Yudhi [# A Love Story - Completed]

Part 16

It was Thursday. I woke up as usual in the morning. I was leaving back to college on Sunday, so I have three more days to spend time with family and Yudhi.

I promised Abhi to help her with her project. After she left for school, I went to Office Max and Michael's to buy project related stuff and started working on it.

By the time it was afternoon, I remembered that I had to go to Old Age home, I use to volunteer for during my high school days. Kim was also meeting me there, so I put the project work aside and started for the Old Age home.

Me and Kim met with all our old friends and updated ourselves with the latest news and shared our stories also.

Since both of us were on our way to becoming doctors next year, they asked us lot of health related questions and it was a good learning experience for both of us.

From there, me and Kimme went to starbucks and ordered our favourite drinks.

"So what are your unofficial birthday plans for tomorrow?" Kim always calls my Indian calendar birthday as unofficial birthday and western calendar one as official birthday. My family usually celebrates both. Since I will be at college for my official birthday, mom wanted to go to temple tomorrow with me for my Indian calendar birthday.

"Nothing special, we are planning to go to temple tomorrow and maybe have lunch at some restaurant." I said enjoying my Starbucks coffee.

"Okay, I will come in the evening then, hopefully you should be back by then. But don't expect any presents, as it is your unofficial birthday and I can't buy you one for every calendar out there." she never misses a chance to make fun of me for following two calenders.

I spent rest of the day working with Abhi on her project work. I didn't see Yudhi since yesterday. He leaves early in the morning and comes late in the night. He has been assigned an important project by Google and he said he cannot talk about it, but he is working very hard to prove himself, as this is his first job and a major project. Somehow I got used to seeing him daily and it bothers me if I don't see him at least once in a day.

Next day was Friday and though it was my Indian calendar birthday, it is an important day for me as I was going to spend the whole day with my family. It was long weekend, so everyone would be home and I had high expectations for the day.

I was still in bed, when I heard a soft knock on the door. I stiffened immediately and my heart rate went up. I curled up and closed my eyes.

I felt a soft kiss on my forehead and the scent was very familiar, so I opened my eyes slowly. Mom and dad were sitting on my bed.

"Happy Birthday sweetheart!" both of them kissed my forehead.

"Thanks!" I said and placed my head on my mom's lap.

"Oh Arohi! I wish you were still a small baby, so that I can cuddle you." my mom said caressing my hair.

"Yeah mom! I wish too, so that I need not worry about exams and project deadlines." I said pouting my mouth like a baby.

"Ha..ha nice try. You know we are going to temple today, so wear the best dress among the ones you bought recently. We have one more news to share with you."

That went like lightening through my body. "Did they decide about Yudhi? Are they making it official? Are they going to ask for my decision now?" All these questions flooded my head.

I was not in a position to decide the matter yet. Yudhi is just like a Wattpad book. First I ignored him because the cover page was not good. Just like Wattpad, no one wants to read the book if the cover page is not attractive. But after meeting him, I realized that I was looking at the wrong cover page. I just started reading him and covered only a few chapters. One cannot judge a book by its cover, so I need more time to study him.

"Hey ! snap out " my mom slapped me playfully."We are talking and you zoned out. What are you thinking?" she asked with a worried look.

"Nothing mom, were you going to tell me something or ask me?" I was trying to buy some time.

"Nothing serious, we are meeting some folks at the temple, so I wanted you to dress properly as they may be interested in seeing you."

"What! Why do they want to see me?"

"Do you remember - I told you about a young pediatric surgeon who joined us recently? He is Rahul."

"Yes, I remember you telling me."

"Well, he kind of expressed interest in you. He is smart, well educated and comes from a very good family. So when I mentioned to him about our temple visit, he said he would meet us there with his family. No pressure - just two families meeting. Like we said earlier, we won't say or do anything with regards to your marriage without your approval. So this is just a chance for you to meet and know more about each other. We can talk further about it, only if you are interested. We just wanted to give you as many options as possible. Moreover, I know you wanted to do your specialization in pediatrics, so you may have more common ground with Rahul."

"Ma, I don't want to marry till I finish my studies."

"You don't have to, but if  you like someone you can get engaged and still marry after college. You are going to finish your degree in six months, so this is the right time to decide."

"Okay ma ! I don't mind meeting them at temple as long as everyone keeps it at friendly level. Also can I wear the new saree you brought from India for me."

"Sure honey, that would be awesome!"

I was relieved to hear that and felt there is no harm in checking out more books to keep everyone happy.

Just then my sister stormed into my bedroom and filled up with kisses after wishing me. Only one person was let to wish and there was no sign of him.

That annoyed me.

I don't wear saree often, so it took a long time for me to get it right. Usually I take mom's help, but this time I wanted to do it on my own and surprise her. Along with the traditional saree, I went all the way, wearing my favorite diamond necklace with matching earrings and golden anklets.

A little makeup and a few touches here and there, I was ready to rock. I was checking out myself in the mirror to see if I needed to add anything more. I was impressed and told my image ..

"Hmm...you go girl. you rock! He needs to know what he cannot have."

Suddenly my image replied back ..

"Oh! so you are doing all this to impress him. That is not you. You know you are beautiful. Why are you doing this? Why do you feel the need to prove yourself to him after asking him to mind his own business? Are you doing this because you are falling in love with him?"

"No, I hate him and I am not doing this to impress him. He thinks I am a slut because I wore a skimpy dress and am not worthy of him. He needs to know that I can dress traditionally also and I want to see the look in his eyes when he checks me out. Moreover maybe I am wearing this to impress Rahul. I am leaving day after tomorrow to college and today is my birthday, so no harm in having little fun." I turned back to leave the room.

"Careful there, I think you are digging deeper rather than trying to run away from him" I could hear my image shouting at me.