“I'll take it as my mission,” she said wiping his tears.
“If I’m not greedy,” he said, “would you make it so in all births to come?”
“Well,” she said mischievously, “tell me that after the seven-year itch.”
“I can’t believe my fortune really,” he said taking her hand. “Oh, what a woman I’m going to have for a life partner!”
As he tried to fold her into his arms, she reminded him that they were not yet out of the ashram but, just the same, she increased the pace as though she was in a hurry to reach her destination. Once they reached the parnasala, she dragged her feet, but nudged by him at the threshold, she stepped in joyously. And welcomed by guruji, together they bowed at his feet.
“God bless you with a blissful life!” caressing their heads, the guruji said in a choking voice. Moved by the tenor of his tone, as they lifted their heads, their tear-filled eyes came into his dim view as his own eyes were welled with tears of joy. Overwhelmed by that momentous moment, none of them could utter a word for long.
When guruji led them to swamiji, as the seer took the betrothed in his arms to bless them with a blissful life of hundred summers, Gautam prayed to the Lord to grant that to them. After dinner, the seer asked them to be on call for an early wedding. Bidding the venerated heads goodnight, the excited couple headed to their sojourn as though towards heaven itself. When they crossed the ashram gates, Suresh grabbed Vidya’s waist.
“It’s like you’re in the wait,” she said turning coy.
“I love you,” he said, choked with emotion.
“I always loved the thought of loving you,” she said coyly.
“I’ll respect your seniority.”
“Thank you boss,” she said smilingly.
“But am I permitted to say so?”
“I don't think it’s any playboy joke,” she said winking at him.
“Well, I want to be a homebody.”
“Any body in any home, that's the playboy joke for you," she said smiling.
“You're impossible really!” he said in all admiration.
On their short walk, made longer by their desire to hang on together, they discussed their plans that stretched well up to the bringing up of their children.
“Why not we should build a ‘Sneha Gruha’ or two,” she said impulsively, “as an orphanage.”
“How I wish I had thought of it myself,” he said kissing her hand that he still held.
“Won’t it come naturally for a woman, her being an orphan?”
“It’s my promise,” he said squeezing her hand. “I shall forever make you feel that you’re my equal.”