admin Posted on 5:24 am

The Elusive Invitation!

Deben was not surprised when his old colleague Bedanta phoned him in the morning to ask if he could attend a social duty. Bedanta had told her some time ago that the wedding of her only daughter was coming up, and that Deben should be free to attend on that date. Bedanta was not only a colleague, but also a friend thanks to his long association at work. There were also family interactions on several occasions. His daughter, a sweet little girl, was known to both Deben and his wife Anjana. He already discussed it with Anjana so as not to miss this occasion and to buy a nice gift in advance. So he said yes immediately and informed his wife that Bedanta would visit them in the afternoon.

His afternoon nap had become mandatory since he retired a few months ago. For the past month, he had also been sleeping or lying down during the day due to his traffic accident in which he severely fractured his right hand. His right hand was still bandaged and tied from the shoulders. But that day he decided not to nap. Instead, he settled comfortably on the sofa with the book he had started reading in the morning neatly placed on his lap.

The doorbell rang around six in the evening. As she got up using her left hand carefully for support and walked to the front door, Anjana joined him in the living room as well. Bedanta was introduced. After an exchange of jokes and the obligatory question about the evolution of his broken hand, they all sat down. Bedanta was carrying a colorful bag that he placed delicately on the table. Now, Deben was a little surprised or rather amused that Bedanta did not broach the subject of the upcoming marriage right away, but instead started a discussion about the mundane business of the office and the pension. Anjana interspersed the discussion with one or two familiar questions that elicited all-too-quick responses. She found it a little strange that he had said almost nothing to her about the occasion thus far.

The discussion showed no signs of a conclusion soon. Anjana was always bored whenever they discussed office matters. Therefore, she excused herself and headed to the kitchen. She wasn’t at all irritated or upset, just bored. In fact, her gesture is considered universal in Indian homes: after welcoming guests and interacting with them for some time, the housewife invariably comes in to make tea or prepare a nice meal. This ‘retreat’ is well understood by all manner of guests, with some guests anticipating it so much that they chime in with, “No, no! No tea needed… sit down… let’s talk some more!” However, Bedanta showed no inclination to prevent her departure at that time. He must he wasn’t at all fazed either. Well until now!

As if waiting for such an opportunity, Bedanta immediately got up and picked up the invitation letter from the table. She offered to make a formal introduction now. Her amusement quickly gave way to annoyance. She must she stood up too, reluctantly. Bedanta handed over the invitation muttering “Please come…” Formally receiving the letter, Deben wanted to downplay the occasion by saying “What a man! No formalities please, she’s like our daughter…we’ll definitely be there.” …” But he stopped in his tracks and never uttered anything of the sort as his eyes swept over the envelope.

Only his name was written on the cover. Nothing else was written, neither the name of his wife nor the complement ‘and family’. He was not only surprised now, but deeply shocked. How could he? Anjana knew her daughter even more closely than he did. The budget compulsion to limit guests didn’t quite apply to Bedanta, because she recently won a healthy retirement package and was her only child, the only wedding party in the family! Or was it because of a smaller wedding hall that he was reserved for? With these thoughts running through his mind fiercely, Deben struggled to maintain his nonchalant air as he opened the envelope, pulled out the invitation card, and commented on how beautiful she was. In the back of his mind, he knew that this still wasn’t a good reason to boycott the wedding party. He had to attend for old times sake. The image of Anjana began to haunt him like a wraith.

They sat down and resumed their talk, Deben now with some reserve. Anjana entered with a tray of tea and sandwiches. They must do their best not to meet her eyes. Bedanta smiled at him as if nothing had happened in the meantime.

Immediately after Bedanta left, Anjana burst out, “What is this? That guy never said a word to me! He didn’t ask me to come even once!”
They should drop the bomb now. “I’m only invited! Not you, honey! Take a look at the invitation!”
“Oh my God! What a lousy miser!…Still…how is it possible?” She broke in concerned and expressed dismay. And she suddenly calmed down, resigned herself. “Okay… no problem! Your friendship… you keep it… you attend!”
“Yes, I will still have to go. And you will have to accompany me!”
“Are you crazy? You witnessed how that guy insulted me! Do you have no respect for your wife, for your life partner?”
“Yes, my dear! I’m just as angry, shocked and irritated as you are. But you know it’s their democratic right to decide the guest list. And more importantly, you understand the kind of state I’m in right now. I’m still being an invalid. You must help me and accompany me! At least rest assured that he won’t kick you out after meeting me!
“Your millions of requests will have no impact on me! I will never see his face again!”

The heated debate went on for a long time. They must have even mentioned “humanitarian consideration” for a life partner! Finally, Anjana seemed to feel sorry for him for her ‘friend’ and her fractured self. She agreed subject to conditions. She stated that she would accompany him to the venue, but that she would wait in the parked car with the driver for company until he returned to attend the wedding. She must have known it was her best choice and he accepted it.

On the appointed day it happened as planned. Anjana left him at the door of the wedding hall, asked the driver to park the car a little further away, and waited.

They must try to be the same as always at the party, but he was very hurt. Bedanta never once asked about Anjana. He got some solace from seeing some of his male friends lounging around without his better half.

There was a hiccup at the end. Deben waved goodbye and tried to walk away too quickly by pulling out his cell phone with his left hand. But Bedanta insisted on taking him to his car. Deben was shocked imagining what would happen when Bedanta found a face in the car window looking at him with a vengeance! He couldn’t afford to let it happen. “No, you can’t come…I mean you don’t need to come…please attend to your other guests!”

Without giving him a chance to respond, Deben moved away, forcing even his broken hand to swing freely.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *