Falling in love after Marriage

Chapter 13

Prabhu's POV

Last Sunday was so much fun. I am learning a lot in the office. It's been three days since we came to Chennai. Yesterday, I had a conversation with Nandhini's thatha about our future dating. I suggested him to leave that part to us. Because he is suggesting me to go to Taj Coromandel to have a cup of tea with her. It is okay to pay a fortune for just a single tea once in a while. But I am not okay to feed her any wrong idea of my financial status. I am just a team leader in a leading software company, not CEO of that company.

Money plays an important role in our lives but happiness and peace are more important than money.

I have the confidence to develop my financial status over the period of time but that doesn't mean I am paying Rs.250/- for a cup of tea to impress a woman. My future wife has to understand my current financial status to run the family in future which includes my parents and sister.

I am really very confused about where to start this. I have zero experience with ladies. But here I am, planning for my first date with Nandhini. Thankfully, she is not a complete stranger. Otherwise, my situation would have been much worse.

Shall I ask her for dinner? Would it be rude to invite her for dinner on the first date?

How about coffee?

How about lunch?

Where to go?

I want to go to a place with a good ambience. It has to be a comfortable place, should not be a show-off. And most importantly she has to like it.

Shall I better discuss this with her?

What if she thought I am not even capable of selecting a place for a date?

Oh God! I shouldn't have asked for the time in the first place. Then how will I get to know about her?

Fine Prabhu!

Breath in.. Breath out...

Repeat...

Ufff!

First date!

Let's decide about the date later. Now call her and confirm the timing convenient for her.

Yes! This will do.

Now, where is my stupid phone?

She answered her call in the third ring.

"Hello Nandhini here" Her voice sounds very formal.

"Hi Nandhini, This is Prabhu. How are you? Can I have your few minutes of time? It's about our date."

I managed to talk casually.

"I'm fine Prabhu. How about you? I'm free now. You can talk"

Her formal tone changed to a casual one.

"Yeah, I am good. I just wanted to check when will you be available. Can you please let me know the date and time of your availability? It would be great so I can check with my schedule and tell you the place and timing."

"My boutique will be busy on the weekends. You can arrange the date in weekdays. Just let me know it before a day so I can confirm about it."

"Okay. How about tomorrow, 5 PM, CCD at T-Nagar?"

"Tomorrow...Hmm... Yeah... I'm in...Will be there. See you then. Bye."

"Thank you. See you tomorrow. Bye"

I expected her to wait and play who is going to disconnect the call like it will be shown in Tamil movies. But she disconnected the call as soon as I uttered 'BYE'

I let out a sigh. Wow. It's easier than I thought.

Tomorrow...

My first date...

Eeeeeeeeee...

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No one wants to be late on their first day. So here I am, at the coffee shop before 15 minutes, waiting for her arrival. I decided to go with casuals today. I'm wearing a blue striped white T-shirt with blue jeans.

This fifteen minutes cannot move any slower than this. My patience and confidence are reducing every passing second. I am reading this menu card for the fourth time. God send her soon!

My prayer answered immediately as I saw her entering the cafe... I gulped. She is in sky blue gown, which is just covered until her mid-thigh. The dress suits her well. But this type of dressing will never be approved in my family. How in this world her parents allowed her to wear this? Will it be rude to pass negative comment on her dress? On the very first date? At least she's on time.

Akash already gave tons of free advice for this date. Like different ways to compliment her... How to behave like a gentleman... Blah blah blah...

I couldn't think any of it now. If I am going to marry her, she has to make some adjustments. I am ready to do some adjustments as well. Because I can't expect her to change without me being ready to accept the change.

She looked around and reached the table after spotting me. I stood and greeted her with a bouquet of white roses.

Janu gave that idea of giving the bouquet. We occupied our chairs.

"Nice flowers. Thank you very much. Have you been waiting for a long time?"

She is smiling whole time but that smile didn't reach her eyes just like me. A mask of a smile. Maybe it will take some time for sharing a genuine smile.

"No no. I just came before five minutes. What would you like to have?"

"Green tea. I am a little health conscious. It's difficult to maintain perfect shape without the diet"

I mentally laughed. Diet ah? I think she doesn't know that there is a thing called workouts, which helps to keep you fit.

"Oh. That's good. I will go with a vanilla cappuccino. Would you like to have some snacks?"

She literally shocked.

"Sorry, Prabhu. I am not a fan of junk foods. Just green tea is enough."

"Hmm okay. Wait, I will place the order."

I stood up to place our order. She nodded with a smile.

"So Nandhini... I knew you finished your schooling in New York and did your college in Chennai. Tell me what you think I should know about you."

"Hmm... I want to be an independent woman. My dream is to become one of the best fashion designers. I am working on it. As I told earlier, I am very conscious about my health and diet. More of a social type. Favourite colour is pink; Favorite actor is Tom Cruise. Not a fan of foods. New York lover. Tell me about you."

Nice.

To be noted:

She wants to be independent. New York lover.

Our order number had been called. I signalled her to wait and got our order. We took a sip of our drinks. I spoke.

"I am working as a TL in a leading software company. Dedicated employee. I am more of a family person. They are always my first preference. A great fan of our Indian food. Favourite colour: Black and blue; Favorite actors: Thalaivar - Superstar Rajni, Surya and Shiva Karthikeyan; Actress: Nayanthara. I love reading books and cooking. Normal middle-class man. I think that's it."

After that, we spoke some general things for a while.

"Great Prabhu. We have almost the opposite attitude and preferences. According to science, opposites attract each other. Let's see if that apply on life." She chuckled which is actually cute.

Wait! What does that mean?

Yes, I should agree that we are totally opposite.

Does that mean still we can work on between us to make the relationship successful? And particularly she seems to be ready for that.

I do like her positive approach. :D

Moreover, my parent's selection will never go wrong. They would have done deep research before choosing my would be wife. I deeply believe in God and destiny.

Hey i***t, stop your monologue in mind and reply to her. She is waiting. Damn man!

"Uh... Good to hear that Nandhini. I think this will do for the first date. I don't want to load you with more than this. Would you like to say anything?"

"Nope. That's it. We will take small steps as of now. By the way thanks for the great evening. I really enjoyed your company."

"Thank you as well. You are so easy to talk. Will see you soon."

We walked together to the parking. My mind totally forgot about her dressing and my complaints. I felt happy now.

She settled into her black coloured Maruti swift and waved her hand bye with a sexy smile before driving. I waved her bye with a smile.

The time is now 6.30 PM. This is the first time I have ever spent one and half hours with some girl other than my family. She may become my future family. I smiled at the thought.

I don't feel like going to my apartment. Maybe a little drive. No. I can have dinner with Vidhu and Janu. Their hostel is just five minutes drive from here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'Nan onu nenacha, kadavul onu nenaikrar'

(Man proposes, God disposes)

Here I am driving back to my apartment. I never expected them to decline my offer. But those little devils did.

I parked my car near their hostel with lots of confidence that they will come within a few minutes if I say that I am here to pick them for dinner. I called my sister and asked them to join me for dinner. She mercilessly told me to go away as they have tons to study for tomorrow's test. To the addition, she told that they were so busy unlike me to spend the time uselessly ????

After reaching my apartment, I informed my amma about the date with Nandhini. She is glad to hear my positive response.

They are travelling Andaman next week. They accepted to come to my apartment two days earlier. I need to make arrangements for that.

I ended up eating Maggi as my dinner because I felt very lazy. I tried to sleep but my mind replayed today's incidents. I hope God will guide me through this phase of my life and help me to lead in the correct path. I thanked God for everything he had given me and the support he offered me all the time. I drifted off to sleep while thinking about the plans for the next date with Nandhini.