Ammu get's Married.

Amrita Kundapurkar was 'Ammu ' at home. She lived in Bangalore, away from her home in Dharwad. She worked in an MNC, loved her job and was a complete control freak. She was a product of societies pressure to perform well consistently. No emotional mumbo - jumbo for her. Ammu didn't believe in 'love 'and considered marriage to be a stifling experience. Mr. and Mrs. Kundapurkar had very little hope of their daughter ever 'settling down'.

Today Ammu had taken extra care while dressing for work. An important client was expected and she had every intention of getting that account. Ambition was the fuel that egged her on. striding purposefully into her work area she immediately got to work. She checked and double checked graphs and slides that she needed to woo her client. There was no room for error.

It was an action packed day and by the time the client had left for dinner, the account was hers. After the initial wave of jubilation at her success , she felt sad and lonely. Tonight all her friends and colleagues had plans. Eating a meal all by herself didn't seem really inviting. Lately she had been feeling a little left out. People around her seemed to be busy with family or friends.
She often felt left out in conversations and had started avoiding invitations that involved family members.

As she reached home Ammu realised she needed a good night's sleep . But sleep refused to come. After tossing and turning the night away,Ammu decided she was over worked and needed a break.She called her mother to see if the next weekend would be convenient. Mrs. Kundapurkar was pleasantly surprised and again reminded Ammu ,she didn't need to check with her before coming home. It was her home and she could come anytime.

THE WEEKEND:

Ammu reached home in time for lunch. Amma had prepared all her favourites and soon Ammu was tucking in with relish. Amma wondered why Ammu was so quite. And WHAT, NO NAIL POLISH!! What ever was the matter? Later that night , mother and daughter sat talking in the veranda.

"Ammu , is something bothering you?" asked Amma

Ammu nodded in silence. Amma waited for her to open up. She did not want to push. Soon Ammu was crying and talking at the same time. Her mother did not understand much except that something terrible was upsetting her normally calm daughter. Ammu had to start from the beginning.

So finally Ammu was lonely!! Mrs. Kundapurkar was ecstatic.how she had waited for this day.She mentally promised a trip to Tirupati , if her wish was granted. Amma held her daughter close and once again quietly broached the topic of marriage.

"But I don't love anybody?"
"Silly girl! You think I loved you Daddy when I married him?"
"But you lived in a different era!!"
"Yes I did and I fell in love with the man I married and not the young boy he used to be. I am not forcing you. Just give it some thought".
Ammu sat late into the night , thinking.

THE WEDDING:

Ammu had finally given in. She was marrying Sunjay Kumar, also from Bangalore. Common relatives had set up the match and she knew Sunjay to be a sensible kind of guy, so why not? Ammu was exhausted with the preparations for the wedding and wanting desperately for it all to be over. Over bearing relatives, loud music, children running amok, gaudy clothes , heavy jewellery ,it was all to much for Ammu. She was high strung and irritated all through her wedding day.
Sunjay had made bookings at the Planters Club in Darjeeling for the honeymoon.He had liked Ammu's 'no nonsense' attitude and was sure he could break the wall that she had built around her. Darjeeling was a great success.They bonded emotionally and a friendship deep and strong emerged.They were like minded in most issues but there were enough differences to keep the marriage interesting.

BACK TO WORK:

They had settled into a blissful life. She looked upon Sunjay as her friend and confidant. But did she love him? She didn't know. They enjoyed their time together. A certain familiarity and respect grew. They got invited to parties as a couple and Ammu enjoyed the feeling of belonging. People at her work place were now seeing a new side to her, a soft feminine side, one they thought did not exist. Dinner's were never boring any more. She was soon the old talkative Amrita that her colleagues knew .
Every morning , as Sunjay left for work, he would say,"Love you Ammu. See you in the evening". But Ammu had never been able to respond in the same way. She had never been able to say 'love you too'. Now as see stood in the balcony, she could see Sunjay bending over and tying their neighbour's four year old son's shoe lace. Sunjay looked up and waved to Ammu. The Sun was shining and the light from his wristwatch reflected back at her. His smile was warm and welcoming as he tried to blind her with the reflection. At that moment , something happened. Ammu's breath caught in her throat. She knew instinctively what it was to be loved and to love someone with your heart and soul.

Ammu flew down the stairs two at a time, her hair a mess , framing her face. She rushed into Sunjay's open arms and softly whispered ," Love you too". It was the little boy who blushed and refused to look up from his shoes.