He called out Aarti with shrieked tone. She was not a bit nervous as if previously prepared for the disaster ahead of her. When the call struck down her ears she had been donning jean with T- shirt and comb in her hand as usual, standing inside the dressing cubicle, hairs still not to be tidied up, and high heeled slippers in feet dragging. She surprised as she emerged sluggishly. Never Krishan ji had yelled at her before. Then what had happened to him? Just Muslim guy? How stupid idea? “Yes, do you call me, Papa?” “Yes, I call you” Krishan ji stared at her. “Say, what you want to say? She made her expression a bit dopey. “There’s nothing left to say, beti. Everything is clear” “Papa, what’s the problem?” “Have you any Muslim boy- your boyfriend in your college” It was the straight question rather unexpected. No prelude. Aarti unable to face the oddity of question shivered slightly and inadvertently comb fell down her hands. “Don’t confuse, beta” Shanti auntie made a seat between them on sofa and settled down her there. But Aarti grew enormously confused. Her eyes cast down. She anticipated that her father and mother would screech at her madly and she was readily prepared to snap them. Paradoxically, they talked to her humbly. “Beta, don’t be puzzled. Tell the truth straightforward, your papa just asks you. He is worried far much as you know we are Hindus, beta.” “I know well mummy we are Hindus” “Then why you develop friendship with Muslim boys? Why do you talk to them?” Aarti stunned at the oddity of question. Should it be a ban on dialogue with class boys? She wondered. Neck stiffened. “Mummy, there are so many boys in my class. Some are Hindus some are Muslims. They all are my good acquaintances. How can I stop talking with them?” Aarti spoke as she incongruously combed, sitting on the sofa. “Stop this silly comb first” Krishan ji irritated. Aarti flung away the comb and showed a pout which melted into sulk later. She disliked father’s behaviour towards Muslims. “Mummy, don’t punish me after silly questions” She stood up and defiantly stared into Krishan ji’s eyes. If Shanti auntie had not clutched her hand tightly, she might have paraded out. “Avoid those boys ever if you can… otherwise.” Krishan ji said as he had the sound of a threat. Aarti showed reluctance. “Your ‘otherwise’ is big stumbling block for her” Shanti auntie raised her brows. “Why don’t you behave her unthreateningly?” “Do I threaten her? Do I? Huh! You always make the mess of everything” Krishan ji grumbled with regret. “Hmm… Mummy, is it easy skirting them without any reason? Tell, is it easy? They are men not issues, mummy” Aarti questioned disappointedly. “I don’t know, is it easy or not? Are they men or issues. Remember, we are Hindus and your papa is dreaming of a Hindu Nation in India. Nothing else.” Shanti auntie growled. Krishan ji was proud of his wife. ‘Thank you my sweetheart- he whispered to himself ’ “And we can not succeed in our mission by developing friendship with Muslims” Krishan ji declared. “I understand, mummy. I understand all what you say but why don’t you try to understand me?” “I understand you, daughter. Why don’t I understand you? You always befool us” Shanti auntie grew displeased. “No, Mummy, no” Aarti crabbed. “I know you’re always right. You’re quite right when you say- in those boys- in those Muslim boys, some are really great and you are proud of you” “Mummy, please” “You’re proud of everyone except your papa-mummy and RSS” “Mummy…you please” “I know your ‘please’, it is just a cliché. Stop this nonsense, girl” Sulkily, Aarti moved herself, adjusted her slippers. “Where’re you going, silly girl?” It grew Krishan ji indignant. He shrieked. “Nowhere” Aarti screamed in return. “Come straight to the point, Aarti- come straight before leaving this place. Right away, you speak to us. Did you choose a Muslim boy for yourself or not?” Shanti auntie enquired rudely as if enquiring to the daughter of an enemy. “No” Aarti came back with exasperation. “How can we trust in you?” “You know how? “If you any intention to marry with a Muslim guy?” Shanti auntie’s interrogation was dangerously harsh. “Never” “You always say ‘never’ but you do whatever fancies your mind” “It is a hundred percent truth that I wouldn’t choose a Muslim boy for myself, papa.” She hastened inside the cubicle, throwing behind her slippers over the sofa and wept bitterly. Krishan ji chased her as if she was a sought-after criminal. “Now, please stop it, papa” She shrieked with embarrassment and hid her face behind palms. “Why do we stop it?” Shanti auntie glowed. Krishan ji was replete with assurance and smiled into wife’s eyes. Aarti evaded eye contacts with mummy. Maybe, she had spoken her mind. Krishan ji thought. She would not pick a Muslim guy for herself. Possibly, she had got papa’s emotions for Hindu culture and his dream of establishing Hindu nation in India. Later, he exaggerated to wife. “Believe- we’ve a good daughter.” “And cultured” Shanti auntie added mockingly. It struck down Aarti enormously as she figured out insinuation. She floored down her head into ground. Next day, Krishan ji along with Shanti auntie went over Julia and enquired –‘how did she possess the information of Aarti having relationships with Muslim boy.’ Julia revealed the name of the boy- Jason. Krishan ji stunned. It was not rumours. Shanti auntie bewildered. “Did our daughter betray us?” “I’m terribly shameful” Krishan ji pained. “She was telling she didn’t have a Muslim boy for herself. Why had she lied to us?” Shanti auntie uttered nothing except a deep sigh. “She throws dirt in our eyes” Krishan ji moaned. Mixture of anger and desperation in his eyes was ubiquitous. Julia continued to declare that she too had met the guy once and he explained to her that he had proposed to Aarti. “Propose?” Krishan ji’s fury shot up. He was sure enough that Julia could not lie to them. She was his confidante. Shanti auntie too could have trust in her. Julia gauged the couple’s emotions and smiled into Shanti auntie’s bewildered eyes. “Bhenji, don’t be worried. He is a moderate Muslim and moreover a nice guy” She then made eyes contact with Krishan ji whose face looked faded into anguish. ********* ********** *******