Across Your Soul

Bumping Fate

Pavi

Wedding of Shuddha is in two days and all the elders are busy in preparations. Shuddh is my best friend, we have been together since childhood, and also our father and mother are best friends. Dad and Ramesh uncle are college Friends and started business together. They consider me as his daughter. I have recently completed my masters in Environmental engineer and currently I have decided to do research in soil and water treatment plants. I haven't told this to my parents because of sudhha's marriage, they are too busy in it. So once marriage is over I will tell them about it. I have applied to New York University because I have to live in NYC for at least two years and the remaining two years can be done by online attention, even though the University agreed. I have taken this highly risky decision because they never allow me to leave from their sight. And there are chances that they will agree because James' uncle lives in NYC. I hope it will work.

I remember James uncle was only a business partner for one collaborative project in India but after that they all got so attached to each other that James uncle comes here to visit us every month. Stella aunty comes occasionally because she can't handle long distance traveling.

This is an arranged marriage; arranged marriages in India are very common. Shudhha is getting married to sheer. He is the son of Ramesh uncle's friend. Both families are happy. Except, James ' uncle. He was very angry that she was going to get an arranged marriage. He refused to let her marry to shree.

It nearly took three months to convince him for marriage, dad and Ramesh uncle refused marriage without his blessings. When he found out about this he thought positively about shree and kept a close eye on him, and then he agreed for marriage. He just gets a little paranoid when it comes to me and sudhha.

He will never forget to spoil us. Even when our parents complained about us to him, he always took our side. When we want something that our parents already refused, then only call James uncle, he gives a long lecture to our father.

He has a son whose name is--I don't know his name. He never told me and I never asked, he always made mention of him as his son. Uncle always complains about his working habits and neglecting family and friends. Dad and Ramesh uncle told James uncle to bring him here for a visit but he always refuses and I know this time also he will refuse but his friends are coming for this wedding.

My parents also want my marriage to be arranged and I have seen how they delicately decorated their dream about my potential husband, besides my grandfather is a traditional man. He also wants my marriage to be arranged by my family so why get hurt if you can’t get married to your boyfriend. I have seen lots of couples fall in love after marriage. My cousins had arranged marriage and they are genuinely happy with each other and I have never felt drawn to any man. Never fall in love, have I always busied with my study and my research work for any kind of relationship in college

Yesterday was a sangeet ceremony. Done today after lunch, we applied henna to sudha and after dinner, all our friends and cousins were going to apply henna, but we refused to apply henna at that time because we decided to prepare a dinner for all. Now, I am starting preparation for dinner. We all decided to prepare a Royal feast. Puja is washing vegetables. I give milk to boys for sweets, Rekha keeps rice to boil and pour flour in a large pot for rotis and naans.

We were cooking for almost 3 hours, and suddenly Prachi told me that the floor was finished, so I told her to continue with the other work. I will bring it for her. I got out of the kitchen and started approaching the pantry. But suddenly someone called me. I turned and saw one helper. He told me that James sir is calling me and he is sitting in a garden and asked him to leave and I started walking towards the garden.

I saw dad and James' uncle chatting in the garden. As soon as I got there their faces lit up.

“You called me uncle." I asked him as I approached him. He flashed a big smile at me and indicated his hand to take a seat near him. I sat down near him.