Sweet 'n' Sour | ✔

one

1. Shaadi Karwado (Get me married.)

•°•

"I want to get married."

The clinking of the spoons ceased, four mouths abruptly stopped chewing, all eyes on the ultimate source of the shocking declaration.

Me.

I did not shrink under their intense gazes. I just avoided eye contact.

Meghna snorted out a laugh, apologised, and picked up her glass to take a sip of water. I wish the water goes down the wrong pipe and she ends up choking. It did not. No wonder. I'm unlucky like that.

"Is it April fool's day, Shrivastava Ji?" The older woman at the table inquired. My mother, ladies, and gentlemen.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. I've never been so serious before. You could ask me to jump into the sea to prove my point and I would do it. With a life jacket, of course. "Mummy, I'm serious."

She narrowed her eyes at me. I did not waver. She got the point and sighed. "No, Adi."

"But why?" I almost whined. No, Adi. Act like a man. A grown man. "I'm twenty-five. I just got the promotion. And so many of my friends are married, Mummy. Some are even expecting!"

"Toh, sab kuye mein kudenge- (So, if everyone jumps into well-)"

"Mummy, please yar!" I held up my hand. I refuse to play sarcasm with her right now. How can these people not be serious about the major life decisions I'm making? I seriously suspect if I was picked up from the staircase of the temple as Bhai says.

"Adi, first your brother's getting married, then Meghna, and then you." Dad interrupted.

"Bhai, get married," I demanded my brother.

He looked up from his files, acknowledged me with a scoff, and went back to his papers. I groaned. "Mummy, he doesn't want to get married! Meghna wants to wait two more years! I can't wait anymore!"

Mom narrowed her eyes at me. "Why are you so desperate?"

"Single people problem," Meghna mumbled under her breath.

"At least I don't cry over fuckboys!" I scowled at her.

She glared at me but shut up.

"Mummy-"

"No. You just got the promotion. Go out with your friends. Have fun. What is this mujhe shaadi karni hai?" She scolded. "You're not ready for marriage right now."

I sat back defeatedly. "Maine bhaag ke shaadi karni hai phir. (I'm eloping then.)"

Meghna sputtered out a laugh. "With whom? Oh, right. Miss. Shizuka. Our cutie's childhood crush!" She giggled, pinching my cheek rather harshly. I swatted her touch away, dropped the spoon, and stormed to my room ignoring my mother's warning to not leave the food on the plate.

I'm going on a food strike until they accept my demands to find me a suitable woman to get married to. I know childish, but hey it gets the work done.