Humdum

Chapter 1 ~ The First Meeting

Nandini

"Nandu, just one meeting. It's totally your choice at the end of the day but just meet him once!", Mumma pleaded.

"Mumma, I have so many responsibilities already! I don't want to get married."

"You don't have to get married, Bachha! Just meet him once."

"Why should I meet him if I don't need to marry him?"

"Nandu, please! Papa wants you to meet him and his family."

"Fine."

"What did you say?"

"I'll meet him."

Mumma squealed and hugged me tight.

I grimaced, "I said I'll meet him. I didn't say I'll marry him."

She smiled, "I'm still happy."

I nodded, "I can see."

~~

"Nandu, this is Rohit. Both of us were together in college.", Papa said as he introduced me to the boy's parents.

I nodded at Rohit Uncle and bent down to take his blessings.

He stopped me and shook his head, "Ghar ki betiyan pair nahi chooti."

I smiled and hugged him.

"Won't you hug me?", I heard a voice behind me and I turned around to see a lady.

I looked at Papa and he smiled, "Ananya Bhabhi, Rohit's wife."

I smiled at Ananya Aunty warmly and embraced her.

She stroked my hair fondly, "I've heard so much about you!"

"Good things, I hope.", I chuckled.

Ananya Aunty laughed, "Of course!"

Ananya Aunty and I talked for sometime and then I excused myself to serve refreshments.

As Mumma and I arranged the snacks on the trays, I wondered why Rohit Uncle and Ananya Aunty's son hadn't come yet.

"Nalayak, where were you?", Rohit Uncle asked when he walked in ten minutes later.

I suppressed a smile and served everyone the refreshments.

"Dad, you're embarrassing me.", he whispered.

Ananya Aunty walked to her son, pulled his ear and made him stand in front of me.

"This is Nandini."

"Uhh-okay.", he said as he smiled awkwardly.

"Mom, please leave my ear.", he added ten seconds later.

"Not until you apologize and tell Nandini why you're late."

"Aunty, there's no need for that.", I protested but Aunty shook her head and looked at her son.

I forgot to ask Mumma his name.

I am doomed.

"Uhh-I'm really sorry to make you wait. I-I had a class with the tenth grade batch today so I couldn't miss that."

Class? What does he mean?

Nevertheless, I nodded.

Aunty smiled at me, "Manik is a physics teacher."