Their Married Life

TWO

DEV 

I turned on the fan and light switch as I entered my 2BHK flat. As I placed my laptop bag carefully on my sofa, I glanced at the clock it is 10 pm. I am too late today because I need to impress my boss so that I can get a promotion. And impressing the boss is so taxing, needs to stay for long hours and take up work even on weekends just to have extra pay. And it is quite necessary for a middle-class family employee like me. I know Dad is a bank employee he looks after the house now but he will retire in 3 years. And by then I wanted us to have our own house and I wanted to gift it to Mom and Dad, always they did things for me from childhood and now I want to give a house to them which will be their own. This job is pretty decent and my savings are good but I can't stop my growth here, just being an MTech graduate and working at this level all my life. And so, I have decided to do PhD and now I am in preparation for my entrance exam. And today I did extra duty for extra pay cause this month's travel expenditures are crossing the limit I have allotted to it. I am going my home town more often these days that is because first it's because dad was buying a land and I was needed their and second time it's because of my cousin's engagement and third time my maternal uncle had got into accident and by god's grace it wasn't a big one but he had his leg fractured and I had to see him he was my favorite from childhood.

I had my bath and sat on the sofa with khichdi in bowl and started watching a movie in tv and that's when my phone rang and it displayed Amma

"Hello Amma?" I said keeping my bowl aside

"Hello devu. How are you beta" whenever mom calls me devu it feels so peaceful , my mom is place where I find just peace and love.

"I am good Amma, how are you and dad?"

"We are good devu, dad is here sitting next to me and we thought to talk to you in evening but you were still in office so now, we wanted to talk to you. By the way why are you so late today devu?" dad always sleeps before 9.30pm but seeing him still awake means this conversation is important

"I had extra work maa today and what do you want to talk before?" I asked maa and there was some shuffling and I heard dad speaking

"hello dev" dad spoke

"papa hello, how are you?" and dad replied he is good and then enquired about my work and I asked about his and he said it was routine work and then we were silent

"Dev yesterday amit uncle came to hospital to visit your mamaji and he said about a girl and her family and after hearing about them I think she will be suitable girl for this household. Amit ji said she is beautiful and her family has a nice name in the town and girl has completed her btech and now preparing for her higher studies and today amit uncle called saying even they are willing to meet us, so I want you to come this Sunday, so we can meet her" I was pleasantly shocked cause I haven't thought about marrying yet I stayed silent and dad broke silence again

"Dev it's your age to get married actually we delayed 2 years, I was married at 25 years and you are 28 and think if we delay anymore, you would miss all the joyful and happy moments by 2 years dev. Married life is something beautiful even though it is extremely mentally tiring sometimes but it is beautiful many more time. And I think Manasa and you will make a good life partner according to what I heard and I want you to give this a chance" dad said and that's when I heard her name for the first time Manasa.

"Okay dad I will come this weekend" I said and dad said good and I have talked few more minutes and disconnected the call and sat on sofa

Marriage was my plan 4 years before when I was with Riya. Riya was my girlfriend who I had let go because her family wasn't agreeing for an intercast marriage. We tried to convince her family and when it was time to take decision, she chose her family and that is what I love most about her. She gives that importance to her family which I always want in a girl I love. And like that she married a NRI guy and now lives in San Francisco. I know that she has one child and happy with her life and even I moved on from her for her, it isn't pretty decent in loving a girl who is married and happy with her family.

And about this proposal maybe dad is right, maybe this is right time to marry and as papa was so confident in this proposal, I think it is best. Cause papa always thinks the best for me.

*beep*

I looked at my phone to find two whatsapp messages, as I opened, I found a family photo at wedding and the couple sat on the couch and to right a man in his late 40's and beside him a beautiful girl in lavender color saree with open hair and a simple necklace smiling brightly at the camera. One look at her and can see her child like glee in her eyes all sparkling.

*beep*

I saw my fathers' message

The girl at the right end is the one. Her name is Manasa. And here is the biodata.

Name: Manasa Ray

Age: 22 years

Date of birth:11 September

Height: 5'7

Zodiac sign: Virgo

Father's name: Dhanush ray

Mother's name: mithali ray

One sibling, sister: Srishti ray

Qualification: b. tech completed

After looking it I again looked back at the photo and to be truthful the smile has something in it so carefree and refreshing and staring it for some time I kept my phone on teapoy and went to get my gate books to prepare for the entrance exam. I read it for around next 2 hours and saw the clock showing time as 2am and I immediately shut my books and went to bed. As I lay on my bed, I took my phone once again and saw her photo. If everything goes well, she would be my family. My nearest family member and I smiled at my thought. And for the first time I said her name out loud and clear

"Manasa"