Pranay was arguing with his mother who wanted him to meet a girl she had chosen for him.
“Maa, how many times do you want me to repeat the same thing. I am not marrying anyone for now, I really don’t have time for all this. Why don’t you understand?”
“In that case, I advise you to manage your time, if you don’t have time. Should I wait till your retirement then, because logically you will have a lot of time after that. Then I would find someone for you, not a girl though, but a woman with all her kids married.” Mrs. Pandey was adamant at her point, and no reason seemed to be logical to her.
“Maa, I am only 28. Who on this Earth gets married so early? None of my friends have married yet.”
“So, you set the trail dear. And I am sure I am not violating the child marriage rules. 28 is the perfect age to get married.”
“But, Maa. Its my life and I should get to decide and choose my life partner. ”
“Exactly. And I have waited all this while for you to find my daughter in law, and since you did not succeed, I am now working hard to find a wife for you. ”
“But, Maa….”
“Oh shut up Pranay. Don’t over react. I am not getting you married tomorrow. All you need to do is meet her once. If both of you click with each other, take it forward, or else, never meet again. Its that simple.”
The repeated appeals made by Pranay in front of her mother were all rejected one after the other, and Pranay knew he had no option but to comply with her words.
For Pranay, life meant freedom. His bank kept him occupied through the weekdays, and during the weekends, all he wanted to do was chilling out with friends. He had a great sense of humour, and was the life of the parties he attended. He had a charm that attracted girls towards him, and though he had been in quite a number of relationships, he wasn’t serious about any of them. Marriage was the last thing he wanted to do, as his freedom was very dear to him, but his mother had left no choice for him now. Like an obedient son, he prepared himself to attend the pre-marriage drama, as he felt about it.
The Pandey family received a warm welcome from Sawhneys, as their car stopped right in front of the huge bungalow. Pranay was already feeling like a groom as the women of the family started whispering into ears of another, which was followed by hearty laughs. Pranay felt as if he was being made fun of. He stuck himself in one corner of the sofa, feeling totally embarrassed, and wearing the most typical fake smile on his face.
“Mrs. Pandey, I think your son and my daughter would make a great pair. They would look beautiful together.” Mrs Sawhney was thrilled after seeing Pranay.
“I totally agree with you Mrs. Sawhney. But, where is Riddhima. Why isnt she here?”
“Ya.. I am calling her. She has been waiting for you all since long.” Mrs Sawhney walked up the staircase and appeared after some ten minutes with her daughter Riddhima.
Pranay was finding it hard to bear with the increasing frequency of drama that was going around, but Riddhima’s entry in the room induced a bit of interest in him. He secretly lifted his eyelids up, with his face still down, so that no one notices, and looked at her. Riddhima was looking pretty in pink saree she had teamed up with golden blouse. She had short curls, some of which were falling on her cheeks, giving her a childlike look.
“She is beautiful.” A voice inside Pranay spoke. “But you are hear to say a No. And you must remember that.” Another voice stopped his thoughts then and there.
Riddhima settled herself on the sofa right opposite to where Pranay was sitting. She was smiling constantly as if she had got the smile job done by the surgeon. Pranay noticed that every single person in the hall was smiling or laughing or chattering. He felt how beautiful would have been this concept of arranged marriages had these smiles survived even years after the wedding takes place, and the happiness sustained the way it was spread in the room.
“I think we should leave the couple alone for sometime. I am sure they need to ask each other a lot of things.” Mrs Sawhney said in an excited tone.
“Couple??” Pranay’s heart skipped a beat. “Who is the couple here.. who needs to be left alone?” A silly question cropped up in Pranay’s head.
“Yes, Pranay, I too feel both of you should spend sometime with each other.” Mrs Pandey stared at Pranay as she made that statement. “Ridhhima, please take him along with you.”
Pranay followed Riddhima to the terrace of their house. As soon as they reached the terrace, Riddhima emerged in a new avatar. She held one end of her saree and tucked it in her waist, she collected her loose hair and tied them roughly at the back of her head, took out the huge danglers she was wearing in her ears and repeated the same with her necklace and a few bangles on her wrist. She angrily sat on one of the chairs, and covered her face with her palms.
Pranay was stunned. His eyes wide open as he astonishingly looked at Riddhima. He somehow gathered all the courage of the man inside him, and asked,” Excuse me? All well? Are you okay?
“What okay?”The words shook Pranay because of the tone they were spoken in. Ridhhima went on. “Why did you come so late? I have been grounded in the house and made to wear this foolishness just because some guy was coming to see me. I have been waiting to get rid of this since so long. I had a movie planned with my friends, and you totally spoiled it.”
Pranay took a few seconds to absorb the huge variation in personality of the girl he had seen within five minutes. She looked so calm and easygoing down in the hall, and here she appears that she would finish me off in no time. But what amused Pranay was the childlike look he had noticed in her, was still there. She looked sweeter to him when she was herself, and not pretending to be a virtuous daughter in law. The fear in his heart was replaced by a ticklish feeling, and the goosebumps he got as a result of that. “She is my type.” Pranay’s heart shouted. And giggled.
“Hey, why are you smiling? Do I look like a fool to you? Listen, I am gonna say a no to this stupid marriage thing, and I expect you to say the same.” Ridhhima stated clearly.
“I agree, its absolutely a stupid concept. Marriage, sounds so boring, doesn’t it? And look, I am really sorry for being late. Actually, I too was forcefully dragged here, which took me a little long on the way. I even am not interested in all this, infact, I came here to say a no only.” Pranay tried explaining to Ridhhima. “But, you missed your movie because of me, that’s really not fair, and I feel I should compensate for it. What do you think?”
“Compensate.. as in?” Ridhhima was confused.
“Well, as in if you missed one movie because I reached late, then probably I should take you for at least two movies to compensate for the same, and we can even go for a cup of coffee or dinner out someday…. you know, some fun time during the weekends.”
“Fun time.. as in?” Riddhima stared at him.
“No no, I mean going to disc together or hanging out at the places of your liking.. thats it what fun is.”
“Hmm.. quite a huge compensation. But, I guess I deserve it.” And a smile appeared on Ridhhima’s face, and responded to instantly by Pranay.
“So, shall we move down?” Pranay looked right into her eyes. And right then he knew, his heart wasn’t the same.
“Ya, lets go.” Pranay held Ridhhima’s hand as she started walking. Surprised at his move, Ridhhima looked at Pranay as he drew her closer to himself. He leaned his head around her shoulder and tied her necklace around her neck, he took out her danglers from his pocket and helped her wearing them, he took his hand right on her head and untied her hair as her curls fell on her face again. Ridhhima couldn’t understand why did she not stop him, but her heart was going at an unstoppable rate. Her face was very close to his, and she could smell him and feel his breaths. And just as she freed her hand from his clutches, and took a step forward, he stopped her again, took his hand round her waist and gently untuck her saree.
In that moment, Ridhhima felt she wasn’t herself. She felt the love and romance being seeded in her heart by Pranay. She didn’t even know him a while ago, but the closeness they shared in those a few moments ignited exceptionally beautiful feelings in her, and she found her whole body soaked in those emotions which were driving her in that moment. She had never felt a man so close to her, and never dreamt of anyone who so gently could register in her heart. He touched her, but she did not feel bad, instead, she was thrilled having experienced that moment, having experienced him. Blushing, she looked the other side, and stepped forward. Pranay smiled. He looked up at the sky, and allowed the feeling totally seep within himself. He was exhilarated, he too knew he had got his girl.
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