Naina

I stared at the piece of paper, the letters had been highlighted in red Positive. The test had come positive. I am pregnant! With his child! It felt like the sky came crashing down on me. The house had been milling with close relatives and extended families. The dholak wouldn't stop, someone or the other kept tapping at it bringing out not always the most pleasing of sounds. It was a mismatch of beats and music. The ladies were dancing and my family they were making merry. After all its Preeti's wedding! When I arrived after my results, I had known about the impending marriage, I was greeted at the door by Chachaji while chachaji had come rushing with a plate of sweets stuffing one into my mouth congratulating me on my success. I had yet again scored top notch scores in my exams. Chachaji couldn't stop gushing for the star student I have always been since then while tauji and taiji had sniggered at him saying the real talent of a woman is exhibited in the kitchen, how adept she is in making round chapattis and taking care of the house. Hence they had suggested that I should be the next in line for marriage. Chachaji had vehemently fought and said that he wanted to see me work first and then get me married while tauji had argued that why didn't he have similar thoughts for Preeti. It was an exasperating contest to watch. And in the end like always tauji had won the match hands down though with a condition, that I would be allowed to make a career and work and this shall be known to the man who agrees to marry me. So chachaji hadn't completely lost you see.

Now amidst all the merry making and festivities of Preeti's wedding, a groom hunt was on for me. Yesterday itself a family had come in with their son and my marriage had already almost been fixed but the said people scurried off the moment they came to know about the stipulated condition. Somehow I had been relieved that they went away since in my mind, in my heart every pore of him still loved him. that one man who had abandoned me. Or had I abandoned him? since I never went back the next day to check in on the result, I never tried contacting him and though every second without him seems like an uphill task yet I literally have cut off all ties with him. since I didn't want to be heartbroken for life. But I am already shattered lying in pieces within. Though Shefali had suggested that I move on but I haven't moved an inch. I am still where he left me at the same place at bandstand. The wind whipping at our faces while he gnashed out the bitter words at me telling me to go get married to whoever I wanted to. Me running away in hurt, tears relentlessly running down my cheeks while hailing an auto for myself and then dashing into my hostel room crying my heart out yet every beep or horn from any vehicle made me peek through the curtains, hoping against hope that he would come after all.

He had a bad temper and sometimes it gets better of him and I had seen him earlier too keeping all his emotions penned up and then lashing out in anger hurting people he loved, pushing them away. Had he done something similar to me too? And now that I know am pregnant what should I do? Tell him? its his baby. My hand on instinct went to my abdomen, cupping it gently trying to feel the part of him growing within. When the doctor had spelled out the words to me, I had smiled in glee. The first thought had been that our love is growing within me. It is only while walking home did I realise the magnanimity of the situation. I am pregnant and that too with a love child and the father is yet to know. Would he accept this baby and me? Would he turn his back?? What would I tell him? how would I tell him? how to contact him? my mind had been a jumble of questions whose answers I didn't have yet. I had shivered at the hypothetical reactions of my family when they found out about this grave folly of mine. Naina the topper, the goody two shoes, one who shied away from even looking at guys went ahead and gave herself away to the greatest playboy and now she is pregnant with his baby. Already taiji had been suspicious, since she came to know about my food poisoning. I had not been keeping well for a couple of days, it had first started with ocassional spells of headaches and dizziness which I had pushed at the back thinking it might be my pressure falling low but when I missed my dates and it continued for two straight weeks I had feared the inevitable but still chided myself to be overthinking after all I had been safe that night and he had used protection. Also it had happened before when I had feared that I had missed my periods but then a light spell had followed in a day or two. But when I started puking, I knew I had to go see a physician but how, people in the locality would smell fish if I went to see the local clinic doctor. So instead I chose a clinic a bit farther away and making some excuse about seeing a friend urgently who had information regarding the marksheets distribution, I had gone to see the doctor. The doctor had checked me and suggested I take a few blood tests and come back to take the reports the day after. My fears are now confirmed. I am 8 weeks along. I have a life growing within me. His baby and now I don't know what to do, I had to speak to somebody. To my family, no, the atmosphere would sour and amidst all these relatives it would bring a bad name to the family. I would have to get in touch with him. he is the father after all, I would have to tell Sameer.

Sameer

The rain pelted heavily at the windows, they are made of glass. The past few weeks had been about loneliness, fear and loss. Yes loss, loss of her, my love. It is all my mistake, in my fit of rage I had pushed her off and then she had veered off into a vortex from where she didn't return. I waited and waited that day at the college for her to come and for me to confess. Yes I have fallen in love with her and yes I cant tolerate to see her with someone else. She is mine and only mine. I am ready to take the quintessential plunge to meke her Mrs Sameer Maheswari. But she never came. I had looked for her everywhere. That day too it had been raining, rather it had felt like the gods were expressing their sorrows at my loss. I had tried to contact her in hostel but then I came to know that she had already left with her belongings to Ahmedabad. With a reserve I had decided to follow but then I had been called in since my naanaji had been serious. He had a heart attack. It had all been a blur since then. Though I had rushed by his side yet my mind had wavered time and again back to her. And now when the doctor told us that naanu is out of danger and would back home soon I cant wait to get in touch with her. Her presence is calming soothing to my existence, she lives in every pore and since the time she told me about that prospective groom of hers I have been restless. Already my life is one big mess. There is too much to grapple with and now I don't want to lose her. When she had walked in with that pictures waving it in my face, my insides had screamed with rage. As if my blood boiled and my being had been set on fire. In my rage I had spat out the bitter words at her and how she had winced in pain at them. Only when I reached my hostel and went on rampage throwing things off did I realize my folly. But then it had been too late in the morning. She never turned up. The feeling of loneliness is jarring. I cant breathe properly, there seems to be lack of emotions. Always staring into space as if my body is on automaton. Though I had been busy in the hospital and the emotional turmoil of almost losing naanu in the past few days had taken a toll on me yet I just cant push her away from my mind. And hence I had decided to put Munna and Pandit at work. since I couldn't as I am tied up here and naanu needs me. They were initially not convinced and called it one of my weird fixations. I don't blame my friends after all they had seen me change girls like clothes. I now loathe that image of me, how I had been so shallow, I know that now, after her. Her coming into my life had been a sheer accident though somewhere our eyes were always drawn to each other. And once she came in, she broke all the walls that I had erected around myself. Bit by bit step by step she peeled off the layers. With her I could be me, she didn't admonish me for the anger rather patiently she let me vent out then would nuzzle into my neck and kiss me and make me understand, shower me with her love and compassion and understanding. No one understands me better than her. And I cant let her go and even if she considers me only as friends then too I would convince her that we can be better partners that way. So when munna and pandit called me with the news that her cousin Preeti is getting married while they had spotted her partaking in the household chores but they had noticed something else too. Some guy with his family had come to see her. When Munna Pandit had broken this piece of news to me, they had expected thunder showers and were bracing themselves before some vase or flying saucer came hit them in the face. But on the face value I had not been able to comprehend when they said had come to see her. I thought may be some long lost childhood buddy and his parents had come to meet her and be a part of the celebrations. But when munna and pandit actually made me understand the real meaning, my jaw had ticked, my teeth gnashed against each other while my eyes had clouded over with anger. But I had stayed silent for the sake of naanu. The only thought that had crossed my mind at the point was I had to act soon, rather now, right away. And hence once the doctor gave us the green signal to take Naanu home, I devised a plan and smiled at my thoughts. I don't know why but my inner feelings told me that she would say yes though she had not met me after that night at the bandstand and my anger and rude words may have pushed her to come back home without telling me but then somewhere deep within I was very positive, that she would forgive me and then we would live happily ever after.

Naina

This is actually bizzare, tomorrow is Preeti's D day and the house already seems to be in a disarray, I had been looking out Sameer's contact details but to no avail. All I knew was he is the grandson of Mr Jaiprakash Maheshwari and they lived in a palatial house in one of poshest of localities here. I had toyed with the idea of approaching the house, going in there and telling sameer about the child our baby. But what if he isn't there. After all like his name, his actions and his whereabouts held little or rather no credence. Yet you went ahead and fell in love with him, such a fool you are Naina! And now this how do I get out of this situation. My future seems to be an ominous dark hole now, I don't know what is to happen to me the next moment. This baby, first I would have to let Sameer know or so I had thought and then if he turns his back I would tell my family after Preeti's Wedding and then whatever they would decide for me I would have to take in. I had shuddered at the repercussions. Last night I couldn't sleep, nightmares of me getting banished from my own house, being thrown out on the streets, sameer turning his back at me while I stood helpless, crying. The tears wouldn't stop and the misery wouldn't end. I had jerked my eyes open to realise that it had all been just my dreams. But now the impending truth threatened for all of it to be true and now am stuck in a predicament. Tauji and taiji came in this afternoon to announce to chachaji and chachiji that some prospective groom is gonna come see me today with his family. They were all smiles and taiji came to me to say that am very lucky to be getting a rishta from such a household. Apparently the guy is some high and mighty and he himself had asked his family to ask my hand in marriage. From whatever tauji said, I could already tell that it's a sealed deal, the guy is convent educated and they even had their own business and they are apparently keen on me being their bahu. Chachaji though gave out mixed expressions and even stated that he would decide only after he met the guy and his family. Tauji had smirked in return that after seeing them he wouldn't be able to say no. and me well I had gasped, felt numb and kept grabbing at ideas in my mind, how to say no, how to turn this guy away, how to dissuade him from getting married to him. at one point I had thought of playing along and then may be after a month of the marriage break the news of pregnancy posing as the baby is my new husband's deed. But I had shuddered at the thought of closeness with another man. For my claim to hold any credence, I would have to get close to him and that I was not willing to do. You see my mind, my soul my body my everything belonged to that one man whose thoughts about me am yet to be sure about. And hence I had made up my mind, that when the guy would come with his family I would tell him the truth but how? Well we aren't allowed to meet guys in private even when they are prospective grooms. I don't know what I would do but then I would have to do something. Somehow I would have to let him know about my situation and then he would himself withdraw turn away and the I would try and get In touch with Sameer.

I stood at the corner, all dolled up, in a pink chiffon saree with pearls that taiji had let me borrow not before she reminded me of my inferior status in the house adding that I should thank my stars that I was getting such a rishta. So my long hair had been let lose and I was asked to wait in the room while the elders chitchatted. I heard the voices, sometimes subtle only to be breaking apart with peals of laughter at some joke or something someone said. I stood there numb, my mind blank. Preeti had been super excited and infact she had pranced around in the room asking me to peek through the curtains at the window to sneak a glance but then Taiji had walked in glaring at us telling us to behave. Now I stood in the corner while preeti tried in vain to peek at the man in question. We could only see their feet. The funniest part is the guy seemed to be having a really small family consisting of him and his father. Preeti had expressed her happiness at that saying that atleast I wouldn't have to keep up with the entire colony in the name of family after marriage. But my mind seemed to be elsewhere when I felt Preeti nudging me, I had been called in, wait, no? taiji seemed to be storming in towards us, may be the guy had changed her mind atleast her dark expression seemed like the rishta is null and void. At once my heart leaped with joy and suddenly I felt a smile on my face when she took me by my arms and whispered that the guy first wanted to speak to me in private and given his status and everything and the fact that they are asking for nothing in return just her hand, they had to agree and warned me to behave myself. Though it wasn't the greatest of news but then too I felt happy. After all if we spoke in private I would be able to explain my situation here. Thank god he asked for us to talk in private. Seems like an intelligent fellow. Hadn't I been pregnant and in love with that duffer, I would have seriously thought about taking up this marriage proposal. But then god always have had other plans for me.

Naina

We had been seated for the past 10 mins now. Preeti had been turned away inspite of her protests, so she never got to have a peek at him. nor did I, you see while he made his entrance I was already seated at one of the chairs staring at the floor, concentrating at the small speck of dirt there. When I first saw his feet, they seemed white and somewhat similar, his smell it reminded me of him, the musk and wood hung heavy in the air. But then I chided myself for thinking about him at all times, its my mind playing games with me. he cant be here. It's a figment of my imagination again. So I shook my self from within and kept staring while he sat himself opposite me in the chair arranged for him. I tried clearing his throat two to three times as if beckoning me to look up. But then I didn't want to all I wanted was to blurt the truth out and get this over with and hence I squared my shoulders while I kept staring at the floor. He started to say something when I announced

Naina: I am pregnant

Silence greeted me on the other side, I knew I was successful in making the first dent

Naina: the baby is of the guy I love from college. No since my school days, I loved him but we got close and started having an affair only when we entered college and that is time I fell in love with him. you must be feeling cheated given if I am already in love and pregnant with someone else's child, why did I waste your time. Well my family is yet to know, even the father of the baby, we had little tiff before our graduation results and we have not spoken since then and so..

I couldn't complete my monologue since he spoke first

Sameer: and when is it so that you were planning on telling me?

All at once my head flew up in his direction and my eyes met with his, sameer! He had come to ask for my hand in marriage? He is the guy everyone had been talking about since morning? How? My mouth had formed into an O while he looked at me with a sour expression on his face

Sameer: how long?

Naina: huh?

Sameer: how long have you known

Naina: a couple of days

I replied meekly

Sameer: good, I think we don't have much to say then

With that he pushed the chair back and went out, I had my heart in my throat, what would he do? Would he tell my father, my chachaji ?oh god no! my thoughts were broken when the hall outside erupted into sudden laughter, sounds of jubilations. Everyone seemed to be congratulating everyone while chachiji came running to my side stuffing my face at once with a big piece of sweet hugging me at once and telling me that now they had two reasons to celebrate. Next came taiji announcing that the date is set for next week itself since they don't want to wait. She looked hassled and happy at once telling chachiji that now they would have to double the efforts and manage everything double since they had two weddings to take care of now. I stood there dumbfounded. What in the world?

Did he not say that he was not interested in marrying when I told him that my family had been looking for prospective grooms and waved the picture of Arvind who happened to be Shefali's boyfriend at me and now with no explanation when I had been looking for avenues to let him know about our child, he simply waltzed into my life and now we are to be married. What is happening. I felt my head reeling while I tried clutching on to the chair for support. I peeked outside only for my eyes to collide with his, he gave me once over as if assessing every nook, every curve and then smiled that smirk. The smirk that held promise, I shivered at the intensity.

So this is my reimagination of SUR'S EU. Well you will find quite a few differences and many similarities. It is based on the time when naina finds out about being pregnant and its about if all had fallen into place back then instead of everything going awry. I took prior permission of SUR while I penned this one. Guys it's a maximum 3 shots or may be seeing the reception I would extend it to a max of 5 shots. So I hope I live up to your demands and your expectations. Sorry for the delay since am tied up bad at work and the next few weeks are grueling. Hope you all understand