Eternal Romance

The warmth from the roaring flames in the fireplace leaped across the room. He moved to make more space, get more comfortable. His arm habitually lingering around her back, massaging that exact spot which made her melt, sighing with pleasure! She would murmur with her eyes nearly closed, ‘how do you know?’

And he would laugh- his deep throaty laugh- the first thing that she had noticed about him.

 “ Relax! All that work ties up the muscles in knots. My masseur has been killing me all my life, releasing these knots. So, I know, what not to do! Ha, ha ha!”

“Hmmmm…,” and she turned to stretch, making herself comfortable. The mirror reflected two people, very much in love, interested in each other, listening intently to the other’s needs, finding joy in giving rather than in being selfish.

The strains of their favourite song by Elvis Presley was playing in the background softly, as they hummed along, soaking in the bliss of being together.

Wise men say
Only fools rush in
But I can’t help falling in love with you
Shall I stay?
Would it be a sin
If I can’t help falling in love with you?

Like a river flows
Surely to the sea
Darling, so it goes
Some things are meant to be ….

The snow kept falling outside.

In the silvery moonlight, the pine woods became silver sentinels. Wise old men of yore, with silvery locks and silver beards, with a blanket of snow piling around, looking for every rock, every boulder to embrace.

A lonely wolf howled somewhere in the distance, but it was swallowed by the silence. The glow of golden lights pooling out of the windows, which were few and far apart, barely revealed the warmth it guarded so possessively.

The couple opened a bottle of champagne and raised a toast to each other.

“To love and our romance!”

“To you, my Love!”

As they looked at each other lovingly he could see the bright sparkling eyes of a 19-year-old, brimming with confidence, ready to take on the world. And she saw the handsome, dark haired, bright eyed, rake who had won her heart with his gentlemanly ways.

The reflection in the mirror faithfully returned the images of an elegant, elderly, silver haired couple, basking hopelessly in each other’s love.

“Do you remember Kranti, the dragon?”

“How can I ever forget? She nearly drove me off the cliff! Thank God you reached in time!”

As tears threatened to spill over her huge dark eyes, dimming the sparkle somewhat, he reached out and embraced her to his ample chest, her home and comfort for some 40 years now and in a way his too.

The nasty, vicious nosey neighbour of  vivacious Vasanti, was the dragon Kranti Aunty. She had made it her business to poke her nose into all her neighbours’ affairs. Who was going with whom? Who was doing what? And who was not doing what they ought to?

Then her fiery tongue would spread the jungle fire, far and wide. She seemed to thrive on bickering families and clashing spouses. Her favourite was to keep tabs on who were having ‘affairs’. Oh, the comments she had ready… like arrows in a quiver. Ready to fire… like Luv- Kush in Ramayan… simply blew the targets away! And she had another Ramayanisque trait… her laughter! Like Surpanakha’s.

One day she chanced to see Vishal, drop Vasanti home on his Yamaha Yezdi, roaring down the road till it reached the entry to their street, where it purred to a halt. With gaping mouth and fire billowing, she froze mid step, when she saw the young lovers exchange a quick squeeze of the hands.

Screaming and screeching she ran towards Vasanti’s house. “What a shame! Children of the neighbourhood are sinning in broad daylight. Today’s parents are irresponsible and  setting scandalous examples, spoiling the entire neighbourhood!” “Shame!” cried a handful of old hags, loitering in the alley, on cue.

As Vasanti’s mother rushed to see what the commotion was all about, she was horrified to see, Kranti accusing her daughter of all kinds of things. The neighbours gathered quickly, and all enjoyed joining in the lynching.

Vasanti the fearless, turned to the old hag and questioned her on spreading rumours and making a mountain out of a mole hill.                                                              “What is wrong with you Kranti Aunty? Why cant you mind your own business?”

“Oh, now see how she wags her tongue? No respect for elders… Is this what you are learning at your college?”

“What? I have done nothing wrong. Stop spreading rumours and shattering the peace in our homes. Look after your own family, will you?”

Her mother tried to pacify her, hopelessly.

Vrrroooom! Vrrroooom!!

Vishal, roared through the mob, on his bike and stood resolute between the young girl and the mob. Calmly he asked, “What is the matter?”

The run-down neighbourhood momentarily stood speechless!

The rakishly handsome man, tall and well built, impeccably dressed in smart jeans, blue and white checked shirt tucked in at his slim waist, with his black Ray bans, reflecting the motley group had them awe stricken. He looked no less than a movie star. (Would he pull out a cigarette and flip it to his lips? Wondered the dragon!)

His gleaming, brown leather boots clad feet, resting  confidently one on the bike and one on the ground were ready for action.

Precisely then her father reached the site. With one loud, “What’s happening? Go home!” he scattered the milieu. “Come on son, let’s go home,” he said as they proceeded within.

By this time Vasanti was wondering, what would her parents say? She was preparing all her defenses when she heard Vishal’s deep voice in conversation.

“This is not how we wanted you to learn of our commitment to each other. But unfortunately, this is how its unfurling. I love Vasanti and admire her as a person. If I have your permission, I would love to marry her, provided she wants the same.”

She was dumbfounded… When had they ever spoken of marriage or commitment?

He had indeed come as her knight in shining armour. Her father smiled as he blessed them. Her mother had the brightest smile even as a few tears rolled down here and there like unruly children at the playground.

As she turned to look at Vishal, she was stunned by the love and sincerity sparkling in his eyes. It was like she was seeing him properly for the first time.

She loved him of course, but this was a dream.

It was not easy.

He was ready, but not his parents. It seemed like Kranti Aunty had succeeded in setting their home ablaze. The economical disparity, the difference in social status, it was beneath their dignity. Vasanti was clear she would not build her home on a foundation of bitter separation in the family. She held Vishal’s hand gently and implored, to give his parents time to review their decision, before they married in court, with none but her parents and a handful of their friends.

Their love was the talk of her college and his office. She passed her exams with flying colours, much to everyone’s amazement. And soon started work as a professor in a highly reputed college. Time was flying, but his parents didn’t budge. They wouldn’t accept a girl from the poorer side of town, into their plush suburban home.

Every dog has his day. Vasanti was awarded the most promising academician of the year award. She was all over the front page, on television and media. She turned into a celebrity overnight. What with her winsome beauty and witty repartee, her fan following only increased.

Finally, the parents came around and grudgingly accepted defeat.

It was the wedding of the season, the talk of the town. Such hard-earned joy the lovers swore they  would protect, nourish, and let flourish till their dying day.

Sipping  champagne, in their Swiss villa, as much in love at sixty as they were in their twenties, they knew their romance was eternal.

“Elvis is right, you know?”

“Yes, Darling!”

Wise men say
Only fools rush in
But I can’t help falling in love with you
Shall I stay?
Would it be a sin
If I can’t help falling in love with you?

Like a river flows
Surely to the sea
Darling, so it goes
Some things are meant to be ….

The music lingered long in the air as they finally turned in. The flames danced slowly in the fireplace, as the snow kept falling outside.