Strings of my heart

Chapter 8

Abhi POV

After dropping her at her home, I went to my parent's place to get ready for my day as theirs was the nearest place to Ayra's. So to prevent myself from getting late, I decided to go there.
Getting freshen up, I wore my neatly ironed uniform and decided to head down to join my mom and dad in breakfast but I was greeted with the sight of the sullen face of my mom and troubled looks of my dad.
Adjusting my shirt, I took my usual seat and gave them a single glance

"What happened?" I asked them while serving myself with the food as my whole attention was on it.
I was damn hungry as I didn't get a chance to have anything since yesterday night and when I was about to put a morsel in my mouth, my mom thought it was the right time to open her mouth and said the words which made me put the food back on the plate.
I looked at the both of them with a grim look as my mom also followed my suit and glared at my dad.
"What! Why are you both looking at me like that? I didn't do anything." He immediately raised his hands and shrugged his shoulders.
"You, old man. I am telling you. I will accept anyone as my daughter-in-law except her. Trust me, she isn't the one for my son"
Mom answered, making my head snap in her direction as this was the very first time she did something to support me.

"God! It's not like I am forcing him to marry her. right? Rajeev is my friend and you know, how much he had helped me and trusted me in the initial stages of my new business. He was the one who lent me a hand when no one was willing to do so. So how can I reject his proposal outrightly when he approached me and asked me something for the first time? And all I am saying is, let Abhi meet her and let them decide
everything." He said as I remained as a silent spectator as if I wasn't the one about whom they were discussing.

"No. I won't let him meet her. I agree I want him to get
married soon but not like this. Especially when I, very well, know that she is not suitable for my son. I will be forever grateful to Rajeev anna for his help but I can't let my son marry Shwetha just to show our gratitude. So tell them, it's a "No'" She grimaced before leaving the table. Even I didn't touch the food as I was so involved in my thoughts. This was the first time I saw her opposing something so stubbornly.
She was always a happy-going person and the person like her rarely gets agitated at anything. So for her to speak like this, only meant one thing. That was, she really didn't like that person.
"Ahem. ahem." My dad coughed to bring me out of my
thoughts
"I am sorry, dad but I am not okay with this proposal."
"If it's about your mom, I will talk-" but I cut him off in the middle.
"No, dad. It's not about mom but I am not okay with the idea of getting married itself. So please don't force me into something that I don't like." I told him calmly while gazing at the juice jar in front of me and I could hear him sigh.
"It's fine. I will talk to him and remember, never did I or never will I force you to do something just for the sake of my own satisfaction."

He said while standing up and coming in my direction and patted my shoulder as I nodded, feeling grateful at him for being so understanding. I stood up as I completely lost my appetite and intended to go
to the kitchen to wash my hand.

When my dad  ascended the stairs to pacify his wife, I silently left to the station and got busy with dealing with the cases. When it was noon, I got distracted by the someone outside my cabin. So I peeped out of the window to know who it was about.

I did take a double look to confirm whether what I was seeing was true or not. She was really standing there and it seemed like she was hesitating to come inside.
My eyes gleamed when I noticed her presence and I instantly rushed outside as my heart started thudding with anticipation. Reaching the entrance, I tried to maintain the nonchalant attitude and I pretended like I was going out and brushed past her.
"Abhi?" She called out to me after noticing my presence as a victorious smile fitted my face.
"Yes? You? What are you doing here?" I casually turned around and feigned the confusion
She bit down her lips and hesitatingly stretched her hands out to me to show the lunch box in her hand.
"Woah. Did you bring the lunch for me? What did I do to deserve this honor?" I quipped and I took the lunch box from her immediately in fear that she might take it back as I saw her getting flaring up.

"I have to as I don't like owing anything to anyone. Since you have helped me yesterday, I brought the food for you. Now we both are even. So, Mind you! Never dared to use yesterday's incident against me in the future. hmph." Saying this, she spun around and left from there in a jiffy.
"The temper of this stupid woman!"I berated her in my heart but my lips tugged into the slight smile as I gazed at the box in my hand. I jogged inside my cabin with a jolly mood to savor her handmade food.