Good People: Best Love Stories

On her first long holidays on reaching San Diego she met Kelly and Shaan at their home in San Jose. Kelly and Shaan had got married in the mean time and showed their wedding photographs to Medhavi on their laptop.

Kelly informed, “It was quite a quiet wedding. Pretty private affair. Two of us, Alice and Yusuf and Yin and Arun.”

“All of you are looking great in the photos. And yes, before I forget, please enroll me in ‘Humanity Forum”.

“Why did you think of it? You views may be quite at an angle to what ‘Humanity Forum’ believes. You know that already,” Kelly doubted Medhavi’s decision.

“Kelly, I was like that earlier. But I have changed a lot over the past few months. I have already learnt to align with the values and actions of ‘Humanity Forum’. It’s guiding principles, which I had heard from Shaan long time ago but did not understand them, now seem so important to me. I am fully in tune with the concepts of ‘boundarylessness’, ‘zero discrimination- zero hatred- zero war’, ‘one world’, ‘openness and flexibility’, ‘religion is all about feel, think and do good to self and others’.

“Well you pass the test. So why don’t you accompany us to the forum meeting tomorrow evening?”

“I shall,” Medhavi laughed lightheartedly. “May be I will find some nice husband material there. I have changed my thinking quite a bit now and may be a few of your forum people will consider my candidature as a wife favorably.”

Shaan and Kelly joined the laughter.

Kelly cautioned, “Shaan is definitely not one of them. Am I right Shaan?”

“Let me give it a thought,” Shaan teased Kelly.

Medhavi blushed. Kelly noticed it. Only a woman can sometimes understand the inner feelings of other woman.

Over a period of time one bachelor boy of ‘Humanity Forum’ fell for the charms of Medhavi and married her. After all Medhavi was very beautiful and smart! And her newly acquired open-mindedness was the jewel on the crown!! Any male feet could have been swept away by this winner.

………………….

After twenty five years…

Shaan, Kelly and their daughter Shelly sat sipping tea in the patio.

Shelly spoke, “Mom, when do you think should Jay and I get married?”

“It’s your choice. Since Shaan and I like Jay a lot we are very happy. Go ahead, get married any day. But do send us an invite; we will definitely like to participate in your wedding,” Kelly smiled.

All the three of them laughed in unison.

Shelly cuddled her mom and dad instantaneously and chirped, “You are such darlings.”

Then she remained silent and tried to assess the situation.

When she got convinced that the prevailing mood presented an amiable setup she continued, “And yes, one more thing. I am adopting Orthodox Christian Faith. Jay insists on it. You already know he is an Orthodox Christian. But he is just like you, mom and dad, as far as the human values are concerned except that he has not got over the religion phobia yet. And so he feels a bit odd me not having any tag of a religion.”

“Hope he is not a radical or what we call a fundamentalist or extremist?” Shaan enquired.

“Dad, no. A definite ‘no’. Both of you and I know him for past two years. Don’t you think he is just like you and mom in his beliefs and values? It’s just that he is uncomfortable without being affiliated to an organized religion. Just for namesake, he wants to remain within the religion he was handed down by his parents. And for uniformity’s sake between husband and wife he wants me to be known as Orthodox Christian.”

Kelly and Shaan spoke simultaneously with a smile, “We love you Shelly. Go ahead. But always remain a human being when it comes to taking sides.”

Shelly affirmed with full enthusiasm.

“I will call Jay.” Shelly left them in the patio and walked toward the house with cell phone in her hand.

………………….

Shaan and Kelly were amused over Shelly’s decision of affiliating to an organized religion for sake of her love.

They thought, “Love seems sublime. Everything else gets dwarfed in front of love.”

But Shaan and Kelly also exchanged the following conversation between them.

“Human society crawls when it comes to changing the deep rooted paradigms. Look at Jay,” Shaan spoke philosophically, smiling.

“You are being philosophical. But that’s the way the world moves,” Kelly responded. She smiled too.

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Sunday, January 5, 2014

Good People: Chapter 23: The Love Story

All the Chapters

Chapter 1: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-path-breaking-novel-and.html

Chapter 2: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-classic-novel-and-classic.html

Chapter 3: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-romance-with-difference.html

Chapter 4: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-unique-story.html

Chapter 5: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-contemporary-romance.html

Chapter 6: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-story-of-subtleties-of-life.html

Chapter 7: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-interestig-reading.html

Chapter 8: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-global-perspective.html

Chapter 9: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-contemporary.html

Chapter 10: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-romantic-scenarios.html

Chapter 11: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-professionally-right.html

Chapter 12: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-expanding-thinking-horizons.html

Chapter 13: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-modern-romance.html

Chapter 14: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-serious-reflections.html

Chapter 15: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-story-of-human-paradigms.html

Chapter 16: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-dilemma-and-solutions.html

Chapter 17: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-romance-and-tough-decisions.html

Chapter 18: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-tale-of-disaster-and-anxiety.html

Chapter 19: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-prejudices-and-conflicts.html

Chapter 20: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-anxiety-and-love-story.html

Chapter 21: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-love-triangle-jealousy-and.html

Chapter 22: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-interesting-climax.html

Chapter23: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2014/01/good-people-love-story.html

Chapter 24: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2014/01/good-people-finally-love-knows-no-bounds.html

Chapter 23

Medhavi was feeling much better today. She was generally tossing and turning on the bed waiting for her discharge from the camp. She was quite impatient to resume her professional work for which she was deputed in Japan.

The aftermath of the tsunami had affected every soul and people were trying to get out of it gradually. And so was Medhavi.

The doctor had just completed the morning round. He would soon declare his decision on whom all to discharge. Every day some people were discharged and new tsunami-hit patients were coming in for the treatment.

Medhavi’s mind loitered around many events that took place lately. She started mulling over them. Suddenly her thoughts rested on thinking about Kelly. She tried to remember when was the first time she heard Kelly’s name? She asked herself, “Was it in the articles that I had read about ‘Humanity Forum’ where Shaan’s name was mentioned and so was Kelly’s? No, perhaps it was earlier than that. Oh now I remember. I heard about Kelly for the first time from Anji. She had told me meeting Kelly at LAX along with Shaan. And I remember Anji telling me that Kelly was beautiful.”

Medhavi could not stop thinking more about Kelly, “I agree with Anji. Kelly is very pretty. Has she become Shaan’s girl friend by now or their relationship is just professional? But Shaan told me the other day that Kelly knew about what had happened between Shaan and me. So she can’t be Shaan’s girl friend. In fact I had been curious and asked Shaan pointblank if Kelly knew about his past with me. Then he told me that Kelly knew everything about our past. But I was afraid to ask Shaan about his relationship with Kelly. Perhaps I am not ready to accept the existence of any intimate relationship between them. My guess is that Shaan and Kelly are just professional colleagues.”

She was trying to concoct some arguments to feel convinced that Shaan had nothing to do with Kelly. So Medhavi further argued with herself, “I am sure that Shaan is not at all in any serious relationship with Kelly even though they work together all the time. I think this way strongly because even after knowing that I was Shaan’s earlier girl friend Kelly is so cool towards me. She visits me often in the camp to take care of me. She makes sure that I am comfortable and the nurses are administering the medicines in time etc. It is so unlike a girl to be nice to a rival. If I was in her position I would have definitely ignored the other girl.”

She further asked herself, “Am I falling in love with Shaan again? Then why am I thinking so much of Kelly and Shaan?”

………………….

Kelly and Shaan had an early morning breakfast with Samskara and Medhavi’s parents in the hotel where Samskara and Medhavi’s parents were put up. After the breakfast Kelly left the hotel for the rescue camp.

Shaan stayed back with them. He wanted to take rest for a while. He had worked all the night all alone. He had advised Kelly to take it easy for a night and not accompany him for the rescue operations. So Kelly was quite rested and fresh.

Kelly mentioned, “OK then, I will go to the camp. I will most probably return with Medhavi. The attending doctor hinted yesterday that she would be discharged from the camp today. So I will check up with the doctor and you guys can expect us back here soon.”

Then she turned towards Samskara and addressing him said, “Cheer up Samskara. Your wife will be home soon.”

On her way to the camp Kelly started pondering over the events of the recent past. Finally her thoughts rested on thinking about Medhavi, “Is Medhavi in love with Shaan? Particularly after Shaan saved her, she seems to have become quite sentimental towards him. Also she remains quite tense in the company of Samskara. Even Samskara is quite uneasy communicating with Medhavi? Has something gone wrong between them? Their relationship looks strained. And is Shaan getting inclined towards Medhavi lately? He seems to be spending a great deal of time with her. Or is it just the usual humanitarian consideration?”

Then on second thought she concluded, “No. That cannot be true. Shaan has been honest enough to tell me everything about his past relationship with Medhavi. And he also told that he had gone past that now and Medhavi was totally out of his system. He has already declared his love for me recently and I believe in him fully. I cannot think of life without Shaan now.”

By this time she had reached Medhavi’s bed in the camp.

………………….

Medhavi was shaken up from her daydreams by Kelly’s sudden presence. Kelly had just approached her and said, “Good news for you Medhavi. Doctor gave OK to your discharge from the camp. You can now go to Samskara in his hotel room. I will escort you there.”

Kelly and Medhavi marched towards the hotel.

As they reached the door of the hotel room, Medhavi stopped Kelly from entering the room at hearing the mention of her name by Samskara.

Samskara was in the middle of some conversation with Shaan, “Shaan, in light of what Medhavi wrote in her diary, I have come to this conclusion. I must allow Medhavi her freedom from me. Both of us will remain unhappy in this marriage the whole life. It does not make sense. To start with we thought that we had similar opinions on everything and we fell in love and got married. But lately I realize that our thinking on some vital aspects of life is getting quite divergent. Medhavi has lately changed her mindset on religious issues quite significantly but despite my giving it a lot of try I am sure that I cannot change my mindset on religion and the associated rituals.”

Samskara was quite frank about his limitations.

Shaan interjected, “You have an year’s time. You can change if you want. As per you Medhavi wishes to save the marriage. That’s why she thought of giving each other some space for an year by taking a transfer to Japan. She still has some religious inclinations though she is in the process of moderation. If you too can shift yourself from the staunchness you carry about the religious dogmas, you two can meet at some mid point and then carry on well together.”

“That seems less likely. The limitation is from my side. I have thought about it from every angle every single minute after I read Medhavi’s diary. I have been brought up very differently from my childhood and to me all the religious dogmas that I learnt and practiced since then are very important. They are like life and death issues for me. You may call me extremist or fundamentalist or radical but I cannot change.”

“I suggest, give it a try.”

“I consulted my parents and they advised me not to move away from the religious path we as a family have adopted. My parents even talked to Medhavi’s parents yesterday and told them our decisions. Medhavi’s parents having gone through the strong sentiments documented by Medhavi in her diary and knowing my limitations in reforming myself have agreed with my conclusions.”

Medhavi’s parents nodded. Medhavi’s father said, “Shaan, we also request you to consider Samskara’s suggestion. He requested me to speak about his suggestion about your marriage with Medhavi. Samskara says that Medhavi still seems inclined towards you. He says that Medhavi has expressed it in so many words in her diary. We also thought the same after reading her diary. In any case we were contemplating your marriage with Medhavi before Samskara came into her life. You yourself had proposed that. But you never met again after that. We wondered why. But now that you have saved Medhavi and thus met her and us again we request you to marry her. It solves everything.”

Samskara added, “I will soon find a wife for me. So you need not worry on that count. Medhavi will be very happy with you.”

Shaan responded, “Samskara, There are some more missing links that you are not aware of. When I initially proposed Medhavi, she had declined me for her reasons similar to yours. She and her parents could not accept a person like me who had no alliance to any organized religion. I overheard Medhavi’s conversation with her friend Anjali where she told her that she had no interest in marrying me. I understood that she was never in love with me. That’s the reason why I did not meet Medhavi and her parents to pursue my proposal. Then onwards I never thought of Medhavi. I did not know this Medhavi at all. I was in love with an image of her. Medhavi did not love me and so how could I impose myself on her?”

Medhavi’s father felt sheepish and he uttered an “oh” involuntarily.

“And one more most important missing link that you are not aware of,” Shaan said. “Now I am in love with Kelly. I love her immensely. She loves me too. I will propose her to marry me soon.”

Outside the room, Medhavi took Kelly’s palms in hers and squeezed. She looked at her as if her eyes were saying, “Congratulations, Kelly.”

Kelly responded by the reciprocal squeeze of Medhavi’s palms. Tears filled Medhavi’s eyes. She turned her face and wiped them. Kelly did not notice.

Kelly asked Medhavi, “Do we go inside now?” When Medhavi nodded in affirmation, she knocked the door that was left half ajar.

Shaan rushed to open it. He saw Kelly and Medhavi entering the room.

Everyone else in the room joined Shaan in welcoming Medhavi. Medhavi gave them a bright smile.

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Novels and Stories

Novel "Good People" http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/
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Stories Children Will Love http://stories-children.blogspot.com/

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Good People: Chapter 7: Interesting Reading

All the Chapters

Chapter 1: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-path-breaking-novel-and.html

Chapter 2: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-classic-novel-and-classic.html

Chapter 3: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-romance-with-difference.html

Chapter 4: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-unique-story.html

Chapter 5: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-contemporary-romance.html

Chapter 6: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-story-of-subtleties-of-life.html

Chapter 7: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-interestig-reading.html

Chapter 8: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-global-perspective.html

Chapter 9: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-contemporary.html

Chapter 10: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-romantic-scenarios.html

Chapter 11: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-professionally-right.html

Chapter 12: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-expanding-thinking-horizons.html

Chapter 13: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-modern-romance.html

Chapter 14: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-serious-reflections.html

Chapter 15: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-story-of-human-paradigms.html

Chapter 16: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-dilemma-and-solutions.html

Chapter 17: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-romance-and-tough-decisions.html

Chapter 18: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-tale-of-disaster-and-anxiety.html

Chapter 19: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-prejudices-and-conflicts.html

Chapter 20: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-anxiety-and-love-story.html

Chapter 21: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-love-triangle-jealousy-and.html

Chapter 22: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-interesting-climax.html

Chapter23: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2014/01/good-people-love-story.html

Chapter 24: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2014/01/good-people-finally-love-knows-no-bounds.html

Chapter 7

Shaan did not reach his hostel room. Under the circumstances in which he was, his trained legs led him automatically towards the rocks at the bank of the huge lake some distance away from the hostel. Whenever he needed to think over any issue of importance he went to these rocks near the lake. The recently concluded meeting with Medhavi’s father and more so, Medhavi’s sharp reaction presented an important issue.

He needed to think. He needed solitude. The serene atmosphere of the rocks and the lake facilitated in bringing home the clarity of thinking he needed. For a while he sat there all alone camouflaged by the rocks. Before he could start pondering on what happened at Medhavi’s place, he heard the giggle of a girl from another rock some distance away from where he sat.

“Why are you giggling like mad?” asked another girly voice.

The giggling girl somehow controlled her giggle and answered, “Wait a minute. Let us settle down on these rocks and I will tell you everything. I needed to share my victory with you. You are after all my best friend. Good thing, you were in your hostel room and I could drag you out here. I was impatient to spill out everything.”

Shaan’s curiosity got aroused as if it was a scene from some mystery movie. He shifted closer to the rock where the two girls were sitting. He made sure that they did not see him. He could not see them nor could he put a finger on whose giggle and whose voice he heard.

Then he heard the giggling girl say something in whispers, “Anji, boys are real fools. And if the boy is weird one claiming that he is religion less, he acts still a bigger fool.”

The last remark made Shaan to bring his ear closer to the rock behind which the girls were whispering now. He wanted to hear more.

Obviously Anji could not have made out what the other girl was hinting at as she enquired, “Come out straight Medhavi, don’t talk so mysteriously and stupidly.”

Shaan got a jolt. He thought, “Oh! Then these two girls are Medhavi and Anjali (Anji for her short name). So Medhavi is trying to leak out secretly something about me to Anji- her best friend who lives in the girls’ hostel nearby.”

“This boy thinks that just being a topper in the university makes him eligible to propose me,” Medhavi quipped.

“But I thought you two were already in love with each other. What’s wrong if he proposed?”

“Anji, the love thing was a put-on from my side from the very beginning. The fool thought I was in love with him. I wanted him for a short while for myself, but for an entirely different reason. I wanted to learn the tricks of trade from him so that I could achieve my ambition of topping the university.”

“And you missed it and you are annoyed with him and want to take the revenge on him? Is that true? You are a first rate mercenary.”

“The reason cannot be exactly the way you put it. The main reason is I never thought of loving him or marrying him because I knew about his social background. He has no social background- he is a religion less creature.”

“What do you mean?”

“Anji, Shaan does not belong to any religion. A couple- wife a Christian and husband- a Muslim adopted him from an orphanage.”

Anjali interrupted Medhavi, “The he must be either a Christian or a Muslim.”

“No. His legal parents were undecided about it. Though they themselves had got into an inter-religion marriage, for some reason they could not muster enough courage to decide the religion of their adopted son. So he grew up without being given a religion.”

“But he can now embrace anyone of his legal parent’s religions. He is quite an adult and has freedom to do so.”

“And Shaan has decided. He does not believe in being a part of any organized religion. He is weird. As per him he wants to remain liberated, does not want to be constrained by the narrowness of the existing religions, their lack of generosity and their enforced rituals.”

“Oh! It’s definitely a problem then for you. I cannot visualize even myself getting married to a religion less person. But why did you encourage him? And you talked about your victory. What victory?”

“Oh. I was mad. I wanted to take my revenge. This year again he did not let me top the list. This was our final year and my last chance to be the university topper. Topping the final exam has been my biggest ambition all these years. As usual Shaan put a spoke in my ambition. I cannot pardon him.”

“So, where comes your victory? It is he who really won. He topped again.”

“No. I wanted to hit him harder than he did to me. I pretended that I was in love with him. Finally I encouraged him to talk to my parents and he did today. I knew that my parents would never agree for this marriage. They are devout Hindus and cannot think of marrying their daughter to a boy who belongs to any other religion. And Shaan is a far cry from it- he does not belong to any religion whatsoever.”

“My, you are a heartless person. So finally your parents refused. And you must have refused too by saying that you cannot displease your parents? Is that true?”

“Not exactly that way. My parents have been more civil with him than the way you put it. They have requested Shaan to give them some time to think and I reiterated the same to Shaan.”

“Will Shaan meet your parents again? He must have been mighty upset with you for not supporting him in his meeting with your parents. You towed your parents’ line.”

“Yes. Yet he will meet my parents. I am sure he will. He has deeply fallen in love with me. But I will pose helpless when he visits them next. My parents will declare their decision and I will go along with them somewhat indirectly. I will want to see his face getting disappointed in his ambition of marrying me. That will equalize.”

“But tell me had you topped the university would it have made any difference. Then there wasn’t any case of a revenge.”

“Revenge? No. But even then it would have been the same way. I can never think of marrying a person who does not belong to any religion. And of course I will always prefer a Hindu boy that too preferably from my own community.”

Shaan listened to this entire conversation between Medhavi and Anjali quite intently. Initially he felt hurt but soon controlled his emotions. By the time he heard their conversation up to this point, he became quite at ease with himself.

He enquired to himself, “How could I ever fall in love with this kind of crooked girl? I now feel as if I didn’t know her at all. The real Medhavi was a stranger to me.”

But he also felt downcast and dejected.

However, he was glad too that before he made a fool of himself in yet another meeting with Medhavi and her parents he came to know all of Medhavi’s intentions. So his job was done. He saved another meeting with Medhavi and her parents.

Medhavi would soon go out of his system.

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Good People: Chapter 6: Story of the Subtleties of Life

All the Chapters

Chapter 1: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-path-breaking-novel-and.html

Chapter 2: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-classic-novel-and-classic.html

Chapter 3: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-romance-with-difference.html

Chapter 4: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-unique-story.html

Chapter 5: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-contemporary-romance.html

Chapter 6: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-story-of-subtleties-of-life.html

Chapter 7: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-interestig-reading.html

Chapter 8: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-global-perspective.html

Chapter 9: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-contemporary.html

Chapter 10: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-romantic-scenarios.html

Chapter 11: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-professionally-right.html

Chapter 12: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-expanding-thinking-horizons.html

Chapter 13: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/10/good-people-modern-romance.html

Chapter 14: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-serious-reflections.html

Chapter 15: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-story-of-human-paradigms.html

Chapter 16: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-dilemma-and-solutions.html

Chapter 17: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-romance-and-tough-decisions.html

Chapter 18: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/11/good-people-tale-of-disaster-and-anxiety.html

Chapter 19: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-prejudices-and-conflicts.html

Chapter 20: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-anxiety-and-love-story.html

Chapter 21: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-love-triangle-jealousy-and.html

Chapter 22: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2013/12/good-people-interesting-climax.html

Chapter23: http://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2014/01/good-people-love-story.html

Chapter 24: https://good-people-novel.blogspot.com/2014/01/good-people-finally-love-knows-no-bounds.html

Chapter 6

In the living room of Medhavi’s house, it was time for conference between Shaan and Medhavi’s father where Medhavi and her mother also presented themselves.

To Shaan everything around him looked bright and nice. The setting of the drawing room appeared very congenial to Shaan. He noticed the subtle decorations in the room and he felt pleased. His thoughts got filled with anticipation of a positive outcome.

While it is normally dreadful for most of the sons-in-law in the making to meet their prospective parents-in-law, Shaan was the exception. In fact he was looking forward to meet his future parents-in-law.

Shaan knew that it would be a cakewalk. After all Medhavi loved him so much. She would have shared that fact with her parents and the conference was a mere formality.

Medhavi introduced Shaan to her parents and her parents to Shaan little more formally today, though Shaan had met her parents a few times earlier as a friend who was guiding their daughter in her studies. Then Medhavi’s father broke the momentary silence that prevailed in the room after exchanging the usual introductory pleasantries.

“Shaan, my daughter tells me that she likes you a lot. She is all praise for you that you are a brilliant student and the university topper. She told me that she just couldn’t match you in her grades despite her very hard work at the studies all these years. I am sure that with your extraordinarily bright career, you will bag a very good job and flourish in life. Yet, just like any other father of a daughter in addition to getting to know you, I will also like to know your family background. Hope it’s OK with you.”

“Sure. Do you mean about my parents?”

“Yes about your parents, other relatives. Your brothers and sisters. The usual stuff.”

“My mom and dad are very fine parents. They are very well placed and highly educated. Both of them are M.D. My father is a surgeon and my mother is a gynecologist. They are quite reformed to the extent that they had an inter-religion marriage in the days when even talking about it was a taboo. I am an adopted child brought home from an orphanage. I have no brothers and sisters. My dad and mom were outcast from their respective communities after their bold act of entering into an inter-religion marriage and so I cannot claim to have any relatives too.”

Medhavi’s mother went into a shock to hear this description of the background of the candidate for their future son-in-law. Medhavi’s father was shocked too but he controlled his body language. Medhavi had not supplied this background information of Shaan to her parents deliberately, as a part of her plan.

Medhavi’s father continued, “Just as part of some curiosity, what are your parent’s religions? And did they know your religion when they brought you from the orphanage?”

“My mom follows Christianity and my dad adheres to Muslim faith. They had decided this kind of arrangement at the time of their marriage. The orphanage had declared me a Hindu I don’t know on what basis. My parents did not hesitate adopting a Hindu child. They were quite overboard then, didn’t mind these petty things.”

“Then, what religion they decided for you?”

“Frankly they could not. In bringing me up, they could not decide on many issues for me. While marrying each other and in adopting me they had shown enormous maturity of mind, but they could not cross the threshold level of maturity that was required for deciding on various things for their adopted child.”

“I don’t get you,” Medhavi's father obviously wanted a detailed explanation on this sensitive issue.

“For example, there were serious differences of opinions among my mom and dad regarding some rituals. Should I be ‘circumcised’ like a Muslim or ‘baptized’ like a Christian or like a Hindu should I be administered through ‘yagyopavit’ or ‘upnayan’? Then there was the question of what should I eat or not eat- each religion has some restrictions and some permissions. Which ways I should pray and should I pray Allah or Jesus Christ or the Hindu gods? They would argue a lot and finally give up keeping the matter pending for decision at a later date. They went on postponing decisions on such matters and also my affiliation to any religion. They were afraid of losing each other if they did.”

“You mean to say that you do not follow either of your parent’s faith?”

“No. They were quite undecided till late. Since I am an adult now, recently they allowed me to decide on this matter.”

“Then it’s easy for you. You can adopt Hindu religion. You told earlier that you were a Hindu as per the orphanage’s record. So logically you could adopt Hindu religion since it is on records.”

“How does it matter? Even that might be incorrect. How did the orphanage ever know if I was a Hindu or Muslim or Christian or Sikh or some else? Some one had left me at the orphanage’s doorstep on the second day of my birth. The orphanage in-charge just gave that tag to me as per his own thinking which I do not know. Therefore I have decided that I will not like to attach myself to any organized religion.”

The conference was definitely taking a serious turn and everyone in the room was becoming aware of it.

Medhavi’s father declared in the midst of such seriousness that he and his family would need some time to think.

“Does my religion less status bother you? I wonder if it bothers Medhavi. She loves me and I love her- that should be quite sufficient. My brain, skin and blood are no different than that of her and all of you. This expression may sound like a cliché to you but I mean it.”

Shaan looked at Medhavi, he needed her support.

Medhavi interjected a bit sharply, “Shaan, hold on. Give my parents a chance to think. They are quite broadminded and it will be OK finally.”

Then the conference got dismissed abruptly. Shaan wondered at Medhavi’s stance.

Medhavi did not even escort Shaan when he walked out. Shaan sensed indecisiveness in the body language of Medhavi.

But he was not hurt. He had the practiced realization that it was happening again. He was refused jobs during campus placements and other job interviews despite being a topper and he was now on the brink of refusal from his sweetheart and her parents.

He walked to his hostel room all alone.