Srinivas chuckled as he heard Jagathi's lively voice continue on the phone. "Hello, Lucky!" he greeted playfully.
On the other end, Jagathi exclaimed, "Srinu! Srinu, where did you go without telling me? Can't you wait till I wake up? Uff, you vanish in the morning like a magician, all because your 'girl' called you!" Her teasing tone was unmistakable. "Hey, Dad, come on, tell me... are you secretly maintaining a girlfriend or something? Shhh, don't worry, I'll keep your secret!"
In the room, Shourya, who had been trying to maintain a serious demeanor, struggled not to laugh at her mischievous tone. He bit his lip, rubbed his nose, and glanced away to hide his amusement.
Srinivas, hearing his daughter’s playful accusation, slapped his forehead lightly, sighing, “Lucky, you and your stories...”
Jagathi wasn't done. “Oh! Sorry, sorry, Papu. I missed you. How could you leave without telling me? You know I need my morning updates!" she pouted, though the warmth in her voice made it clear she wasn’t genuinely upset.
Srinivas shook his head, smiling fondly. “I’m sorry, baby. It was a bit of an emergency. I had to leave early, but I’ll make it up to you when I get back.”
Jagathi’s tone softened. “Hmm... Okay, okay, I forgive you. But tell me—did you at least have breakfast or are you running around on an empty stomach like always?”
Srinivas laughed, glancing at Shourya who was pretending to be occupied with something, though clearly listening. “Yes, I had breakfast. Don’t worry about me.”
“Good,” Jagathi said firmly. “Because if you skip meals again, I’ll come over and drag you back myself. You know I will!”
Srinivas smiled warmly, “I know, I know. Now, behave yourself and don’t cause too much trouble while I’m gone, alright?”
“I’m always an angel, Dad,” she quipped, her voice full of mischief. “But you better come home soon. I’m waiting!”
Srinivas chuckled warmly at his daughter's lively chatter. "Dad, I forgot to mention," Jagathi's voice continued, "Tarun and Taruni are here, and you know with the rainy season, they catch colds easily. Could you please grab some medicines for them, just in case? You know how hard it is to get medicines in the village; we have to go far."
Srinivas smiled, nodding as he listened. "Of course, I’ll get them. Anything else?"
"Hmm... yeah, bring a few novels for Chachi, and something for the kids too."
"Okay, novels and medicine for the kids. Anything else?"
Jagathi's voice took on a playful tone. "Chocolates for the children."
Srinivas raised an eyebrow, amused. "Only for the children? Not for you?"
Jagathi chuckled. "Dad, do I really need to spell it out? I know my sweet Dad will bring some for me too. Because you’re cho sweet," she teased, imitating a childlike voice.
Srinivas laughed heartily. "Day by day, you're becoming more like your mom. Tormenting me endlessly. I might as well bring a plaster for your mouth!"
Shourya, who was still listening quietly, stifled another laugh as Srinivas continued the lighthearted conversation.
At that moment, Jagathi's mom chimed in from the background, "Oh, Srinivas, should I be praising our daughter for waking up so late? She's a real sleepyhead!" she complained, though her tone was playful.
But Jagathi was quick to respond, full of mischief. "Mom, you don’t understand! Being able to sleep late is a blessing. You should be proud of me! Only the truly lucky get to sleep peacefully and wake up late like me. Because I am lucky!" she declared, giggling as she spoke.
Srinivas smiled fondly as Jagathi's voice came back on. "Dad, ignore Mom. She always has a long list of complaints. Anyway, you’re all set for the medicines and books, right?"
Srinivas nodded, still smiling. "Yes, yes. Anything else you need?"
Jagathi chuckled again. "Hmm, just make sure you have lunch on time, no masala food today, keep it simple. And come home soon, okay? That’s all I need."
Srinivas' heart softened at her caring nature. "Alright, baby. I’ll take care of everything. I’ll call you later."
"Bye, Dad. Miss you!" Jagathi chirped, before hanging up.
As Srinivas put his phone down, he glanced at the room, smiling. Shourya, still sitting nearby, had a small grin on his face.
Everyone in the room shared a knowing smile, realizing Jagathi’s mischievous nature and her pure heart, reminiscent of a child's innocence. Shourya, feeling bold and inspired by the warmth in the atmosphere, turned to Srinivas and said, "Uncle, I really like your daughter. If I get married, it will only be to Jagathi, not anyone else."
The room fell silent for a moment, and everyone exchanged surprised glances. Shourya’s unexpected declaration left them all a bit taken aback.
Srinivas, maintaining his calm demeanor, chuckled softly. "I appreciate your kind words, Shourya, and you certainly seem like a wonderful person from an amazing family. But I have to say, it’s important to understand that Jagathi has her own views on marriage. Even though you’re handsome and everything, I can’t go against my daughter’s wishes."
Srinivas continued, his tone earnest and respectful. "As you are a good person, as I've heard from various business circles, I came here personally to convey my decision. I hope you understand that my intention is not to offend you or your family in any way. It's just that I truly value my daughter's happiness above all else."
Shourya's chachu shrugged, his expression lightening the mood. "It’s okay; we can’t force Jagathi to get married. Let’s leave it at that. Besides, you haven't even seen her photo yet! So let’s end this matter here for now."
Srinivas raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback. "Wait a minute. How can you say you want to marry my daughter without even seeing her photo? That seems a bit hasty, don’t you think?"
Shourya leaned forward, his eyes sparkling with sincerity. "I saw a spark in my dad’s eyes when he first saw Jagathi's photo. He’s not the kind of man to throw words around lightly or make impulsive decisions.
when I heard about her from Panditji, i felt interesting.
But as I listened to the conversation just now, it became clear to me—I really like her. She seems like such a sweet and mischievous girl, and I can imagine that if she were to come into our home, there would be never-ending smiles on everyone’s faces.
What struck me most is the bond you share with her. The way she thinks about her family before herself is remarkable. She’s caring, and that matters so much to me. If someone can bring that kind of happiness and warmth to a family, then I believe that’s enough for a lifetime of joy. Jagathi seems like a happy soul, and that’s why I said I want to marry her."
Srinivas opened his mouth, ready to express his concern about his daughter not being ready for marriage, but Shourya cut him off with a determined glint in his eyes.
“Uncle,” he said earnestly, “I have a plan. I’ll come to your village and stay in your home for a few days. Just tell everyone that I’m a friend of yours here for research on plant chemicals. Trust me on this—I believe that once your daughter gets to know me, she will feel comfortable enough to come to you herself and say, ‘Dad, I want to marry Shourya."
Rajendra leaned forward, a warm smile spreading across his face. “Mr. Srinivas, I had thought my son was merely searching for a wife or a daughter-in-law for our home. But now I see he’s genuinely looking for a daughter for our family. I promise you, if Jagathi steps into our home, we will ensure she feels as loved and cherished as she would in her own.”
Srinivas felt a wave of relief wash over him. Rajendra's words were reassuring, and he appreciated the sincerity behind them. “Thank you, Rajendra. That means a lot to me.
Keep smiling
God bless you
Chandanakshi
YOU ARE READING
Misty Rain
Romance"Oye, Miss Universe," he teased, a playful grin dancing on his lips. She shot him a fierce glare, determination etched across her features, and turned away to walk forward. "Lucky!" he called after her, quickening his pace. She continued to ignore h...
