My Henna
I used to live in a swirling narrow lane in Ranchi ,Jharkhand . My father was in the central government services . He used to be on tours frequently, almost two weeks in a month . I lived in our ancestral home with my mother and elder sister Rajni . She was six years older than me . Our house was a single story house with an open terrace .
Most of the houses in the lane were built decades back without any proper planning . Lanes were hardly 5- 6 feet wide . The houses were very close to each other and sometimes neighbors’ terrace parapets used to touch each other . My house was no exception to it . I was in the 10th grade at high school .
A boy named Murali lived in my neighbor's house . He was also studying 11th grade in my school. He lived in a small room on the terrace of my neighbor . I used to go on the terrace to sun dry washed clothes and also to warm up in winter . There was a frequent encounter with Murli . He used to smile and say hello ,whenever our eyes met . In the beginning I didn’t respond for quite some time but subsequently I also started responding saying hello with a smile . That was all between us for a few months .
One day when both exchanged usual hello and smiles , he signalled me to come closer to the parapet . After a bit of hesitation I went near him . He gave me a folded slip in my hand . I was alone on the roof . I opened it . “ Your smile makes you more beautiful . “ . I glanced at him shyly and ran downstairs .
Power cuts and load shedding are normal things here . Whenever there was a power outage in the evening or night in summer most of us used to run on the terrace for relief .Mummy used to be busy in the kitchen or other household chores . Murali and I came to the parapet but our encounter was mostly limited to hello , how are you doing . Whenever I smiled he never hesitated to admire me and my smile in particular .
My elder sister was getting married .On this eve as per tradition all women and girls get henna applied on their hands .Some especially the bride get henna applied on part of their legs also . Each selected different designs / patterns of their choice . I too got henna on both of my forearms . I went on the terrace to see if Murali was there . Incidentally Murali was already there .I went up to the parapet , raised my hands and showed him my forearms . He said “ Wow , beautiful hands look gorgeous with henna . Do show me your hands whenever you apply henna . ”
Gradually we started exchanging wishes though I never sent him any written slip except the one thanks , when he wished me on my birthday . He managed to figure out my birthday from my school records. I learnt he was a good student . Though there wasn’t anything like love or boyfriend / girlfriend type of relation between us but I liked him and he too liked me which was evident from his gestures .
I had already appeared at my 12th board exams . Murali had passed his 12th board but he couldn’t clear IITs entrance test . So he was staying at Ranchi for a coaching class expecting to succeed in his next attempt for IITs entrance .
Summer vacation is usually the marriage season also . I had been to Patna with mummy to attend the marriage ceremony of my cousin . There one of our very rich distant relatives offered my marriage proposal to his son . I didn't know what he saw in me nor I wanted to marry before graduation . The boy had already appeared at his final year engineering exams and he already had a good offer on the campus from a multinational company . The boy's parents insisted for early marriage and said “ The girl is free to continue her further studies even after her marriage . “
My parents were also impressed by this offer . They said “ A very good opportunity is knocking at our door . They aren’t asking for anything in dowry or gift . It is next to impossible to see any such offer in our society these days . We should accept the offer . “
Soon after my board’s results I got married .Within a couple of months I moved to Mumbai with my husband Amar . Even before we could settle in Mumbai Amar was getting his posting at his company’s head offices in the USA within six months . We had a couple of months . I had joined graduation in a private college . I said to Amar “ I wanted to complete my graduation . “
“ No worry . I will see you graduating from a US university .”
“ Are you kidding ? I have heard education is very costly there .“
“ No kidding , I am serious . In the meantime you will have to clear the TOEFL and SAT tests . Fund won’t be a problem .If you score well you might get full or partial scholarship also . “
Fortunately I could clear tests for US university admission and also got a partial scholarship to study there . Before leaving for the USA I came to my parent’s home at Ranchi . My elder sister also came to see me . After two days , it was the Teej festival . Both my sister and I got henna on our forearms. I started wandering fast in the memories of the past , Murali’s reactions on my henna and smile . I was sitting with Didi and mummy on the terrace . I asked mummy , “ A boy used to live in the room on our neighbor’s terrace . “
“ He was a tenant . He came from a nearby village for studies after class ten as there was no school in his village for studies beyond tenth grade . He has vacated after engineering entrance tests .” said mummy
Until then I didn’t have any contact information about Murali nor did he have my contacts . None was serious about having it . Even now just out of curiosity I asked about him . I let it go . Soon thereafter I landed in the USA with Amar . We were living in the bay area aka the silicon valley in California .
I had joined a college near our apartment . Amar was busy with his job . Within nearly four years I was pregnant . Amar told me “ If you have any plan to see your parents or visit India you should go in the early stage of pregnancy . You can enjoy a break of maximum a month and come back . After delivery it won’t be easy to travel so far with an infant . But I can’t accompany you due to my important project .“
I came to India after nearly two years . Nothing had changed in Ranchi except the state government which was now under the President’s rule . A couple of days after my arrival , I was surprised to get an invite request on my Whatsapp , it was Murali . After accepting his request we started video chatting . Both were happy to meet again and both exchanged good wishes with smiles. Then he looked at my hand and said - “ Wow , beautiful henna again . You are getting more and more beautiful . “
I felt shy and said “ How are you? Where are you these days “
“ I am Good , I am also in the USA .“ he said
“ So good . What about your wife and kids ? “
“ First let me marry then … “
“ Oh, still a bachelor ? Get married sooner and enjoy America . “ I said
“ Now I will have to marry . “
“ By the way I forgot to ask you how did you get my contacts ? “
“ Amar gave me your number . He is my boss here . That’s why I said now there is no chance and I will have to marry someone .” he said
“ Don’t confuse me . Did you mean that after getting my number from Amar you will have to marry someone as I am already married now . “
“ Exactly , You are right . “ he said
“ None of us ever thought about it in time .Forget it .” I said
“ Yes you are also right . We had hidden feelings for each other and none could dare to express it . Maybe both were immature then . Am I right ? “
I kept mum for sometime . But he might have seen my facial expressions . He said “ Your silence means both are right . Anyway, come back here soon , I'm curious to meet you .”
Suddenly there was a power outage , my router got off and there was no internet . But I went back roaming in the past and thought what if he really loved me so much . Now It’s meaningless for both of us .
xxxxxx
The end
Note - This story is purely fiction .
