Destiny

5. Close Meet

As Anupama collected her things and prepared to go home, Vasumathi
approached her and said, 'Anu, the play was wonderful! It is quite late, how will
you girls get back to the hostel?'

There were three other girls with Anupama.

'We'll take an auto or a taxi,' Anupama replied.

'It's too late to take a taxi. Anand's house is nearby. I'll tell him to drop you
off on his way home.'

'No aunty, we'll manage.'

But Anand was only too happy to help,

'I'll drop all of you back,' he said.

They were all tired and one of the girls whispered in Anupama's ear, 'Let's
get a lift.'

Anand opened the back door and all four of them squeezed in.

Anand had hoped that Anupama would sit in front with him. Foolish thought! A girl like Anupama would certainly never do anything so forward.

Very 18th century She was only aggressive when it came to selling tickets!

Anand drove in silence and the girls, too, did not talk. When they reached the
hostel, all of them alighted, and Anupama said, 'Thank you, doctor.'

'You're welcome, Anupama. Your play was excellent.'

'All thanks to people like you who bought tickets and encouraged us to host
the show.'

Anand smiled and started the car. He was leaving behind him the most
beautiful girl in the world. . .and his heart.

All the girls turned towards their respective rooms, too tired to talk. Sumithra and Anupama, who shared a room, continued to walk together.

They had been friends and room-mates for the last six years. They were like
sisters, and could sense what was going on in each other's mind. Although they
were poles apart in nature, they liked each other a lot, and their lives had become intertwined. Whenever she bought a new sari, Sumi would insist that Anupama try it on first.

While changing into their nightclothes, Sumi asked suddenly, 'Anu, where did
you discover Dr Anand?'

'Sumi, don't be silly! It seems he is Desai Uncle's assistant. Quite a rich man,
too. . .Somehow I managed to sell him two thousand-rupee tickets.'

'When did you see him first?'

'A fortnight back. When I was in Desai Uncle's house. I was rehearsing for the play, and saw him from the first floor. He had come in his Mercedes. I'd hoped he would buy the thousand-rupee ticket. But I left as soon as you called and told me to return to the hostel, so I could not meet him that day. Later, I went to the hospital to sell tickets and met him there.'

'Anu, you are a super saleswoman! By the way, you were fabulous as Mahashweta today. When you were sobbing for Pundarika, I felt like coming
onto the stage and wiping away your tears.'

Anupama laughed.

'Tell me more about Anand.'

Anupama was about to lie down on the bed, but at that she sat up and said
dramatically,

'Miss Sumithra Devi, I do not know anything about this Anand, who is the alter ego of Pundarika, and with whom it seems you have fallen in love. If you command me, I will dig up all the details and get back to you at the earliest. I will also convey your feelings to him. Now, it is past midnight and I would like to sleep. Please, may I?'

Sumithra was annoyed. 'Anu, you play so many roles in college dramas that
acting has become second nature to you. You can hide your true feelings from
everybody but me. Today you did not act. I know that you have lost your heart to
Anand-he is your Pundarika. That is why you played the role of Mahashweta
so realistically. Anand's eyes never strayed from you. I know you will not be
able to sleep tonight,' she concluded triumphantly.

Anupama remained silent. She turned her face towards the wall and, through
force of habit, started reciting her lines:

'Like Rohini to Chandra, like Rukmini
to Krishna, am I to him. Just as the creeper depends on a tree, emotionally I
depend on him. I cannot live without him, and for his sake, I am ready to
renounce everything. Let society say anything it wishes. I do not care. . .'

'Princess Mahashweta, this is not your palace. This is the girls' hostel. And,
fortunately, your Pundarika is not in the forest. He resides just a stone's throw
away. Please go to sleep. . .and goodnight!' Sumithra laughed.