House of Cards Read Online Free

wet.’
    ‘I don’t believe you,’ the man said.
    Suddenly, the electricity came back. In the bright light, Sanjay and Mridula saw each other for the first time. Her sari was crumpled, her hair was untied and her face was tired. Her cheeks were red and flushed with anger. And yet, she was beautiful, with thick, long hair, clear skin and large twinkling eyes. Sanjay gazed at her without shame—like a thirsty man drinking water to his content.
    He had touched many young women’s hands but the relationship between them was strictly defined—that of doctor and patient. As far as he could remember, this was the first time he had caught an unknown girl’s hand. He hardly knew any girls and since he was shy, he was not very friendly with his female colleagues.
    Mridula also stared at Sanjay. She noticed that he was tall and not as fair as she was, but he was not dark either. He had curly hair and was built like an athlete. His face was beamingwith pleasant surprise. He had well-defined and sharp features. Even though he was wearing an ordinary pair of black trousers and a white shirt, he could easily pass for a model.
    By now, Meghana was shouting from below, ‘Mridula, where are you? The lights are back. Come fast.’
    Mridula threw the bag on the floor, removed Sanjay’s hand from hers and ran downstairs. Somehow, she was not upset. She wondered who the man was. Though his hand was strong, it was unusually warm and she knew that he was unwell. She felt a strange attraction to this young man. But she also felt awful knowing that she was probably looking wet and miserable in her soggy sari.
    Sanjay looked at his bag. It was not open and the rain was still coming in through the window. He felt sorry for the girl. ‘Poor girl, she must have come to help in the wedding. She really did come upstairs to light the candles.’
    He felt guilty about accusing her of stealing. Poverty could be hard and he knew it. He chastised himself, ‘I should’ve been more cautious with my words. Mridula is such a beautiful name.’
    Sanjay looked towards where Mridula had stood and saw a floral hairband lying on the floor. He picked it up and hoped that he could use the excuse of returning it to apologize to her.
    Soon, the pre-wedding celebrations began. Sanjay was meeting Santosh after three years. But despite that, what they had to say to each other was over within a few minutes. Santosh’s current friends were also there at the function but Sanjay did not know them. He thought that he had unnecessarily wasted two days of his vacation over this wedding. Then he remembered that he still had to deliver Professor Jog’s package somewhere near Hubli. He had to find a way to his destination. He decided to ask someone at dinner.
    He glanced around and saw Mridula again. She was dressed in a yellow silk sari and had a string of champak flowers in her long plait. She was wearing jewellery and looked like a goldenstatue. He was enchanted by her beauty, but felt horrible about the way he had treated her.
    At dinner, he found himself sitting next to an old man and thought that he would be the best person to talk to because old people usually talk a lot. Before he could say anything, the old man asked, ‘Are you from the bride’s side or the groom’s?’
    ‘The groom’s.’
    ‘Well, I’m from the bride’s side.’
    Sanjay asked, ‘Do you know where Aladahalli is?’
    ‘Of course. It is thirty kilometres from here. Whom do you want to meet there?’
    ‘Champa Bai Kamitkar.’
    ‘How do you know her?’
    ‘I don’t really know her. She is related to my professor.’
    ‘What’s your professor’s name?’
    Sanjay didn’t like the man asking so many questions but he had no choice. He said, ‘Dr Jog.’
    ‘Oh, Chandrakant. I know him well. But Champa Bai travels a lot. Well, if you don’t find her at home, you can still meet Bheemanna and go.’
    ‘Who’s Bheemanna?’
    ‘An important person in Aladahalli.’
    ‘How do I find his