The Elopement
by Fehmida Zakeer
“Our
parents will never agree to our marriage.”
Anita’s eyes filled with tears.
“Best
would be to get married first and tell them later,’
Sameer patted her hand, “don’t worry, I
won’t leave you.”
Anita gulped
and tried to smile. Both sat on the park bench
lost in thought. Finally Sameer got up.
“Time
to go, have some homework to finish.”
“Ok.”
Anita got up.
They walked
home hand in hand. Sameer said, “I think we
should get married this weekend. We’ll ask
Tina to come with us; her sister eloped last
month, she’ll have an idea. What do you say?”
Anita nodded
with a smile.
On the
proposed day of the wedding Sameer, Anita and
Tina made their way to the bus stop in the
unfamiliar bluish grey light of the dawn.
“Why are
we going so early in the morning?” Tina
asked stifling a yawn.
“Because
the registrar’s office is in the next town
and we have to get back by evening,” Sameer
replied and added, “Have you got the food?”
“Yes, it
is all in here.” Tina patted her bulging
backpack.
“You’ve
got your birth certificate?” he asked Anita
who nodded a vigorous yes.
“You got
the money, right?” Anita looked at him. The
three of them had pooled their money the day
before and Sameer had taken it upon himself to
keep it safe.
“Y..e…s…I
think…” Sameer slid his backpack off
his shoulder in a hurry and balanced it on his
knee. The three of them stood in the middle of
the road and peered into the bag.
A few frantic
minutes later, Sameer cried out, “Oh no, I
left my piggy bank on my table…”
The seven year
old hit his forehead with his hand while six year
olds, Anita and Tina looked at each other and
groaned.
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