Silently Falling in Love: Race - #Wattys2017

Chapter 43 - December 1997

Alex

I grabbed my paperwork and started stuffing it in my briefcase with my laptop. Anjali was teaching a class tonight so I wanted to get home earlier so I could put together something for dinner before she came over. I could finish my work at home.

I was about to walk out of my office when I saw my phone buzzing.

I answered the phone, "Hi Mom, how are you?"

"Hello Alex, I'm fine. How are you?"

"I'm doing well, I was just gathering my stuff and heading out of the office."

"Oh good, so I didn't catch you at a bad time."

"No not at all. What's up?"

"Do you have a few minutes to chat?"

I placed my briefcase down and sat down back in my office chair, "Yes, sure. Are you and dad okay?"

"We're doing wonderful. Arjun and Kavita were just here last week and we had a wonderful time with them. Kavita is a lovely young woman and has a great calming effect on your brother."

I laughed, "Yes she is the calmer of the two. How are the wedding details coming along?"

"Well, I think your brother is the bridezilla, but otherwise they're going well. Kavita seems easy going and so does her family. Your brother on the other hand..."

I continued to laugh, "So a three layer butter cream cake made by only the best bakery in town?"

"Try four layer!"

"Well, that does sound like Arjun," I said. "Anything I can do to help with the wedding?"

"Make your brother go away and let Kavita and I plan it?"

"Mom, now you're asking for miracles! Is there anything else I can help you with?"

"Actually, yes there is."

"What is it mom? How can I help?"

"I normally don't like to interfere in your or Arjun's life. It's the British upbringing in me. But, I just feel, or maybe it's being married to your dad for so long that I just have to this time. I'd like to know if you're planning on proposing to Anjali," my mom said in her formal British voice.

"Wow you didn't beat around the bush for that. Setting aside your change in character, Mom, I promise to tell you as soon as it happens. Plus, we've only been together for six months."

"You know your father has finally accepted that Anjali is not marrying Arjun. I think this past week seeing Kavita and Arjun together here at home really helped. He's finally turned the corner."

"That's good to hear," I say but wondering what this has to do with me.

"I'd like you and Anjali to be engaged by the time Arjun and Kavita get married in March. I think it will be weird to have you introduce her as your girlfriend. Most of our friends already know her from all of the Diwali parties she's attended and I think it will be better if she's your fiancé by the time the wedding happens."

"Are you trying to get a two for one deal on the wedding cake? Is that what this is all about?" I tried saying with a bit of humor.

"Alex, be serious for a moment."

"Fine mom, why the timeline by Arjun's wedding?"

I heard my mom sigh deeply on the other end, "Do you really want to know truthfully?"