Gopi *****

“Gopi, my parents are being so difficult. They are bent on getting me to forget you. I thought time would change them, but it seems so hopeless now.”

“Listen Div, our love will triumph. Just give it time. Don’t lose hope, ” Gopi was the ultimate optimist.

Divya’s parents had seen red from the day she told them about Gopi. They had their own plans for her life. The mappillai was already arranged. He was a nice Nair boy, and he was doing so well as a Financial analyst in the States. His side had consented too. And this wretched girl wanted to marry this good-for-nothing Gopi. Gopi – who did not even have a degree. He was an actor, she said. How low could you go ? Sankaran Nair and Kochchamma had put their collective feet down.

But Divya’s clandestine contacts with Gopi continued. She kept trying to talk to her parents. But it invariably ended up as a shouting match. Divya was worried for her dad. He had hypertension. She loved her parents. Especially her dad.

***

Then, out of the blue, a miracle happened. That morning, Sankaran Nair was sitting next to Divya on the couch, reading his paper. Suddenly he put the paper down. He looked over his glasses at his daughter. She looked depressed and teary eyed. Sankaran Nair was overcome with affection. His little girl was hurting. He put his arms around Divya.

“Shshsh… its ok, everything will be ok. Stop crying,” Divya looked up at her dad.

“OK, let’s talk to this Gopi. Ask him to come for dinner tonight.”

Divya was incredulous, “Dad, am I dreaming? What about amma?”

“We have talked about it. Your happiness is important to us. Mind it, we are not deciding anything. Just ask him to come. We will talk.”

Divya was speechless. She hugged her dad.

***

“Gopi, God has done his part. Now it is up to us. In particular, up to you. Make sure you are there tonight on time, and be at your best. We may not get another chance.”

“Don’t worry. Everything will be ok. Just wait and see.”

“7 pm sharp. Dad has this thing about punctuality.”

“Ok, ok.”

***

Gopi decided to wear his favourite black shirt. Divya always said he looked so dashing in black. He slicked back his hair, and inspected himself in the mirror. Great.

***
As his car turned the corner, he was suddenly caught up in what appeared to be a traffic snarl. There was commotion. Police were everywhere. Suddenly someone opened his car door. It was a policeman in riot gear. He dragged Gopi out and hit him with the truncheon. Before Gopi knew what was going on, he was bundled into a police truck. There were at least a dozen more men in there – all in black.
“Hey, let me out. It’s a mistake. I am not part of this group..” Gopi was frantic. A policeman pushed him back roughly.

Gopi still had his phone with him. He had to call Divya. He had to tell her what happened. He noticed with dismay that the battery was almost dead. He decided to call Divya’s dad.
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“Please… please… answer…..”

“Hello?”

“Sar, I am Gopi here. I got into some problems… the police arrested me because I was wearing black.. by mistake … I got into the demonstration by some groups… “ the phone died.

***

“What ? Hello… Hello … . Wrong number la…” but the line was dead. Purushottaman looked at the phone.

***

It was 7.10pm. No sign of Gopi. Divya was restless. Her mom had a I-told-you-so look on her face. “He will be here amma. He’s probably stuck in traffic.”

7.25pm. Divya went to the house phone, and dialed Gopi.
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“Gopi, where are you? We are waiting.”

“… So wait la. What’s the big hurry?”

“What ? You were supposed to be here at 7pm. Its 7.25 now. Dad and mom are waiting.”

“So what? I am busy la. I will try to come later.”

Divya couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Gopi, get serious….”

Sankaran Nair couldn’t control himself. He grabbed the phone. “Listen, you promised to come at 7….”

“Dey, what are you shouting for ? I will come when I am free. You wait.”
Sankaran Nair was shocked. He slowly handed the phone back to Divya.

“Gopi… Gopi….” the line was cut. She tried calling again. No luck. He must have switched it off. The three of them sat silently. Sankaran Nair got up slowly and left. Followed by his wife.

***
The youths were rolling in laughter. “The man sounded so angry. I just gave it to him,” Babu had tears in his eyes from all the laughter.

“Dey, lets call him and irritate him some more,” this was Vinoth.

“Dey don’t la. Old man may get a heart attack or something.”

“You guys may be putting somebody in serious problems by your antics la.”