Strange, but love...

Huh ! What !?

As I returned from swimming practice, I saw a car parked outside my house. This indicated that Mr and Mrs Joyce came to visit my family. They were all friends from a long time, from school. The Joyce lived six blocks away from our house. This all meant they meet a lot, have barbeque and else.

They were a strange bunch. Although they were this close, but i never meet their daughter cause of some weird coincidences like, if i go to their house she would be out and if she came then i was out. i had only seen her in pictures. And i have to admit, she is cute, pretty, beautiful etc. To be honest i liked her, by looks.

As i neared my house, i saw them come out. They were all laughing. i thought may be she also came, but today was not that day. They all gave each other hugs and turned towards the car when they saw me. Mr Joyce came and patted my shoulder.

"I am proud of you my boy." and walked towards the car leaving me baffled.

"Waiting to see you dressed up." Mrs Joyce said and pulled my cheeks, then walked away leaving me highly bewildered. But not giving it much thought i waved them bye and walked in. In the house
as i entered i saw mom and dad grinning at me.

"What?" i asked.

" We will tell you soon." they laughed.

I just rolled my eyes and went to my room. There on the table was a picture of me when i was seven and some girl my age who was kissing me on my cheek and i was holding her. This was new i did not remember her or the frame. So i just thought of it as someone of my friends and kept it on the table.

The evening passed and dinner was served. All the time my parents were giggling and whispering among themselves. What was irritating was that they were looking at me before laughing. As we finished and mom was serving desserts i asked them.

" Okay. So for past half hour you both are giggling like kids, like hiding something from me. Tell me now please."

"Well you are eighteen now."Mom said.

"So. Do you have doubt about it. Wait am I adopted or something." i said slightly suspicious.

"Hell no. You are my son. My own." Mom shrikes.

"No this news will surprise you more."
Dad said

"So what it is. Tell me already." I shouted.

" Okay-okay. You..." Mom said and looked at dad.

" Are getting married."

My heart stopped so did my brain and lungs. I thought
'What? They are joking. They are clearly joking. How can this be true? I am just eighteen. i don't have job nor am i totally eighteen. I am still two months away from being eighteen. How can this be? I am not out of school still. Finals are months away. Hell I am an unemployed school goer. Who in the right mind will marry me?'

I did what i thought was most appropriate now.
I laughed. Hysterically, loudly. My parents looked baffled now. They looked at each other in confusion. May be they were expecting me to ask who the girl is.

" You are joking. But i have to say this was a good one." i laughed.

" No its true. You are getting married." mom insisted.

" Right?! And who is 'the girl'? " I said making air quotes.

" Why? She is Ashley Joyce." dad said.

Everything stopped again. Now the pieces fit in together.
The coming of Mr and Mrs Joyce. Mom and dad's grinning. The frame on my table.

" The girl in the picture frame. She is Ashley. Right?" i asked now calm.

" Yep."mom said.

" But why? I am have not even passed the school. I don't have a job. She must be also in school and is she okay with this."

" She is more than willing to marry you." Dad said.

"What!? She is okay with this."

"Yeah and don't think of answering in negative cause we know you don't have any girlfriend and she is everything boys your age desire." i saw finality in dads eyes and in his voice. This meant arguing will be in vain. So i thought of other things.

" can i meet her."

" No! According to tradition you can't see the bride till marriage." mom said.

" What? But why can't I?"

"It's traditions." dad said.

"Okay! how about i call her?"

"No."

"Text her."

"No."

I just turned and went to my room. As i reached i sat in my bed and thought about what a situation i am in. Suddenly a girl i only saw once when i was seven and in pictures is going to become my wife. Moms and dads agreed to this. Even the girl agrees.
Why does she want to marry me?

While I was lost in my thoughts, mom entered the room with a card. She handed it over to me. I looked at the decorated wedding card mom handed me. She looked me right in eyes and declared.

"Your wedding card."

"What ? Seriously !!" I just sat on my bed looking at that piece of paper, which declared my future.
Still waiting for the epic 'Got you' But it was real !

I simply lay my head on pillow and planned for the future. I have got to meet the girl before wedding.

"This situation is baffling." That was what my friends said when i told them.

"So you are, like really going to marry her."Mark, my best friend said.

"Looks like it. But i want to meet her...."

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Thank you all you guys for reading. This is gonna be a strange love story, I promise.

Leave in the comment what you would do, if you were told to marry a person you saw in photographs.

Please, please, please VOTE AND COMMENT...

Skoolboy out ....