A Serendipitous beginning

Chapter 3

How about a call?

"Dev, how was your trip? I haven't seen you in two whole weeks beta. And you know how hard it is for me without seeing you, feeding you with my own hands." His mother, Ishwari, caressed his face gently. 

"It was okay Ma. Meetings and such." And Sonakshi. "I am sorry I didn't call you every day, the time difference made it hard. How are you? Are you taking your meds on time?"

"The only medicine I need is you! My dearest son, how hard you work. You have to spend some time with me now."

He smiled at her. "Of course."

His aunt walked in. "Jeeji, have you talked to Dev about the girl?"

Dev watched his mother's expression instantly sour. "He has just returned from his trip. We can talk about that later."

"What girl?" He questioned them.

"Well, actually your aunt..." His mother started slowly.

"Ohho, let me tell." His aunt interrupted impatiently. "Dev beta, you know my cousin from Prayag, it's her daughter. She is very pretty and homely. She has finished her graduation, that too in English!!"

"So? Does she need a job?"

"Hahahhahaha Dev beta, you are so funny! No, I was suggesting that she might be a great match for you! She will be perfect for you, and will take care of jeeji also very well. Would you like to meet her?"

Dev closed his eyes trying to mask his annoyance. This had been the trend recently, ever since they got his youngest sister, Nikki married. Which by itself was quite a disgrace. Nikki, that fool, eloped with some guy! Dev had to use all his influence to locate them, and the family performed a quick ceremony to cover up the scandal. That had been over a year ago. Since then, every two days, he was faced with 'suitable girls who were perfect for him'. Even his middle sister, Riya's in-laws were questioning in a nonstop manner regarding his marriage. Every family apparently had eligible girls just waiting for him. At home, his aunt has made it her mission, it seems. Why was this so important to everyone, this was a puzzle he couldn't solve, especially since his other sister, Neha was home after an acrimonious divorce from Ranveer.

His mother, on the other hand, didn't ever say yes or no. She kept looking at him expectantly, and the moment he refused any girl, she smiled, satisfied. He had asked her about it too, quite irritated. "Ma, why don't you just say No on my behalf? Why go through this?"

Ishwari had replied, "This has to be your decision Dev. How can I make this decision for you?"
That had ticked him off no end. His decision? He had made that decision once and that had gone down in the worse way possible. Had she forgotten Sonakshi? He hadn't gone home for a week after that conversation.

"Maami I..." Dev started to refuse.

"They are coming for dinner tomorrow, make sure to be home on time! You are going to be so smitten by her!! Ohhh I am already so excited!" She rubbed her hands in glee.

"You didn't let me finish. I am not ready for marriage." He completed. He could see the relief in his mother's expression.

"What do you mean, not ready for marriage? You seemed all ready with that bangalan girl..." To her credit, she backed off quickly, seeing the red fury on his face.

His mother looked stricken. The forbidden person has been mentioned.

There was absolute silence.

"I think it's best if you both went to bed. It's late." He ended the conversation, his voice very low, anger dripping in each word. He stood up and went to his door, showing them out.