Abhi popped the question, Pooja said 'yes'.
She believed they were meant to be, but her to-be mother-in-law thought otherwise.
Will Pooja be able to prove her wrong? Will she be able to please his parents?
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Trrriiinnnggg...!!!
The alarm on my phone startles me awake. I jerk up and the phone falls out of my lap. I snooze the alarm and rub my sore back. I stretch and try to remember how I ended up on the couch. All the events of yesterday come back to me and I groan. I wish I could go back to sleep. At least work will distract me.
Boy was I wrong! All day I could only think of the scowl on Abhi's face and the smirk on his mom's face when she showed me down.
I don't like her at all. She makes me feel vulnerable and self-conscious. And lately Abhi has been making me feel irritated and unworthy of his love or anyone else's.
I inhale and exhale slowly. I need to calm down. I can make this work.
***
"Aunty, I baked a carrot cake at home and it turned out pretty good. So, I got some for you and uncle to taste." I smile at her. I know her behaviour now. She acts innocent infront of Abhi, so this is the best time for me to play my ace.
"Oh. She told me you didn't know how to cook." His dad pipes up.
"It's never too late to learn, right uncle?"
"Yes. Yes. Very good." He agrees.
***
It's been two weeks since I first met his parents and I've learnt how to cook. I can finally say that I can taste my own food and that aunty likes it too. Only in front of Abhi. For a few days she would tell me I didn't cook well, when we had a chance to be alone. But after that, she stopped, though she didn't appreciate it either. Good enough for me!
"How long are your working hours, Pooja?" She asks me as we sit in the car on the way to a movie.
"9 to 5, Aunty" I tell her. "But my office is a little far away, so 8 to 7"
"Tsk tsk...how will you look after the house if you are never there?"
"Umm...I..."
"And Abhi comes back at 5?"
"Yes."
"So he has to do everything and wait for you?"
"He likes cooking, so he cooks dinner for us." I tell her.
"Us? You go to his house everyday for dinner?"
Oh no... I forgot that she doesn't know we live together. Well, it really doesn't matter at this point. She's been persistently asking me to invite her to my place. So, better sooner than later.
"Our house aunty." I correct.
"What do you mean?"
"Pooja!" Abhi shouts.
"I mean that we live together, aunty."
"Pooj-" Abhi starts but his mother interrupts him.
"What?? You live together? Before marriage? You are a disgrace to your parents!"
"Your son lives with me too. Isn't he at fault?" I ask calmly. I knew this was coming.
"You are a girl!"
"So?"
"Ugh...have some shame."
I don't answer. I don't feel the need to interact with her anymore.
We reach the theatre and Abhi pulls me violently to the side. "Why did you tell her?"
"Why didn't you tell her?" I question.
"Because she doesn't like it."
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
He remains silent. "I thought we told each other everything. What happened to us?"
"I just forgot." He says and walks away.
"Uncle. Aunty. I am sorry we didn't tell you earlier. I thought you knew. And I did not know you had a problem with it, otherwise I would never have done it. Please forgive me." I ask them. I want to make this work. It's become a mission.
"Ok" She says. "But you should move out soon. Temporarily, till you get married."
I gape at her. Why should I move out? Why can't he!? But the situation right now is vulnerable, I better not say anything against her wish.
"Yes...definitely."
~~~*~~~
A/N:
If you thought you were having a bad day, think about Pooja. Yeah, she has it worse. Now smile! ;)
