[a desi arranged marriage story] ── bound by an arranged marriage, they never saw love coming-until it did, without warning ──
[Mentions of BTS, if you hate or dislike them then please leave respectfully]
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As we arrived at the restaurant, Advay kindly held the car door open for me. Inside, we settled at the table he had arranged for us. "Feel free to order first," he offered, handing me the menu resting on the table. As the waiter approached, I placed my order. "I'll have the Alfredo pasta and a can of coke," I stated before passing the menu to Advay. "For me, a large margherita pizza and a lemon mojito," he conveyed as the waiter took note of our requests and departed.
"Have you been here before?" I asked, trying to break the ice. "No, it's my first time," Advay replied."Umm, so, what's your favourite colour?" I inquired, attempting to keep the conversation flowing. He raised his eyebrows in confusion and answered, "Oh, uh, it's brown."
"Don't look at me like that; I was just trying to initiate a conversation," I said with a shrug. He chuckled at my attempt. Clearing my throat, I suggested, "As we're on a date, let's play 20 questions to get to know each other." He nodded in agreement, muttering a soft "sure".
"What's your favorite color?" he inquired, breaking the pattern of my questions. "Mine? It's black, definitely black," I replied, affirming my choice with a hint of certainty. "Okay, Your turn now?" he confirmed, I nodded.
"When's your birthday?" I queried, keeping the momentum of our conversation alive. "12th July," he promptly responded, returning the question to me. "And yours?" he asked, but I couldn't help but chuckle at the repetition.
"Why are we asking the same questions?" I teased lightly, noticing his slight embarrassment. He blushed and scratched his neck nervously. "Let's make a rule: we have to answer the question we're asking, so we can truly get to know each other," he suggested earnestly.
I nodded in agreement, realizing the wisdom in his proposal. "Alright, 13th June," I replied, answering his query about my birthday.
"Oh, Okay," he acknowledged with a nod, and our conversation flowed smoothly until our food arrived.
In the car
As I fastened my seatbelt, I remarked, "Looks like we've still got three questions left. Should I go ahead?" He nodded, his curiosity evident. "Here's a general one," I began, unable to resist a playful tease, "are you generally shy or just around me?" His ears turned a shade of crimson as he confessed, "I'm shy in general, always been an introvert." I nodded in understanding, appreciating his honesty.
"Well, I can't ask you the same, so onto another question?" he suggested nervously. With a soft giggle, I agreed. "So, have you ever been in a relationship before?" he inquired, a hint of hesitance in his voice. I met his gaze and replied with a light laugh,
"Nope, never been in one. Always wanted to, but the stars never aligned. So, I ended up with the arranged marriage route, much to my mother's delight." He chuckled at my candor before sharing his own tale. "No, I never mustered the courage to confess or approach the girl I liked," he admitted, his attention still fixed on the road.
Our conversation flowed as smoothly as the journey, and soon we arrived at my destination. Stepping out of the car, I retrieved the bouquet from the backseat, and we exchanged parting words. "So, I guess, um, bye," he said, his voice tinged with a hint of reluctance. "Bye! Don't forget to text me when you get home," I reminded him, opening the gate. With a nod, he acknowledged, and I couldn't resist a playful gesture, blowing a flying kiss his way, which elicited yet another endearing blush.
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Stepping into my car after bidding farewell to Idika, her infectious charm lingering in the air, I couldn't shake off the blush painting my cheeks. My heart thudded against my ribcage with the intensity of a marathon runner crossing the finish line, the rush of emotions refusing to dissipate.
Despite the overwhelming sensation, I found myself reluctant to bid farewell to the warmth her presence had brought. With a wistful sigh, I set my sights homeward, hoping to cling onto the lingering euphoria a little while longer as I navigated the familiar route back home.
As I pulled into the driveway, the weight of the evening's encounter lingered in the air. Turning off the ignition, I glanced and picked up the bouquet Idika had given me, a gentle reminder of our time together.
Entering the house, I spotted my mom in the kitchen and couldn't resist sneaking up behind her for a hug. She startled at first but relaxed into my embrace, playfully smacking my arm.
"You scared me," she chided, a hint of amusement in her voice.
I chuckled softly, feeling a warmth spread through me at her presence. "Sorry, Mom."
Her mischievous grin widened as she teased, "So, how was your time with Idika? Did you guys have fun?"
My cheeks flushed at the mention of Idika's name, memories of her flying kiss flooding back. "Yeah, it was good," I replied, trying to downplay the whirlwind of emotions inside me.
My mom raised an eyebrow, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Only good? And what's with the bouquet? Ah, Advay got tulips from his future wife, huh?"
Heat rushed to my ears at her teasing,"Mom," I whined, feeling a mix of embarrassment and affection.
She shrugged nonchalantly, her teasing smile softening into a knowing gaze. "What, it's true. You're going to marry her in a few months, so it's important to get to know each other and respect each other to become compatible."
I nodded, grateful for her wisdom and support, even if her teasing made me squirm. Deep down, I knew she was right, and as I glanced at the bouquet in my hand, I couldn't help but wonder what the future held for Idika and me.
Aditya hurried into the kitchen, a note of urgency in his voice. "Maa," he called out, "Living ke AC ka remote kaha hai?". "It's in the second drawer of the cabinet," she replied without missing a beat, her hands busy kneading dough.
I stepped in to offer my assistance, taking over the kneading task. "I'll help you, Mom," I said, eager to lend a hand. Aditya's voice took on a hint of desperation. "Mujhe nhi mil rha, dhund do please?" A stern expression crossed my mom's face. "Agar mujhe mil gya, toh dekhna," she warned, her tone serious.
Aditya gulped nervously, nodding in understanding. It was a scene that played out almost daily in our household. Moments later, I heard Aditya's voice again, this time accompanied by a pained whimper. "Aah mumma, sorry I- mujhe nhi mil rha tha, ouch mumma lag rha hai" I couldn't help but chuckle softly, knowing full well he was receiving smacks from Mom.
"Mene kaha tha udhar hi hai, apni akhein dikhale doctor ko, din b din kharab ho rhi hai," Mom admonished, her voice firm. As I observed the scene unfold, a sense of contentment washed over me. This was what I cherished most – the warmth and familiarity of family. And soon, there would be a new addition to our family, as my future wife would join us as the first daughter-in-law.
