Page 90 of That Same Old Love

“They have changed a lot in the past few months. After we moved into our new home, I think they felt very bad. Even at school when some other boy was teasing me, they beat him up, saying that no one should ever tease their sister—”

“What other boy was teasing you? And why didn’t you mention it to me or your mummy?” Sidhu demanded with a frown

Srishti rolled her eyes. “Papa… a lot of people tease each other at school all the time. I’m fine. And if something upsets me, I have my music to soothe me. Even Mahi aunty uses it as therapy sometimes,” she said, winking at Mahi conspiratorially.

“What music therapy?” asked Sidhu.

“Well… when you feel a little low and don’t want to talk to anyone about it, you can listen to some good music and get back some of your groove,” said Srishti, grinning.

“Hmm…is that why you keep listening to some songs on repeat for several hours and sometimes even several days?” asked Sidhu.

Both Mahi and Srishti giggled.

Mahi was happy that Srishti had a good and healthy relationship with her cousins.

Soon they went to the dance floor where everyone was gathered. The DJ had started playing a lot of upbeat songs. The huge makeshift dance floor was filled up pretty quickly with children and couples of all ages. Mahi danced along with her friends and they did some crazy steps that they had created during their college days. After an hour, the music slowed down and the DJ asked all the couples to get on the dance floor while playing some slow romantic songs.

“Ladies, this is your chance to hold your husband close in the public, and gentlemen, hug your wife tightly using this occasion as an excuse,” the DJ announced loudly making the crowd emit loud cheers.

Mahi took that as a cue to take a short water break and get back when the music picked up again. But Samrat waylaid her.

She stared at his hand in horror and fascination as he held it out to her.

“I’m not holding a grenade in my hands, Mahi,” he told her with an amused smile.

“Yeah, but this song is not the dance-dance kind. It’s way too slow to dance apart and it’s only for real couples,” she said.

“And?” he prompted.

“Well, I don’t know how to dance slowly.”

“Neither do I. It’s not a ball dance or a performance. We just move slowly together. And we are a real couple,” he said and pulled her closer.

They held each other and slowly began to sway to the music that was a slow romantic ballad. For once, she didn’t have a smart ass comment. She was feeling a little emotional and had been trying to ignore the conversation she had with Samrat’s father early that evening.

Samrat’s parents had just exchanged heavy garlands in a ceremony that was similar to getting married. Samrat’s mother had blushed like a newlywed bride when everyone hooted saying that she and her husband just got married again and they should take off on the long honeymoon sponsored by their son.

“So Mahi. When are you and my son getting married? I’m not getting any younger. I’m already sixty now. I am hoping to have a few grandchildren by the time I turn sixty five or seventy,” Samrat’s father had asked her smiling.

Samrat’s mother was looking at her quietly, with a small smile on her face.

She had smiled back at both of them. “You are hardly old, uncle. If only Samrat was half as active or looked half as dashing as you, I would have married him a long time ago.”

“In my day and age, things were different. Women were very determined. Samrat’s mother literally tied me up, until I agreed to marry her—” Samrat’s father broke off when his wife nudged him hard.

They had all laughed. Samrat had told her about his parents love story. Apparently Samrat’s mother and father were childhood sweethearts. But when Samrat’s father’s family didn’t agree to their match, Samrat’s mother kidnapped him and held him hostage until he agreed to marry her.

Samrat’s father was disinherited by his family, but he had always told his wife and children that he didn’t ever regret the choice he made.

She rested her cheek on Samrat’s chest as they swayed to the music. She had been feeling slightly guilty since Samrat’s father mentioned grandchildren. She kept thinking that maybe if she hadn’t been in Samrat’s life, he would have found someone more suitable to marry, to live a happy and a complete life, while also providing his parents with grandchildren to pamper.

During the past eleven months since they had been together, she had similar thoughts on some days. But then she had been selfish, wanting Samrat for herself, even if she couldn’t give him all the things he needed. And when she mentioned that to him, he brushed it off, asking her not to worry, saying that he was happy with how things were progressing.

“By the way, did I tell you that you look pretty sexy in this red sari?” he asked huskily.

“Several times, during the last few hours. And we already have a dirty date later this night, where you have a free pass to do as you’ll with me, while I’m still in my sari and jewelry,” she whispered, looking up at him with a smile.

He held her closer. “Just checking to see if it is still on, because you might claim to be tired from socializing and dancing tonight.”

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