17 years ago

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

The sea breeze at Chowpatty tasted salty. Billowing winds lined anything they touched with liberal amounts of sand. 15-year old Arnav opened his mouth to scream and the winds impartially deposited salty sand on his tongue. He spat and then tried to wipe the rest with his palms.

Covering his mouth with his hands, he called out again, "Di."

His sister was busy wading into the sea. She had fallen in love with the sand and sea the moment she laid eyes on it.

"Di," he tried to call her once more and dashed to catch up with her. He caught her by surprise and pushed her into the waters, wetting her clothes in the process.

"Chhote," admonished Anjali. "I don't even have a change of clothes."

"So what?" smirked the brother. "We've put up just two blocks away!"

Anjali scowled and Arnav smiled some more, splashing her with more salty seawater. "My clothes will stick to me Chhote," Anjali complained and then to get even with him, pushed him into the waves.

Seconds later, a soaking wet Arnav emerged from the sea, and promising to get back at his sister, chased her around the beach.

Sitting at a near distance, munching on freshly roasted peanuts, Ratna watched the entire revue with amusement.

Arnav had little time left to play with his sister. Soon she would be married off, to one of India's wealthiest businessmen, if the deal worked out. Thakur Arjan Singh Raizada had recently met India's cement magnate Vinod Srivastava at a friend's wedding and the family seemed to have taken an instant liking to Anjali. He viewed the alliance both as a great prospect for Anjali's future as well as for his business empire.

Ratna was merely informed of his decision and expected to fully support it.

"Get ready," he had told his wife. "We're leaving for Mumbai today and if all goes well, Anjali will be betrothed by the end of this week."

"But," protested Ratna feebly, "she is only 19."

Arjan gave her a long hard stare, indicating the conversation was over.

Ratna quietly packed their bags and within the next three hours, the family boarded their flight to Mumbai.

Their hotel was right next to the famous Chowpatty beach in Mumbai, right off the main road. The location was strategically picked, in the neighbourhood where the prospective family lived. It was a social statement, that the Raizada's were at par with them when it came to wealth.

*****

As two dripping wet teens tiptoed their way to their rooms, Ratna tried to divert Arjan's attention. She feared his reaction if he found out about Arnav and Anjali's little play at the beach.

"Have you told Anjali yet?" asked Arjan without looking at his wife, his focus entirely on the book he was reading.

When his question was met with silence, he continued: "They've invited us to tea tomorrow. Make sure Anjali is well-dressed and well-behaved."

His emphasis on the last word didn't sit well with Ratna. "But shouldn't we ask Anjali what she wants?"

Arjan looked up from his book, his stare piercing through Ratna's soul.

"Remember, the only person who knows what's good for Anjali is me. And it would be better if you explained that to her before tomorrow."

The Raizadas were being forced to acknowledge that their only daughter had a fierce and independent streak. Arjan was unhappy. Girls were not supposed to be opinionated. It always ended in marital issues. Raizada women were known for their mild and patient nature. Anjali was turning out to be an anomaly. Arjan constantly blamed Ratna for it.

When Anjali Raizada was 16, Arjan wanted to discontinue her education. "She is more educated than any other Raizada woman in history," he reasoned. Ratna would hear none of it. "Anjali is just as capable as Arnav and deserves the opportunity to prove herself." Arjan disagreed. Ratna threatened suicide. Arjan relented.

Anjali had just started her undergraduate degree when Arjan decided to get her betrothed.

"But..." began Ratna when she found out.

"I listened to you, now you listen to me," said Arjan. The conversation was over.

Ratna stared hard at Arjan's face before moving away. She thought of her own marriage. Arjan had been her father's choice. She was simply expected to accept the decision. When Anjali was born, she had promised herself her daughter won't face the same fate. Alas, she had forgotten, Raizada women weren't even allowed to make promises.

*****

Tea was a standard affair. Arjan looked at their status and wealth, Anjali tried to discern the character of her soon-to-be husband, Arnav busied himself with a book and Ratna felt unwanted.

Thakur Arjan Singh Raizada was looking for a business ally in Vinod Srivastava but Anjali hoped Abhay would be the life partner she wanted. She wanted time to get to know him better. On their way home, she begged and pleaded with her father and was given two days to make up her mind. "The answer better be yes," Arjan stated, the first time he'd spoken to his daughter in a rude and condescending manner.

"Get used to it," Ratna had told Anjali that night while gently massaging oil into her hair. "Women are not allowed to have opinions or wish for things."

Arnav was the silent onlooker, reading his book, watching the drama unfold. When it all became too much for him to take in, he would quietly slip out to walk around the neighborhood. He hated the way his sister was being treated and yet didn't believe he had a strong enough reason to object to it. After all, Anjali would have to marry someday. 

It was during one of these walks that he accidentally saw his to-be-brother-in-law feverishly making out with a girl. Arnav would have never discovered them if certain noises from the narrow alley hadn't caught his attention. Abhay looked ashamed but not for long. He held the girl's hand and dragged her away to a more private place where he could continue what he had just begun.

Arnav stood rooted to the spot for a good ten minutes and then made up his mind. Anjali would not marry this scumbag. When Anjali stared at him flabbergasted, he reasoned. "Baba loves you Di. Sooner or later, he will forgive you. But if you agree to this marriage, you will be forever stuck in a relationship you don't want."

Anjali simply continued to stare and Arnav continued to talk. "He's just a spoilt brat who doesn't care for anybody's feelings except his."

Even at 15 Arnav was decisive. Without waiting to hear what Anjali thought of it all he insisted: "You need to run away, NOW!"

Anjali looked at Arnav as if he was acting delusional. Not getting married was one thing, but running away?

"Why don't you tell Baba what you saw?" she asked.

Arnav looked at her as if she'd lost her mind. "You know this is a business deal for him. And he is not going to put your happiness over his partnership. He will expect you to adjust."

Ratna, who was just passing by overheard the entire conversation between the siblings. She walked into the room and gently stroking Anjali's hair, told her in no uncertain terms to leave.

"Your Baba and I never had a great marriage", she said, haltingly packing Anjali's things into a rucksack. "But what we did have was trust Anjali. In our 21 years of marriage, your Baba was many things, authoritative, dictatorial, cold but he never cheated on me." She conveniently left the part out about what disobedience had cost her.

Anjali sighed, picked up the rucksack and started packing her essentials. Just as she was about to leave, Arnav handed her a wad of cash. "This should allow you to reach Nani's house safely. Once you're there send me a message and I'll send you more money."

"Where did you get this?"

"From Baba's wallet." 

Even at that age, Arnav's scruples were fickle. It was the end that was important, never the means. 

*****

The conversations with Ratna and Anjali had left Arjan stressed. He was having trouble sleeping. After tossing and turning in his bed for a while, Arjan decided to pace the terrace. Although it wasn't cold in Mumbai, the night wind had a certain bite. Arjan opened his cupboard to get a shawl when his wallet accidentally fell down. When he picked it up, it felt surprisingly light.

"Ratna", he called out. But before his wife woke up, his eyes fell on the lone figure walking out of the main gates. The figure had a rucksack on its backpack, the head was covered with a black hoodie. The gait was unmistakable.

The figure quietly opened the entry gate and made her way towards the main road. His daughter was running away at the dead of the night.

"Anjali," shouted Arjan. His roar woke his wife up.

"What happened?" asked a startled Ratna.

"Anjali..," screamed Arjan once more before running towards the road barefoot to stop his daughter.

Ratna followed her husband in her nightdress.

Anjali heard her father's call and walked faster, eventually taking to sprint.

Arjan ran behind her as fast as he could; Ratna closely followed.

"Stop," he screamed, but Anjali didn't heed. She began running across the main road, to hail a cab. A truck driving dangerously over the speed limit was heading towards them. Ratna was the first one to notice it. It was headed for Anjali. "Anjali," she screamed. Anjali presumed her mother was warning her against her father. She further quickened her pace. "Anjali, careful", she screamed once more. Arjan quickened his pace to match that of Anjali's. "Arjan, stop!" screamed Ratna. He was right in the way of the truck. He didn't pay attention. Ratna ran as fast as she could but reached him at the same time as the truck. The driver didn't notice the two people who had come in front of his vehicle. 

Arnav, who had seen his mother leave the house, had followed her. He saw Ratna walk in front of the truck, in a bid to save Arjan. "Amma", he screamed, just as the truck hit the two of them and sped on. Anjali, who was just about to get into her cab, stopped.

Arjan and Ratna were declared dead as soon as they were brought to the hospital. Within a span of a few hours, the family had gone from celebrating to mourning. Arnav and Anjali were orphans.