Love, How does it feel?

• 15

Sidharth

We landed an hour back. Yes, I brought Shruti with me to let our families know that we are back together.

The daze of yesterday's kiss was still loitering in me whenever I saw her lips moving. Last night was bliss as we slept in each other's embrace after that sizzling kiss and the airy weather of Trichy's night.

"We are close." I informed her, palming her knees, which she kept shaking due to her anxiety.

"Do you think you are ready to marry me?" I asked her, the question which has been eating me up.

"Yes" She replied, a lot more determined.

"You have no problem if we get married today, right?" I inquired again to be sure. Because, I know, my mother can't be trusted.

"Today?" She seemed to be contemplating.

"Yes" She expressed again after a brief thought and I nodded at her.

Our car drove through our ancestral bungalow and I pressed her palms, which rested on her lap.

In a few minutes, my Maa ran outside our house to welcome me as she would've been notified of her approaching car by our security.

"Sid, how are you, beta?" I heard her excited tone as she engulfed me in a protective hug, oblivious to the presence of a certain someone beside me.

"Good, Maa." I smiled as she pinched my cheeks. But, her hands halted as she saw, who accompanied me.

She stared shocked at Shruti, dressed in a red anarkali with her centre-parted brown hair let down to accentuate her heart shaped face. She looked like a new bride.

"What is this girl doing here with you, Sid?" Maa glared at me as she registered our intertwined hands.

I gestured to a very nervous Shruti to touch Maa's feet as I joined along with her to take her blessings.

"Bless your son and to-be daughter-in-law, Maa." I expressed as we awaited her blessings. She touched my head only and looked at Shruti with suspicion.

"I'll ask you." She said sharply, averting her eyes from me.

"Why are you here?" She turned to Shruti as the later tightened her hold on my hand.

"I love him, Mansi aunty." She whispered as Maa crudely laughed at her.

"You remembered your Mansi aunty today after one and a half years, Shruti?" She chuckled at her own words, which made Shruti's head bow in shame.

"Are you here to run away again with a crappy excuse, huh? Wasn't the last time enough to bring shame upon us?" Maa glared at her, distastefully as she looked at me, daring me to intervene.

"My son is getting married next week to Sharanya. Tomorrow is going to be their engagement. If you could run away from your wedding because you don't believe in love and marriages, I can also dismiss your confession of love for my son because I don't have any faith in your love. Who knows, after marriage, someday you might magically lose your faith in marriage and leave my son?" I could see Shruti's determination crumpling down at Maa's harsh words so, I intervened.

"It's enough, Maa. I am getting married to her."

"Sid, she isn't a reliable girl to marry." She spoke harshly as I shook my head and left a pause to calm her down.

"I know, any apology is not enough for my last mistake. But, I intend to make it correct. Please, give me a chance to prove to you, I am worthy of your son." Shruti spoke, quite determined, holding my mother's hand.