Part VII
October 7
Rani told her sisters that Bob had proposed to her. They were amused.
“You refused him and still he’s coming to see you today?” they asked.
“Yes.....”
Rani wondered why she had invited him to come again. Maybe because one day wasn’t enough to come a decision.... and perhaps it was because she wanted more time to get to know him. But it was clear that Bob felt the same way. He hadn’t been discouraged by her negative answer to his proposal.
That morning Rani’s heart and mind were in a state of confusion. She took out the letters of Dennis. She kept looking at his photograph. He was a white guy. Average looks. Rich businessman. Traveled the world. She would live in comfort, surrounded by luxury. She didn’t know what Dennis’s religious beliefs were but she figured he was probably Christian. Most Europeans were Christians..... if what she read in books and saw in movies was correct. She assumed that Dennis believed in God.
Then she thought about Bob. He had had a cold and running nose. She played over in her mind his visit the day before. He was so simple! He didn’t put on any pretences. There was an honesty about him which appealed to her. He wasn’t much of a talker but she could tell that he was nervous. That could have arisen from some sort of fear...... the fear of being rejected, perhaps? He had kept wiping his nose with the sleeve of his shirt as he talked to her. Rani had recently bought some handkerchiefs. She had rushed to get those to take care of his runny nose.
Rani felt protective about Bob. He seemed so vulnerable. He needed someone to look after him otherwise he was going to be devoured by wolves and sharks. She could already see how greatly he had been robbed and taken advantage of by greedy, unscrupulous beasts of Mumbai.
But how could she marry him? She barely knew him! It didn’t occur to her then that she didn’t know much about Dennis either.
Such were the thoughts in Rani’s mind that morning....
She waited with eager anticipation for Bob’s arrival. He was again late. Supposing he didn’t come at all? Then it might mean that he wasn’t interested in marrying her any more. That wasn’t such a bad thing. That would mean she could go ahead dreaming about Dennis.
But Bob was a determined young fellow. He wasn’t going to abandon the opportunity to see Rani again.
He had lost his way but had managed to reach the right station. Then he had found his way to the flat with the help of some young lads of the neighborhood. He had kept the map Rani had given him very safely indeed.
Rani was happy to see Bob. Needless to say, Bob was pleased to see Rani as well. Here was an opportunity for them to talk and get to know each other more.
“You’ve got beautiful eyes,” Rani remarked, marveling at their light brown color.
“I got my mother’s eyes,” was Bob’s reply.
Rani hadn’t thought that Bob was a great looking guy when she had first laid eyes on him. But as she spent more time with him, she had to admit that he was rather cute. He was actually a mix of different races, not completely African. When he rolled up his sleeves, Rani could see that he was really fair-skinned.
“My dad is fair and has green eyes,” Bob explained.
They went to the terrace to talk. This time Rani was very frank with Bob. She told Bob about Dennis. “I’m waiting for him. I got his letter expressing his interest in me before you came on the scene.....”
“But I got to see you first,” said Bob. “He isn’t here, but I am!”
Bob revealed that he did have some sense of humor. Rani laughed. Bob sounded very optimistic.
Bob tried to persuade Rani to marry him again. “You will like the US,” he said. “It’s a beautiful country.... there are mountains, nice places you can visit......”
Rani had no desire to go to America or live there. She knew how materialistic a country it was. And judging from what she had seen of American life in movies, she didn’t quite fancy being part of such a life.
Still, she had to admit that Bob was very different from the typical American guy depicted in Hollywood movies. It was almost as though he belonged to The Ancient Age!
Was Bob even real?! She wasn’t sure if she was dreaming.
Bob continued to talk. Rani learnt that Bob’s military leave was almost up and he would be leaving India soon... in less than two weeks.
It was evening and the street lights had been lit. Time flew by. Soon it would be time for Bob to go.
Nothing had been said about tomorrow. Bob did talk about taking Rani to the movies. But no specific day was set. It was just an expression of his heart’s wish.
Bob didn’t speak of tomorrow and neither did Rani say anything about meeting again.
The day had passed by too quickly. Rani wished Bob could stay longer. But she knew that this was not possible.
So this time, Rani, her brother and sisters went with Bob to the railway station to see him off.....to say farewell. It was understood that this might be the last time they saw Bob.
They waited for the next local train. They made small talk..... but there was a heavy sadness looming in the air. Rani was not sure if her siblings felt it so intensely as she did.
The train finally arrived and Bob boarded the train.
They waved him good bye..... and they all returned home.
Upon reaching his hotel, Bob prayed to God.
“Please God! Please don’t let me return to America empty-handed.”
…............... to be continued.