#lacchu

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Bheem smiled at him, a beaming smile that Lacchu reflected without missing a beat. He wrapped his arm around Lacchu’s shoulders, his closest friend, his little brother. He had heard about this strange winter solstice festival that the British celebrated for the first time from Jenny, not catching much but the word Christmas had been etched in his mind. As she was rambling about how it was, what people normally did, what they ate, cogs had been turning in Bheem’s mind. It had been almost nine months that she had been staying with them. 

A self-imposed exile she had chosen for herself after the whole debacle, no longer wanting to ally with her own people in any form. Wanting to be a part of the revolution- she had cited her reasons, and her usefulness if she were to join them. She could give them insight into the workings of the Empire, teach the revolutionaries their language so that they could fit in better and how she would be an asset to them and not a liability. Deep down, they both knew it was more than that though, and Bheem would have been ecstatic about her living with him anyway. However, he also knew Jenny was remorseful and a girl with self-respect. She would hate for herself to impose on the tribe, needing a purpose like everyone else who had joined the cause in one way or another. There was a deep-seated need in her to be accepted in the tribe, to be useful in every way possible. 

Who was Bheem to deny her that? Who was Bheem to her anyway? Yes, they were friends, and yes he wanted more. But did she? Lacchu had called him a fool and threatened to throw a stone at his thick skull when he confessed his doubts about it to him. His exact words being, “How can a person as smart as you be so dumb? How can you, someone who can spot a tiger hiding yards away can not see her love for you? TELL HER! Do something nice for her in this Christmas festival she celebrates and TELL HER!!! Or I’ll hit you with the same tree over your head.”

Thus, had begun thorough research on Bheem’s part about what the festival was with help of local library resources from the city and a long series of multiple letters exchanged with Ram followed by a week of intense preparation in the time when he was visiting a few days before December 25th. Through all this, Lacchu had been a dedicated assistant, pitching in the most amazing ideas. Who knew the guy was a genius in arts and craft? 

“Thank you, Lacchu!” the curly haired man turned, holding Lacchu’s shoulders in a firm grip and squeezing once. “Really! This wouldn’t have been possible without your help. You’re the best chinna anyone can ask for!” His eyes grew misty as Bheem showered him with compliments. 

The whole process of preparation had helped Lacchu grow closer to his anna. His best friend. Since a while, it had been as if there was a chasm of formality between them that had been growing wider, especially after the entry of new people in Bheem’s life. Like Jenny. And Ram. Although Lacchu garnered nothing but love and respect for Jenny unlike his unscathed loathing towards the latter, he had still been aloof. More and more with each passing day. Of course he never let any of his emotions surface, he didn’t want Bheem to feel guilty or even sad, but it did hurt that the one person he considered his best friend, the one who had been his ideal, the one who had always been with him almost 24x7 from childhood: he now had to share with others. People who mattered to Bheem more than Lacchu now, the younger man was cast aside. 

Lacchu blinked away the tears on the verge of forming beneath his lids and shook the melancholic thoughts away. Christmas was supposed to be about joy, and today was not about him. He shooed Bheem away, “Now go! Bring her in before she suspects anything. I don’t know how much longer Malli can keep the suspense and stall her class seeing as she herself is throbbing with excitement more than any of us.” A smile gracing his lips at the retreating back of anxious Bheem. 

…

“Bheem! Please remove the blind-fold now.” Jenny urged as she was led in via a soft grip on her arm by the gond man. “What is it that you wanted to show me anyway? I was in the middle of my last evening class!” She chastised him for rushing her so. 

“Just a few more steps please. And stop being so dramatic! It was the end of your session and you know it.” Bheem retorted. 

A couple more steps and Jenny felt the warmth of the hut. It was not cold in these parts in the winters, especially not to her tastes, but there was a nip in the air tonight. The feel of grass beneath her slippers was gone, replaced with hardened ground. She felt Bheem let go of her, the black fabric sliding away from her eyes in a swift motion. She blinked a couple of times, her eyes adjusting to the light. 

Her imagination had been running amok as to what it would be that Bheem wanted to surprise her with. And the whole blind-fold thing was as juvenile as it was unnecessary in her mind but enchantingly endearing because it was Bheem. She could not refuse his doe-eyes and that puppy face when he had requested her to comply and that it was important to create a dramatic effect. Even Malli was hopping up and down, gushing about how she would love it. However, in the wildest of her imaginations, she had not been prepared for the sight that greeted her. 

It was her hut, alright. The room had been lit with diyas, and a five feet tree laden with all sorts of trinkets and ornaments stood in the middle of it. It was a Christmas tree alright, but it wasn’t pine or fir, it was created from bamboo. An almost exact replica of a Doulgas fir. The branches, the intricately woven bamboo straws that were made into branches and cut in tiny sharp formation of leaves. It had been painted dark green and soft, white cotton spores scattered on it resembling the snowflakes. The tree was ordained from little trinkets all around, some resembling the ornaments she was familiar with but made from painting wooden balls in various hues of reds and indigo. Strings of beads and tiny knitted red socks were hanging from branches, gifting life and even more colour to it. It was the most beautiful thing she’d seen.

In her admiration, she almost did not notice the painting on the side wall. It was unmistakably Santa but instead of riding in the snow, he was riding in the forests surrounded by teaks and bamboo and blooming cassia. The sledge was driven by sambars and nilgais- the animals native to the forest that had gradually started to become her home. She put her hand covering her mouth as she chuckled wetly, unaware of the tears that had begun to form in her eyes. 

“Happy Christmas!” The familiar, deep baritone startled her. She turned around and crashed into Bheem with a force that sent him reeling a couple of steps back, her hands falling around his neck, her face buried in his chest. Bheem regained his balance in a second, his hands reflexively going around her waist to encompass her in his arms. The warmth of her, the scent of her enveloping him in a heavenly bubble. 

It was a long time before they separated, Jenny reluctantly let him go, but not fully, still clasping his hands in hers. “Bheem!” she began, only to be interrupted by a sob, words lodged in her throat, her heart so full with love and admiration and happiness; she thought she would burst. 

“What happened Jenny?” Bheem asked, worry lacing his eyes, his smile fading as he witnessed tears in her those light brown, gold speckled orbs. “I know this is not as grandiose or perfect or ornate as it should be. And perhaps not accurate at all. I just-” 

He was cut off by a delicate palm against his lips. Jenny shook her head, composing herself, compelling her brain to sort out words for the normally the bravest idiot standing in front of her who was always unsure and apprehensive about himself when it came to them. “Bheem,” she took a deep breath, “This is the most beautiful Christmas tree I’ve seen in my life. I don’t care about opulence anymore, you should know that by now! This-” she pointed all around, “this gesture from you means more than all the comfort, all the parties to me.”

“Well, it was not all me. Lacchu and Ram and Malli and Loki were a huge help!” Bheem sheepishly added. “I couldn’t have done it without them!”

Jenny laughed, a pearly little sound that resonated deep within Bheem’s heart tugging at the strings in the most touching was possible. “Ok then! All of them. I love everything about this! The creativity, the innovation, the touch of your culture, your home.” She lowered her eyes, her hands playing with Bheem’s fingers as she demurely added. “Which has become a home to me too. And it is all because of you.” Her breath quivered as she uttered the final words that Bheem was gathering courage to voice for some weeks now. “I love you, Bheem.” Her hands slipped away from his, she took a step back as if giving him space, bracing herself for rejection. 

She had not at all anticipated to confound him like this. Nonetheless, the words were always on the tip of her tongue, threatening to spill out. This was the last thing she expected from him. She had told him all about home and London in one of their late night talks, the conversation inadvertently taking turn to festivals. She had gone on and on about Christmas, her favourite time of the year- the joyous spirit of it, the decorative rituals and the tales of her childhood. She could not believe that he remembered a random babble from months ago. 

Memories rushed back on seeing all of this. She had come to live here, yes, but she also missed home, the festival, the food. Especially around this season. Not that she had disclosed it to anyone but one cannot just uproot their origins that easily. She had been feeling bouts of homesickness, sketching more and more paintings depicting snowy landscapes, scenes from nativity in her free time. It was a coping mechanism that helped. More than that, she kept herself insanely busy, encircled by the people she’d come to know and who had accepted her into their folds. 

A warm breath fanned her cheeks as a finger curled under her chin, making her gaze directly into the brown, honey dipped supernovas that took her breath away each time with their infinite depths and unending intensity. Looking at them, she caught a glimpse of the raw emotions swimming in those orbs. She could clearly discern love, adoration, affection, and a hundred other emotions, and she knew it was the right choice that she’d made. Coming here, confessing, leaving everything behind on a whim was worth it. This wonderful, gorgeous human being in front of her loved her with the same ferocity, if not more. And with that last thought, she let herself relax.

“Jenny! I- I,” Bheem stuttered, his heart beating a mile a minute, his uneven breath, his eyes searching the depths of Jenny’s souls as if he would find the next words written there. “It’s okay.” She soothed him, “I know. Take your time.” 

“No! I want to say it. I need to say it.” 

She nodded. Waited with all the patience in the world for Bheem to assemble his thoughts, his words. She understood it was hard to let out those words for him as it was tough to keep them in for her. Bheem had always been a man of action after all. 

“I never thought I would meet someone as beautiful and kind as you. Seeing you, interacting with you, I was always afraid initially. We were on opposite sides, in every sense of the word. You from a land far away, a princess who grew up in castles and me, a mere commoner, someone who is working to end the empire that was your home, a classic cliche of star-crossed love that has all the earmarks of a tragic ending. I was terrified the first time you set foot in the village, leaving everything behind and coming to stay here. I was afraid if you would be able to adjust, if the people would accept you, if I would be forced to choose between you and my people, my revolution. But the grace with which you handled the transition while I was a complete and utter mess, how could have not fallen for you? You left me no choice but to fall in love with you more and more with each passing day, each passing hour. I only hope I can be worthy of your love.”

Jenny hit him on his bicep at that. “You idiot! Come here!” She placed her palms on his jaw, closing the distance between them, capturing Bheem’s lips in a soft yet intimate kiss as one hand snaked around to the curls at the back of his head. A giddy feeling enveloped the man as he wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her up a little, deepening the kiss by tilting his head. 

They flung apart like live wires having the same charge at the sound of a clearing throat. Jenny was the darkest shade of crimson as she turned away from the entrance where Lacchu stood, a wide smirk on his face, eye dancing with mirth as Bheem snapped at him to hide his own embarrassment. Both wanted the earth to split and swallow them whole. “WHAT?” He growled, feigning all the irritation he could muster. 

“Everyone is waiting with the sweets and gifts!” He reigned the laughter that was waiting to spill at his anna’s cost. It was sweet to see the always confident and courageous Bheem be a swiveling mess in front of Jenny. It was not a huge deal as Bheem was making it out to be, it was just a kiss for god’s sake, but the younger man would now not leave any chance to fluster Bheem. It was fun, just like the good old days. 

“Oh, okay, you go we’ll follow!” Bheem had barely recovered, not wanting the others to wait. He had already hogged Jenny for too long. They had all the time in the world now.

“So, I assume she liked the gift?” Lacchu winked, grinning widely as Bheem slammed the door on his face, his face becoming hot all over again with Jenny splintering into a giggle beside him. 

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