It had been one week since Shalini was discharged, and also since the day she had been pestering Ram to meet the girl she found on a matrimony site.
"Ram, tu promise tod rha hai," Shalini complained, walking behind Ram, trying to get a hold of him.
"Jaan, main kaha promise tod rha hu, promise mai ye to maine kaha hi nhi ki main kab milunga," he answered with a winning grin, entering his room and turning around to close the door.
"Darwaza mat band ker," Shalini scolded, "ye tera office nhi hai jo loopholes dhudh rha hai," her temperament increasing seeing his stubbornness; she had been pestering him for a week, and he was making one excuse or another, leading her to have enough of his drama.
Crossing her arms, frowning Shalini entered his room and sat on the bed; her angry demeanor was enough for Ram to take a step back as things were turning quite serious now.
"Jaan, kya jaldi hai shaadi ki? Abhi aapki tabiyat shi hui hai aur turant hi ye," he tried to make her understand.
"Ram thirty-two ka ho gya hai tu, ab nhi to kab karega? Phir ange age mai adjust kerne mai bhi to problem hogi na," she explained her point of view, making him exhale loudly.
"Acha, idhar baith," she tapped the bed beside her for him to sit, and he, like an obedient child, followed her instruction, sitting beside her with slouched shoulders, looking in front.
"Tujhe koi aur ladki pasand hai? Tu usse shaadi kerna chahta hai," she asked calmly, caressing his cheek.
"Nhi jaan, aisa kuch nhi hai. Bas mujhe abhi shaadi nhi karni," he answered, looking at her, holding her hand which was on his cheek.
"Kyu?" she asked, trying to understand his view; after all, it was his life at stake.
He exhaled loudly, turning his gaze to the front, sandwiching her hand between his two. "Maa sab shi to chal rha hai, business, ghar, aur ab to aapki health bhi shi ho gai."
"Tabhi to keh rahi hu sab sahi chal raha hai to ek aur sahi cheez ho jaane de,"
"Jaan jaruri hai shaadi sahi hi ho," he argued.
"Vo to milke pata chalega na," she put forth her argument.
"Tch, Jaan, aap samajh nahi rahe ho, main theek hu aise,"
"Tujhe kya lagta hai, tu bolta nahi hai to mujhe samajh nahi aata ki tu kitna akela hai, ye raat din office mein kaam koi shauk se nahi kerta,"
Ram was a little taken aback, "Auron ka nahi pata, mujhe achha lagta hai kaam karna,"
"Ram, tumhara kaam sirf tumhare akelepan ko door karne ka ek tarika hai, aur isi liye main koi aisa chahti hu jiske liye tu ye kaam chhod ke time se ghar aaye," Shalini tried to explain.
Rubbing his forehead, Ram completely turned towards Shalini, understanding her concern, "Jaan, main kaha akela hu, kitne saare log hai mere aas paas, akela kaisa ho sakta hu main, I am not alone".
"Ram, there is a difference between being alone and lonely. Ye jo itne log hain tere aas paas, ye tere apne nahi hain. Ye jo hazaro log hain, jinhe tu work family kehta hai, ye God forbid tera paas paisa nahi hua to koi bhi saath nahi rahega,"
Ram was left tongue-tied. There wasn't any doubt that Shalini was correct.
"Main koi aisa chahti hoon jo tere liye rahe, tere saath chahe accha samay ho ya bura, koi ho jo tere saath khada ho," she explained.
"Chalo, baki log nahi hain, par aap aur Shardul to ho na mere saath,"
"Kab tak," Shalini spoke, looking squarely at her son.
"Kab tak kya hota hai hamesha ke liye," his hold on her hands went firm.
"Tere bolne se fact badal jaega?" she asked firmly.
"Tch... Jaa...," his sentence cut short as she continued,
"Sachai to yahi hai na ki main kitna bhi chah lu par tere saath hamesha nahi rahungi aur Shardul kabhi na kabhi uski bhi apni family hogi,"
His eyes turned moist, "Jaan ab aap blackmail kar rahe ho," he complained, turning his face to the other side.
Shalini stood up from the bed, standing in front of him, cupping his cheeks to make him face her, "blackmail nahi kar rahi, sachai bata rahi hu jo tu dekhna nahi chahta,"
"Achha thik hai, aap chahte ho kal main us ladki se milu, thik mil lunga par ab ye sari senti baate mat karo," he spoke, scratching the side of his eye to stop the tears that were ready to spill any moment.
A small smile graced Shalini's lips as she planted a kiss on his forehead, "milega pakka."
"Haan Jaan mil lunga ab aap tension lena band karo aur idhar baitho," he said, making her sit on his bed with her back rested against the bedrest, and he himself lay with his head rested on her lap.
"Milne ke matlab sirf milna nahi hai, genuine question puchne hai aur janne ka try kerna ki kya vo as a partner shi hai," Shalini spoke, running her hand through his hair.
"Haan thik hai, meri maata genuinely mil lunga," he spoke dramatically, folding his hands in front of her, making Shalini smile.
.
.
Few minutes passed as the two sat in shared silence, engrossed in thoughts.
"Jaan, aap jo itne expectations rakhe ho mere partner ke liye, aapko kaisa pata vo insaan sahi hi hoga, ek-do baar milke aapko kisi ke real intentions kaise pata chalenge," Ram asked the question going on in his head.
"Itne saal itne logo se mila hai, pata lag jata hai kon kaisa hai aur baaki kal tu usse milke to aa, phir baat karenge," Shalini answered with a glint in her eyes.
"Bahut confident ho aap to, aisa kaun hai," he asked curiously.
"Abhi to tujhe milne nahi jana tha, ab itna bechain ho raha," Shalini teased.
"Aisa kuch nahi hai, aap bol rahe ho isliye ja raha hu," he explained.
.
.
.
.
.
Meanwhile, in one of the rooms:
"Ab aage kya karna hai, ye Ram ki wajah se to hum Didi ko dawai hi nahi de pa rahe,"
They all had gathered in Shreya's room to discuss the further plan.
Shreya smiled wickedly, "Kab tak Ram bhai office mein chhod ke ghar aayenge, thode din wait karo, sab phir se normal ho jayega."
"Aur Didi jo ab ye naya shaadi ka drama kar rahi hai, uska kya?" Mitali pointed out.
"Ram bhai ne college ke baad se koi girlfriend to banayi nahi hai, shaadi kya karenge," she answered her mother with a smirk.
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So that was it ;
TBH not very pleased with the chapter. Share your feedbacks.
Sorry for being inactive lately, trying to get back in full swing.
I have uploaded Tiny-miny stories give it a try :)
~shivangi
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Meant to be......together !!
General FictionA not-so-typical arranged marriage romance: Ram Kapoor, owner of the famous food delivery start-up 'India Eatz', is among the richest businessmen in the country. Despite having both wealth and power, he felt like a failure when he wasn't able to do...
