Live with Perm

Naina sat near the window, tears spilling down her face. She was back in her room, or rather the room she had shared with Preeti before her wedding. It was her pag-phera ceremony, but she wasn’t happy… How could she be? She had just spoiled everything. Why did she have to perm her hair? She could not forget the way Sameer had swiped her up in his arms, and then the shocked expressions on his face. A lot of other people had said a lot of things, but it was Sameer’s silence that was killing her. A newly wed bride should look beautiful, everybody should praise her, but in her case even her husband didn’t want to look at her anymore. What had she thought about her life post wedding with Sameer, and what was happening… She found herself unable to control the sound of sobs that tore from her throat.

“Naina”, a choked sound from the door of her room made her turn. Sameer was standing there at the door, his eyes fixed on his wife, an anguished expression on his face. He quickly locked the door behind him, and strode over to her. Naina also stood up, still sobbing, and started to speak her heart out, “I am sorry Sameer… please… main yeh sab nahi karna chahti thi. Bahot badi galti ho gai. Mujhe laga Madhuri jaisa hairstyle achcha lagega, lekin main toh… Mujhe maaf kardo Sameer. Mujhe pata hai main bilkul achchi nahi dikhti, zara bhi khubsurat nahi hun. Taiji aur Mamiji thik kehti hai, main tumhare layak hi nahi hun…”

Her miserable rant was interrupted as Sameer pulled her in his arms and crushed her to his chest. His voice was rough as he spoke, “firse kabhi mat kehna ke tum mere layak nahi ho… I love you.”

She stilled, her sobs caught in her throat. Had she heard it right? Did he say that? She gathered courage, and dared to ask, “kya?”

His heart ached at her low unsure voice. How could he have behaved like that? He should have supported her – hadn’t he promised her to always be with her? How could he have forgotten his promises? He drew back a little and gently cupped her face, “I love you Naina… I am sorry maine aisa bartaav kiya tumhare saath. Tumko wahan uss waqt akela chod diya.”

Even in her misery, she immediately defended him, “nahi… tumhari koi galti nahi hai. Saari galti meri hai. Yeh mere baal…”

“Achche hai”, he interrupted. She looked at him incredulously, her face still streaked with tears. He hesitated, then continued, “uhh… mera matlab… mujhe pata hai ke isme tumhari koi galti nahi hai. Par tumko toh pata hai na ke mujhe tumhare khule baal kitne achche lagte hai… aur fir main sapne dekh raha tha ke shaadi ke baad…” He trailed off blushing a bit, but then said, “ah… woh baadme bataunga… filhaal bas isiliye uss waqt ukhad gaya kyunki main chahta tha ke sab log meri biwi ki tareef kare, par aisa hua nahi… uske bawjud mujhe tumhare saath wahan khada rehna chahiye tha. Chahe haalaat jo bhi ho, lekin mujhe meri biwi ka saath dena chahiye tha. Shaadi ke baad mujhe har pal tumhe khush rakhna chahiye, par main tumko rulata raha.”

She shook her head, “Sameer main khush hun.”

He silenced her with a finger on his lips, “jhooth… lekin abhi main tumko firse waada karta hun, ke ab se, abhi se main hamesha tumhara saath dunga. Aur tumko pata hai main kahan gaya tha…??”

She curiously enquired, “kahan?”

“Library”, he revealed, surprising her. He chuckled, “woh actually maine socha wahan kisi magazine me tumhare baalo ka koi ilaaj mil jayega…”

Her eyes widened as she nervously asked, “toh… kuch mila?”

He nodded, and told her about a natural remedy he had read that would remove most of the perms in a week, and then he could take her to a parlor to get her hair straightened. She grinned, “sach me isse thik ho jayega?”

He nodded again, a self-satisfied smirk on his face. She uttered an ecstatic squeal, flung her arms around him, and dropped an exuberant kiss on his cheek, which was loud enough to stun him to silence. Oh yeah! He could live with her permed hair for a few days…