Part 9
Priya looged on to Skype and awaited for Jay to come online. She was quite positive now that one by one she would sort out the problems. What stand she took depended a lot on what Jay thought and reacted. She immediately smiled when she saw that Jay was online.
Priya: Hey Jay
Jay: Heyy..so hows the new job?
Priya: Intresting is the word. Its a niche company, so far so good. How are things at your end?
Jay: Things are good..just routine stuff.
Priya: Jay i wanted to ask you if you are coming down for Ahmed's wedding?
Jay: I might come Priya
Priya: Jay, i know this is too early for you but i have to let my parents know about you, about us.
Jay: Priya, i am fine with you telling your folks but its just that i have thoguht no further .
Priya: Jay i am just saying that my parents ought to be aware of us. I cannot let them find matches for me while my heart is set on you.
Jay: One minute Priya, you are not suggesting marraige right?
Priya hesitated for a second: Nope Jay, i only want to let them know that i have you in my life.
Jay: Sure, go ahead.
Priya: When you come down you have to meet them.
Jay: Is it necessary?
Priya: Very much
Jay: Ok if you say so
Jay: I just think its going too fast...anyways i ll meet them if you want me too. Heading off now..bye love you.
Before Priya could say her byes, Jay had logged out. Priya again kept staring at the screen. Her conversation with Jay was increasingly becoming mundane and going nowhere. Was she wrong in getting Jay to meet her parents? She was with him for two years. At the start of the Skype call she had thoguht a lot of her burden would be lifted and she would have her answers. But after the call it seemed all the more complicated. Out of instinct Priya dialled Krutika.
Krutika: Hey girl, whats up?
Priya: I just finished talking to Jay.
Krutika: And?
Priya: Nothing yaar, same old loop...
Krutika: Why don't you just propose to him?
Priya: Are you out of your mind?
Krutika: Why not? You do want to marry him right? Then what's the harm?
Priya: Its so complicated yaar.
Krutika: It's not complicated. You are making it. See Priya from the looks of it i do not think Jay is keen on popping the question any time soon. It is perfectly fine but you know we tell our parents only when we are sure about marraige. If he dsn't want to marry then no point in telling uncle and aunty.
Priya: I know but i am left with very little choice. Mom and Dad will keep lining up proposals and it would be tough rejecting every time.
Krutika: Have you spoken to Ram?
Priya: Not yet
Krutika: Then please do so.
Priya: Hmnn..chalo i ll hang up now.
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Maa, don't be unreasonable... Ram tried speaking to his mother.
Krishna: What unreasonable? Beta, you both working in the same company not good.
Ram: Maa, we have not even spoken about marraige and you went to their house.
Krishna: I do not understand you people. Ordering food, shopping online, buying movie tickets all you do fast and when it comes to speaking you are lagging behind. Whole day you people are glued to your phones and still haven't spoken?
Ram: Maa, her alliance was just a suggestion. It's not that the marraige is fixed. Let me make time to speak to her. Ram looked at his father for support.
Amarnath: I think we should stay out of this. Let the children decide first, then we can come in the picture.
Krishna: I am telling you you people are making a mistake. You either like her or no. Why so much time?
Ram: Maa, please nothing further now...and please do not go over to their house please..
Krishna: As you say. Nobody listens to me...
Ram shook his head again. What would Priya think of him? That he is some male chauvinistic pig? That he has problems if they work in the same company. He needed to speak to Priya, that was for sure. Should he speak now...nay it would be too late. First thing tomorrow he decided.
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Priya ate her breakfast in a hurry. She did not want to be late. She gulped down her tea while glancing at her phone. No message from Jay. For the umpteenth time she wished she was in US. As she picked up her bag and headed towards the door, her father called from behind.
Sudhir: Wait, i am dropping you.
Priya: Papa no need, i ll rick it.
Sudhir: Beta, i anyways have to go to the CA office. I ll drop you.
Sudhir dropped Priya and went his way. As Priya was entering she saw Ram parking his car as well. Should she stop for him and speak to him? Should she speak early morning or wait till afternoon? As she was contemplating her decision, Ram arrived besides her.
Ram: Morning
Priya: Good Morning
Ram: Priya, if you don't mind, can we talk for a few minutes?
Priya: Sure
Ram: Great, lets go to the tea stall.
At the tea stall Ram ordered for 2 cups and sat down besides Priya.
Ram: I am sorry for yesterday. Please do not misunderstand my parents.
Priya: Huh?
Ram: I mean whatever my mom said about us working in the same company, she was just concerned that after marriage how can we work for the same company. But i know we haven't discussed anything and its best that you ignore what she said.
Priya drew a complete blank but then remembered the 2 glasses of cold drink. So they di have visitors. Normally Priya would have been offended but she thought this was her golden chance.
Priya: Ram, now that you have brought up the topic, i just wanted to tell you that i do not see any marriage alliance between us.
Ram's face immediately fell.
Ram: Is this because of what my mom said?
Priya: No, its just that i don't want to marry right now.
Ram: That is fine Priya, no hurry, but we haven't even spoken to each other, nor know each other well. To decide about not marrying, is it not a bit harsh?
Priya: Well Ram, to put it gently, i have no intention of staying here, my life is in USA.
Ram: So you want a guy settled in USA?
Priya: Sort of?
Ram: You don't think India is good enough for you?
Priya: Where did that come from? I am just saying my preference is USA.
Ram: Means the same thing
Priya gritted her teeth.
Ram: Then why did you come back?
Priya: To be honest, i did not get a job there.
Ram: You sure about this?
Priya: Yes, why?
Ram: You don't look sure for starters...anyway..that's your life. Ram stood up as he paid the money.
Priya: So i assume that you won't be pursuing this further?
Ram: What further?
Priya: This marraige proposal thing?
Ram: Why would i not?
Priya: I just told you the reason..
Ram: Yes, but i want to live my life in India
Priya: That's fine but say no to me
Ram crossed his hands over his shoulder. Why?
Priya: God! Did you not hear a word that i said?
Ram: I did, but i don't think i know you enough to say no, besides you are free to choose. You can say no...C u around..
Priya sat confused staring at Ram's back. What had just happened? This was the wierdest conversation she had ever had. She immediately dialled Krutika. For a change Krutika did not pick up. Priya dropped a message to call her immediately.
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Ram sat at his desk thinking about their conversation. Why had he behaved that way? What was about this girl that made him behave this way? He straightened up the moment he saw Priya enter.
Priya kept her bag at the side and started her laptop. She could feel Ram's eyes on her. She decided to brush the conversation aside and concentrate on her work. Vidyut was already working away and Apu had not arrived yet. No sooner had she started working she received a message on the company messenger.
Ram: Hii, i am sorry about our convo
Priya: You should be
Ram: Still i feel you should talk to your parents about not wanting to marry
Priya: Hmnn
Priya did not want any advice from him. She closed the messenger and focused her attention to her work.
Apu arrived and after the initial greetings sat to do her work.
Apu: Oh no yaar not again
Ram: What happened?
Apu: My parents yaar, again the marraige crap..
Priya: Same with me
Apu: Yeah i know
Ram: Why do you girls not speak to your parents?
Apu: Ram...its no use yaar. Making them understand is so difficult.
Ram: Try atleast, why do you expect the poor guys to do that job for you
Priya: Why is it difficult for guys to accept that girls do not want to marry? Can't we have different ambitions?
Ram: Whoa...peace girls...i was just
Priya: I think its better if you do not give your opinion. Apu i understand your situation but unfortunately some people do not.
Ram choose not to reply and further aggravate the situation.
Priya's attention was diverted to her mobile as it rang.
Priya: Thank god you called.
Krutika: Bolo Vatsa ...kya pareshani hai
Priya: Kruti yaar, this Ram is a total pyscho..i mean i told him i do not want to marry and he is like i should speak to my parents and why i have come back and
Krutika: Chill Chill...Priya...slowly take me through.
Priya repeated her conversation.
Krutika: So basically he will not refuse?
Priya: Think so
Krutika: I reckon you tell uncle and aunty about Jay.
Priya: But
Krutika: Priya, that is the best option. Jay has agreed to see them so no harm in telling them about him. Any case if there is no help forthcoming from Ram then...
Priya: I agree, lets see how it happens. I ll call you in the evening, i am getting mom's call on the other line.
Priya picked up Shipra's call.
Shipra: Priya, i need the password to your laptop.
Priya: Why mom?
Shipra: My laptop has died down and i urgently need to harvest my plants..
Priya: Mom you are impossible...pasword is Bruno
Shipra: Thanks bye beta
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Shipra logged in on to Priya's laptop and was about to open facebook when the picture on the desktop caught her attention. It was Priya with a foreigner guy on top of a mountain. At the bottom of the picture it was written, Priya and Jay..forever ...
To be continued
Pati Patni Aur Panga
Kumkum Bhagya
