Arranged Marriage

4. marriage musings

Meera

"They look great together, don't you think?" Mrs. Mehrotra's voice snaps me out of my trance and I look away from Rudra Mehrotra.

"Namaste, aunty and uncle," he says and moves forward to take my parent's blessings.

My mom's face glows as she looks at my dad as if I had already accepted the proposal.

"Come, why don't you both sit," Mr. Mehrotra says and both of us take our seats next to each other.

"You had a good flight, Rudra?" My dad asks.

"Yes, sir. Though I'm still adjusting to the time difference," he answers politely.

"He'll be settled in no time at all. Where's Naina though?" His mother asks me.

"She got a call, but she must be on her way here," I say.

"But what about Kunaal and Vedika? Why haven't they reached yet?" Mumma asks me.

"Wait, I'll give him a call," I say.

After talking to him, I tell everyone that they've entered the hotel and making their way towards us. Everyone nods.

"Great. Let's order?" Papa asks.

We chorus a "yes" and pick up the menu to choose from.

I pretend to be lost in my menu card, as though Rudra Mehrotra sitting beside me is not wrecking havoc on my senses. His manly cologne is all around me and his body heat warms me from the inside.

I really hope that my cheeks are not pink or else they'll end up giving me away.

While we are ordering, Naina arrives looking all smug. I am curious as to what she has done to rile up Devansh Khandelwal this time.

"Rudra, you're here!" She exclaims. "Did you meet Meera? Meera did you meet Rudra?"

I smile at her questions and nod my head, mumbling a yes. I can feel his eyes on me which makes me look at him. We look at each other for about a few seconds, when my mom asks us to order.

While I'm at it, Kunaal and Vedika join us.

Kunaal is his usual broody self. He's wearing a black three piece tuxedo. Vedika is his complete opposite, dressed in a green colored satin kurti with a palazzo.

Her waist length, dark brown hair are open and she smiles catching my eye.

Naina and I get up to greet her.

"Told you I'd be here," she says, smiling.

"Oh, you'd just be late for it," Naina says and we all laugh.

"Come, sit. Mumma wanted to see you," I tell her and she rushes to meet my mom.

Mom and dad treated Vedika just like they did me. Mom introduced her to everyone.

We then had our dinner, while our parents conversed and Rudra and I ate in silence. Kunaal, Vedika and Naina talk among themselves and try to include us as well. We spoke only when someone addressed the question directly to us.

"Why don't you guys go for a walk?" Rudra's mom suggests, looking at the both of us with a smile on her face.

"Sure," I say, too eager to get out of this awkward dinner. Once we are alone, we can talk without any pretense.

I stand up and wait for Rudra to join me. Naina smiles at me encouragingly.

Both of us make our way to the lawn. I exhale a pent up breath.

We walk side by side for a minute in silence, both of us trying to absorb the events tonight.

"I really don't think we'd suit," I blurt. Attractive or not, I really didn't want to be married someone who's still in love with his ex.