One Of A Kind [ slow updates ]

Chapter 4 : Uncle Mehrotra

There was so much chatter at the dinner table. While the mothers enjoyed the conversation about food and weddings, the fathers were talking about their old forgotten friends. Navi had engaged Advay in some hush-hush discussion. It annoyed me that I couldn't hear what they were talking. Perhaps because I was at the other end of the table.

Mrs. Gulati had suggested they get the engagement done in the nearest auspicious time. My mother had agreed. Throughout the discussion I tried to subtly reason that it was too early to get them engaged but my parents didn't take the bait at all. Or rather purposefully ignored my hints. No one at the table paid heed, except Advay Singh Gulati. But he soon kept quite when his mom gave him a pointed look. Turns out he was a trained mummy's boy. Oh dear Navi, what the hell are you getting into!

So it was decided that the families would meet again in three days after consulting the elders of the respective families and the horoscopes, to decide a date for the engagement and wedding. 

Great! How am I supposed to tell them that Annoying Shameless Guy was a perv? That he went to cafes and told his friends that he had 'hots' for the sister of the girl he was courting?

I stared at Advay who was looking at my sister, smiling at something she said. My eyebrows furrowed. It wasn't a fake smile, as far as I could tell. I sighed shifting my gaze around the table only to find Uncle Mehrotra looking at me. I smiled awkwardly, he returned a smile with the nod of a head. I think he's beginning to get suspicious of me. Is my disapproval of Advay coming out loud and clear? Perhaps, I need to tone it down a bit?

Advay and Navi were excused to go talk to each other in private. I had tried to go for a walk along with them but mummy had held me back asking me to take care of clearing the table while she and aunty retired to the room to talk about stuff. It was their gossip time!

The men had conveniently moved to the study room in our house, for drinks.

Begrudgingly, I cleared the table while cluttering my mind with thoughts, trying to decide upon a course of action. Maybe I should just talk to Mummy. That was the best approach. Maybe when I catch her alone for sometime I will tell her. 

"All okay?"

I turned around sharply to find Uncle Mehrotra at the doorway of the kitchen.

"Yes, uncle. Did you need anything?"

"Yes, ice cubes."

"Oh, right. I forgot about that. I will bring them in a minute." I said and he nodded walking away. 

True to my words, a minute later I was in the study making drinks for the men. 

"You've taught your daughter how to make a drink?" Uncle Mehrotra mused.

I smiled. He'd be surprised if he learnt all the unconventional things Papa taught his this daughter. Papa laughed, saying he taught me just as he would have taught his son. 

"I will have a large, I am not driving tonight!" Uncle Mehrotra said. 

"Even I am not driving, but if the Missus comes to know, I will never hear the end of it. So small for me." Advay's father said. While Uncle Mehrotra got up from his seat to explore the huge shelf filled with various books we have.

"That's a huge collection of medals." Mehrotra uncle remarked from the far end of the room where the trophies and medals were displayed on the showcase. "Where did you buy them Chaddha?" He teased.

Papa laughed heartily. "You haven't lost your sharp comments and wit, Anand. My daughters brought them for me. Most of the academic related ones would be Navi's achievements she's pretty good at mathematics while sports ones would be Avni's. My Avni is as good as a young soldier gets at sports."