The Call !!

17

As I watch the flickering lights dashing through the raindrops over my window, It started again.
March 17, 2017.

Finally!!
I am not sure if I was really waiting for it, but was pretty excited about it. After all, I was about to make my first international business call.
I did attend a few calls earlier, but never was I alone.. never was I supposed to take the lead. But then, you never know what life shows you the next minute.
Philosophy aside, I just took my note pad, my pen, pencil (freshly sharpened.. I pricked myself to make sure), my laptop, charger for the laptop, checked for power connections, organized it all well before the call time.
I just sat beside the weird looking phone, and just when the clock hit 17:00 on my watch, I dialed the fancy number on the fancy phone. After a painstaking gap of 17 seconds, there was a 'klick' and he said "Hey", my stomach turned upside down and all I wanted to say was gd morning DeeN (Deekshith Narayanan, The boss he is), and ended up saying "Morning..Gud..Deek..DeeN..How are you?" and went on to "Hello, am sorry, am I audible and clear?", god I was ashamed.
He understood my embarrassment and immediately took over "loud and clear, can we get on to the mail I forwarded earlier.. good morning btw"
Apologizing for the awkward approach, I addressed the issue at hand for about 20 minutes and went on to take notes. I had to reiterate some of the ideas, restrict some of them and kill others.
As the meeting ended, I clumsily picked up my phone and was surprised to see multiple missed calls from my prospective BIL(Bro in Law). Which was weird, I never get calls from him, I hardly ever text him. Anyways without any delay I dial him back and after few seconds, he takes it.
I could hear Pluto barking incessantly as he shushed It down and in a grave tone asked where I am, and as I replied, he immediately requested me to come to his place. Before I could ask what happened, there was a sound of some truck or sort being stopped and him saying "Hurry pls, inside" and the call got cut.
Weird day it is., huh!?
I walked out the conference room and look who's standing there waiting for me - Srini!!!
Srini is my boss and my girl's best friend; well they worked together before she moved out of the company. He looked way grumpier than he usually is.
Grumpier he is, the more you can be sure that it's him. Today there's bonus creepiness too. DeeN must've conveyed the embarrassing incident to him, couldn't that guy ignore one single mistake...
He just looked at me trying to find the words - "You got the message? Sanju?" (Yea Sanju is short for Sandhya). I said, "Yea I got the message from her". He said "what?"
I told "Bil called me bro, wanted me to rush home, what happened?"
He said, "Well, Let's go find out", I said "What? You are invited too?"
He just nodded his head and pointed that he is already packed and ready.
He obviously knew what's been cooking, awful he is, Can't he take my side for once and let me know what's happening.
As we swiped our ID cards out, he just answered a call saying," yes we started, see you there" and cut the call.
I asked is R coming too? R is for Raji, his wife.. he said, yes, why wouldn't she?
I asked " bro..!! What is the event? What's happening? "
He just gives me a weird look and says "come on, we are getting late",

I asked "What for?" And he just replied.. "Don't you want me to come with you?"

I mumbled "yes" but then you know, he is sanju's best friend. Last thing I would want is a fight with him.. "nothing like that bro.. hop on.." and we started

I could not understand what exactly was happening around me, all I could understand was that it's about me and Sanju.
It then hit me like a rock to my head - Hard and strong.
Sanju's plan, this must be, I guess I'm being dragged to my own Bachelor party. It all makes sense now.
I am hostage to a party I am supposed to host :/
We have informed our parents of our long relationship just a few days past and since we were done studying and were in decent jobs (Frankly speaking, she had the decent job and I just scrape through) and there were no objections on either side. They both were ready to give us their blessings and were already looking out for dates and guest lists.
As I walked to Rhodey (my bike - Fz ), I felt lighter and happier than ever before. I was pretty much excited and on the other hand, Srini appeared to be of more concerned and kept trying to keep me in a conversation. Well, I don't even understand why he is so uncomfortable.
As Rhodey flew us smoothly, I was still thinking and rehearsing in my mind as to how I should act surprised when the event unfolds.
As I approached the vicinity, I could sense happiness all around. I was the luckiest person in the world.
All I need to take a left and there, her house would be in sight. All of a sudden, I saw her. She was there at the end of turn, in her blue and gold top from trends, where we shopped together for it.
She looked at us and ran towards the house, I smiled a bit, told Srini that I just saw her. I just felt my bike shake as he moved uncomfortably on the bike and kept asking "where? Whatt? Where?"
I showed him the place as we passed by, muttering him to sit properly.
There's her small two storied house. Painted in blue and with a pretty big tarpaulin tent outside, I was more confident of what I am about to face.

As I went on and stopped the bike, there's our chevy - I just wondered what my Dad's car was doing here?.

So no Bachelor party??

As I walked in, I found dozens of pairs of Footwear outside and could easily spot whole of family's footwear out there.
"God!!! They have must've started my ENGAGEMENT without me".

I was pretty much confused and just wondered.

I wondered how she planned all this, well sincerely, sanju couldn't even plan a date properly and look, she's planned our engagement. The first official celebration together.

As I took two more steps, there's the barking Pluto.. Tied to the gate at the farther end of balcony to prevent her from pouncing on numerous visitors. As we walked in, a dark guy in white shirt and dhoti was shouting on phone rushing somebody. Must be catering. I was already hungry.

As I was about to enter the house, Srini lays a hand on my shoulder and says "Nobody can prepare you for this, nor I, neither could she"

I couldn't even make out what he meant by that and keeping my best poker face possible, I went on to knock on the door and...

The phone rings and "The Call" wakes me up just to see that 17th March on the display, the 17th time.