A Midsummer's Love Tale

A Midsummer's Love Tale - Chapter Nine - Meeting with Mom

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                                                    A MIDSUMMER’S LOVE TALE  

                                                              CHAPTER  NINE

                                                            Meeting with Mom

After reaching home I reflected on the day’s activity and couldn’t but marvel at the pace at which everything had passed off today. The start of the day and the ‘closeness’ I had felt with Alina was priceless.

So was this just a passing phase or would it carry on?

How long would it last, before the bubble could finally burst?

The very thought of separation from Alina was enough to give me a ‘hollow’ feeling in my gut; I didn’t wish to think about it.

Right now, what mattered was that Alina was close to me and we were meeting each other, seeing each other. Everything else was immaterial. Didn’t want to think too far ahead in the future and what it held for me.

The bubble was intact and I was not bothered that it would ultimately burst one day. Too scary. Who wants to look so far ahead? The present was better in all respects and that’s the way I intended to look at it…..A typically escapist male attitude?

Just then the phone rang. It was Alina ….. The centre of my thoughts.

‘Yes honey,’ I cooed into the phone. ‘So glad you called, was thinking of you.’

‘Oh it’s actually nothing just rang up to inform you that Ma (mother) wants to see you tomorrow. Please come by the afternoon to our house for lunch.’

She was sounding so affectionate that I could have smooched her had she been there in front of me.

‘But what’s the occasion baby, and how does she know I’m in town?’ I asked her lovingly.

It was sounding a bit weird and I was definitely worried.

‘Oh don’t sound so worried, actually she overheard me talking to one of my friends on the phone about you and then I had to tell her everything, you know, about you being in town.’

‘Just come in the afternoon. Have lunch with us and then we can go out somewhere. Then we also have to go to the dance tomorrow night at my friend's place, don’t you remember?’

‘Yes, I do. OK, I’ll be there.’ I replied grudgingly.

I blew her a kiss on the phone before disconnecting.

It’s so funny how lovers don’t wish to put down the phone on each other. As they say how dare you ‘hang up’ on me?

So the next day I would have to meet her mother.

I wondered how the meeting would go. I had met both her parents in Naini, but it was just a casual meeting.

The picture painted by Alina of her mother insisting she marry a devout Muslim flashed before my eyes.

Was it because of that she had called me?

Would she just ask me my name and the moment I said ‘Vikas Mathur’, would she say ‘rejected?’ …….. As simple as that!

Would my religion decide my destiny?

The more I thought about my meeting with her the more my nervousness increased. Finally I decided to let the matter rest in God’s hands.

Much as I tried, I couldn’t get sleep.

On an impulse I rang up Alina again …. ‘Hey sweetheart, what’s up?’ I tried to sound cheerful.

She immediately caught the worried tone.

‘Anything wrong, you sound perplexed?’

‘How well you know me don’t you Alina?  Actually I wasn’t too keen for the meeting with your Mom.’ I hesitatingly told her.

‘Why, what happened love…..you’re the first boy she’s actually wanted to meet and that too for her daughter’s hand.’ She sounded more than excited.

‘I was definitely coming Alina, but the way you described your mother’s nature in Naini, remember……. you told me she prefers a Muslim boy for you.’

‘Oh so you’re getting perturbed by that. How silly. You remember her wish, but you forgot my answer to her in response to that statement, that I would take all my important decisions myself. So stop fretting.’ She was almost agitated now.

‘OK, I didn’t mean to hurt you or make you fret. Just a bit concerned.’ I was slow and cautious now, wanting to kick myself that I had raised this issue with her.

‘Viks, you’re such a cute kid. Now if you don’t want a rap from me tomorrow, just go off to sleep. I’ll handle everything.’ Her words were soothing to the ears and were final.

‘Right my honey pie, you’ve just cured me from a serious dilemma. Will see your mother tomorrow and face her.’ I was all smiles now, and blew her a long kiss across the receiver.

‘Good night lover boy, see you tomorrow at my house’ she signed off with an equally power packed kiss.

I had a light dinner thereafter and listening to some soothing music slowly drifted off to sleep. My dreams were full of Alina…..me kissing Alina, me clasping Alina, me making love to her…..It was nothing but Alina…..!

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End of Chapter Nine ……. All Rights Reserved 

A Midsummer’s Love Tale.