Restricted Love

CHAPTER 1

In the contemporary world, people resemble the moth. They blindly chase money like a moth blindly chasing light. On the other hand, when they gain this wealth, sarcastically, they find ways to showcase it, flaunt it, and display it to the world.

Seema Joshi was different; she valued the emotion of love rather than the irrelevant materialistic world. She proved it as she married a humble—not so humble—man against her folks’ wishes. She would've been disowned for her rebelliousness, lest her daughter Meera, who was born amidst the chaos, when Mr. and Mrs. Oberoi's hearts melted upon seeing their beautiful granddaughter. They couldn't forgive their daughter, but at the same time, they couldn't punish their granddaughter for her deeds, rather they couldn't imagine the absence of cutesy Meera from their lives. So, they gifted Seema a mansion to live in with Pankaj Joshi, her husband, and also appointed him as their family lawyer. You could say it was more of a pretence position with less to no value. It was Oberoi's last resort to save face.

The Joshi's hosted annual gratitude parties for the same. Celebration was always near Meera's birth date, and sometimes even on the same day; this could be why she hated her birthday, for it was more of a pretentious family gathering than a simple family celebration for her humble father. While her assigned role in this party was to be an idle, well-behaved, and pretty daughter.

As usual, various attendees were assigned to dress her up, and they were as usual ordered to make her look pretty, just like a Japani Gudia. They did their job profoundly well, as per her father's wishes, because teenage Meera would never wear a gown for her birthday. On the other hand, current Meera had given up the idea to choose, considering it a mere fight to enjoy just for a few hours, for she chose the long peace she got for dressing as told.

The garden of Joshi's mansion was decorated handsomely. A large table was set in the middle of the garden with foreign drinks and snacks, made and decorated by renowned chefs; it was beautified with bouquets of flowers and vintage candleholders; various sittings were arranged under different tree shade, mainly consisting of luxurious sofas layed with new blankets and cushions; while the standing trees were decorated with lights and chandeliers; in all, everything matched the aesthetics Mr. Joshi had hoped for. There was a slightly larger sofa in the garden without any shade, but on a throne-like platform with a side empty table. It was Meera's sitting for that day, where she was to sit like an accessory for the evening, greet the guests, and receive gifts.

Within an hour and a half, the garden began to fill. Guests came, met Meera, blessed her, gave her gifts, and joined their pre-formed groups like usual. While she greeted them with a smile, had a small talk, and sat alone on the sofa, smiling but bored, she decided to guess how many drinks the guests in her vicinity would have for the evening. Her eyes caught sight of the pot bellied Mr. Bannerjee as she thought, ‘Isn't he gobbling the drinks and snacks too fast? I guess he will be full around his 8th drink. I bet on 8.’ But when Mr. Bannerjee had his eighth drink, words left her mouth: “That's it. It should be your last drink.”

“If I dare interfere, are you talking about Mr. Bannerjee?” asks a young, handsome fellow, staring at the pretty lady in front of him. 

“Mamu!” Meera exclaimed excitedly as she sprung onto her uncle Abhinav. He picked her up, and spiralled her hugging gleamingly. “I missed you,” she added.

Abhinav, smiling widely, says, “I missed you more, dear. How are you? What about Seema di and Vidyut?”

"Mamu, hold your horses. So, as you can see, I am as pretty as ever,” she says, smiling slyly and adding with a sigh, “and Vidyut is playing with the other kids; I haven't seen him since morning. While ma is busy in the kitchen and the storeroom making all the arrangements. What about you? How have you been? How's Babumushai?”

He smilingly nodded his head sideways and replied, “Your Babumushai is as stubborn as ever. Despite his health, he wanted to come today. I tell you, only Seema di was able to convince him to rest. But he has sent so many gifts for his princess. He has specially requested for the unboxing videos with your reactions. While I am as brawny as you left me, only gotten more dashing than before.”

Meera nods and adds, “I see your features popping here.”

“So why was little mischief peering Mr. Bannerjee?” enquires Abhinav.

“Oh that! I was bored and guessing how much he would drink, but failed.”

He chuckled and asked, “What was your guess?”

“Eight.”

“Too far dear. As I remember, his minimum was twelve drinks.”