Note: Appa - Father

Amma- Mother

          Putta - An endearment like         sweetheart

Nyra pov

Today is the day the first guy is coming to see me. I had taken a leave as per my father's instruction. My mother woke me up early in the morning so that I will be ready on time. As if they are giving free tickets to Manali. Sigh. Such a boring life I am living in. I was wearing a simple saree. It was a simple pink organza saree. I had braided my hair. And did simple makeup.

My mother even asked me to cook food so that they will be impressed. As if I want to. But I can't let my parents know that I will be doing something. So I cooked Upma and Kesari bath. It is a south indian breakfast. Upma is cooked using sooji and some vegetables are added and cooked. Whereas kesari bath is also cooked using sooji rava but it is a dessert. It will be sweet. And we can even put some dry fruits and even pineapple too.

My parents asked me to do puja and pray for everything to go well. I did everything as they told me to and was waiting for them to arrive. It was 10 in the morning when they came. My friends insisted that they will be with me for moral support. But I refused them because I know they will do something which will get me into trouble.

First when they came in, they all sat in the living room and were talking with my parents. I was standing inside the kitchen and was trying to listen to what they were saying. First they just spoke about anything and everything. Then they came to the main topic, which is my marriage. My mother called me to bring the breakfast along with me.

I had executed my first plan in ‘ Mission Scare The Groom’ and was waiting for the fun to begin. I gave the breakfast plate to his parents first, then I went near him and gave it to him.

After that my mother gestured to me to sit beside her. I sat and was waiting for the fun to start.

I don't even know his name. When my mother was praising him, I was just watching ganji chudail reel. I was so involved that I forgot to listen to his name. Let's give him a name.

What shall I name him ? How about a pookie? He is such a pookie coded. He was very much shy and was sitting very close to his mother as if , if he leaves her he will get lost. Or else I can name goodie two shoes. How about ‘He , whose name I don't know.’ What am I even thinking ? I should think about how to scare him. But here I am thinking what to call him.

I was carefully watching them eat. As soon as he tasted the first spoon he spit out as if he was poisoned. I was trying very hard to control my laugh. 

“What happened Chiru? Are you alright ?” His mother asked and was patting his back. I went and gave water to him very innocently as if I didn't mix salt and chilly powder for that sweet dish.

He coughed for 10 minutes straight. After 1 eternity kater he stopped. Even my parents started to worry. I hadn't put that much chilly powder. Maybe he is sensitive to that. But good thing is I finally got his name. Everyone was waiting for him to talk.

“It went through the wrong pipe.” He said as his watered and his voice cracked at the end.

After listening to him I felt very bad. That I shouldn't have done this. But I can't do anything. His fate was that he came here to meet me. So now he has to face the consequences. Sigh. Sad life.

After he calmed down. He didn't eat the dessert and simply sat. No one noticed because our parents were busy talking. My mother and his mother were busy talking about serials whereas my father and his father were talking about politics. We both were sitting awkwardly as if we were forced to sit in front of our relatives just for the sake of our parents.

“Nyra, do you know how to sing ?” His mother asked. I am getting annoyed now. Who asks these kinds of questions in this era.

“No aunty, I am not good at it.” I said, giving her a fake smile.

"Arey you don't know how to sing? That's bad.” She said and turned her face to the side making me feel dumb for not knowing.

“Aunty, do you know how to perform c section surgery?” I asked her, gritting my teeth to stop myself from saying bad words to her.

“Nahi beta. How can I know ?” She said laughing like I asked the most absurd question to her.

“How can you not know aunty? What if there is an emergency and no doctor is available?” I said slowly in a scolding manner but in reality I wanted to throw something on her head.

“Nyra, you are very funny.” I think she understood what I was trying to do and looked around awkwardly. Then turned towards her husband who was looking as though he was so done with her. Whereas he was just looking down the floor as if it was very interesting.

It was very awkward for a while. And my parents were glaring at me as if I committed a crime. My father cleared his throat and spoke.

“From that time we all are speaking, I think we should let them talk and get to know each other.” And gestured me to take him to a room.

I stood and turned towards him.

“Can I go and talk with her Amma?” He asked his mother. Then I realised that he is mama's boy.

There is nothing wrong with it. But there is a certain limit for that. And after marriage I have seen these kinds of guys who won't support their wife and that's so sad.

“Haan go and talk beta. My son won't do anything without my permission.” She said and patted his back.

He came and we both started walking towards my room. After going inside we sat side to side not speaking anything.

“Do you like me ?” I asked him because I don't think he will talk even if the whole day is given.

“If my mother liked you I would marry you.” He answered, still not looking towards me.

“I am asking for your opinion.”

“My mother's opinion is my opinion.”

I rolled my eyes at him. What kind of guys my parents are looking for me. They want me to marry me. Next he will ask his mother's permission to touch me. Whatever. I won't marry him anyway.

“Then I think there is nothing to talk about, we should just go out of here.” I said annoyed.

“Yes we should.” And stood up and went to open the door.

But then I decided to execute my final plan. Fastly I opened my hair. And smudged my kajal and lipstick.

I think he felt I was not following him and turned towards me. I was sitting on the bed putting my hair in front of my face.

“N—nny–rr–aaa, arr–e you alrr–ight?” He asked terrified. I saw his face in between my hair and was feeling like laughing but i controlled. When he came near me I lifted my head making sure to smack my hair into his face.

“Ami Manjulika.” I said creepily, smiling at him and started laughing loudly.

He got scared and started shouting and ran outside. Then fastly i started making myself before and went outside making a confused face at everyone. He was hugging his mother.

“What did you do to my son ?” His mother asked me angrily.

“What happened, Nyra?” My father asked, still confused.

“Nothing Appa. I just asked him about the marriage and asked if he liked me. But he got scared and ran away.” I said making my face as innocent as a lamb.

My father stood there deep in thoughts while his mother was blabbering and blaming saying I did something to him. Whereas he was not talking and was just hugging his mother.

“I think you all should leave. Maybe they are not meant to be together.” My father said without any expression on his face. Maybe he is angry. Because that's the only time he behaves like this.

“We don't even want to have a relationship with a family like yours.” His mother said and went away dragging him.

I felt sorry for him. For the way I treated him and also for the way he is getting treated by his mother. After they left.

“She has the audacity to speak bad about my daughter. She has not raised her son properly. My daughter is very good. That's the reason she is a doctor today.” When he was saying these things I felt bad about the way I am.

Yeah I studied hard and became a doctor. But I am not as ideal as they think I am. Sometimes I feel guilty for the way I am. Many times I lie to them and also I do things which they don't want me to. I know they do everything for my well being. But sometimes I want to be myself without any restrictions. But that doesn't mean I do anything and everything. I have set some limits which I won't cross.

“Don't worry more about this. I will find you a very good guy. And give you a good life.”

“Appa you have already given me a good life.”

“I know. Now I am here to look after you but what about when I am gone? I want someone to look after you.” He said caressing my head.

“Appa don't speak like that.” I said sleeping on his shoulders. My eyes were filled with tears.

“ Okay go and take a rest putta. Everything will be alright.” And he went outside.

My mother patted my head and went to the kitchen. I went to my room.

*Bolo Zubaan Kesari*

Mission successful guys.

Then we four did a conference call and I told them the whole story. Then I slept, thanking God that I was able to escape this.