The Miracle We Met

Chapter 29 - Strategy

"How can you call someone without discussing it with me" My eyes were filled with tears.

"It's not like we are asking you to get married to him immediately. We want you two to know each other and then decide. We haven't made any decision yet." My mother said.

"But still Mom..I have get enrolled just a few months back. I need to focus. I have to complete my PhD in 3 and half years. Why are you not understanding?" I was close to cry.

"We are not getting you married just now. It will take at least 1 or 1 and half years. Till then you can focus on your studies. Those people know about you so don't worry they won't be giving any pressure." She said those things and went out.

I knew something was wrong, but didn't expected to that extent. I sat on my bed and cried a lot. I thought that everything was fine now.. everything was on track but no.. we can't live without obstacles. One is always followed by another. I managed somehow after Suho's incident. I came out of it successfully but now I have got again one big stone lying on the ground.

With tears and hiccups, I tried calling Chanyeol. It was 12'o clock midnight IST so most probably 3:30am in Korea. He didn't picked up, must be sleeping.

I opened my gallery. I started seeing pictures of Navi's wedding. I searched for our group photos. I zoomed our pic, the one where Chanyeol and myself were standing side by side on the stage.

We were so happy till now.

'Does our happiness have expiry dates too? Everything is fixed for certain period of time? The miracle which happened with me, was it over now? That's it for my life? Don't I deserve more than that? Is everything over?'
I was staring at our pictures and tears were overflowing on my cheeks.

My phone ranged suddenly. It was of Chanyeol.

"What happened, why did you call so late?? You've never did this thing before.. Tell me what happened?"
He seemed worried.

"Chanyeol" I just said his name and started crying.

Chanyeol got more worried.
"Just tell me..what happened..you are making me to worry"

I finally stopped sobbing and told everything about my conversation with my mom.

"What!! But why!! What's your age..you are just 25 and they want you to get married..that too with a completely unknown guy." He yelled.

"That's how it works in India. Age 25 means it's now your time to get married. They will choose someone and will send you with him." I was still sobbing.

"Hey!! But please stop crying for now. That way you will only get sick." He was concerned.

I tried controlling my tears.

"What you want for now?" He asked very seriously.

"Of course..I want some time. I have to complete my PhD then I have to apply for associate professor. After that I will feel settled."

"Your parents should know this things. They should have at least discussed with you." He said.

"That's the main problem..they didn't tell me anything about all these things. Just took decision my themselves."

"Did you talked about it with your friends?" He asked.

"No not yet. I will tell them in the tomorrow or will text them. But no one can do anything." I was really depressed.

There was a pause for about 1 Min. No one said anything. Then he said,

"How will they react if you tell them that, you want to marry someone else?" He asked after a long thought.

"I don't know how they will react but definitely not pleased." I said thinking.

"But wait..I can do one thing."

"What?" Chanyeol asked.

"I will tell to that person who is coming tomorrow. That I am not interested at all in all these stuffs. If my parents are doing things which is right according to them, I will also do what is right according to me." I decided it.

"Okay..But still..." Chanyeol paused.

"What?" I questioned.

"Do not talk to him much. Just say what you have decided and leave." Chanyeol said on a serious note. But I didn't get his point.

"I didn't understand" I was confused.

"Don't talk to him much. No matter how much he tries to talk. Don't smile, no matter how much he tries to me funny. Don't show him your cuter side. Be very straightforward and...not rude but not so polite too." He said these things so cutely that I can't stopped myself from smiling.

"What!! Are you jealous already?" I said with a small laugh.

"I will not deny so yes..I am jealous.. and don't do any such things." He said again.

"Okay, alright" My mood was lightened. We just talked about a few strategies what I can do the next day.

"I'm so sorry. I made you to wake up so early." I was feeling guilty.

"I am happy that you called me. If you have taken all those things inside you, suffering alone, without telling me, that would have hurt me more." He said.

I didn't said anything. We just exchanged good night words and put down our phones.

'So finally I was able to understand my feelings for him. Finally I accepted my feelings regarding me. I was about to confess it soon but again all these things happened. How can I be so unfortunate.'

Thinking all these things I finally slept.

Next day, the morning was very busy. The more they were preparing, the more I was getting irritated.

Finally, they came. Everyone including me welcomed them. I didn't dare to look at that man. He was in light blue colour check shirt. That's all I noticed.

"Look how well she has grown up. She was so young when we met last time."
Aunty most probably his mother said.

'Yeah! I have grown up that's why you all are here.'

I helped my mother with the refreshments. Others were talking and laughing. I didn't want to smile even. After about one hour, his father said,

"We should let our children talk too. Darsh and Arushi beta, take your time."

Finally, it was my turn to act.