There’s a brief pause before she speaks, “I was just thinking… It’s been a while since we all had dinner together. How about tonight?”
Something in her tone tells me that this dinner sounds like a bad idea. I can almost sense that Mom is up to something. But before I can come up with an excuse, she adds, “No work excuses, Aditya. I need you there.”
I sigh quietly. “Fine, Mom. Dinner it is.”
“Good,” she says, satisfaction clear in her tone. “Be home by seven.”
“Got it.”
I’m about to hang up when my mom’s voice stops me again.
“One more thing,” she says, a slight edge in her tone. “The girl we’ve chosen for you is coming tonight. So make sure you’re on your best behaviour.”
I feel my stomach drop, knowing I was right—this wasn’t just a simple dinner. “Mom, I…”
“No arguing, Aditya.” Her voice sharpens, making it clear this isn’t up for discussion. “I gave you the time you needed. Now it’s time I take matters into my own hands.”
I press my lips together. “I’m not ready to meet someone, Mom. I…”
“That’s not how this works,” she interrupts, her tone leaving no room for negotiation. “You’ve had enough time to figure it out. You are coming for dinner, and you’ll be polite.”
I close my eyes, struggling to find the right words. How do I explain to her that I can’t think of any other woman? How do I tell her about Sana, the woman I’ve fallen in love with, when I haven’t even convinced her yet?
But my mother’s voice cuts through my thoughts, more insistent now. “Be there on time. We’ll be waiting for you.”
The line goes dead before I can say another word.
I lean back in my chair, staring at the ceiling. Dinner. Meet the girl.
Just what I needed to add to the turmoil.
God, help me! I need a plan to get out of this.
Just then, Reyansh’s name flashes in my mind. He’s always been the one I can rely on, no matter the situation. I grab my phone and dial his number.
“Yo, what’s up?” he picks up almost immediately.
“Listen,” I start, trying to keep my voice calm but failing to mask the tension. “I need you to do me a huge favour.”
I hear him pause on the other end, likely sensing my turmoil before he asks, “What’s going on?”
“I need you to call my parents and tell them I have an important business meeting tonight that I can’t miss,” I say, rubbing my temple. “I need a solid excuse to get out of the dinner they’ve planned tonight.”
“Mind telling me why?”
I hesitate, unsure of how to answer. I can’t keep lying to him. He knows me too well. So I just rip the bandage off.
“It’s about a girl I met, and now I can’t have my parents meddling and trying to set me up with prospective brides over dinner.”
There’s a long pause before Reyansh lets out a low whistle. “Wow, my boy is in love.”
I groan, slamming the desk. “Shut up, Reyansh. You, of all people, should understand this better given that you have Kavya.”
“Yeah, I’m well aware of what it feels like,” he says, his humour fading as his tone turns serious. “But, man, I don’t understand why you can’t just tell your parents about her and save yourself from all this stress.”
I exhale, frustration lacing my voice. “I can’t tell my parents about her yet. Sana still hasn’t accepted my proposal. She needs time to process everything. Hell, I’m not even sure how to handle it myself.”
“I got you, bro. I’ll call them and smooth it over. You just focus on... getting her to say yes. Because I know how it feels to be without the woman who’s finally captured your heart,” he says softly. I can almost hear him smile.
