ᴇx-ʙᴏʏʀꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅ, ɴᴇxᴛ ʜᴜꜱʙᴀɴᴅ

Chapter 55

Yuvaan

The next day, I was working in my office, well, more like finding out how to make up to Nishu, when I got a call from Mom. I picked up.
"Yes Mom?" I asked, "What's up?"
"Come home. The... Vamika's boyfriend is here. I want you to be there."
"Okay. Coming. Is he with his family?"
"Y...Yeah."
"Coming."

I got my stuff ready and drove home. Once I entered, I got down and reached the hall, where he was sitting with his family and my family was sitting as well. I looked at Dad, who gave me a look of acknowledgment.
Well, that's an improvement.
"This is...." Mom introduced but Ramesh Uncle cut her off.
"Yuvaan Nanda, of course." He said and got up to shake my hand. I reciprocated.
"Please sit." I told him and I sat opposite him.
"So...." Mom said, "I'm sure we all know why we are gathered here, but I'd like to hear it from the kids, if that's okay?"
"Yeah." Dhruv Sood said, "Aunty I... Vami and I have been together since college's Year 1. I know I'm a little older, but I... I know about everything that happened with Nishtha Di, and.... I tried to help... by giving a bit of money...."
"We... we really like each other and I know that our companies are rivals and I don't know how this would play out but..."
"That's not your concern." Dad said, "I want you to tell us what your future plans are."
"You are 22 Vamika and Dhruv, you are 24, what do you both see yourself doing now?" Lakshmi Sood, his mother, said.
"You want us to approve this relationship?"
"Yes Aunty." Vamika said.
I observed everything, then spoke, "How long have you two been together?"
"3 years, Bhai." Dhruv said.
"And.... It was long distance for 2 years?"
"Yes Bhai." Vamika said, "I... I lied when I said he's my ex, I.... I was just scared. I was still in the Boston and he interned in Chicago for a year and then he came back to India to work with his dad during my final year, and now..."
"Hmm. I see."
"Beta," Ramesh Uncle said, "I know that our companies are rivals but I think we should be able to keep that out of it, if anything, your relationship may even open doors to partnerships which both of us will benefit from."
"I agree," Dad added, "I admit I was still not 100% convinced, but if you two have been through the entire problem of my sister and have also passed the distance test - I'm happy to approve you two."
I saw Vamika and Dhruv smile.
"Jaya Ji, Rajesh Ji," Lakshmi Sood said, "if you two are okay with it and the children as well, I am happy for them to take their relationship to the next stage."
The next stage? Marriage? So soon?
"Give us a day or two and we'll get back to you, but in the meantime, we're happy for them to be in a relationship. You have our approval Dhruv and Vamika." Mom said.
Ramesh Sood and Dad got up and shook each other's hands, "I'm very sorry about my sister Ramesh, I'll have the money transferred to you."
"Nonsense. He was helping Vamika, we don't hold debts and accounts against them."
I really hope there wasn't an underlying or hidden truth behind this. I'm done with that.
"By the way...." Lakshmi Sood said, "I don't see your daughter-in-law anywhere? I haven't gotten to see her, we couldn't make it at the wedding as well, you know?"
I froze.
I saw Mom Dad's face change.
"She's gone on an international conference with her company." Dad replied, "She'll be back next week."
"Oh wonderful! Congratulations to her then!"
"Thank you Lakshmi, once she's back, I'll definitely bring her home once." Mom said.
"I'd be delighted."
"Well, we'll head off now." Ramesh Sood said, getting up. His wife got up and Dhruv got up behind them.

I looked at Vamika and Dhruv and got a glimpse of me and Nishtha, if things had been right, this could have been us.
I always wanted to marry her early too.
I saw them wanting to hug, so I chuckled and spoke, "You two can hug each other if you want. We won't mind."
All adults laughed and started to make their way outside while Vamika and Dhruv hugged each other, and then his family left.

Mom Dad came back in and Vamika smiled happily and went upstairs to her room. I spoke, "Marriage at such a young age? Are you sure?"
"I don't see the issue." Mom said.
"Mom she's only 22."
"Nishtha was only 21 when you were picking out an engagement ring for you two."
"We... we didn't get married then." I said, looking down.
"You would have, if things were fine."
"Mom, I'm sorry, I know I messed up but why are you constantly attacking me?"
"I'm not. I'm just saying that there are more love stories in the world than yours."
"His story isn't even love anymore." Dad said, reading his paper.
That stung a lot.
I deserved it.
"Dad, I thought yesterday... changed things."
"I'm glad that you called her out and got her exposed Yuvaan, and I'm proud of you for that, but what about the damage that you created? My daughter is still abroad, thinking her husband has left her, probably is wondering which home to come back to when she does land, and—"
"I will fix things Dad. If you want I'll take the next flight and go to Chicago, she's going there tomorrow. I'll be on that flight Dad."
"No." Mom said, "Seeing you there will mess her up and she won't be able to focus on her work; her conference is important."
"So we just let her think that our son has thrown her away and we've not even tried to contact her?" Dad said.
"No Rajesh, I've been trying to call her but her phone is switched off. Alok and Rupali are talking normally so I don't have the heart to tell them anything. They don't even know anything that's going on."
"Who's going to tell them?"
"No one. Just..." I said, "Let Nishu come home and we will fix things."
"Which home Yuvaan? The one you threw her away from?" Dad said.
"I... I meant that, I'll bring her home, I won't let her stay away from me." I reassured.
"Coming back to Vamika," Mom said, sensing the increasing tension, "There's no reason she can't get married. If she knows he's the one and he's sure too, I don't see why not."
"I agree." Dad said, "let's ask Vami."
"VAMIKA!" Mom called out and she came down within a minute, "Sit here."
She sat down and I sat on the couch next to her, "So, we don't mind Dhruv. What do you think about him and what are your thoughts? Do you want to have a future with him?"
"Really! Y..Yes Mom!" She said.
"I'm okay with you two getting married but if you do then how will you study ahead, because I really do want you to study ahead."
"Mom, I've gotten acceptance from UC Berkeley for my masters, and so has Dhruv."
"Wow, congratulations!"
"So you both will what, work and study together?"
"Dad, his job is confirmed in his dad's place. He'll be doing his masters' part time and he'll be working for most of the time, once we are finished with our masters, we'll come back to Mumbai."
"I don't mind this idea, Rajesh."
"Okay. I'll call Ramesh Bhai." He said and got up.
Mom smiled and hugged Vamika, "You grew yo so fast."
Vamika smiled, then her smile settled and she asked, "Bhai...."
"Yes?"
"Will... will Nishtha Di know about this?"
"It's Nishtha Bhabhi, and yes she will." I said.
"Ramesh Bhai have agreed to come meet us tomorrow, they'll be here for lunch."
"Perfect."
Vamika added, "Is it right that we focus on me when Nishu Di and Bhai are....?"
Mom replied, "One bad news doesn't mean we stop letting joy enter. Maybe this wedding is exactly what we need, maybe it's exactly what Nishu and Yuvi need."
"Vami is right." I said, "It feels wrong to celebrate this without her."
"Yuvi, Nishu would want that these two get married instantly. I know what you mean, but I have some faith in her. But you're right, such a great moment and Nishu isn't here with us for it."
Dad scoffed, "Blame your son for that." He said and left.
I looked down and then back up. Mom came to me and held my hand, "She'll be back in 7 days, what is your plan, Yuvaan?"
"I don't know. I just want her with me so I can... I can beg."
"She's broken to a very loud scale, it'll be very hard to fix it."
"I'll spend my whole life fixing it, I'm ready, but I just want her next to me."

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