A tale of love Episode 4
Asha opened the door. Dhwani and her dad Ashok, came inside. Asha had stood near the door in such a way that Dhwani and Ashok could not see Paarth sitting on the Sofa behind. Dhwani walked nonchalantly to the kitchen to keep the bags of vegetables, fruits and other grocery items. Seeing Dhwani, Paarth stood up and said ‘Hi Dhwani’. Dhwani did not bother to look back at Paarth. After keeping the grocery bags in the kitchen, she went straight to her room. Ashok saw Paarth and greeted him with a warm handshake. Paarth looked at Asha. Asha said, ‘ Dhwani cannot hear and talk.’ Paarth stood there like a statue. He did not know whether he should hate himself for assuming that Dhwani had a big fat ego or whether he should never forgive himself for making Dhwani go through this emotional turmoil. Asha said, ‘ Dhwani will be back after she freshens up. She makes nice tea. You must have tea with us.’ Ashok joined and said, ‘Yes son. Today is a very happy day for us. I got some nice snacks also. You must join us for tea.’ Asha smiled and said, ‘ Yes, finally we found someone for Dhwani. He is also physically challenged. He has some problem with his left leg. Nevertheless, he has a decent job and he seemed like a nice chap and most importantly, he liked our Dhwani. Now, we are at peace that Dhwani won’t be alone anymore. She will have someone with her.’ Paarth stood there listening. After couple of minutes, he brought himself back to reality and opened the gift wrapped box Asha had given him. The gift was was his own portrait. Dhwani had painted an exact portrait picture of Paarth. Right from his eyes, to his smile, to his adorable canine teeth, every feature of Paarth was flawlessly portrayed.
Tears welled up in Paarth’s eyes. Dhwani had seen him only once or twice yet she had a picture perfect image of his in her mind. Paarth sat back on the sofa. He asked himself, ‘What did I do? What decision had I taken then? The only question that kept on troubling me was will I hurt my parents? How would my decision to bring a girl like Dhwani in my life would have hurt them? A girl, who had suffered all her life, yet put a smile on her face, a girl, who had buried her hopes and dreams and yet never let her family know about her pain. A girl who was willingly going to marry someone, just because she believed she had to accept whatever came her way. How could a girl like Dhwani hurt anyone?’ In all these 6 months, all Paarth saw was Dhwani offering prayers to Sun God, going to the primary school in the vicinity to teach Art to kids and going for grocery shopping with her dad. These are the little things that brought joy to her life. Amidst these, she had found joy in Paarth but Paarth trampled that little joy that came to her life. Paarth sat there contemplating on every act he did to hurt her.
Paarth heard some noise in the kitchen. Just then Asha came and said, ‘ Paarth, when Dhwani sees you she will be in for a pleasant surprise. By the way, she can’t hear but she can read lips. You can talk to her while having tea.’ Ashok and Asha then went ahead to arrange the dining table to get it ready for tea. Paarth knew Dhwani was in the kitchen. Paarth walked to the kitchen. Clad in a comfortable wrap around long skirt and loose, round necked, light pink tshirt, Dhwani nonchalantly put the tea vessel in the gas stove and added water. While the water boiled, she took the apples from the bag beneath the shelf and then opened the refrigerator door. Just then she jostled and all the apples fell from her hand. Somebody had touched her shoulder from behind. She turned around. She froze there. Wide eyed she kept on looking at him, while he kept on smiling. She walked back and leaned on the shelf behind her. Paarth knelt down, picked up the apples from the kitchen floor, got up, kept the apples on the shelf and said, ‘ So Dhwani, this is your conspiracy?’. Dhwani read his lips. She did not know whether it was a dream or reality. Paarth continued, ‘So you were deliberately buying and eating apples.’ Dhwani looked at him without winking. She had no clue what Paarth was saying. Paarth came closer and said, ‘ You knew I was a doctor, didn’t you? Hence you have been eating apples because an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Am I right Dhwani?’. Dhwani did not have any expression on her face but two drops of tears dribbled from her eyes. Paarth came closer, held Dhwani’s hand and said, ‘ 6 months, 6 months Dhwani. In these 6 months, you must have seen me just couple of times and you made a portrait of me. I know I have wronged you. But, couldn’t you have texted me just once? What had stopped you Dhwani? The fact that I would not have replied? Maybe I was scared that you never liked me?’ Dhwani looked down. Tears still trickled from her eyes. Paarth continued, ‘ So, now, let me tell you that you are going to stay away from apples because I am not going to stay away from you. I will ensure your wedding with the guy who came to meet you today is cancelled.’ He then checked the pockets of his trousers. He could not find anything. He looked at his hands. He had been wearing a plain gold ring on his right Index finger right from his college days. He took it off, knelt down, and said, ‘ Will you marry me Dhwani?’ Dhwani laughed and cried at the same time. Slowly, she extended her left hand. Paarth gently slipped the ring into her ring finger. The ring was loose for Dhwani, but that never mattered. Paarth stood up and hugged her. Dhwani sobbed like a baby while Paarth held her close to him with his blood shot red, teary eyes. Asha and Ashok stood there. They had forgotten what bliss was. First time in ages, they were seeing their daughter genuinely happy and they realised this was bliss. They could not have asked for more. Paarth then looked at Asha and Ashok and said, ‘ I will come with my parents tomorrow for all the official formalities to take Dhwani to my home.’ He then looked at Dhwani and said, ‘ Now that your mom’s home will be right across your husband’s home, don’t presume that you can just hop, skip and come here anytime you want. Okay?’ Everyone laughed. Ashok hugged Paarth and said, ‘ Bless you son. Bless you.’
Dhwani and Paarth were married. Dhwani still continued praying to Sun God. Paarth still looked at her whenever she prayed. The best part was, this time he could see her close because she prayed at his balcony. Life was beautiful.
