Syed and Gayatri didn’t mean to fall in love. But love happens when you least expect it. It creeps up suddenly when someone needs attention, care, conversation, laughter and maybe even intimacy. Love doesn’t look at logic, or at backgrounds and least of all, religion.
Gayatri was from a very conservative South Indian family that went to a temple every Saturday. Syed bought goats for his family every Eid. That said it all. Their paths would never have crossed if it hadn’t been for that fateful day when he walked into the coffee shop. Gayatri wondered if destiny chose our loved ones for us. Did we have any role to play at all?
She looked at her watch. Syed was late. They met every Thursday at five pm to catch up. Their conversation lasted for hours; sometimes at the café, sometimes in his car, sometimes in places that she could never tell her friends about. They would never understand. And yet Syed made her happy.
Suddenly her phone beeped. He had sent a message.”On my way. Have something important to tell you.”
Gayatri stared at it and realized she had knots in her stomach. Thoughts flooded her mind. What did he want to tell her?
She brooded over the various events in their relationship. From the day it all began to this very moment. They had their fair share of quarrels as well as some wonderful moments. But all relationships had all of these. They were the foundation of ant relationship. She conjectured what it could be about. Nothing crossed her mind. She became restless.
Just then she saw Syed enter. Finally, he was here. Now everything could be sorted. He immediately took a seat facing her. He could see the anxiety on her face. She nervously said a “Hey”. He took her hands in his and intertwined his fingers with hers. Without further delay, he told her the matter.
“My parents have started to look for a suitable bride for me. I have resisted them for a while but they are quite adamant now. You know that our parents would never approve of our relationship. Our only option is to elope. One of my friends lives in Dumraon. We could stay there for a few days, get married and look for other options. Then our parents will have no option but to accept our relation. I have talked to my friend Riyaz and he has agreed to help us. I know I didn’t discuss it with you but I did not want to give you hope until I was sure of the plan.”Gayatri’s eyes had a despondent look.
She was thoughtful for a few minutes. Then as if she had made up her mind, she said, “You are right. I am ready to come with you. I have a little money saved from my job. You too have saved quite an amount over the last few years. I think we have enough to last us till we find a new job in a new place. My parents are also looking for a groom. They are yet to find a match in the horoscope. I cannot risk it anymore.”They discussed a few more details before parting ways.
On her way back home in the bus, Gayatri thought over the day’s events; how fast had her life become a chaos. Not in her wildest dreams did she think that it would be a life-changing day. The wind blew through her dark tresses. Her profound string of thoughts was interrupted by the fragrance of jasmine. She realised that there sat a girl beside her who wore jasmine flowers on her hair. She was soon sent into a whirlwind of memories. She remembered the time when she was young and she would wear jasmine flowers on her hair like this girl and visit the temple. Her grandmother would neatly braid her hair and adorn then with jasmine flowers. And when she was done she would look at it like how a child looks at their newly built clay model. She missed her grandmother to whom she was very close. Her grandmother had filled the place of a sibling and she had never felt lonely being an only child. She missed her childhood and its simplicity.
Finally, the day had arrived. She had by then planned the necessary. All precautions had been taken. She would go to work as usual. In the evening she would meet Syed at Mithal Street and they would together catch the bus to Firozbad station. An hour on the train and they would reach their destination. Riyaz would take care of the rest.
At four in the evening, Gayatri reached Mithal Street. Syed was already waiting for her. They immediately boarded the bus to their next destination. They did not carry much luggage to avoid suspicion. Gayatri could not hold back her tears any longer. She had left behind her family and loved ones to a place unknown. Syed reassured her that he would be with her no matter what. She fell asleep on his shoulder.
Syed gently woke up Gayatri. They got off the bus and continued their journey on the train. Gayatri had switched off her mobile phone so that no one could contact her. The train journey was uneventful. They finally got down at Dumraon. The station was almost deserted. Gayatri felt a slight tinge of fear creeping her. She tightly held Syed’s hand. Riyaz was awaiting their arrival. They were led by him to a house a few kilometres away from the station.
The house looked a few years old. The paints were peeling off the walls and the house was not even lit properly. There was an eeriness to it but nevertheless, Gayatri consoled herself that nothing could happen to her as long as Syed was with her. Their room was congested and the dampness on the walls exuded a musty stench. Gayatri almost felt nauseated. Syed sensing her displeasure held her hand and assured her that this was only for a short time and that better days were to come. They were given a meagre meal and they soon went to sleep.
Gayatri woke up to a bad dream the next morning. She had dreamt that Syed would abandon her in this house and she would shout for help but there would be none to save her. She woke up and found herself sweating profusely. She pushed those evil thoughts aside and freshened up in a few minutes. She was then greeted by Afsha who had earlier been introduced as Riyaz’s wife. Afsha served her breakfast in her room. She informed Gayatri that Syed and Riyaz had gone out early morning for some urgent work and would return only in the evening. Other than that Afsha would not talk much. Gayatri spent her time in the house itself as she was instructed by Afsha that it was not safe for her to go out.
In the evening, Riyaz and Syed returned. Gayatri was delighted to see Syed after spending almost the entire day in loneliness. She asked him where they had been and if he had thought of their future plans. He told her that he had gone to make the arrangements for their wedding. He told that it was better that they hold it at the earliest to prevent any complications. Any moment they could be discovered. She readily agreed.
However, what she heard next was totally unexpected. Syed told her that she should convert to Islam before the marriage. Gayatri was totally taken aback. Never in her wildest dreams had she thought that he would tell her what he did right now. They had discussed their wedding plans many times, but never had Syed brought something up like this. She remained silent for some time. She finally told him that she would not do it.
What took place after that was still more shocking. He told her that he would not marry her until she accepted his demand. She tried with all her might to convince him but nevertheless, she failed. She now saw a side of Syed she had never known. “Was this the Syed she had fallen in love with? ”, she thought to herself.
Finally, after much argument, she agreed. She hardly had other options. She had left her family and friends to be with him. Now there was no escape. Syed informed her that he had done all the necessary arrangements with the Imam for her conversion. She felt helpless. In a day’s time, her life had changed beyond her expectation.
The next day the much-dreaded event took place in presence of the Imam. She was no longer Gayatri; her new name was Mehnaz. As per the plan, their marriage would take place the following day. Everything had happened at the blink of an eye.
The next morning the anxious Mehnaz woke up to yet another calamity. She woke up to find herself alone with Afsha. The whole day she awaited the arrival of Syed but he never turned up. In the evening Riyaz returned home alone. Mehnaz’s knew no bounds. The very next day she was thrown out from that house. She was now completely helpless; nobody knew her whereabouts. She knew that Syed would never return. She did not have anyone to ask for help. She knew that even if she returned home, her family would never accept her.
A few days later, she made it to the front page of the newspapers. She had put an end to her suffering by jumping in front of a moving train. She was yet another prey of love Jihad. She was not the first and surely will not be the last victim of this vice.
Shades Of Lavender 