed Taluk’s arm and smiled. Finally, she relaxed.

“Cheers to that, Papa.”

Waikeit’s father lifted his glass to have his whiskey. Taluk did the same with a somewhat brute smile on his face.

“Of course, Dad! I am lucky to have Waikeit, but it’s equally favorable to both of you.”

Suddenly the mood changed. Her father’s face withered all of a sudden. He looked into Waikeit’s eyes to find the explanation of what had just happened. Taluk’s eyes fell on Waikeit’s face, and he covered it up by adding, “I meant favorable to all of us.”

Taluk and others then drank from their glasses and called for more.

“I mean, who likes the struggle? Correct me if I am wrong, Dad, and also, what are the odds that you may find anyone better than me for Waikeit?” Taluk adjusted his coat and relaxed on his chair. He had proud looks fixed on his face.

Waikeit’s father tried hard to swallow his pride for the happiness of Waikeit. He smiled back and said, “You are absolutely right, son.” His voice was feeble as his confidence at that time.

The waiter then arrived with the bill, and as Waikeit’s father tried to reach for it, Taluk brought his credit card out of his pocket and showed it to the waiter.

“No need, dad. It’s on me.”

Waikeit’s parents’ tried hard to hide their embarrassment and left without making a scene.

Waikeit had so many things to say to Taluk. She was angry with him. They were both planning to get married soon, but Taluk was not behaving like a mature man. He was in his mid-twenties but still acted like a teenager. They were both sitting in the car’s back seat, and the driver was quietly and swiftly driving the car on the straight and almost empty road. The full moonlight and sounds of waves from the sea that was running next to them could have sounded romantic, but the mood of Waikeit had spoiled already, and Taluk had no idea what had happened.

“You can’t stay like this. Why do the only wrong things attract you? Why are you so prone to mistakes? Do you think you are changing people? No way, it is only you who needs to change. Nobody else.” Waikeit knew Taluk loved her a lot. But that was not enough for a relationship to grow.

“I am sorry that I gave a thought about your father. You tell me, If someone like to listen to a song, what should he do? Should he wait for the release of a new good song? What will we say about this? Is this what we call adaptability?” Taluk was in no mood to hold it back. He was blunt with his reply. He had no remorse for what he did in the restaurant.

“I know when you belittle people. We have a relationship Taluk, not an entourage. You and I have a life in front of us; we are not here for just debauchery.” Waikeit made a face and looked outside the car.

“I know that. I am not having any affair or anything.” Taluk got angry now.

“Leave it… stop the car.”

“Wait… let’s drive to your home. I’ll leave you there first.”

“Bhaiya, pull over.” Waikeit was not ready to talk anymore.

“Sir?” The driver finally asked what to do.

“Yes, please.” Taluk replied to the driver, and the driver did what was asked.

Waikeit got out of the car and stood under the street light. Taluk looked at her face for a while. She didn’t meet her eye with Taluk. Taluk knew there was no point in making her understand anything. She was a determined girl. Taluk signaled his driver to drive.

*****

“Are you sure beta about your decision? This seems to be a little harsh.” Taluk’s father was talking on the phone with Waikeit. He, too, loved Waikeit a lot. She was the real daughter for him, and Taluk was lucky to have such a girl. He was also worried about Taluk’s behavior but never found any solution. When Waikeit suggested, they were reluctant but trusted Waikeit.

“No, papa. He needs to go. This will change him a lot.”

“Okay, beta. It’s your decision, and we trust you.”

Taluk’s father hung up and moved to sit next to Taluk’s mother in the living room. Taluk’s mother was watching her favorite daily soap on television.

“She is saying that Taluk should go.” Taluk’s father finally said. He seemed worried.

“She is right. Being successful doesn’t mean that you can take anything and everything for granted.” Taluk’s mother replied without any emotions. She was still looking at the television as if nothing had happened.

*****

Waikeit’s father knocked on the door of Waikeit’s room. She didn’t reply. The door was open, so her father entered the room. Waikeit was lying on the bed on her stomach and was still awake. She had red eyes. She was crying all night. Curtains were half open, and the room seemed all disturbed. He sat next to her on the bed to speak his heart out.

“Beta, three months is a big time. Don’t you think you are being too harsh on him? Time heals everything and changes even the toughest. I think you should rethink your decision.”

Waikeit didn’t reply. She kept on looking at the night lamp that was lying in the corner of the room. The only source of light inside the dark room. It was like the only hope of ray for her.

Waikeit’s father continued, “I have been doing the job for many years. Always hear abuses from the seniors on one thing or another. I always thought that when my time will come, I’ll answer them in their own words. I drank my anger so many times, but my time never came, and I kept drinking this for years, and now I think, was I mad, or is this the only way I know to handle my anger?”

Waikeit was still unmoved. She was listening to every word of her father but was not processing it. She was quietly lost in her world. Her father kept on telling her the things he wanted to.

“I kept on accepting my loss. This is how I am.”

His father now looked at Waikeit as he said, “Beta, leaving someone alone means leaving someone bereft of happiness that he deserves. I will again tell you to reconsider.”

Waikeit now got emotional. She started to shed a tear. Her father wiped it down her cheek. This time Waikeit broke her silence.

“He needs to go, papa. What legacy would he want to leave behind? How much does he love me? He wants to keep on forgetting the mistakes he regularly makes in life and wants to move forward, but that’s not the way to live life. I won’t be able to live with him with this kind of attitude. He will go.”

Waikeit’s father knew she was a tough nut to crack. Her decisions are always the final ones. He decided to leave Waikeit with her thoughts in the room. As he left, she switched off the lamp. Then she switched it on and off and kept doing this for the rest of the night.

*****

Taluk kept his bags in the truck. It was his time to show his love for Waikeit. He sat in the car and drove it away. He disagreed with her decision but knew he had to do it. He entered the tunnel, and when everything went dark around him, he got lost in the last conversation he had with Waikeit at her house.

*****

Taluk called Waikeit, but she didn’t pick up.

Taluk turned his car to Waikeit’s house. He needed to confront her for one last time, it seemed.

He halted his car just outside her house. Waikeit was already at the door to open the gate. They both looked into each other’s eyes and said nothing. Taluk started walking towards her on the pavement between Waikeit’s house garden to her main door. 

He angrily asked, “What is all this? Don’t you want to marry me?”

We’ll get married, but maybe this is not the right time. We are not ready yet.” She answered. Taluk stopped walking. He had nothing to say more. He looked into her eyes when she continued, “When I’ll feel that you are ready, I’ll call you back.”