Neenu Kumar
Mrinalini’s joy was infectious. Everyone around her could feel it. After all, her dream was going to become a reality. She had known Nikhil all her life. They had grown up together, studied in the same school, college and B-school. Childhood camaraderie had blossomed into love. So it was a foregone conclusion that the two would tie the knot.
Words of the famous song “Aajkal paaon zammen par nahin padte mere” (These days, my feet do not touch the ground) kept reverberating in Mrinalini’s ears. The date for marriage had been finalised. Finally, the day she had been waiting for, all her life arrived. She was looking breath-taking in her pink designer lehenga (a long skirt with a blouse).
As he saw Mrinalini walking towards him, he could not take his eyes off her. She looked stunning. The two stood together on the stage. Both looked perfect. It was a match made in heaven.
Both had decided to be a bit different. Before panditji (priest) could start the holy incantation, Nikhil said that he had something to say. He took out a sheet of paper from his pocket and read his own set of vows he had written for Mrinalini. The depth of Nikhil’s words moved everyone.
Mrinalini’s vows were equally impressive. So now it was the turn of Nikhil’s family to get emotional.
They had planned to go to Phuket for their honeymoon. In the hotel, Nikhil met a couple of his friends. Mrinalini had never met them before.
“Hey Nikhil! Good to see you here.”
“How are you Madhur?”
“I am fine. What brings you to Phuket?”
“I am on my honeymoon. Meet my wife Mrinalini.”
“Hello, Bhabhi (sister-in-law). Wonderful to meet you.”
“Hello! Nice to meet you.”
“This is Nandan,” Nikhil told Mrinalini.
Something made her uncomfortable. She could not put her finger on it, but Mrinalini was uneasy. As the day progressed, her restlessness not only continued but increased. Late into the evening, both Madhur and Nandan invited themselves to Nikhil’s room. With drinks, playing cards were taken out. Money was exchanging hands. Suddenly Madhur put his car keys in the empty bowl. Nandan followed suit. Nikhil looked at Mrinalini and put the keys of the rented car in the bowl. The shock of it left Mrinalini speechless.
Cards were dealt. Madhur won. He closed his eyes and randomly picked up a bunch of keys. It was of Nikhil’s rented car. He looked at Mrinalini lecherously. On the television, the dicing episode from The Mahabharata was playing. Yudhishtra had lost. Draupadi was being dragged into the courtroom by her hair by Dushshasan.
‘Has anything changed? Am I any different from Draupadi?’ Mrinalini was thinking to herself. She sat down with a thud. The chink in the shining armour of her prince charming was staring at her. Was this the same Nikhil she had known all her life? Too blinded by her love for him, she had no idea about this side of Nikhil. Life had taken a turn beyond comprehension. Shell-shocked, she was clueless about how to take charge of her life.
GLOSSARY
The Mahabharata — It is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of the Hindu religion of India (the other being the Ramayana), written by Ved Vyasa.
Dicing episode — Shakuni, Duryodhana’s uncle, arranged a dice game, playing against Yudhishthira with a magical dice. In the dice game, Yudhishthira lost all his wealth, kingdom, brothers, himself, and wife. The Kauravas tried to disrobe Draupadi in front of the entire court, but Draupadi’s disrobing was prevented by Krishna, who miraculously made her dress endless.
Yudhishtra — eldest son of Pandu and his wife, Kunti
Draupadi — Draupadi was born from a yajna organised by King Drupada of Panchala kingdom.
Dushshasan — second son of Dhritarashtra and Gandhari. He dragged Draupadi to the courtroom after the Pandavas had lost the dice game, by her hair.
