The Convenience Theory

3. News Flash

"Hey." I say tiredly as I plop down on my parents' bed.

"Hello." Mamma chirps closing the book she had been reading "How was the award function?"

I had just stepped out of the bathroom after a long, hot shower. I had wrapped a towel around my wet hair and donned my mother's old sweater. It had many holes in it but it was still my favourite. In short, although it had been a long day but now, I could finally relax and have a nice chat with my mother. And by chat, I mean I will get to rant my heart out and she will listen.

"Don't ask. The award function went really well. All of our group was cheering when I got the award for direction. But it started pouring down so bad. Anamika dropped me off at the chowk. And I walked till Goodluck." I say. "I was so drenched and cold."

"Aww my poor baby. Come here." She hugs me. "What did you eat at Goodluck?"

"Cheese omelette, bun maska and tea."

"Tea?" She looks at me surprised "How come?"

"It was so cold I needed something warm." I shiver remembering the chills. And along with it, my encounter with Arjun. "But I met a cute guy there."

"At Goodluck?"

I nod, "I was sharing a table with him. He was such a flirt but a cute guy."

"Your daughter just met a cute guy at Goodluck." Mamma screams dramatically at my father who was sitting at his laptop, working on an Excel sheet and occasionally bobbing his head to the song he was listening to on his earphones.

Startled he turns towards us, annoyed for disturbing him.

Unbothered by his response, Mamma continues, "Laila just met a cute guy at Goodluck. You are not paying any attention to your daughter."

"Don't talk nonsense." He glares at her before looking at me "And what cute guy? Who is he? You are too young for all of this."

"I am 18. When you were of my age, you must have celebrated your two-year anniversary with mamma." I pipe in.

"And see, our poor girl is still single." Mamma says.

"You did everything you wanted to when you were young." I say.

"And he is restricting you for everything now, doesn't he? My poor daughter." Mamma says melodramatically. "Don't worry. I won't restrict you from dating this cute guy, okay?"

"What is dating? Don't use such language in this house. And don't talk such nonsense with me." He shakes his head annoyed and returns to his laptop screen.

Mamma and I burst out laughing. It is just another night in the Gupte household.

My phone buzzes with a series of text notifications. I open it expecting replies from Nadira who I too had informed about Arjun. I am just surprised she didn't call me excitedly asking for all the details.

But when I open it, I realise the texts were from a former college senior. Curious I open her messages and as I go through each one, excitement starts bubbling inside me.

"Mamma! Dad!" I yelp "Do you remember Prerna Akka (elder sister)? That senior from our drama circle"

"The Tamilian one who graduated last year? Isn't she working with that famous theatre company?" Mamma asks.

I nod my head vigorously. "Sock and Buskin Entertainment. She is directing this play with the theatre group. It is on a large scale so she needs a bigger team. She was looking for assistant directors and was impressed after watching our college play. She just asked me and a couple others from our college crew if we were interested in being a part of their next production. She has called to meet me tomorrow. I am so excited!" I jump in excitement.