BEWITCHED

Chapter 1st

Dim lighting, low hum of romantic music, quite murmurs and a peaceful silence filled the restaurant.

The view outside the window was great, it showed the street lights and moving cars.

It's peaceful..., oh whom am I kidding I'm not having slightly peaceful moment.

Why you ask... What will you do when your one and only family that is your grandfather will ask you to get married but you ain't got no boyfriend.

Of course blind dates. That's what I'm doing.
Having a fancy dinner with a rich kid who can't stop talking about himself and asking weird questions.

'Do you wear western?'
No I'm not in mood to show you my legs.

'Why are you not wearing any makeup?'
Because foundation is costly.

'Your height is quite a little... Much... What did you drink when you were kid? '
Expired Complan, marry me I'm gonna drink your blood.

"Where do you prefer more, Singapore or Paris?"

"Excuse me? "

"I like you, so I just thinking where to go for honeymoon."

Nark me chala jaa for all of care.
(go to hell)

"..."

"Why, am I not your liking."

"No, we are over here Mr Tiwari. It was nice meeting you, say hello to my aunt. Now please excuse me I will show myself out."

I said keeping my anger at bay.
I've had enough of these blind dates. How many of these dates I've had till now? 12-14 ugh, I don't even remember now.
I think I've visited all the cafes and restaurant in my city, and let me tell you Indore is quite a big city. Except for 'The Aviary'.
It's for rich people, like really rich people. I'm not poor, but I will also not consider myself as rich.

I mean I will not throw 2500 rupees just to try Lasagna. Nope people I'm good eating my weird street foods.

I'm just a middle class woman trying her best to keep my sweet grandpa happy. I'm a translator, also a MA student.

But because my grandpa is getting old he wants to marry me off to a good household, yep he is a cultural man.

He is a retired Army Brigadier.
My dad was also in army, he was a lieutenant general. He died in a terrorist attack. I was 8 years old back then.

When my mom died I was 15. She had cancer, we got to know it when she was at her final stage.

I never saw my grandmother, guess she died early.

My paternal aunt hates me for this, she says I'm a bad omen.

I have no siblings so it's me and my grandfather, he is all I can ask for. He is strict but caring. When-

*sherd*....something ripped, I tore something!!!

I sprinted and I saw my new anarkali was having a long slit in it.
How?!

My eyes went to source of the incident. A dress... Full of chains, actually a skirt full of chains. One was now stuck to my anarkali making it slit open.

It was of 4000, can you believe it!!!
And I only wore it once!!!

"Khatam, mere 4000 rupai gye paani me. " I wept as I checked my suit carefully to see if it got more damage.
(Over, my 4000 rupees are now over.)

"Cheap."

I looked up to came face to face to a woman in her mid 20s I guess.
Or should I say a foundation and concealer queen?