Chapter 3: Meeting Ruhi

Over the next few days, the same routine played on like a broken record. The door turned out to be Dev’s favorite spot in the day. Though the vile, disgusting stench hung around for a couple of minutes, the rest of the journey was enjoyable.  

As for the balding man, he’d become less cold than their first meeting. He bore his large, white, horse-like teeth and chatted to glory with Dev. His dark skin, dazzling white teeth, and warm, kind eyes were intriguing. To top it off, he had a funny voice, like he had a mouth full of hot potatoes. 

“Kamal is the name,” the balding guy stated proudly, “what’s yours?” 

“Dev.” 

Like always, the train pulled up at the crossing. Dev peeked out of the railings, searching for the beautiful young lady again. Other than his job, she had become his favorite part of the day. She was like a good luck charm that made his day blessed and complete, after which everything he set his heart and mind on happened like a piece of cake. Surely, there is something about her, he contemplated.  

Soon, he spotted her, feeding her chickens (as usual). He shook his head, feeling very amused. Seriously, this girl seems to be obsessed with the bird. 

Today, however, was not the same. Like a proud peacock with its glorious train feathers opened wide, her luscious, glossy wet hair was left open to its full magnificence. Freshly showered, she looked so divine. 

Then, he saw it: a mangalsutra adorning her neck and red, powdery sindoor on the parting of her hair. For some unknown reason, his heart sank. 

She’s married... Heart clenching, he slowly recoiled into himself. How come I never noticed this before? 

The train slithered forward, leaving his heart splattered all over the tracks. He attempted to shake off the weird, sick feeling bubbling in his gut. So what if she’s married, he scolded himself, what’s your problem? You don’t even know her! And get this, she doesn’t know you either. So, stay put and clear out.  

But deep down, he wished that he did know her.  

***

By the weekend, Dev was at the Saxenas with his mother. Being an old family friend, the Saxenas welcomed them into their home with open arms and lots of stories from the past.

 The family’s head, Mr. Rajan Saxena, was a great pal of his father Amit. Now, they were meeting each other after so long. The meeting was a splendid one considering that the last time they met was when Dev was yet to hit puberty.  

“He’s become so handsome!” exclaimed one of the aunties while pulling his cheek. “And so tall! The last time I saw him, he was just at waist level!”

“He looks just like Amit!” commented one.

“But you are still the same, Amala. You haven’t each aged a day,” said another.

Dev sat around the living room with his mother and the Saxenas. He kind of felt nervous. One, ever since he could remember, Rajan Saxena, a retired NRI, was never-so-friendly looking. With his haphazard smile, close-cut hair, square jaw and stony face, he looked more like a retired cop than an NRI. Dev dared not look at him. He feared that Rajan with his black, beady eyes could see right through him and access his deepest, dirtiest secrets, one that only he knew.  

Second, Rajan’s daughter, Ruhi, was a friend and neighbor from his pre-puberty days. He’d be meeting her after so long, and that made him shit nervous. He wondered what she’d look like now, and mostly what would be her attitude towards him. He used to bully and prank her quite a lot, usually to the point of tears, and he feared if she still hoarded the hate.

“We’d love to meet Ruhi. Right, Dev?” he heard his mother’s voice out of nowhere.  

Dev was taken aback for a moment. He seriously wondered if people could hear his thoughts. "Um, sure, of course,” he cleared his throat. He couldn’t shake off the feeling that something wasn’t right. This whole process felt weird that he doubted if his mother was up to something. ‘Something’ in the sense, get them hitched? He didn’t want that! He’d rather go to hell than have Rajan as a father-in-law. 

Soon, Ruhi made her entrance, and Dev’s brains hit the brakes. To say that she was beautiful would be an understatement. She was like a top-earning model and had it all: Flawless, rosy skin, rich silky hair, bewitching eyes, attractive smile, and a perfect hourglass figure. It took him a moment to realize that he was wearing a goofy look on his face. He quickly straightened it out. 

From the corner of her eyes, Amala studied her son. “Come, Ruhi, come sit next to me,” she urged, but Ruhi politely refused and chose to stick around her family.  

“Go on, dear,” Rajan encouraged.  

Reluctantly, she sat next to Amala. When she did, her eyes met Dev’s. He squeezed out an acknowledging smile and she blushed hard.  

Amala put her through a series of questions while Dev watched her closely. She had a sweet voice and carried herself well. 

 “I’m sure that you both would like to spend some time together alone. Right, Dev? Talk about the good old days…” Amala quickly turned to her son, to which he simply shrugged. “Sure...”  

“There’s no need to feel shy! The both of you have played a lot together! Remember the time when you flipped sand into her mouth?” There was an uproar as everyone burst out laughing, turning him into a bright shade of red. How can I forget? It was something he really regretted, especially since Ruhi got her revenge the next day. He clearly recollected how she pretended to have been hurt by him just so that she could get him punished by the teacher.

Dev noticed Ruhi smiling, and he knew why.

“Go on, Ruhi, take Dev with you,” said Mrs. Saxena.  

Ruhi got up and Dev followed suit. He followed her to her room (which was an earshot away from the living room) and sat down on a well-made bed. Dev leaned back a little and looked around. It was a dainty place with plenty of light. On a shelf were some animal figurines and stuffed toys. “Seems like you’re still into pets?” He kicked off the conversation.  

“Yeah,” she smiled and stole a glance at him. She couldn’t deny, he had grown incredibly handsome from the last time she saw him, not that he wasn’t before, but things were different now.

“I guessed so,” he said, catching her eyes. “Hey, where’s your little pug by the way? What was his name again?”

“Julius,” she answered.

“Yeah, right, Julius,” he repeated.   

“He crossed the rainbow bridge a few years ago.” 

“Oh, I see,” he answered. “And didn’t he come back?” 

She raised an eyebrow. Clearly, he had never come across that phrase before. “Um… what I meant was that… he passed away,” she clarified awkwardly and added, “so he’s not coming back, unfortunately.”  

“Oh!” He cleared his throat and smothered an embarrassed cough. “Yeah, I got it. It’s really sad when they have to go.” 

“Hmm” She lowered her eyes. 

A brief, awkward silence followed before Dev decided to keep the conversation going. “Remember Rocky, the German Shepherd?” 

“Uh-huh.” 

“Well, he didn’t stay on much after dad passed away.” 

“Where’d he go?” 

“Um… he too... crossed that ‘bridge’ you were talking about?” He air-quoted.

“Oh, that’s… so bad.” Was he being funny? 

“Yes, it is. I’m sure that he’s in a great place though.” 

“True,” she commented.  

Dev found himself studying Ruhi yet again. He couldn’t stop noticing how beautiful she had turned out to be. The last time he’d seen her, she looked like a garden lizard. He wondered if she still remembered the old days when he used to taunt her a lot.  

That is when he realized that it was unusually quiet in the living room. “Isn’t it a bit quiet?” he asked in a low voice. 

Before she could respond, a voice shot from the living room. “You two got married or what?”  

Laughter ensued. Inside and outside. 

***