Short Stories

Ch 1 - Hello Mister !!

"Half day leave? For what Amma ( mom)"

" What do you mean 'for what' ? For your pelli choopulu of course! Did you forget about it  so soon ? "

( Pelli choopulu : potential groom and bride meeting along with their family . Usually the groom visits the bride's house with his family and if they like each other , proceeds further for the marriage)

" Oh Amma please . It's already the 7th pelli choopulu . I can't stand like a doll again for 2 hours and listen to y'all talking because at the last, they decide that they don't want me either because of my looks or my attitude.Sometime both." I say while wearing my watch .

Oh no . I am already late for work !!

I was making sure my saree is well pinned when i scream in pain .  I  look beside me and see Amma twisting my ear .

" Don't act like you haven't done anything . Acting all sad and innocent. It's you who has broken at least 3 Pelli choopulu with your stupid schemes.  What did you say to one   boy? Uh yes.
' I already have a lover. And  to another boy 'I'm 2 months pregnant '
Gosh!! Is this how we raised you ?" She continues to twist my ear more.

" Amma . Amma please im 26 years old and an Teacher  for God sake. Leave me. "

" Promise me you will attend this Pelli choopulu first "

" Alright . Alright  .  There are still two weeks left right . Please let me go. "  She instantly let me free.  I grabbed my ear and started massaging it  lightly to soothe the pain .

" Rakshasi ..." I mumble  ( demon lady)

" Enti !!!? Emmanav?? ( What !!!? What did you say??)  She raised her voice.

" Nothing !!" I quickly ran from the house .

I walked towards the bus stop and waited for the bus to come. Since I missed the first bus i have to wait another 10 min for the 2nd bus to arrive.
 

While I waited i let my mind run free.
Yeah I have broken a few pelli choopulu  so what? Simply because I didn't like the guy. One was condescending and rude , he didn't want me to continue with my work. One was really old ,like 15 years. And the other was straight up creepy. His stare lingered on my breasts all the time  .
Don't get me wrong i do like it when men find me attractive  but like a person . Not like a piece of meat .

And other times the groom side didn't like me . Because I was too fat and was just passably good looking. And my attitude was a huge problem to them . I was too uptight. Had a sharp tongue.

'Well , its their loss ' I thought but I know how much I crave a partner who would like me for me .Find me desirable. Pamper me .
I would too treat him like a king if he could just understand me and love me . But alas! That's just too good to be true .

Hmm the bus seems to be arriving late today. Oh well. Let's take an auto then .

I make my way towards the auto stand and luckily only one auto is unoccupied. The driver gave me a weird look  but I ignore it . I tell him my school address and sit inside

The driver was just about to  start the vehicle when a man stalls it , tell  him another address which is in completely opposite of mine and proceeds to sit beside me.

The audacity!! I was here first.

"Hello mister!!"  I say to him