The welcoming door

by Prabhjyot Kaur (India)

I didn't expect to find India

“Baby, it’s cold outside”, we uttered as we closed the door and banished the winter chills that leashed London. Not even the Hampstead winds could rustle life back in my ‘a-year-old-frozen heart’. Sia and I were staying in this quiet condo for a year now and every day this artistic place rented my secret sorrows a rather cozy comfort. “After a call, one evening, amidst the heavy typing speeds and chai’s regular aroma, my life made a pause. I was in Delhi, at my office where congratulations were happening in the wake of my promotion to London.” We sat at the dinner table with some scrambled eggs and Fish Tacos. “It was Danish’s call. My boyfriend wasn’t happy with the idea of a long-distance, and I was called upon to pick - London or Him”. Delhi was my constant place; it muffled me with comfort and security. However, that day when I stepped out of my office door- I felt a restless cacophony of a million-dreams that people carry in the capital of India. I preferred walking as my footsteps felt like a liberation. Every day while commuting, the closed windows of my office cab blocked the struggles and hopes of the 20 million people rushing in Delhi to ‘make this place their own’. That day, for the first time, I zoomed in my own city through a different lens. Above me were metros hustling, around me were the classic chai tapris screaming ‘chai chai’ and autowalas rushing in ‘madam, auto chahie?’. In my dilemma, I kept walking. “You were brave enough to follow your dreams and let him go”, said Sia to console my teary eyes as we finished our dinner. All these feelings resurfaced while tomorrow was my flight back to Jaipur, India for our close friend’s wedding. The next day, I bid adieu to Sia and took a series-of flights. My venue was the grand Jai Mahal. This open-hearted pink city never fails to welcome with its flamboyant architecture and a blend of modernity and heritage. Inside my cab, in an emotional turmoil, I was wondering how would Danish and I behave after a-year-long distance and grey tones. I was just swirling around my emotions when the cab driver stopped- “ Madam, aa gaya” and emerged in front of me- Jai Mahal with its grand door, welcoming me to a place unknown and speaking of a history rich with royalty and valor. With a ‘Namaste’, I was escorted to the palace by a tall man, Ram- his eyes brimming with passion to share so much about the forgotten history. Moving past in, the adorned walls and cobbled paths yelled of simplicity- disconnecting me with the humdrum of modern lives. “Madam, this place stands testimony to the love between Maharani Gayatri Devi and Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II. They vowed the city with their charm”- told the courteous Ram on a 10-min walk to the wedding venue. The place spoke so much of the known and unknown and there it was- the wide lush green area where my friend’s Haldi was happening. She was all wrapped in yellow when I hugged her and wished her oodles of happiness. I exchanged a brief moment of a smile with Danish as if nothing has ever happened. Around evening, the palace was beautifully lit like the bride itself romanticizing of love and intimacy. Everybody who ever lived and died here left an indescribable story. By the time our friends took their vows, this place has filled our hearts with sheer romance and love. It reminded us our alive love was and we decided to extend our stay for a night. Danish and I walked the pavements thoroughly- that night the walls and doors of the magnificent palace must have heard our conversations, quarrels, and confessions of love. This place has unveiled our curtained chords of love. It was late night. We closed our doors but our hearts were opened forever. We've learned- 'In the tale of power and wars, love outshines all.' A year later, we welcomed our guests to Jaimahal in a serene wedding while we said- “I do”. This place revealed to me- 'the welcoming door to my palace of love’.