The Gymnast's Escapade

The Nosy Indian Aunty!

Act 1, Scene 3

With a throbbing heart and sweaty palms, Aayush drove to the Khandelwal Mansion to settle some scores with his old man for blasting his morning with the so-called pleasant news. From the rear-view mirror, he found Aashka and Raisha following him in Aashka's car, but he didn't stop. As much as the husband in him didn't like that Raisha might be panicking inside, worried for his safety, the father in him was itching to blast his over annoying and childish father.

For any father, it might be the greatest news when his girl gets a proposal but certainly, for Aayush Khandelwal, the aspects of the good news were different than other people.

He wasn't waiting for any man to come and rescue his daughter on a white horse, nor he was waiting to know the geniality of the male population towards his daughters and certainly, he didn't care which male out there was interested in tying the knot with his girls.

As a dutiful father, he didn't think that his only responsibility was to raise his girls and one fine day send them away; his duty was to safeguard their interest in the best way possible. With that said—it included him providing all four of his girls a right to decide how and when they'd marry and with whom. The only thing he'd ever ask them was honesty with regards to their developing likes for anyone. And the reason wasn't that he wanted to interfere, but it was to ensure that no one used them as a bait.

As a Global Icon of Technology, he wasn't immune to the fact that people envy him for his success, and his kids could be used against him. The dirty politics was part of his world, and he had to be on alert mode 24*7.

But the recent development didn't settle well. He felt his daughter's career under threat when she was ready to reach the highest peak.

With that thought continuously revolving in his head, he drove faster than ever. In college when Raisha chided him at his fast speed, he stopped driving horrifically, but today the old ambitious driver was back to play.

Generally, it took them around 40 minutes to reach Viraj's Mansion but that morning he covered the distance in fifteen minutes; and as soon as he halted the car, he didn't take a calm breath, he marched straight in the house. The cleaning staff gaped at him and then at the two ladies running behind him.

"Papa!" Aashka called running after him; she hadn't known she could drive at this speed. Thankfully, none of them broke any traffic rules but she was certain her father will break lots of rules of her grandfather.

Whom do I choose?

Ignoring all, Aayush took large and hasty steps to the lawn where he assumed his parents might be having their breakfast enjoying the morning air. And as expected he found them sitting on the sofa engrossed in their world. Viraj's back faced while his mother Vidya Khandelwal was reading a newspaper.

As his Dad was ready to sip his hot-steamy-ginger tea, he grabbed the cup from behind and slammed it down on the table startling the couple.

"What the heck?" Viraj yelled shocked; no one dared to deprive him of his morning tea.

"Aayush!" Vidya gasped seeing him standing there looking murderously at Viraj.

Just then breathing heavily, Raisha and Aashka came and stood behind Aayush as he waited for his father to come to the right terms with his sudden presence in the Mansion.

Viraj turned his neck to peek a look and he gulped seeing his son standing there ready to pounce on him like a wild lion. He looked behind him to find his daughter-in-law and granddaughter giving him apologetic looks.

But he knew already that he had to face the wrath. Better now than later! *Sheepish smile.*

Taking support of his new cane, he stood up coming face to face with his son who wasn't impressed by anyone other than his own wife.