Chapter 3 Chapter 2. Arrange marriage

Aditya

My phone was buzzing continuously for the past few minutes and I was starting to get annoyed with it. I slept at two in the morning and it's just been a few minutes but my stupid phone won't stop ringing. I opened my eyes and looked at the time. My eyes widened as I realised it was already seven in the morning. I wanted to sleep more but then I will be late for work. Rubbing my eyes tiredly, I looked at my phone to see who was calling. Looking at the caller Id, my irritation flew out the window. I picked up the call smiling.

"Hey, beautiful! Good morning." I greeted cheerfully.

"Good morning to you too handsome. May I know why it took you seven calls to answer the phone?"

"Umm. Actually, mom..." I always get nervous while lying to her. "Were you working till late again, Adi? When are you going to take care of yourself?" She asked annoyed.

"Yeah, I am still working on the Pearson project. You know right, this deal is very important to me. It's one of the biggest accomplishments of my career. I am going to make dad and you proud of me."

"Adi, I understand. And honestly, your dad and I are so very proud of you. You do so much hard work and you have taken the company to new heights in just a few years. We are already in the seventh sky seeing your success. You don't need to prove anything else, son. All you do is just work and stress." Mom said sighing.

"Mom! I just love my work, there is no stress here. Work is all I know. Isn't that what you taught me 'to love what I do'?" "I know what I taught but I didn't know my values are going to backfire on me only. I asked you to love your work, not get married to it. If you had been married, I wouldn't have to worry so much about you because I would know that you are not alone but now, huh. Adi, I just wish to see you happy, falling in love, getting married and having kids. If you want to make us happy, then get married already." "Seriously? Marriage, again? You don't have any other topic these days. Please, for now, forget about marriage. Only my work is important to me at the moment." I asked annoyed.

"You and your work. Just get over it soon. I want to see my son. I haven't seen you for a month now. Come back soon, Adi. I miss you so much." I softened after hearing her words.

"I miss you, too. And I promise you will see me very soon. I'll be back before you know it. Also, thank you for waking me up. I have a very important meeting right now. If things fall in place, I could finish this deal early. Now I gotta go and get ready." I told her while getting up from the bed.

"Love you. Bye and please take care of yourself. Eat breakfast too." "Ok, bye. Love you, too." We hung up the call and I smiled. What I didn't tell her was that my work was already in the final stage and I was all packed up to go back to India by tonight.

After the call, I got ready for the office. After taking a shower and hastily wearing my suit, I ran outside while still doing my tie. I had to skip breakfast because I was running late and I didn't have the time to make breakfast. My cook was on a break and lucky for me, mom taught me cooking. I am twenty-six, the least I could do is feed myself.

My parents have always believed in being independent so I was taught cooking at a very early age. Although, I was hardly using the skill nowadays because of my busy schedule. Most of the time, I am busy with work and eat at the office or sometimes I just skip my meals. But I am lucky that I have a lot of caring people around me who look after me when I can't.

I was born in The U.K and was raised here for a few years before my parents decided to go back to their roots. We shifted to India, it was overwhelming for me at first because I was at a stage where I didn't want to leave my friends. But I got over it soon when I found a new friend who was just like me. My parents have different professions, my mother is a doctor while my father, an entrepreneur. My mother is one of the best cardiologists in our country. She has so many accomplishments in her field and runs her own hospital in India, aiming to provide the best medical facilities to people. I have learned to be the best from both of them. The Company where I work is the company founded by my grandparents which was then handed over to his kids and now I and my cousins handle it. My father took it to another level and now I want to take it to new heights.

Our company, A. International is a part of a Fortune 500 company list, we have businesses all over the world. It has always been my dream to lead it towards more growth. I have been a part of this company for a few years now, I used to follow my father in summer holidays during school days as well. After getting my degree, I started working officially in the company, I worked under my father for a year before he gave me command of the company. I have seen how dedicated and passionate my father has been for his work all his life and I have always wanted to be like him. So I worked hard every day to prove that I deserve where I am today.

My parents have always given me the best values and made me what I am today. I was always taught to never take undue advantage of my position. In life, a person should keep learning because one can never be fully learned; there is always some scope for improvement. My parents have been my inspiration since forever. They both had their respective accomplished careers but they did not even have a small ounce of arrogance in them. Amidst the emergencies and board meetings, they never forgot that they have a son and always gave me their time.

I don't normally like to stay alone but for work, I usually travel a lot. Currently, I was in the U.K for a project of the company and I had been away from home for more than a month.

I've dated my fair share of women but it's not like I have commitment issues. I just never met a woman that I wanted to give my heart to...the woman who will make me feel complete. I have always believed that love should be consuming, it should make you feel whole. I want to fall in love and I am waiting for that right woman who would complete me and my soul by filling the void of my heart. I wish to have something like my parents have. They are so much in love, even after so many years of their marriage, they still go on romantic dates and give each other thoughtful gifts.

I was driven to the office by Sean, who has worked for the company as security personnel for a few years. I reached the office on time. I don't like tardiness and to expect punctuality from my employees, I need to be punctual too. The receptionist greeted me with a professional smile. I nodded at her and went to the elevator, pressing the button for my floor. Some employees lining outside the other elevators greeted me. Due to security and privacy issues, we have had separate elevators for employees since the very beginning.

After I reached my floor, employees started greeting me. I nodded with a poker face and walked towards the other end of the hall where my cabin was. My secretary, Lucy greeted me with her bright smile. She is my favourite person in the office and the only woman who is immune to my charms. Well, obviously because she is my mother's age.

"Good morning, Lucy. How are you doing?" She smiled in response.

"Very well, Aditya. Your meeting has been postponed for another hour." "But why? And by whom?" I asked angrily.

"By me, your dear secretary on your mother's orders because you did not have your breakfast."

"Alright." "Go to your office. I will bring your breakfast." She smiled at me. "Okay. I will be in my office." No one can win from women. I walked into my cabin but turned back as a teasing thought came to my mind.

"Hey, Lucy!" I said with a teasing glint.

"Yeah." She looked at me with a raised eyebrow.

"Has Rob digested his last defeat from the Champion of basketball aka me?" I asked smugly pointing at myself. I could only behave childishly in front of a few people, the rest only see my poker face.

"Hmm. Why don't you ask him yourself? Although I do remember a few curses from his mouth for a certain someone named Aditya Aggarwal." "Well, what can we do with sore losers?" I said making a face. She laughed.

"Oh, God! You will make my husband mad someday. Go to your cabin. You need to eat before the meeting starts." She said patting my face lovingly. I chuckled and went to my cabin. She always treats me like her own child. She does not have any kids of her own but the way she loves me, I know she considers me one of hers.

I entered my cabin and sighed loudly. It is my comfortable space, designed peculiarly according to my style. The walls are covered in black and white with the interior matching them, a floor-to-ceiling glass window spanning the entire side of the room and providing a surreal view of the London skyscrapers, some paintings from local artists hanging on the walls and a single picture of my family placed on the desk - everything is just perfect. Lucy entered sometime later with a cup of coffee and a tray of sandwiches.

"Now I am realising that I am famished. Thanks, Lucy." Lucy kept the plate on my table and left after patting my face with a smile.

After the meeting got over and we signed the contract, I was finally done with my work here.

"Lucy, follow up from Theo, please. I will meet him at the airport in approximately two hours." I said after looking at my watch. "Okay. I will inform him. Have a safe journey. Come back soon." She said with a smile and hugged me. I hugged her back and she whispered, "I will miss you."

"I will miss you, too. Say goodbye to Rob for me." "I will." She nodded smiling and we pulled back.

Afterwards, I went home and after freshening up and picking my luggage, I left for the airport. Theo, my pilot was waiting for me. I shook hands with him and after discussing the weather and the turbulence expectations, I went inside the plane and took my seat. I caught a few hours of sleep on the plane.

When I reached my home, it was late evening. As I rang the bell, the house help opened the door and greeted me when she saw me. Mom and dad were sitting in the hall probably talking about their day. I have seen them sharing about their day with each other since my childhood. "Hey, guys," I yelled loudly to gain their attention. They both looked at me with a mix of shock and surprise. Mom was the first one to recover from her shock as she rushed to hug me.

"Oh my God! Adi. What are you doing here? You didn't tell me you were coming back in the morning? Weren't you supposed to come on Saturday?" She asked still surprised.

"Okay. So you are not happy that your son came early. This woman who claims to be my mother does not love me at all." I said dramatically keeping a hand on my eyes, pretending to cry.

"Stop doing drama and answer my question." She whacked my shoulder.

"And now she is doing violence against me." I continued the drama. She glared at me and it was enough for me to stop my drama.

"Fine. I signed the deal today itself. I didn't tell you in the morning because it was meant to be a surprise. And someone told me in the morning that she missed me. Now happy?" "I missed you so much." Mom hugged me.

"I missed you too, mum." Dad being the silent one till now hugged us both together.

"I am so proud of your yet another achievement. You are the best leader for our company, my son." Dad said proudly patting my back.

"He is my son, too." Mom said nudging dad with her elbow. I chuckled at their silly behaviour. "Ok, now that you are back, I am going to be ignored majorly," Dad said earning a glare from mom. We talked for some time after which I went to my room to take a shower. After getting freshened up, I went for dinner downstairs.

Mom-dad were passing secret smiles to each other throughout the dinner. They were planning something against me. I came here decided that if they made me meet a girl for marriage again, I would go back to London. I narrowed my eyes at them.

"What is going on? Why are you passing secret smiles to each other? I am telling you, make me meet another spoiled brat and I am leaving for London tomorrow." I told them sternly. They already introduced me to two girls for marriage three months ago and it was the worst experience of my life. You can't marry a girl who only likes you because you happen to be a rich businessman with good looks. I am not even being narcissistic here. Truth is truth!

"Who said we are making you meet any?" Dad denied all claims and shook his head but mom being the excited one in the family, didn't listen to a word he said and leaked out everything.

"We have found a perfect girl this time. She is so beautiful, talented and just so sweet." Dad face-palmed himself after mom's reply.

"So you already met her?" I asked shocked.

"No, no. We didn't." Dad said immediately.

"Then why are you describing her as if you meet her every day for dinner?" I asked sarcastically.

"Adi, stop being so difficult. We got this alliance from a long thread of people. They were all praises about her. I promise she is not like others." She started ranting about the people and the girl. I held my head in my hands. Not getting any response from me; mom realised that she was rambling all this time. "Oh! Sorry, Adi, I got so excited about your marriage that I forgot to ask your opinion." She said looking at me sheepishly.

"Oh! You remember I am here as well. Isn't it the case every time? Once you start talking about my marriage, you forget it is 'my marriage' we are talking about." I said in an accusatory tone. She rolled her eyes at me.

"Adi, we know you are not dating anyone at the moment. If you don't like the girl, the topic closes right there. We haven't met the girl personally but we have heard only praises about her. We both think that she will be perfect for you. Please just meet her once." Dad said calmly. "Dad, I agree that I am not in relation with anyone but it doesn't mean I am ready for a relationship now. The whole arrange marriage thing is giving me goosebumps already. I am not thirty that you guys are so eager to get me married. I am just twenty-six, there is plenty of time for me to meet new people and decide about my life. You guys always do this to me. Those two girls I met earlier were only after our family name and money. Why don't you guys understand my point? I hate to be the subject of attention every time. They just talk about our family or their dreams. What about me? What about what I want in life?" "I get your point, Adi. You are right in your position. But I assure you, this one is not spoiled. You will like her."

"How can you be so sure?" I asked running my hands through my hair. Honestly, I was getting mad.

"I just know. It's my gut feeling." Mom answered with twinkling eyes.

"Yeah right, gut feeling," I muttered under my breath. "Come on, Adi. Marriage at your age is not a bad thing. It gives you time to know each other. It's amazing, especially in arrange marriage, you fall in love with your partner slowly and steadily. And love is an amazing feeling. Look at us, your dad and I, we also had an arranged marriage. Aren't we happy? Rest all is your decision. We won't force you. It doesn't matter anyway that we already arranged a meeting next Sunday, we can cancel it. It is entirely your decision." She said pretending to look sad.

"So you guys had planned it all. I was supposed to come on Saturday and you guys were taking me to meet the girl on Sunday. Wow! What thoughtful parents I have got? What if I had been jet-lagged?" I asked annoyed at them. "Adi! You came a week before anyway. Plenty of time for you to adjust. Now, stop being a brat." Mom scolded me.

"Wow, I am being a brat? Look at her, she is calling me a brat now for an outsider." I argued with her and looked at dad.

"Can you two stop bickering? Adi, please, last time." Dad intervened.

"Fine. Fine. I don't have any importance anyway." I mumbled.

"Adi!" Mom glared at me. I sighed in defeat.

"Even if I don't know I am ready for such a big commitment or not but still if this makes you guys happy, I will meet the girl. Happy now?" I uttered at last. "Very." Mom jumped up excitedly.

"But..." I interjected. They both looked at me attentively.

"If she is just like the other ones, you won't force me for marriage. Promise me. I will find a girl for myself afterwards." I pointed a finger at both of them. They both nodded their heads in agreement. I got up to go to my room when mom called me from behind.

"I have sent her picture to you on WhatsApp. Her name is Anvi Bansal. Look at her and then thank me later." She smirked at me and left for her room.

Yeah right, thank you. Puh-lease!!!

I laughed at mom's overconfidence and went to my room upstairs. My phone was lying on the bed, I was in a dilemma whether to see the picture or not. I took my phone and went to the balcony. Mom was talking so highly of the girl, let's see if the description matched. Looks were never important to me and they definitely didn't guarantee brains. That much I knew from the past two meetings. I unlocked my phone and scrolled through my WhatsApp. When I saw the picture, I was surprised. She is beautiful. Really beautiful.

This is going to be interesting. I smirked.