“Nobody would accept me with this flab, bhabhi.” Archna told Sushila, her sister-in-law. Age 22, pursuing MBA, Archna carried extra kilos on her body, and, had a dark complexion. It was the fourth time she had been rejected by a suitor, in row. Feeling disappointed, she had given up all hopes of getting married.
 
“I hate myself” she thought, as she combed her hair on her birthday. A few close friends and relatives were awaited. Archna had no desire to celebrate her birthday, but had given in to her mother’s wishes. “What’s the use of these celebrations in life?” the birthday girl questioned herself as she cut the cake.

As snacks were being passed, Ronnit appeared at the gate with a bouquet. “Hi didi! You look stunning in this crimson saree!” he hugged Sushila. When he bumped into Kailash, his brother-in-law, he blurted out, “Gosh, jijaji! You hit me”. His eyes popped out like gooseberries. Kailash burst out laughing. Ronnit, Sushila’s younger brother, had recently got a job in a reputed MNC, and had arrived unexpected from his hometown. Soon, he had everyone giggling and chirping with his effervescence. Archna, though smiling, kept feeling low inside. Sushila couldn’t miss it. As she talked to her husband at night, they struck a plan.

A couple of days later, when Archna arrived at the kitchen table for breakfast, Sushila handed her an envelope. There was no addressee. Archna looked at her questioningly. Sushila smiled and motioned towards the envelope. Curious, Archna opened it.

Dear

I don’t know how to address you as I don’t know your name. I am privileged to see you on a regular basis, and hence take the liberty of conveying my feelings.

You remind me of my grandmother. Please don’t laugh, as I was very close to her, and got a wonderful friend in her. However, I lost her in my childhood itself. Your poise and grace are ditto hers, and so are your eyes. Dear, these words might have no impact on you, but I feel compelled by my heart… it forces me to make a blooming bud see the beauty it holds within. Yes, you are a bud .Please unfold. 

I have never seen you with your hair let loose. If you like my letter, then honour me this Thursday.

Waiting

Eye open wide, and a smile playing on her lips, Archna looked at Sushila.
“It can’t be for me?” she asked. “It’s like a poem!”

“In this house, only you have this long cascade of hair, nanadji. I have bob cut; and my saasu-ma wouldn’t get such a letter in this age” Sushila teased.

Archna kept the letter back on the table, cast a glance at the calendar and left for college.

Next Thursday, she wore her favourite churidaar, and let her hair loose. Despite the bulges around her waist, she liked what she saw in the mirror. However, when Sushila complimented her, she felt a bit let down. “I can never match up to you, bhabhi.” She couldn’t control; and immediately chided herself.

“How foolish of me to get carried away by an anonymous letter” Archna wrote in her diary. Next weak passed away uneventfully. Sushila had been working on the next letter.

“Do you think this will work?” Kailash asked her. Sushila merely smiled. At the table, Archna didn’t read the letter immediately; she kept it in her bag. Sitting by herself in the college, she opened the envelope.

Dear Bud

Hope you are doing well. I had planned to meet you in person this Thursday, on your way to your college. But, I’d been caught up in something urgent and couldn’t come.

Please know that you’ve always been on my mind. I don’t know if you let your hair lose this Thursday; worse, I don’t have the time to write anything more as of now.

Forgive me, I’ll write again.
For you

“There’s too much ambiguity in these letters, bhabhi. Who could be this secret admirer?” she discussed with Sushila in the evening. Next Thursday, Archna tied up her hair in a bun and wore a western outfit.

Bud

Each of us has strengths and weaknesses. You look beautiful to me in all dresses as I see the person inside. When I saw you this Thursday, it struck me that you must have honoured me the Thursday before. My misfortune, that, I missed it.

Bud, your real persona will show when you start liking yourself. It’s no use if that comes from outside, it has to come from within you. And that can happen only if you work on yourself.

Pardon me if I am saying too much, I feel compelled by my heart…as always…

Waiting
For you… the real you…

Archna found this letter lying on her bed. The envelope, as the previous ones, wasn’t sealed. As Sushila appeared at the door, a tea-tray in her hand, Archna requested her not to open the anonymous envelopes. Sushila gave her a nod. Feeling encouraged, she asked about the gym where Sushila had met Kailash.

A week later, she wore her yellow churidaar for a cousin’s wedding. The effect of daily visits to gym had started showing. She felt satisfaction, an overpowering satisfaction.

Marigold

You looked stunning. Pardon me if I am being outspoken, but I feel compelled…

Waiting
For a response

“Bhabhi, he was there for the wedding! He saw me!” Archna hugged Sushila. Then, suddenly it dawned upon her that the anonymity of the letters still existed. Loosening her embrace, and lowering her gaze, she asked, “But, what address do I send my response to?” Sushila couldn’t respond; she was dealing with her own demons by now.

“How do we reveal it to her, Kailash? I am feeling guilty. There’s no secret admirer. She’ll feel cheated.”

“Leave it to fate, dear.” He comforted her.

Two weeks past this incident, Archna had given up the hope of ever meeting her ‘secret admirer’. She was trying to forget all about the letters, but continued working on herself. “My MBA is about to finish, I want to join an Interior Decoration course, bhaiya.” She talked to Kailash. He handed her the phone number of ‘Plush’, a private education institution nearby. After all the necessary inquiries, she enrolled herself in a six months course.

“I’m loving it!” she exclaimed to Sushila. They were laying table for Sushila and Kailash’s wedding anniversary. As guests arrived, Archna put on old music and decorated the room with flowers. Ronnit couldn’t help but keep admiring her for her manners. He had shifted to the same town. While leaving, he shook hands with her and winked! Archna’s shapely eyebrows shot up.

Next evening, Kailash had called him over for help over some financial matter. Once that was done, Ronnit seized the opportunity to confess his feelings for Archna. “Your sister has changed so much, and all for the better! She’s stealing my heart, jijaji!” he said. Sushila laid down the pot of tea she had been pouring tea with, and began telling the story. “Sometime back, Archna was upset… I wanted to help…It was my idea…”

Having heard it all, Ronnit was thoughtful for sometime. “Do you have those letters, didi?” He asked.

“No, but I remember the contents” she said, her eyes beginning to smile. She could read her brother’s thoughts.
“Perfect” Ronnit exclaimed.

They asked for Kailash’s permission. “I want my sister to be happy.” His response was immediate.

Sushila handed pen and paper to Ronnit.

Flower

Will you marry me?

Forever yours
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