M and M

Chapter-40

Well, my engagement fiasco was over without any drama whatsoever. Okay, no, that's not true. There was a little drama involved. My mom cried when she heard that I was sacrificing my happiness for them without much of a thought and then she also slapped me for that. At least they support me now.

Afterward, we just informed everyone that grandma was not at all feeling well and the engagement has to be canceled.

Then there was the matter of informing Prashant's family about our decision to cancel the whole thing altogether, which my grandma handled easily. I was thankful for that. We did not know what she said or did actually but she was much wiser than anyone so we were not stressed about it.

That was all that happened yesterday and when everything was over, my parents wanted to meet Max and Derek. Especially Max, as he was already here. But when I called him he did not pick up and I was expecting that so it did not make me feel bad at all. A little maybe but not that much.

Instead of being sad, I tried calling D. He never ignores my calls unless he is busy but he also did not answer my calls. Maybe they both went back? I was not sure. They did not inform me about anything and I am sure Max wouldn't have stayed a minute after I left. Well, that was a bummer.

Max never called back but D did, only after they reached back home. I knew that they had left. There was no way Max was going to stay and there was no way D was going to let Max leave on his own like that.

D was soo ecstatic after hearing my news that he started shouting happily on the phone. I could even imagine him, bouncing in the apartment alone. Now, I just want Max to know.

"D, how is Max? He is not picking up my calls" I ask him quietly a little saddened by the thought of him still angry at me.

"You know how he can be, babydoll. He didn't talk to me the whole time we were on the flight. He will come around, don't worry. " He tries consoling me.

"I know he won't talk to me anytime soon. Maybe I'll have to talk to him when I come back " I think out aloud.

"Oh, man!. He is going to be soo psyched. I can't wait to see that. " He says excitedly, chatting away happily nonstop.

After one point I had to shout at him to calm down because he had already started picking up baby names.

"Oh, hehe, sorry my bad. I am just soo excited for you guys. When are you coming back? " He asks still happy.

"Maybe in a few days. I haven't decided yet." I reply.

"Ok, Max will come around by then. You keep me posted okay? "

"Yeah sure. Bye. I'll talk to you soon"

"Cya, baby pie," He says hanging up.

And that was 3 days ago. I had decided to spend all my time with my grandma as her health was deteriorating with each passing day. It was getting harder to see her like this.

She would tell me stories from her childhood even if it was getting difficult for her to do so. Every night before going to bed I was telling her small stupid jokes, so she would sleep with a smile on her face.

The next morning though she did not wake up at all. I tried soo hard not to cry because she made me promise but it was not possible to not shed a tear when she left. At least she went with a smile on her face and without suffering much.

But I would forever remember her smiling face and her last words. Just yesterday she said to me,

 "Never let anyone come between you and your love. Never give up on anything you love without a fight. It is not what we are born for. You have one little life, don't spend it trying to please others by suffering yourself silently. It is better to do something and regret it later than not having done it at all and then regretting it as well. We humans always regret almost everything we don't get."

It was as if she knew that she was not going to wake up the next day.

Everyone in the family was mourning, but they were a also little relieved that she did not suffer much. Many people came to see her for the last time. Some cried, some remembered their old happy memories and made everyone smile, and some just kept quiet to themselves, like my dad. When the funeral was over, we all were mentally and physically exhausted.

The following week went in a blur as we were all busy with the Hindu rituals. When someone dies, we have certain rituals to be followed believing that it would bring peace to the deceased one. Almost every Indian family followed it.

Grandma had already told my parents to send me back to New York as soon as everything was settled. She had warned them to not hold me back, otherwise, she would haunt them. Even when she was on death bed, she was funny. Well, that being said, I was leaving for New York tomorrow.

Me leaving right away was not my decision, but my dad's. He wanted to do the one last thing his mom asked him. His love for gran was beyond words. My dad was the closest to his mother, amongst all his siblings. That is why she stayed with us, plus I was her favorite.

I know somewhere in the back of their minds my parents still had a little doubt, whether if they could trust Max or not. And the distance was also something they were worried about. Mostly because if something bad had to happen with me they wouldn't be able to come down quickly and given my clumsiness they had a pretty good reason to be worried.

I wasn't taking much with me this time except my essentials and some snacks my mom packed for me, especially banana chips. I loved them. But before packing these things she pretty much warned me not to eat everything by myself. She was sending these things for everyone back in New York, wanting them to have a taste of our culture. Her words, not mine.

It is better to not argue with your parents especially your mothers. They have more tricks up their sleeves than we care to know. But the love for their children was never to be taken lightly, and I know she loves me more than the word can describe itself because she packed a lot and lots of my favorite snacks. This was her way of showing love.

Teary-eyed she had hugged me and told me goodbye at the airport, telling me to come back soon with Max. It was amazing how smoothly they were handling this. I thought they would flip out like they normally do. 

They had grown up just like me. Even for a simple school picnic, I had to beg them to let me go, they were that cautious. 

They are cool parents though but they are still parents, Indian parents. They have to have their kids closer to them, to keep an eye on them. It was in their DNA to care for them. My mom was trying not to let this bother her much but I could totally see through her facade.

Promising my parents that I  would take care of myself and that I would also try coming home soon with Max, I left to conquer my love.