It was typical as far as weddings go. Loud, colourful, and an overall assault on all of one’s existing senses. A cursory glance would reveal people divided into the usual categories: the harried ones fervently rushing about, attempting to see to last-minute details; the relaxed ones, who lounged around exchanging betelnut and laughs; the furtive ones who tried not to look like grate-crashers drawn by the alluring scent of the lavish buffet; and finally, the bored ones. These were the ones who looked like they would just as soon stab their own eyes with a pen than use it to sign a congratulatory card addressed to the happy couple.One such member of this last category was currently scowling at his feet; albeit half-heartedly, for he had come to accept with stoic resignation the hopelessness of his situation. So absorbed was he in his troubles, that he did not immediately notice a small pair of feet with extremely fidgety toes parked at the periphery of his narrow view.
He directed his grimace towards the small offending toes, which cheerfully wiggled up at him. When the feet made no attempt to leave, he tiredly raised his gaze which rested upon the curious face of a little girl.When she made no attempt to speak, choosing only to solemnly observe him, he snapped, “What?”
“Nothing,” she mumbled, unfazed by the power of his withering stare.His silence, however, was mistakenly interpreted as interest, “You look like somebody died.”
A glare.
“I’m Gauri.”
Stony silence.
“Who are you, then?”
Never before had his fingernails looked so intriguing.
“You don’t have a name?”
Frustration mounted.
“Okay!” came the bright response, “I’ll just call you Bunty then!”
An extremely dangerous twitch below the eye.
“Bunty uncle? Hey, why won’t you say anything? Bunt-”
“Don’t call me Bunty uncle,” he managed through gritted teeth. The twitch aggravated.
“But you won’t tell me what-”
“Look, kid. Go away. Stop annoying me, and stop calling me stupid names and just leave me alone,” he glowered, and would have continued on his vehement rant if it weren’t for the sight of those unnaturally large brown eyes swimming in little pools of tears.He gaped in horror as her bottom lip quivered ever so slightly, and even her shiny black braids hung limply.
“No. No, no. Oh, no. Don’t cry. Ahh...hey, now, don’t cry little girl, I didn’t mean what I said…” he trailed off helplessly. He knelt in front of her and made wild waving motions with his hands; so acute was his despair, “Chirag, alright! My name is Chirag. You can call me Chirag Bhaiyya, how’s that? No, really, I’m too young to be your uncle…please, kid?”
Gauri sniffed, and rubbed her eyes with her knuckles, leaving black Kohl smudges around them. She regarded him seriously for a moment, before breaking into a wide grin, “Okay!”
Breathing normally once again, Chirag muttered under his breath, “That was fast.”
“What?” she chirped.
“I said you look like a raccoon,” he collapsed in his chair.
“What’s a raccoon?” she asked in a sing-song voice.
He merely sighed and shook his head.
“Chirag bhaiyya? You want to see something really nice?” she suddenly went still.
“Eh?”
Her eyes alight with an unsettling excitement, she began bouncing up and down, “Something wonderful! Come we’ll see it together!”
“What? No, I’d rather not-” he stopped abruptly when her mouth quivered ominously, “Don’t…”
She grabbed his hand and attempted to pull him up, “Come! Let’s go…please,” she looked up at him imploringly, and pouted a little for effect.
“That’s not fair, no puppy eyes, that’s…” the rest of his sentenced came out as a groan, as he reluctantly allowed himself to be abducted by the tenacious, raccoon-eyed girl,“What the – don’t you have family or something, wait, don’t run so fast, don’t-” the rest of his grievances were drowned out by her gleeful shouts as they weaved through tables and meandering waiters and crossed over the wedding grounds into the adjoining fields.
“Gauri, are you sure we should be-” Chirag started, trying to keep up with the object of his exasperation without tripping.
“You worry too much! That’s all you big people ever do – worry, worry, worry,” she interjected.
He searched his mind for a decent comeback but it was a tad bit too hard while dodging stray goats and trying not to trip over conveniently placed rocks, a hyper five year old, or his own shoes.They ran through green grass, which rippled under the soft, dancing breeze. It made quite a picture against the backdrop of distant mountains and deep blue sky. It was all lost on Chirag, however, who was still cursing his wretched fate, which was presently engaged in singing a made-up tune, punctuated by giggles.
Gauri slowed down from her rapid pace. They had reached a small incline so he couldn’t see what was beyond it.Heaving for breath, he looked at her questioningly.Only slightly breathless, she beamed up at him, “Close your eyes!”
“What?” he frowned.
“Please close your eyes Chirag bhaiyya, it’s a surprise!” she started bouncing again.
“Fine, fine,” he grudgingly agreed, wondering if he wished hard enough, he could disappear from this thoroughly unpleasant situation, “But don’t try anything funny, you hear?”
“Yes, yes…now hold my hand tight,” she started taking cautious steps so as not to ruin the surprise.
He smelled something he thought he recognized. Definitely organic. Unsurprising, considering they were in the country. He jumped as he felt his hands brush something that seemed to him to be tall stalks of…something.
“Okay, open your eyes now!”
Still frowning, Chirag slowly opened his eyes, and for a second, forgot to breathe.They were drowning in a yellow lake. A velvety yellow lake with brown dots.Chirag stared around him, engulfed by a sprawling thatch of sunflowers almost as tall as the annoying, yet persistent midget who was currently cutting off blood circulation in three of his fingers.“This is…” he looked down at his companion, and regretted it the moment he did.
She was smiling up at him, with all of her pearly white teeth seemingly illuminating her surroundings. And the sunflowers. To his dazed mind, it seemed as if they were all mirroring her action, leaning in towards him, beaming up at him in all their resplendent glory. So much yellow, surrounding a happy little girl with expectant eyes. Desperately, he fought for control of his faculties.The corner of his mouth quirked involuntarily.
“Just like sunshine, no, Chirag Bhaiyya?” she tugged his sleeve adorably, her cheeks dimpling.He knew he was fighting a losing battle. His fingers twitched in her hand.
Oh, what the hell.
“Yes, Gauri. Just like Sunshine,” he grinned down at her.
