“Sure, Mom. What’s up?” I ask, keeping my eyes fixed on her face, even though everything about her expression tells me it’s going to be a conversation I’m not ready for—maybe even one I dread.
“It’s about your marriage. I’ve been dropping hints for months now, and you’ve been avoiding them for long, but not anymore. It’s time you settled down.” That’s my mom, Seema Thakur, for whom my marriage has now become her sole purpose in life. As a dedicated housewife, she’s poured her heart into our family, and now that I’m well-settled in my career, her focus has shifted entirely to seeing me married.
“Marriage?” I groan, shaking my head. “Come on, Mom, I’m doing fine on my own. What’s the rush?”
“Rush? You’re not a kid anymore, Aditya. You’ve built a successful business. You have your life in order. The only thing missing is a partner to share it with,” she says, stressing each word.
I sigh and rub my hand over the back of my neck. “Mom, it’s not like I’m against the idea. But right now, I’m just… not ready.”
Her sharp gaze narrows on me, making it clear she’s not letting this go easily. “This isn’t about being ready anymore. Your dad and I have someone we think would be a good match for you.”
That catches my attention, and I sit up straight. “Wait, what? You’ve already found someone? Without even asking me?”
“We’re asking you now,” she says calmly. “Look, Aditya, we’re not forcing you into anything. The final choice will be yours. But you need to understand, as your parents, we just want you to take the next step in life. And trust us, the girl we’re thinking of is perfect for you.”
I stare at her, agitation building inside me, not even bothering to ask who the girl is. I don’t need to know. All I want is for Mom to just accept that I’m not ready for marriage. And it’s not just because of the fear of commitment, but because I don’t want someone my parents choose for me. Yes, they’re great parents who’ve always wanted what’s best for me, but I can’t ignore the fact that for them, status and family name matter more. The kind of girl they’ll pick won’t be what I’m looking for in my life partner. It will be someone who fits society’s norms. And trust me, I’ve been with my share of those selfish women—pampered daddy’s princesses who definitely aren’t for me. They’re just meant for a good time, not forever.
“Aditya, you are thirty-five, and you...” Mom tries again, but I cut her off.
“Mom, this isn’t just about ticking a box. Marriage is a huge deal. I need more time.”
“More time for what?” Mom points out. “To avoid the topic altogether? You’ve had plenty of time. I have been patient, but I won’t wait forever. I’m giving you a few days—think it through. If you have someone in mind, now’s the time to speak up.”
At the mention of that, my mind instantly flashes to her—the beautiful woman who’s taken up residence in my mind, no matter how hard I try to block her out, only to fail every damn time. And the worst part? A part of me doesn’t want to.
“Aditya, do you have someone in mind?” Mom’s voice pulls me out of my troubled thoughts.
“No,” I lie, though in my head, that goddamn woman has me distracted and uneasy.
“Good, we’ll handle it our way then.”
Great. Just what I need on my already overloaded radar. This marriage talk with Mom is the last thing I need right now. Unable to keep my calm, I stand and begin pacing in front of her. “This isn’t fair, Mom. It’s my life.”
Mom arches an eyebrow. “And we’re your family,” she says pointedly, then takes a deep breath. “Look, you’ve always trusted us, son. Trust us with this too.”
“This is ridiculous,” I mutter, pausing to raise my hands in frustration.
“It might sound that way, but it is what it is.”
“Mom, you can’t be serious.”
“As a matter of fact, I’m,” she replies with a knowing smirk, shrugging a shoulder. “We’re not trying to control you, Aditya. We just want to see you happy, and we won’t let you run from it forever.”
I sigh heavily. There’s no point in standing here arguing. It’s better to go home and figure out how to escape this ridiculous idea of hers.
“Fine. I’ll think about it,” I say wanting to end the conversation.
Mom stands, giving me a small smile before pulling me into a hug. “That’s all we’re asking.”
I check my watch. “I should get back home. I have an early morning meeting”
“Of course, you can carry on. Just remember, you only have a few days to think this through,” Mom reminds me. I stare at her, her steady gaze unwavering, as if daring me to argue further.
Without another word, I turn and walk out of the house, her demand pressing heavily on my chest. Sliding into the driver’s seat, I start the car and pull away. Frustration continues to simmer inside me as my mom’s words replay in my head like a relentless echo. But then, just like that, her face hits me again.Damn it—I’m losing control. Why the hell is she the only thing I can’t shut out? What the hell do I have to do to get her out of my head?I’m still questioning everything when, without thinking, I turn the car toward the one place my mind’s yelling no... but something deeper, something I can’t fight, says go.
???
“Seriously?”I mutter under my breath, staring at the glowing sign of the café.“What the hell am I even doing here?”My fingers tighten around the steering wheel as a voice inside tries to make sense.
