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 The Glamourisation of Desikachari ... continued |
| Desikachari didn't know it, but it was exactly at that point that vague thoughts of a campaign began to take cloudy, misty shape in Aparna's mind, hovering at a subconscious level.
And so the "alliance" went through, and a marriage was arranged between Aparna and Desikachari. Smiling, understanding family priests handled the horoscope matching. The procedure went through without a hitch. Only... Well, you know, Aparna liked him. She understood perfectly all the advantages of being married to a man with an obviously bright future. But she also knew that the time would come when she'd have to "display" him. And that was the problem. See, the thing is, Aparna, and her kind, are "these-days" citizens of a strange New World. A double world. On one side - horoscopes, pucca arranged marriages, deepavali bakshanams, and kolams representing babies' feet drawn every Krishna Jayanthi from the front door to the puja room. On the other side - discos, pubs, cold beer and fancy cocktails in the evenings, trips abroad, Star World, MTV, Mexican and Italian Food and supper theatres. It is a strange sort of synthesis between Mylapore and Manhattan, with a touch of Mills and Boon. Now, in this world, it is common practice for the engaged couple to go out together, party like mad, be seen in all the right spots accompanied by the prescribed local glitterati. Friends throw congratulations-upon-your-engagement parties; the boy gives the girl a ring; he sends her flowers... And that's precisely where Aparna's confidence cracked a bit. I mean, Desikachari was a nice guy, and she had agreed to marry him, but was he into all this stuff? Judging by the neatly slicked down hair (coconut oil... not gel,), and the earnest expression, one kind of suspected: "Probably not"! A week went by. Desikachari did not call. The campaign was getting clearer, with the Chief-and-Only-Campaigner getting more determined. Aparna's best friend Uru (short for Urvashi) began to ask questions. "So when do we meet him?" "He's been calling everyday", the little lie slipped off Aparna's tongue so easily, she didn't even realise it. "He's not been able to come over because he's been so busy. You know he's the most popular doctor in that hospital. Patients just do not want to let him go." "I thought he has just finished all his various qualifying exams and has just about begun working..." "That's true... but Venu Uncle, you know... Appa's second cousin, who is chief at Jupiter Hospitals he says he's already started hearing such glowing reports of Desi..." Aparna flung that little nickname out... a small trial. Uru looked at her. " 'Desi'?", she inquired, with a slight smile. "Oh, didn't I tell you? That's what both of us decided would be my name for him. He's so romantic he wants me to have a special name for him that only I use." giggled Aparna. With that, she took her first step into her special world, her solitary world of "Desikachari-and-Aparna-according-to-Aparna" never to leave it again. Uru knew Aparna... only too well. In all their years of friendship, she had always blithely played along with all of Aparna's little games. But now, she sat up on the divan, re-adjusted the cushions, and gazed thoughtfully at the photograph Aparna had shown her. "Somehow, Aparna, I wouldn't... not with this man." "Wouldn't what?" queried Aparna, unimpressed. "You know... start doing stuff...", Uru realised that was vague, but she couldn't find the words. "What stuff?" asked Aparna, looking at Uru, perplexed. "Well... you know, he isn't like Rahul, Rohan and the rest." "Of course not," exclaimed Aparna, shocked, "Why, what an idea. I never wanted that slick MNC type like Rohan or Rahul. I've always wanted someone like my Desi. Uru, come on, you know me." Uru was silent. She gazed at that photograph... noticed that strong line of jaw. That very determined chin. Aparna didn't seem to get it, Uru thought. She tried again. "Seems the quietly-confident type..." she offered, watching Aparna. "Oh, yes," came the glib reply, "He is such a stubborn thing, only wants things his way. I'm going to have a tough time with him," she added, with relish. Uru sighed, and decided to leave it for now. |
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