My life resumes again, once I come back home. The same old faces, lesson plans, staff meetings and my sweet little home are back. The vacation is over.
So, it's a Sunday. I am off to Mr. Lobo's. He's like my elder brother and the person I know the most here.
Mrs Lobo opens the door. "Hey Arjun! How are you, sweetie? Long time, huh?"
"Hello Angelina, I'm good. How are you?"
"I'm good too. Franc was waiting for you. Come inside."
"Oh hello young man! Welcome home."
"Hey Mr Lobo, good noon."
"Oh, Francis please. Let's keep the formalities just for work."
"Absolutely."
"So what brings you here gentleman? You seemed very tensed on the call." says Mrs Lobo, handing over the cup of coffee to me.
"Actually I'm here to talk to you about something. Remember you said to me in the class the other day, 'You can find someone only when you're looking for them'. I guess I wanna look."
"Oh jeez! Seriously? Finally you got some sense in your brain. It's the best honestly. You know what? Angie and I got married when I was thirty. Before I met her, my thoughts were just like yours. But after we met, my world just flipped. And see, today, we're happily married for 12 years."
"Yes Francis. That's why. I went back home last week. Most of my friends are married and they're well settled. And aunty also wishes the same. I thought, why not give it a try."
"You're in the right direction, my boy. I can set you up with all good guys and girls I know." Angelina said.
"Thankyou so much."
"While we do that, it is equally important for you to look out and search for people."
"Um okay. But how? Do I like install dating apps or register on matrimonial sites or what?"
"Hahaha. No my dear. Just go to parties, clubs, or maybe a library or anywhere you find it comfortable. And meet new people. That's how you find your 'the one'. I met Angie at my brother's wedding. Like, it's a crazy thing. Try it out."
I consider everything they say and now, I'm headed back home.
I guess it's time to start looking
*THREE MONTHS LATER*
08.02.2033
"OH MY GOD. It's my wedding day!"
I met him a couple of months ago. On November 27th, to be exact. I was at the Diwali meet organised by Indian People's Society of NCL. At first, I thought that it's boring and a waste of time. I'd rather Netflix and chill. But then, I remembered Mr Lobo's 'Finding The One" theory. So, I thought, let's give it a try.
So, I went there and I was meeting everyone. Talking to some knowns. There, I saw him. Highlighted brown hair, wheatish complexion and tall-heighted young man. He was one of the few people who looked like me i.e., not at all interested. I got introduced to him through Prem, my very great Indian friend from Jaipur. Prem knew his family and he introduced me to them.
He is a doctor. Although he looks lean, but he is very strong. His voice has a charm which attracts me each time I talk to him. He has a dimple on his left cheek which makes him a hundred times more adorable. It was a very first conversation, and still we talked about so much. From Pride Parades to school life, from poetry to surgery, we went on for 3 hours! And he is such a good singer. His voice, his eyes, are the things that made it so difficult to take my eyes off him.
It was an instant click. We talked to each other, without thinking about being judged. I was so comfortable with this guy I never knew existed. Francis to right. This indeed was a crazy thing.
Before proposing, we dated for nearly a month. We went out on dates and outings, sometimes even visited each other at work. We went to Discovery Museum and St. Nicholas Cathedral, walked hand-in-hand on the Gateshead Millennium Bridge. The whole family went to watch his sister's play at the Theatre Royal. He took me to the Centre of Life for a date while I chose the Castle.
While walking through the Eldon Square, I liked the pair of shoes very much and that was his first gift to me. We went to Victoria Tunnels for long walks and Jesmond Dene Park for a family picnic. We also went to Whitley Bay on a weekend.
We got really close to each other over that whole month. We kissed for the first time when we were visiting Angel of the North. My visit to his place became more frequent and slowly, I started to mingle with his family. Our families knew we were dating and they were totally supportive of it.
He has a joint family. They're all so accepting and warm. They welcomed me with open arms into the family. He has his parents, grandparents, uncle and sister in his family. I saw my mom in his. His grandma is the sweetest person. She cooks besan ke laddoo for me on every festival. She had already told us that she wants to see her great-grandchildren before she dies. Dadi is the best.
It was Christmas. I was at his place for the celebrations. He proposed to me for marriage in front of the whole family. DAMN! I wanted to do that.
And his proposal was the best and the cutest ever!
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