Arranged Marriage

~Newness~

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How simple our life seems as a kid, no?

No tension, no worries, no pretending, no care about the world. You are happy with whatever you have. A toffee, a new pencil, maggie, a day off, your turn on a new swing, a simple compliment.

And for me, the most exciting time of my childhood was, chutti time.

It was when my school bus was just five minutes away from home and I would be the most eagerly awaiting kid of all, first one to stand up even before line formed, ignoring teacher's scolding and adjusting heavy bag over my shoulders and water bottle around my neck, my eyes much eager to see maa waiting there at stop. And double jackpot it was when sometimes, instead of maa, it was papa there waiting for me with his big smile and arms open. I would scowl as he would knowingly call me princess infront of all other kids. I was six, and I was big enough, I always thought. But he would laugh, pull my bag off shoulder and to make it up, always buy that chocobar on our way and pista kulfi for maa.

It was the feeling of returning to home, be back to my own place, to my own people, that I am experiencing right now. The same turn, the same road, the same air. Nothing much changed in all these years, except the seven year kid is now twenty five.

My lips curled up, as the view of Maa scolding Ryan and than rushing to our car, welcomed my eyes. Even before I knew anything else, I was in maa's tight embrace. Her motherly warmth, the familiar smell, engulfed me, making my emotions heightened this moment.

In Indian society, unlike western people, we don't express our love for elders in terms of showing it affectionately. We just respect them, to express our gratitude we usually cook their favourite or bring something they desired the most as a gift. And most of the love expressing activity, it would be a hug. Or moreover touching their feet in respect. And the kiss, kissing our elders cheek or forehead like that in western societies when you are not a kid anymore? It's actually rare here.

So today, while parting from maa, I kissed her cheek. She knows what that means, so she held my face with one hand. Not saying how much she missed me, or how is she feeling wordly, but her unshed tears in eyes said it all.

"You're in time" Ryan said, with a small smile and side hugging me.

I frowned, looking at him questioningly. Meanwhile everyone else went inside, Mallika warning us to be inside soon.

"What do you mean?" Without answering me, he went towards the taxi, I just noticed that was there. "Ryan?"

He picked up bag and started keeping at the backseat, "well, I'm leaving, " he checked his watch before looking at me, "in about twenty minutes."

"Leaving? Where? And you're here for a week more, no?

"Ah, that seems like a dream to me." He sighed, "New York it is. Dad called for the project."

"Oh"

And that made me shut all other arguments.

Ryan's dad and his whole family is a bitter topic for him. The family, which is for namesake and show off but in reality how they had treated Ryan makes Mallika and me furious everytime.

"Four months I have to live with him there. Maybe this time mom will also come."

And now that explains the quiteness of his today.