• Second Chances •

16. Almost Family

Everything sounded like white noise to Ram. He kept hearing words like flowers, hotels, halls, weddings, rituals, haldi, this and that. But it all could very well be a foreign language for him. Because he had eyes only for the perfect brown, crispy looking samosas lying in the centre of the table. His mouth salivated again. He just couldn't wait to get his hands on them and devour them. It wasn't like he had not tried. He had. He had tried thrice to reach out and just swoop and send those delicious goodies down his grumpy belly. But someone or the other had stopped him by asking another inane question. And then, he couldn't just go for the kill at Priya's house. They were here to discuss both the weddings and the social decorum was needed to be maintained.  

"What??" asked Nandini. She then made googly eyes at Ram. "Ram? You didn't tell me that you had agreed to this?" 

"Huh? What?" Ram threw her a confused look. 

"Why are you so lost, Ram? Come on. Pay attention!" Nandini clicked her tongue. They had come to meet Priya's family to discuss such an important thing and Ram couldn't stop ogling at the samosas.  

Ram was a little embarrassed. He knew Priya and her family's eyes were on him. He just nodded. "Ye...yes!" 

"Why did you agree to this? You didn't tell me that you have agreed to get a registered marriage?" Nandini stared at Ram. 

"Uhm," Ram looked at Meera and then at Nandini. "Actually, Priya and I had a small discussion about this. On text. We have decided that the best way for us to get married is to just get a registered marriage." 

Nandini held her head. "But why?" 

"Because we are not in love, Mom!" Ram said softly. "It's just for the sake of our individual families. It makes no sense to go about doing those rituals that will be just a formality for us. We will just sign and get this over with." 

"Priya?" Nandini looked at Priya with a questioning gaze. "Are you really okay with this?" 

Priya nodded confidently. "Yes." 

She honestly had never got the point of extravagant weddings. Over the years, Priya had managed to save a fair bit of money. But she would rather spend that on things that truly mattered. What was the point of splurging on the celebration of a non-existent relationship? She didn't want to put that kind of pressure on her mother and family. 

"Don't you have any friends and family that you would want to invite?" asked Nandini. "Don't you want to celebrate?" 

"No. Not really..." said Priya. 

Ram noticed how Priya's answers flustered Nandini more. He jumped into the conversation to pacify his mother. 

"Look Mom," Ram reasoned. "Two back to back weddings will exhaust all of us. It's better that we do one lowkey one and go all out for the other. And honestly, between both of us, Akshay and Shivina have more reasons to celebrate. Priya and I don't even know each other that well." 

Shaking her head, Nandini waved her hands. "Okay. Fine. Whatever you want." 

"Thanks, Mom..." said Ram. "I appreciate it." 

Nandini gave him a small smile but then pulled her face away. After their breakfast date, Priya had texted Ram and told him the entire truth about her financial condition. She didn't have the resources to indulge in two weddings at the same time. And it also made sense to Ram to not really do something extravagant with Priya. They were mere strangers and everything would get uncomfortable with her. 

Before Ram could feel more hostile, Meera called out to him. "Ram!" 

He looked at Meera and she was standing in front of him with an outstretched arm at him. On closer observation, she was holding a piece of kaju katli between her fingers. And Ram never could say no to that.