A GIRL LIKE YOU

3

"Mom he is so stupid." I whined for the 100th time as I followed my mom to the kitchen. She begin chopping off onions as I settled on the counter beside her.
"You can't judge somebody in a meeting of a few hours." Mom said.
Of course mom. You can judge girls in a look on the basis of their dresses, but I can't. Double standards.
"Mom, he broke his zipper." I tried to reason with her. "I mean, what is he a 5 year old."
"So...what does it have to do with your marriage?"
"Oh my god mom. I get it okay. You like him and he is perfect, blah blah blah. But seriously, he bored me to death. He kept talking about this stupid Video game. Who talks about a video game on a first date?"
"Look at it positively. He still has his inner child. Isn't that amazing?"
"No mom its not. He seemed distracted. He kept looking everywhere but me. He wasn't interested knowing anything about me. He kept cutting me midsentence. He didn't talk about interesting stuff. We don't have anything in common. He...."
"Listen Kiara. Understanding is not something you just find, okay. It is built over years. You can built it with him."
"No mom. I understand people I met for 10 minutes than..."
"Kiara, you're just trying to find reasons to not get married."
"That's not true mom. "
"It is."
"Mom we made a deal. I said that I'll go meet this guy, only if you wouldn't force me to get married to him if I didn't like him."
"How do you know you don't like him? You haven't even given him a chance properly?"
"Mom, if you expected me to say yes to getting married in a meeting of a few hours then I think its fair if I say no."
"Kiara...you promised. You promised us that you'll try and be the daughter we always wanted."
"Yes mom and I am trying, okay. But this is about my life. I am not going to just get married to a guy who can't even pull up his zipper without breaking it."
"What is it with you and his zipper? And wait, how do you even know it?"
I gulped. I can't tell mom that I ran into his hot best friend Ansh, and I almost ditched Aarav because of Ansh.
"Yeah, he told me." I lied.
"See. He is being honest even if he doesn't have to be."
Yeah right. "Mom, but that's not the point. The point is..."
"Yes the point is that he is funny and honest. And you know what? You are going to go and meet him again."
"No mom, I'd rather not."
"You are an adult Kiara. We can't force you to do anything but as your mom I can only hope you'll listen to me. I am just doing what's best for you. After everything you've been through, you need a good guy."
There we go again. Mom and her emotional blackmail. God, no matter how much I try to stand up for myself, in the end it always get outweighs by what mom and dad did for me. Always.
And I always end up thinking, that they did so much for me, the least I could do is have another meeting with a guy they think is best for me.
Or probably get married to him.
Oh god.
"Okay mom. I'll meet him again." I sighed as Mom beamed at me.
Do you know, sometimes I wonder. They say that love is when other person's happiness is more important than yours. Then I think about my parents and how they always become so happy when I do something I'm really not happy about.
But then again, I'm always happy in doing illegal shit and taking stupid decisions. So it's only fair that they become so happy when they think I am doing what they want, a.k.a the right thing. There decisions might not be right, but their intentions are always pure. Maybe that's love.

I went back to my room. It sucks to be still living with my parents after all these years. But it also has its perks. They keep me grounded. And it was a part of the promise I made to them all those years ago. Its hard being an only child.

Right to her words, a week later mom set up another meeting with Aarav. Apparently she made it sound like a casual getting to know meeting where she invited me to Aarav's best friends's birthday party on saturday.
You've got to be kidding me mom.
The last thing I want to do is to face Ansh and start comparing the both friends. But mom doesn't know that. She doesn't even know Ansh's name. For her its Aarav's best friend. I tried to tell mom that it's not a good idea, meeting with him in front of his friends. But mom thinks, you can get to know a lot about a person from his friends. She is right. I give her that.
Aaliyah probably knows more about me than my own parents. Except, I didn't tell her about Ansh. It's not important. Nothing is going to happen between us. Besides, if I admit my attraction towards him to her, it will become more real. Which can't be a good thing.
So I decided to be strong and face Ansh and so I said yes.
And when saturday rolled around, I was a huge bundle of nerves. I couldn't decide what to wear. I kept thinking about Ansh. I know its sick. So I called Aaliyah to come and help me dress up.

Apparently she agrees with my mom that Aarav is honest and funny.

"Put this lipstick on and you'll be ready to go." Aaliyah said as she handed me red lipstick. I took it and stared at myself in the mirror. "You look really pretty." Her voice cracked.
I looked up at her. Why does she have tears in her eyes? What is she my proud mom?
I stood up. "What's wrong Aaliyah?"
She never cries. Never. Like ever.
"Nothing. Its just- nothing..." She sniffled.
"Are you kidding me? Why are you so upset? Tell me? You've barely said 3 words since you came. You're distracted. Tell me what's wrong."
"I am just happy for you."
"Bullshit." I flicked her on the arm.
"Ouch." She said and rubbed her arm. "I don't wanna talk about it. Tonight is about you. I am not gonna steal your thunder."
"Are you crazy? I am not getting married today, okay. Besides, I am not Monica gellar. I don't care if you steal my thunder. Just tell me, what is it? Is everything okay between you and Vivaan?"
"I am pregnant." She said in a small voice and looked down.
"What?!" I almost shouted as I attacked her with a bear hug. Wow this is good news. Big news. Oh my god! My best friend is going to be a mother.
I released her and now tears are freely leaking down her cheeks.
"What is wrong with you? This is a good thing baby." I said as I wiped her cheeks.
"I haven't told Vivaan, yet." She said.
Aaliyah and Vivaan met when they were 16. They've been together since. I envy it.
"So tell him. This is good. I am so happy. I'm gonna be an aunt and we are gonna have so much fun. Oh my god Aaliyah, if you have a girl..."
"Kiara." She cut me off in my happy dance. "I am nervous."
Aww. I gave her another reassuring hug and rubbed her back. "Don't worry. You are going to be the best mom. I know." I said and kissed her cheek.
"Really? You think so?" She looked at me with hope.
"I know so, silly. Now wish me luck."
Aaliyah beamed at me and hugged me once again. "I love you."
I laughed. "Have you finally accepted your lesbian attraction towards me?" I teased as I looked in the mirror one last time.
"I've accepted it a long time ago. But Kiara..." She said.
"What?" She is serious again.
"Please don't get married this year. I wanted to look the hottest at your wedding. And I won't with a baby. Get married next year. Please."
Her request made me burst out in laughter.
"Well, then pray, I find out some dirt on this Aarav guy, today." I said and winked at her. She gave me the you-better-not look. But I will. I know I will.
Yes, that's the plan. Find dirt. Get out.

...