Shruti And Anuj

14 - Invitation

Anuj frowned. He hadn't worked out a convincing argument to remove the crazy idea of shifting to India right away from Aadhya's head. He looked enviously at Aadhya and Shruti playing virtual games. Aadhya was with Shruti here and had already made plans to remain with her in the future as well. Only her Pops was to be left out. Anuj gave an irritated grunt and both Shruti and Aadhya turned to look at him, exasperated.

'Pops, stop fretting and come and join us! We have called you about a 100 times!'.
'Kiddo.. don't leave your old Pops alone in this ruthless Country'.
Aadhya rolled her eyes.
'Thinking again about how to stop me from going to India? Seriously, Pops, even the fountain of youth cream I gifted you on Father's Day won't help you if you keep worrying like this'.
This time Anuj rolled his eyes.
'I gifted that to Mrs. Davis for her son. He is struggling to become a model and was so happy to receive the gift that he offered to wash my car for a month for free'.
'I just knew you would pass on my gift, Pops! Anyways, I am glad that Alec liked it. Not surprised considering how exclusive and expensive it was'.
Anuj chuckled,'How expensive could that tiny jar be?'.
Aadhya told him and Anuj's eyes widened.
'WHAT??! That much for.. it was this..little..no, tiny.. Kids of today! Was a gold coin hidden somewhere in there?..
Kiddo, spending this much money on a gift for me..'.
Anuj's stereotypical Indian parent reaction was interrupted by a phone call.

'Hello, Bapuji. Everything fine?'.
'Nothing to worry about, beta. Infact, there's good news. Dimple is getting married to Tapish! Vanraj finally agreed.'.
'That's great news, Bapuji! Congratulations!..'.
He covered the mouthpiece of his phone and whispered the news to Aadhya and Shruti.
'A simple congratulations from seven seas away won't do! You have to be here as Dimple's father and do her kanyadaan'.
'That won't be possible, Bapuji. Aadhya's school, my work, leaving everything here.. It's not India where you can find trustworthy people easily'.
Bapuji sighed,'I understand..'.

'Hello, hello', Anuj heard Baa's voice on the phone and so did Aadhya and Shruti as she was screaming for the long distance call.
'Yes, hello, Baa, yes, I can hear you'.
'Anuj, you have to come to the wedding. No excuses. 4 years in America continuously, don't you miss your homeland? You want to turn Aadhya into a full angrez? Now is the age to make her connect with her Country, her people and what better than a family wedding to meet all near and dear ones! We are waiting for you, you and Aadhya are coming, that's it, no arguments'.
Anuj became speechless in disbelief. Since when did Baa want Aadhya and him to spend time in the Shah House? Since when did she speak to him like a son?
'Hello! HELLO!..'.
Anuj came out of his thoughts.
'Yes.. I will try to come, Baa'.
'No trying, nothing, you are coming. With Aadhya'.
Baa kept the phone and Anuj looked dazily at Aadhya and Shruti.

'Baa is of the generation when long distance communication tech was weak. So, she tends to talk.. uh.. a little loudly..'
'Pops, I think the neighbours might be calling the cops on us already for noise pollution'.
'Aadhya..'
'Sorry, no disrespect meant. Anyways, since I already heard what Baa said, my answer is yes. Of course, I want to go for an Indian wedding! I am so excited!'.
Anuj made a face.
'You are excited for a Shah wedding?'.
'Umm.. weddings are weddings, Pops. I.. I should select my dress and jewellery and.. See you later, Pops!'.
'Wait a minute. Going to India doesn't mean any of the things that are going on in your mind. I will remain your legal guardian there as well and we are returning to the US. Don't set yourself up for disappointment, Kiddo', completed Anuj, gently.
Aadhya's forehead creased for a minute before her enthusiasm came back.
'Shru, we will play later, please? I have plans.. to shop and I can't wait!'.
Shruti nodded, worry in her eyes. Anuj was right.

'Why does she feel she can ever convince me to just leave her?', Anuj said, sadness weighing on his words, 'I keep expressing to her about how important she is to me, she is my daughter for God's sake, but she doesn't trust me, Shruti. She thinks..no, she believes that I love her less than Anu. She believes that she can lose me to Anu. That I can stop being her Pops'.
Anuj's pain was like a living, breathing person in the room with them and as much as she wanted not to interfere, Shruti said, 'Aadhya said that you didn't choose her over Anupama ji. You searched for an entire year for her after what she did to Aadhya and only when you couldn't find her, you came to the US'.