Few questions are better left unanswered..

"She has always been like that.." - he thought - "She was never interested in money, nor in fame. She always wanted to follow her heart and do random things." Still, he was surprised to see her married to Siddharth. She always told him that she doesn't want to get married, although she never told him the reasons! And, today suddenly after around 1.5--2 years, here they are.. meeting in the hospital. Few minutes back, she introduced him to her husband, Siddarth - who was suffering from cancer; and then they went in to meet the Doctor. "What made her take that decision?" - He thought to himself.

While he was thinking about this, both of them came out of the Doctor's cabin. She smiled at him and asked if he could accompany Siddharth for some time as she had to meet another specialist and she might have to wait in the queue as she had not taken the appointment. He agreed and she left. Siddharth was a tall and fair person with green eyes; he remembered, she always disliked fair and green eyed people! Then how come..? - he was once again puzzled. "So, you were with Aru in her college?" Siddharth's question interrupted his thinking. "Umm.. yes. She was my junior." - He could somehow reply. He thought - what a dumb person I am! I could have started the conversation. "Oh, Arundhati never used to start the conversation on her own" - he again started thinking - He could remember the first meeting with Arundhati, back in college days.. around 8-9 years back. There was an annual event which students used to organize. Arundhati was there with some of her batch-mates. And, everyone else being senior to them, they were asked for introduction and their background. He could remember the way she introduced herself. It was just - I am Arundhati; and she started staring at the person next to her. He was surprised that she did not utter a single word about where she came from and stuff like that. Later, when both of them were assigned a task of making a poster for the event - they both worked together for around two days - without uttering a single word other than related to the poster. He had thought to himself - what a weird girl she is! But, that's how she was!

"So what do you do these days, Rajeev?"
".. I am working with a private firm. I stay in Bangalore with my wife and a kid."
"That's good. well, I am a musician." (laughs) "as in, I play Tabla and also teach kids."
Oh, musician! Arundhati always wanted to marry an artist if at all!
"Okay, that's great! Do you also play in concerts?"
"Yeah, I used to.. not recently. Have been handicapped with this.. medicines.. appointments.. Actually, can't even get enough time for riyaaj and conduct classes."
"Oh I see!"
"While you are here, why don't you come over to our place for lunch or dinner?"
"Oh, that's nice of you!"
OMG! This person is way different than how Arundhati is! She never used to call people to her home - in fact she always insisted that they, all friends meet at some restaurant or somewhere outside and not at anyone's house.
"I am sure, Aru would also love to see her guests.."
"Yes, sure! Actually even Arundhati and I have not been in touch since long.. we are meeting today after almost 2 years. I don't even know what does she do these days.. well.."
"Yes, I know. After you broke up, she completed her advanced course in Painting. Now she has joined a primary school as a teacher. She is also pursuing music."
Broke up? OMG! He knows all that! "Oh.. okay.."
She was back. She thanked him for waiting so long. Siddharth told her about inviting him to their place for the meal. "Yes, of course! I was about to ask you the same thing. So, is this weekend fine - say Saturday for dinner?"
Arundhati is changed so much! She is inviting me to her home!?

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"So, Rajeev, hope you liked the food" - Sidharth said offering him the desert. "Yes, of course it was delicious!" "You must be wondering how come Aru prepared such a delicious food, isn't it? She was such a bad cook those days..!" (laughs)
Well, I am wondering about many such things - he thought to himself.
"Aru, why don't you get deserts for both of us and join us here in the balcony?"
"Coming..! 2 minutes"
Okay, enough of curiosity, I must ask now - He thought.
"So, when did you both get married?"
"Quite recently, 4 months back."
Four months? His cancer is in critical stage, meaning Arundhati knew all this well, still! He was puzzled again.
"Oh, I see"
"Rajeev, how is Smita? Have not been in touch with her also since long.." Arundhati said, sitting next to Siddharth and offering him the bowl with desert.
"She is fine. Busy these days, recently joined her office again after her maternity leave."
"Would have loved to meet her, if she were here in Pune on vacation, like you"
"Yes, but because of recent leave, it was tough for her to get any vacation again. Actually, dad was not well recently so I decided to visit asap and came over alone.."
"Hmm.. hope he is fine now"

The phone rang. "Must be Ashok, I will take it" - Siddharth left.
"How did you like the desert? Would you like to have some more?" Arundhati asked looking at the empty bowl in Rajeev's hand. "It was good. But, I am full! no thanks!"
Then, she kept talking about how nice their locality is, how nearby her school is from their place, how she enjoys teaching her favorite subject - painting - at the school and how it feels good to her that she could finally start learning music as well., and so on.
"Arundhati, .." He interrupted. "I am puzzled.."
She nodded and smiled.
"But then, why? I mean, what made you decide that?"
"Siddharth loves me. Isn't that enough?"
"Oh is it? It was not enough - at least when I loved you! Isn't it?"
"Why dig all that again? It's done.. it's over.. it's past"
"Fine..!"
"What is important is we all are happy! Isn't it?" (smiles)
"Yes, why not! I can see you happy with Siddarth who is in critical stage of his life, suffering from cancer.."
"Relax Rajeev. Sometimes you might not see happiness clearly but it's there. It's relative, isn't it? What makes me happy, might not be enough for you. Why judge? I am telling you I am happy; and of course I know you are happy too!"
".."
"Think on the brighter side. You aimed to be safe financially and socially; for high status and fame; and you have that. I aimed at learning painting and music and I am doing the same, in fact happier that I am able to spread the knowledge that I have, by teaching."

Siddharth was back. "What took you so long?" Arundhati asked.
"No, actually Ashok was asking if you could teach his daughter painting - know Radha? She comes here for Tabla classes."
"Yes, of course I do! So, what did you say?"
"Well, it's up to you and I told him the same that he better talks to you directly as you are free to decide whichever way.. but I was concerned.. with all these appointments with Doctor and frequent visits to hospital, would you be able to devote enough time for her?"
See! Arundhati is trapped because of Siddharth. And she says she is happy! This is the limit of weirdness. - He thought to himself - Otherwise, Arundhati would have loved to teach another kid painting.
"That's true. I do not want her to feel sad for having to stop learning it in few months after developing interest in painting. may be I should reject.."
"Seems wise.." Siddharth said resting in a chair.
Few months? "Do you have any plans of relocating or so? I mean, you just said, she might have to stop learning it in few months.. so..?" Rajeev questioned.
Arundhati was staring at a dim star far away in the sky when Rajeev looked at her for the answer. She was speechless and did not move a bit. He then turned to Siddharth seeking for explanation. "We both are undergoing the treatment, my friend.."
All questions were now answered for Rajeev. He himself could now answer the most hurting question in his life - why did she turn down his marriage proposal without telling the reasons?