𝑹𝒂𝒃𝒕...🥀 | Rabt

🌹.....14.....🌹

Sidharth was working on his presentation on his laptop in the living room when his father came up to him. He wrapped up his work as he saw his father settled down on the couch, next to him. It was not fear which he felt around his father, it was respect. He was brought up like that.

"Ji Baba... kuch kaam tha?" Sidharth asked polietly.

"Tum kya kar rhe ho abhi?" His father asked in his strict tone.

"Mai wo... presentation dekh kar rha tha... agle meeting ke liye. It's ready... bass check kar rha tha". Sidharth replied.

"Tum aaj free ho na? Shaam ko?"

"Hoya". He said confused. He didn't know his father was being so formal. He was always formal but today he felt something fishy. "Kuch kaam hai baba?" He asked.

"Sidharth... wo Shekar ji ka call aaya tha. Unhone tumhare aur Reshmi ke liye ek table book ki hai. To tum uske saath dinner pe jaake aao". His father said straightly making him frown.

"Kya? Dinner?" He asked in disbelief.

"Haa to usme kya hai? Tum dono shaadi kar rhe ho... ek dusre ko jaanna bhi zaruri haina... Isiliye accha hoga ke shaadi se pehle tum dono ek dusre ke saath thoda time spend karlo". His father said causally. His did had a point. But no, Sidharth didn't wanted this marriage, then how could he understand his father's point. "Ye baat batane ke liye Reshmi ne kitni baar call kiya tujhe.... lekin tum phone hi nhi utha rhe the. Isiliye Shekar ne mujhe direct phone kiya". Sidharth scratched the back of his neck.

"Busy tha mai shayad". While the truth is he was deliberately avoiding her calls.

"Then be ready for the dinner'.

"Lekin baba... aaj... aaj nhi ho paayega..." He said making his father narrow his eyes.

"Ka?"

"Wo um... aaj mujhe thoda kaam hai?" He said thinking for a better lie.

"Kaam? Tumne hi to bola ke tum free ho aaj".

"Haa... but mujhe Ali ke yaha jaana tha. Kuch discuss karne..." Sidharth said.

"Nahi... Aaj tum Reshmi ke saath jaaoge... This is also important. Poori zindgi tum dono ko saath mein bitaani hai. Rest can wait". His father said with finality that he couldn't object. He cursed his stars under his breath.

"Aaii.... this is not done". He complained to his mother who was witnessing all this from the kitchen. He walked up to her with a grumpy face.

"What?" His mother asked chopping the vegetables. "Dinner pe hi jaane ko bola haina... usme kya hai?"

"Dinner pe jaane mein mujhe koi problem nhi hai... bass jiske saath jaa rhi hu usse problem hai". He mumbled. "Aaii aap bhi chalo na shaam ko mere saath". He said to his mother playing with her dupatta.

"Chee.... dur hatt". She shooed him off. "Tere aur tere hone waali biwi ke beech mein mera kya kaam hai bhae. Tum dono waha romance karenge... uske beech mein baithke mai kya karungi?" She said with a playful smile.

"Kya? Romance!?" Sidharth said with a horrified expression. "Hosh mein to ho? Kya bol rhe ho aap? Mai uske saath romance karunga?"

"To kya rakhi baandhega usko?" She asked with her hand on her hip.

"Shayad...." He whispered to himself earing a slap from his mother.

"Sidharth.... please iss baar to karle shaadi. Acchi ladki hai wo beta. Perfect match hai tere liye". His mother said in a pleading tone. "Har baar tu koi na koi kami doondhta hai ladki mein.... lekin iss baar wo bhi nahi kar paayega tu. Itni acchi hai wo".