2012:Short Story 2: The Honeymoon

‘You are going to marry him and that is final’, Rashmi’s mom said in a calm yet authoritative manner.

‘No I am not and please do not force me to marry someone whom I haven’t even met once. This is the new age mom. Please!’, retorted Rashmi.
‘Dear, take a look once at the guy’s profile. He is handsome, earns well and is jovial enough when your dad and I met him.’ Mrs. Sharma persisted.

‘But Mom, you know that..’Rashmi tried to reason but was cut short by her mother.

‘Rashmi, you are already 28 and your dad has become old. You do not have a brother who can shoulder the responsibilities. We come from a middle class family and we have to plan accordingly given the limited earnings we have. Think of the family rather than ranting about modern age ideas. Please meet him. At least you can do that, can't you?’

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‘Are you sure about this girl?’ Ramesh asked his friend, Sahil.

‘I do not know. My parents made my profile on one of those websites, got in touch with this girl and her family and suddenly one fine day, I was sitting in front of her parents.’ , Sahil spoke.

‘But why arranged marriage? I mean it is so outdated man.’

‘Ramesh, well to be very frank I am not sure if this is a good idea after all. All these years, I thought I will fall in love to the girl of my choice and will marry her. But nothing happened. I cannot keep my family at bay pursuing my own interests the whole life. ‘

‘Have you met her? Did you like her?’

‘Yes I did meet her. She is good. Not like my girl of dreams but she is ok. She is yet to give her nod though. She seemed very hesitant when we met and somehow I felt she isn’t happy with this arranged marriage affair either. After all, love has its own charm right?’

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The marriage was fixed on 11th December

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‘Andamans?’ Who the hell goes to Andamans for honeymoon? Those are tribal areas.’ she looked at Sahil with her mouth open.

She looks so cute like this. Sahil thought.

‘Yes, that is why it is apt for us. Come on, It’s a fantastic place and please tribals are humans as well and they live in their own designated reserves. You will not regret’. He gave a wink.

I kind of like the way he convinces me at times. Especially with that wink. She thought.

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‘This is the famous Premik Bagh.’ Sahil said.

‘Why this Is called Premik? Sounds so unconventional’, Rashmi asked looking straight at him.
Gosh these eyes. Kill me.

‘Sahib, Guide? Guide? Number 1 Guide, all details, love story’. A man appeared from nowhere.

‘No, no we do not want’. Sahil tried to make him go away.

‘What a miser!’, Rashmi muttered.

‘What, what did you say?’ Sahil asked.

‘Nothing, let us go. Anyways, we are not interested in the history of this place, are we?’, she said in a mild sarcastic note.

‘Aye, wait. You. Come here’. Sahil beckoned the guide.
The guide came back running at the prospect of earning some useful money.

Rashmi smiled. Haha, just rub him on the wrong side and he becomes a superman. He isn’t bad. He is rather nice, very nice.

‘How much?’ Sahil asked the guide.
‘100 rupees Sahib. Only. Number 1 guide, all details..’ the guide started blabbering as Sahil cut in.

‘100 rupees. Hey he is taking 100 rup..’ he looked at Rashmi, who was staring at him and immediately changed his tone and statement. ‘..ees which I think is quite reasonable. Come let’s go’.

Rashmi could only feel a laughter emanating inside her mind. The guide started his tour.
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‘Whose memorial is this?’, Rashmi asked the guide.

They were standing in front of a memorial made of black marble. In white letters was embossed the following:

Dedicated to loving son Sanatan and his love Roopsi. May you be one in next birth.

The guide started “Madam, this is one of the most famous stories around here and the most talked about too. The story dates back to the 1800s when the Englishmen were here. They had their administration at Ross Island and the Cellular Jail which you might have seen contained the freedom fighters. The Britishers though had certain wealthy Indians working under their administration. One of them was Nilmoni Babu. Nilmoni Babu was a wealthy business man and had one son- Sanatan. Sanatan was a bright lad and one fine day, he fell in love with Roopsi, the daughter of a small time businessman, Hukuram Sanyal. A few months later, Sanatan disclosed about his love to his father. Though Nilmoni babu was a bit hesitant at first, he agreed to this relation later. But the problem lied with Hukuram. He did not agree to this relation. Sanatan and Roopsi tried their best to convince him but to no avail. Finally Nilmoni Babu had to step in and convince Hukuram. Though Hukuram did not seem to be very happy with this but he finally gave in. Sanatan and Roopsi were very glad. Their marriage was fixed and it was to be done in Havelock islands. In those days, there were very few ferry’s unlike today. Hukuram had a private jetty which was used for his fish business. It was decided that the ferry will be decorated and the bride and the groom will reach together at Havelock 3 days before the wedding, accompanied by Nilmoni babu and his wife. On morning of 8th December, Sanatan and Roopsi went to the temple to seek Lord Shiva’s blessings where they met what you call nowadays a ‘tattoo’ maker. Sanatan was very interested in this and got the man to make tattoos on the couple. Sanatan made a ‘R’ with a heart symbol on his neck while Roopsi went for a big bold red S on her wrist.’ the guide paused and looked at the couple. ‘You might be thinking what the tattoo got to do with this story. You will get to know.’

He continued. ‘They were very happy that day. Nilmoni babu and his wife were not really pleased with the new addition to their son and daughter ‘in law’s body. But it being an auspicious occasion, they let the couple be. The ferry took off from the Port Blair jetty and this is where tragedy struck. The ferry when in the middle of the sea developed technical problems and in no moment started sinking. A happy occasion turned out to be a terrible affair. Sanatan and Roopsi are said to be clinging together when the ferry was drowning. Nilmoni babu tried his best to save his family but they went overboard before anything could be done. Only Nilmoni babu survived since he was an excellent swimmer and a small boat noticed him and the drowning ferry. Nilmoni babu later said he could see no fear in his son and Roopsi’s eyes but only sadness and a promise. A promise to be together again. Nilmoni Babu was devastated. Rumor had it that it was Hukuram’s devious plan to murder the entire family including his own daughter due to the disapproved relation.

As they say that the sea never takes but always returns, the bodies of Roopsi and Sanatan were washed ashore at Neil Island a couple of days later. The bodies had bloated and were blue but police could recognize the bodies by Roopsi’s arm which had the tattoo. They held Sanatan’s arm. They were cremated after that. Mrs. Nilmoni could not be found.

Nilmoni babu, in memory of his son and his love, created this garden and this memorial and hence it is called ‘Premik Bagh’ or ‘Lover’s garden. Of course Nilmoni babu as well as Hukuram is no more but this place has garnered a lot of interest’ He stopped and looked at Sahil ‘Sahib, this is the last point and I must go. My fees please’.

The couple sat stunned there after listening to the story. There were tears in Sahil’s eyes as he somehow handed 100 rupees from his pocket to the guide. The guide went away.

The couple said nothing. Rashmi was staring hard. And hard at Sahil’s neck.
The faint heart symbol with R was still visible.. Her thoughts wandered to the past.
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‘Sahil, what is with this tattoo of yours?’ Rashmi had asked.
‘Oh this, err, very frankly it is a birth mark. Some say I am a reincarnation of some random guy probably or a jilted lover haha’, Sahil had remarked.

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They both walked in silence. The story had had a remarkable effect on them. They felt joined by a strong force now.

For the first time Rashmi held Sahil’s hand tightly as they got into their cab.
The cab was moving fast on the small roads of Port Blair. Several thoughts were running inside them.

Sahil brought Rashmi closer and looked deep in her eyes. Rashmi could see tears that were still hovering on Sahil’s eyes.

‘I love you’ is all what he said.

Rashmi nodded as Sahil patted the tattoo on her wrist. The faded big bold red S looked brighter today.

Destiny had played its part in reuniting the lovers.


Please note: All the characters are fictious apart from Andamans, Port Blair, Havelock and Neil Island.