The man of my dreams

Chapter 11

The next few years go like a fast express train, no significant stations in the way... and a quick journey... Aadhya used to cry while chatting and I also used to do the same... Finally, she got married and from the next day, I never got her message again...

Now, I am 24 years old, studying M.Sc. My parents are sending me money for hostel and eating purposes but I don't need it. So, I invested it in mutual funds. I am even earning money while writing books on apps like inkitt, dreame, ficfun, w*******l, etc. but I never stopped writing on w*****d. It connects me with her... I also take tuitions and get paid enough for a month and also save some of it in my mutual funds...

I am taking tuitions and my phone abruptly rings. I look at it and it's dadda. It's weird of him to call me because he always thinks that I am studying and he shouldn't disturb me, especially after my poor results... I pick up the phone.

"Hello dadda."

"Hello beta (child, normally son). I want you home at your next weekend."

"But I am busy in my studies," I say, signalling the children making noise to keep quiet and go inside my bedroom.

"I know beta but there is no need to study more."

"What? But why?"

"Because your percentage is decreasing day by day, you leave no chance of failing..."

I roll my eyes at that. Of course he doesn't know that how much this time is precious for me...

"What do you want me to do dadda?"

"I want you to come to my home in the village. We need to talk."

"The village home? Why?"

"Because we are there."

"Umm... Okaaaay..."

But the phone is already hung up. I sigh and return to teaching my students again and announce that I can't take their class on Saturday and Sunday, even though the exams are nearing and gave them their homework for the weekend. Normally I don't give them homework because we rarely take holidays but this was necessary this time...

I quickly use laptop this time to book train tickets for my village rather than writing for inkitt. The next day, I am already home. Mumma and dadda hug me tightly, as if afraid that I am going away. They separate and I look at them in confusion. Dada and dadi come forward and I bow to them. They smile and say 'jug jug jiyo' (live a happy life).

I smile at their blessing which they have been giving me since the time I can't even remember. They take me inside and I look around, feeling nostalgic about coming here after so many years...

Our family, my grandparents, uncles, aunties and all the cousins are talking and laughing, reminiscing old times but I am still confused... Why am I here? Just then dada announces, "So, there is this guy named Rahul Desale who is going to come to see our Kshitija."

"What do you mean?" I ask, although knowing the answer.

"It's your age to get married Kshitija and he is your suitor," dadda says, shocking me in the process... Really? But I can't refuse him. I didn't do anything good for him. According to him, I don't even earn. I have failed as a daughter...

"Okay..."

The next day...

I bath and then join my hands, praying to Bappa... Please God! Something is not good... Please save me...



I sigh and go to mumma so that she can make me 'beautiful'. Mumma gasps when she sees me and asks me what I am wearing. I look at her, confused...

"Why didn't you wear a saree?" Mumma asks, looking at me with an unbelievable expression.

"Because I don't know how to wear it?"

Mumma looks at me like I am mad and after ten minutes, I feel like I am a mummy, no not my mummy, the Egyptian mummy, draped in a cloth but I look beautiful. Subconsciously, I smile while looking at the mirror. Of course it's not my first time to wear a saree but I am wearing one after a long time...



Suddenly, I hear the sound of a car screeching and then dada yells, "They are here..."

Oh no...

×××××

Here, the journey of Aadhya's and Kshitija's friendship stops and the journey of the new Aanya couple begins...