‘I am ready too,’ Hina said. They walked till the road in front of the Taj hotel and took a taxi. ‘How should I explain to this mad woman what I actually meant?’ Asrar said to himself. Hina thought that Asrar was an adamant man. He never retreated from his decisions and that was why he was absolutely ready that day as well. No sooner had they boarded the cab than Asrar took Hina’s hand in his. Her palms were moist.

‘We’re getting married. Why are you sweating?’ Asrar asked mischievously.

‘This is the sweat of happiness,’ Hina answered.

‘You fool, there are tears of happiness not sweat of happiness,’ Asrar corrected her, though Hina knew that she had said that in her confusion. She smiled at her mistake. They got off at Eros Cinema opposite the Churchgate station. Asrar was sweating at the thought of meeting Hina’s father and the prospect of getting married there and then. What would he do? There was worry writ large on his face and the sun had made a few drops of sweat ooze from his forehead.

Hina paused at the entrance of a restaurant and looked at Asrar, ‘Kindly wipe your sweat, or else my father will think I have kidnapped you from somewhere.’

What she had said was enough to make Asrar believe that Hina had taken the marriage bit seriously.

‘Hina, you took it too literally. When I said let’s get married, I meant we should get married soon. I didn’t mean today itself!’

‘I’ll marry you today. Who knows what will happen tomorrow?’ Hina said.

‘Arre pagal! Is this the way marriages happen?’ Asrar asked.

On seeing Asrar’s hesitation, Hina became adamant. She said, ‘I’m blind in your love. I can no longer remain patient. Abba will also find us a room.’

Her words made Asrar think, ‘Love is definitely a cyclone.’

‘Your father will take care of everything, but my mother should also be present. She is not against our marriage.’ Asrar tried to make sense.

‘Whatever you have to say, say it to my father,’ Hina said this and entered the restaurant. She was followed by a scared Asrar. Pleasant music was playing in the dim lights. A girl was sitting at the table on the left. Hina went and sat next to her. Asrar stood near the table. Hina gestured to him to sit opposite her. He sat. Hina and Vidhi looked at poor Asrar for some time. Hina introduced Vidhi as her father’s secretary. Her father would be a little late. During that time, Vidhi interrogated Asrar. He answered every question carefully as if it was his marriage interview. Vidhi and Hina were having fun bullying Asrar. Vidhi mischievously asked him, ‘Have you guys done anything before marriage?’

‘I had suggested once but she didn’t agree.’ Asrar’s reply embarrassed Hina. She remembered what he had said in the National Park, ‘I desire to kiss your entire body.’ And she had said, ‘That is done after marriage.’