She was engrossed in the play staged at a nearby theatre. The audience was enthralled too.  She sat quietly in the row behind & looked pretty with her doe eyes and porcelain skin, dressed in a crisp cotton saree with pearls locked in her ears. The only make-up that defined her pretty face was her kohl-drawn eyes. When, the play got over…she stared blankly at the stage while everyone began vacating; some of them, passing by brushed against her elbow and noticed how attractive she looked. Her beautiful lock of hair fell against her face but she was lost…lost in her own thoughts until someone called & she sighed “Oh it’s over?” Yes, & now we shall leave” said Akash. Arranging the folds of her sari… carefully she rose. Akash loved his wife dearly and he ensured he did everything to keep her happy. Today it was one of those days when he surprised her with 2 tickets to a famous English Play.  Akash had secretly read from her diary how she used to love watching Plays…It was now two years to their marriage but Akash failed to see her gleeful and full of life…

Back home, after the change and light dinner Akash leisurely walked in his veranda…It was cool and windy outside. He then, pulled out his cigar and lightening it… he sat on the edge….thinking in retrospect… how Nalini was escorted by her elder sister to the drawing room, where Akash waited eagerly to see her. He was accompanied by his mom. Nalini coyly, bowed down dressed in a plain salwar kameez sat right opposite to them. Not a tinge of make-up she wore…except for the kohl-lined eyes which had actually swept him off his feet. When she slowly looked above, her eyes defined so much pain within. Akash could comprehend that to some extent…but was already smitten by Nalini.  Their engagement was announced, and soon after…they got tied under sacred marriage vows.

Nalini remained the same, unchanged, quiet and gloomy. She rarely ventured out and hardly chose to make friends in the neighbourhood. Her peculiar manner and moods did not excite any curiosity or deep friendship either amongst the acquaintances. As a dutiful wife she cooked the regular three meals and served when Akash came back from work. By then she claimed she already had eaten and would leave him unfinished to retire to bed. Akash would yearn to talk to her, but Nalini would pretend to have slept by then…. Akash patiently bore the same…awaiting positively that someday she would show some love and concern towards him.

He extinguished his remaining cigar and sighed heavily with severe discomfort.