All that Ends Well

Anita sat in the park. With her hair let lose, wind gushing, and leaves rustling, she began thinking about the pretty white dress she would get on her birthday. Ankush had promised her. “Wear it for me as soon as give it to you”, he had said.

Pratap peeped from behind the tree. He had liked Anita ever since he had moved into the new neighbourhood. Pretty eyes, long brown hair, and nasal voice, she seemed God-sent to him. However, an extremely shy guy, he never had the guts to ask her out. Also, he never knew she had a boyfriend.

“Happy birthday, Anita!” her mother wished her next morning. “You have a visitor”. Rubbing her eyes, Anita looked up. Pratap grinned at her, a bouquet of red roses held in his hands. She rubbed harder… no she wasn’t visualizing things. The skinny boy was indeed standing there.

“Toad of that boy!” she mulled over it in front of Raksha, her best friend. “And worse off that mom was impressed. Another hassle before I talk about Ankush to mom-dad …!” she cribbed. Raksha could only listen. She was visiting Anita for her birthday, but, the birthday girl was upset. She put her arm around Anita and asked her to take it easy.

I don’t like him, mom! Anita’s heart shrieked, while her mom sang Pratap’s praises in front of her dad. They were taking dinner. Ankush had visited in the evening; Anita’s mother hadn’t been elated, but, father had treated him kindly. However, the topic of discussion at dinner table was Pratap. Pratap a.k.a. Mr. decent Anita cringed inside.

Days were going by quickly. Anita was looking for an opportunity to talk about Ankush. The moment presented itself three months later. They were at a hill resort for vacation and Anita’s father brought up a ‘rishta’ that had come for her.

“It’s from Kaathmandu…” he began.
“Dad” she stopped him. “What do you think about Ankush?”
“Just because you are wearing his gifted dress today doesn’t mean you have to marry him” her father joked.
Laughing, she stroked the plaits of her dress. “I…” she was about to voice her love, when, “I find him weird” her mother chirped in.

The same evening Ankush called. “Mom is not ready, Anky” Anita sounded low. “She seems to have made some misjudgement about you”.
“Hmmmmm. I have to enter her good books” he spoke carefully.
“What activities does she enjoy the most?”
“Movies, shopping and Rafi’s songs (???)” Anita felt confused.
“As soon as you come back, I am going to enchant her.”

Well into the process upon his beloved’s return, Ankush invited Anita’s mother for a movie. Surprised and pleased, she agreed. Over the next few days, she had been to most shopping arenas and had bought multiple Rafi records. Ankush was enjoying his calibre. Pratap, meanwhile, had taken a back seat in mother’s scheme of things.

Anita was absolutely thrilled… Till the time she received a letter.

Anita

I couldn’t speak to you in person, even upon repeated trials. So, I write to you. I really like you; in fact, I think of you all the time. It has been eight months that I moved into your neighbourhood, and each day I wait to catch your glimpse. I won’t take long asking directly, do you think we can get together?

What do you think of me?
Pratap


“Toad! He wrote me this…” Anita read out the letter to Ankush.
“The language sounds familiar” he sounded thoughtful.
Seeing the letter, Ankush couldn’t misplace the writer. “It’s Tappy! He is my childhood friend; we were the best of pals!”
Anita hit her forehead.
Ankush immediately called over Pratap. He was only too eager to visit.
“Ankush!”
“Tappy!”
Hug.
Anita smiled, her eyebrows raised up.

“Toadie…? Our best man…? Life is unpredictable, Raksha” Anita spoke. She was getting dressed for her wedding. Raksha nodded, straightening her friend’s hair. As they walked towards Ankush, standing tall in his white dress, and guests looked on lovingly, Raksha blurted out, “Pat!” Pratap was standing right next to Ankush. Grinning ear to ear, he looked at Raksha. Anita swallowed the lump arisen in her throat.

Raksha and Pratap made the best couple at dancing floor. “We had dated for sometime in college…” they shared with friends later.

“All’s well that ends well” Anita laughed, looking at Ankush. They were packing for their honeymoon in Kaathmaandu. Raksha and Pratap’s wedding card lay on the mantle.