Arranged Love

A phone call away

Aman

I sighed closing my laptop and stretched my arms. I checked the time and saw it's already past 7 PM. I hurriedly grabbed my laptop, phone and went out, closing the door behind me.

On entering the elevator, I pressed the ground floor button while checking my phone. I noticed six missed calls from my mom. Today she had given me an order to be home before 6 but I lost track of time due to work. I can deal with my mom's scolding, but I dreaded the disappointment that Ahaan would give me.

When I reached downstairs, I found my driver, James, waiting for me. "Good evening, sir." He greeted me before opening the car door for me.

"Evening, James." I replied before getting into the car. The drive from the office to home was only 20 minutes, so I reached home before 8 and pressed the calling bell, and after a minute, Ahaan opened the door with a sober expression.

"Broke up with your girlfriend?" I teased him.

"No, we are doing fine, thank you for enquiring." He rolled his eyes at me as I made my way to the living room.

"Why the long face, then?" I loosened my tie and saw my mom walking towards us with a glass of water and a glass of orange juice. Before I could take the juice from her, she handed it to Ahaan, who drank it with a satisfied smile.

"I'm the one who came back from the office after a long day." I remarked. "He came home early and you're giving him the juice instead of me?" I looked at my mom in disbelief.

"He asked me for a juice earlier." she explained. I sighed and gulped the water. My chachi was not an ideal mother to Ahaan, so my mom always showered extra love on him. It didn't bother me, but sometimes this creature can be super annoying.

"How many times did I call you? Why didn't you answer my calls?" my mom complained.

"I was in a meeting." I explained. "What happened?"

"Today, Roshni bhabhi's dad called." Ahaan mentioned, intentionally pausing at that particular point.

"Are you going to continue or are you going to make me wait with bated breath?" I asked, after a moment of silence.

"Bhabhi rejected the proposal." He said, and the news hit me hard.

"Oh... okay." I responded, trying to maintain composure. I never expected her to reject my proposal, but she must have had her reasons.

"Okay? Are you okay with the rejection?" Ahaan looked at me disapprovingly.

"What else should I do? Force her to marry me? Blackmail her?" I turned away, heading upstairs to hide my disappointment.

"Badi maa, I told you. Now bhai looks like he lost his favorite candy." Ahaan commented as I climbed the stairs. I turned back, and saw him and my mom laughing silently.

"Ahaan, what did you say now?" I gave him a stern look.

"Nothing... nothing." He mumbled, trying to find an escape.

"Ahaan," I rolled up my sleeves and approached him.

"Badi maa, please help." He pleaded, seeking refuge behind my mom.

"Aman, leave him." She stood infront of Ahaan, protecting him.

"Ahaan, tell me exactly what they said." I demanded, frustrated by both Ahaan and my mom.

"Aman, do you think she would reject you? My son is perfect in every aspect. How could a girl reject you?" My mom defended me, but I knew Roshni was different from the girls I had encountered before.