Hey !! Its Cupid Calling (Completed) 18+

Chapter 23

Ira POV

The Chicago lights lit up like diamonds while we walked in the streets. There was a spicy essence in the air when I walked alongside Arjun looking at everything with a strange sense of nostalgia. While the city looked the same as I remembered it also changed in many ways.

We boarded the Chicago's subway, sitting next to each other

Me: Chicago changed a lot since the last time I was here

Arjun: You were here ? Did you live here ?

Me: No, I visited here once on a college trip but I did stay in Minnesota

Arjun: Minnesota ? 

Me: Yeah, University of Minnesota, majoring in Bachelors of Human Resource Management

Arjun: Wow, seriously ? How did it happen ?

Me: Yeah, I got a golden ticket by chance and I used it

Arjun: Ira, if people need to come to USA they do have to plan for years you know ?

Me: I know but it was a different for me. Life threw a lucky lottery win. My paternal relatives stayed here. They were part of the faculty team in that University. They know I badly looking for freedom, they saw that the department had very little prerequisites as it had begun a few years ago. I transferred here, I was already in english medium college which helped in waiving off the IELTS/TOFFLE requirement. GRE/GMAT was not required because I was a transfer student, if it did then I would have not made it.

Arjun: So how many years were you here ? 

Me: 3 Years

Arjun: So, did you work part time or like every other Indian parents yours was funded generously by them

My smile vanished at that question

Me: I worked 12-15 hours a week part time. My parents did not like me coming here. As my relatives were very insistant and owing to the pressure of playing nice,showing that they really care about women empowerment, they sent me. My family won a lot of hearts of the society at that move because in people's eyes they were encouraging a girl to study ahead and grow. That made my family the most honorable and celebrated lot in our town.

We reached our station and Arjun gestured me to get down. Sensing my sad face, he took me to the street where various street artists, shows off their talents. Most of them were funny and it bought the smile back on the face.

We reached the Indian restaurant and it looked like we have entered into an alternative universe where North, South, East and West met. The restaurant was intelligently divided into 4 divisions with seperate decor and vibe.  We sat down in the middle booth wanting to try the mini thali comprised of all the items which is a pride of each area.

Me: So, how did you turn up here ? You must have planned atleast 5 years ahead right ?

Arjun: My parents were here and I was born here. They went back to India to be closer to their parents and win them over. I came back here as the program and opportunities was better.

Me: What do you mean when you said win them over ?

Arjun: My parents fell in love at work and got married. Two different people, two different castes and two different financial backgrounds. They left everything, worked and took a long assignment in USA to avoid the insults and societal pressure. We both were born here, once we had enough name and resources we went back.

Me: So, how was it with your grand parents ?

Arjun: I did not meet them, they never agreed to forgive my parents. They loved each other but individually I heard them wishing they handled things better. They did not regret things but they felt like they were bad kids sometimes.

Me: I wish I could meet them. Where are they ?

Arjun: They died in our teenage years, my dad had an accident he passed away on spot. My mom, she could not take the pain and she left ...Sometimes I wished they did not love each other so much

I looked at his sad expression and put my hand on his. My eyes tore up at his life story, no one deserves that kind of pain. I got up from my table slowly and walked out for fresh air, shedding tears.

Arjun took my face in his hands, wiping my tears away

Arjun: Hey, Ira, look I am okay. We are all okay, gosh, you are so sweet. You are shedding tears for what happened ages ago

Me: I am sorry, I cannot help it. Its not that I am sympathizing with you, please dont misunderstand me. I am just sad because of how tough a person's life can get. 

He slowly pulled me to himself and hugged me. He ran his fingers through my hair and let me compose myself. The hug was new and comforting. It felt like I was safe. 

Arjun: People are throwing worried glances towards us. They might think I did something to you, please stop crying, or else the strict cops might throw me in jail.

The mental vision of him in jail clothes between tatooed bulky men, got a huge chuckle out of me

Arjun: Glad that vision makes you so happy

His smile was new to me but I could get habituated to that

Me: Arjun, we should go inside. Our food is getting cold.

He nodded and led me inside. Hanging out with him is not too bad.

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Hello All,

Here is the new update

Here is the first hug of Arjun and Ira 

Please vote and comment

Regards,

Indu