was at the Allahabad Railway station. The train was going to arrive in an hour. I called Bhavna. “Hi, Bhavna,” I said in a low voice.
“I understand, Ajay. Please don’t feel low.” She had sensed my mood. “Please explain. Or should we talk tomorrow?”
“Bhavna, my family is not ready for this,” I said. I was about to start sobbing. “Ajay, don’t feel guilty. You’re not responsible for anything,” she said emotionally. “We’ll talk tomorrow. The train is about to arrive.”
“Okay, happy journey dear, take care. Bye.”
The Prayag Raj Express raced, as if desperate to kiss Delhi, my mind raced like a jet. Another storm started up in my mind.
I received an SMS from Bhavna after half an hour.
I know Ajay, it’s difficult but don’t get over burdened, will try to understand your parents.
Sometimes I don’t understand what kind of girl she was. But she usually spoke from the heart. When someone speaks from the heart, it triggers the brain.
The positive side said: A girl is ready to sacrifice a six-and-a-half year long loving
relationship only because she doesn’t want to hurt my parents; and on the other hand, my parents are against this marriage without even knowing her. The negative side of mind had just one line to
sing. She is not a Brahmin. She is not a Brahmin. I resolved: I cannot leave her.
We human being are like pigeons; if we are set free, we go back to our true homes. I concluded,
I want my parents and my love. I’m so lucky to be surrounded by three loving people and I cannot afford to lose any of them.
The whole night, my cunning mind hatched a plan. I’d have to save myself from the tsunami. Next morning, I called my warrior.
“Hi, sweetheart. How are you?” “Fine, dear,” she said yawning.
“Listen, Bhavna. I love you and you’re the best one for me.” “Pandeyji, so much confidence.”
“Yes. If would-be Mrs Pandey is like you, then there is no chance of losing confidence.” “I would love to be called Mrs Pandey,” she cheered.
“It’s a commitment from the horse’s mouth.” She giggled and said, “So what’s the plan?”
“How did you know that I made a plan?” I asked, inquisitively.
“You can’t leave me when I’m in trouble,” she said emotionally. Sometimes she knew me even better than I knew myself. “So, what’s the plan to transform Miss Bhavna Pradhan into Mrs Bhavna Pandey?” she giggled.
“Now, I’m going to fight in two different directions. My parents will try to resist until they become sure that we’re inseparable.”
“So?”
“So, I’m going to make a big emotional drama of not being well. I’ll go for dieting kind of stuff and this will create a fear in their mind that I may commit suicide. And no parent wants that.”
“But Ajay, how are you going to handle that? If something, happens to your family, then? I mean they are old. We should drop this idea,” she said, concerned. Sometime, I feel she was more on my family’s side.
“I’ll keep an eye on them.”
“But how? You’re in Delhi and they are in Rihand Nagar.” She certainly asked every possible question.
“I have to talk to my local folk, my loving younger brother Monu.”
“Are you sure Monu is going to help you… I mean us? What if he starts sneaking everything to your parents and what if he doesn’t agree with you?”
“No chance, darling. I know my brother.”
“Put me on a conference call while calling him. I’ll be on mute and will listen to the conversation between the two great brothers.”
“Okay.” “But…”
“I knew some ‘but’ would always be there in my story.”
“But it’s a time consuming process. It’ll take months, may be a year?” she asked precisely. A beautiful mind always works well in love.
“I’m not done, dear. I’ll go to Raipur to meet your parents.”
“I doubt you can do that, Ajay. What will I say to them? You’re going to Raipur for what?” she asked confused.
“No one will ask. I’m sure they’ll be equally interested to meet their future son-in-law. Just tell them, the great Mr Pandeyji wants to meet them. Rest I’ll handle,” I boasted. “Hey, we should name our mission.”
“Operation Blue Star,” she suggested.
“We are not fighting against terrorists. How about Operation Emotional Drama?” “Sounds good. Let’s start with your drama, Pandeyji.”
❖
On 1 January 2010, I started Operation Emotional Drama. I was on a conference call with Monu while Bhavna was on mute.
“Hello, younger brother. Wishing you a very happy new year.” “Same to you, bhaiya,” Monu responded.
“Any news at home?”
“No. Mummy and Papa were sad,” he responded.
“Listen carefully, Monu. You must be aware of Bhavna.”
“Yes, I know Bhavna didi,” he said innocently. I thought, she could be your didi, not mine. “Brother, I revealed everything about Bhavna at home. Now maybe I’ll start some emotional blackmail, but there is an equal chance that I’ll get the same emotional drama from them as well.
There are chances that this sentimental gun might backfire.”
“I understand, bhaiya. So you want the updates,” he said cleverly. He had never understood anything faster than this.
“Correct! So, please follow this plan. This drama may go on for months.”
“Don’t worry, bhaiya. Papa doesn’t have any problem with Bhavna bhabhi. He is only worried about his brothers.”
“What?” What a confused guy? He started with Bhavna didi and has now jumped to Bhavna
bhabhi. Bhavna probably could not have thought of a better end to this call.
“Okay, brother. Focus on your studies as well, and make sure whenever you call, no one should be around,” I wrapped up before he could attempt a new blunder.
“Okay, bye, bhaiya.”
I hung up and called Bhavna again, thinking that she might think of Mr. Monu as a confused fellow.
“Hello Bhavna, did you listen?” I did not even complete my sentence, and Bhavna bhabhi interrupted.
“Your brother is very cute. I’m dying to be called bhabhi. Wow! He’ll be the only one calling me bhabhi,” she said cheerfully. “Imagine, Ajay. The both of us living together, making tiffin for you. When you go to office, I will kiss you and will say bye with added instructions to come soon. We’ll share everyday office gossip too.”
She was lost in her own daydreams. I felt relaxed and thanked god, all beautiful girls are