Beginning and end of stories...
"I am in shock you actually show up at the office to talk to me about meeting someone" Ashvin spoke in suppressed rage.
Sharnbir drank his coffee and set the fine china tea cup down.
His trembling hand didnt go unnoticed
Chirag looked like a deer under headlights
"Umm.. I should be going. I will let you two sort it out?" he thumbs "ep-ed" towards Ashvin
"I think you should stay because the longer you stay the more difficult it will be for him to tell me how I should live my life" Ashvin said boldly
"Aap jao bache" Sharanbir was unfazed
Chirag vamoosed
"I am not willing to marry anyone picked by you. I am not willing to date anyone picked by you" Ashvin said firmly after exhaling an audible breath
"Why? are you seeing someone?"
"Umm... Cusine Craft is in no way affected by my off work activities"
"The Narang family has a reputation"
"Riiight" Ashvin couldnt conceal the contempt in his tone
"Mandira ko kaha maine, aur text bhi kiya hai aap mil aao jaakar"
"i dont think I can, I am busy"
"Consider this a work responsibilty
"What makes you think I am going to like who ever you pick"
"I am thinking you will" Sharan smiled
"Dont be so self assured"
"I am your grandfather"
"I am not denying that" Ashvin was exasperated
"To kehna zaroori hai" he said softening up a bit
"I really dont want to get married now" Ashvin said firmly
"Aapko pata hai no Narang has hit 30 without a wife on his side?"
"So I should have been a girl" mocking
"Huh"
"This really doesnt make any sense to me" "I have been hearing about this from Mom for months now. But I ignored it. You dont even acknowledge my existence but you want to see me married?"
Sharan had no response
"I am sorry. If you want to talk about work. I can. But not about my personal life"
Sharan stood up
"Mehra's daughter will be here all of July I am hoping you will get to know each other"
"I wouldnt hold my breath"
"I am going to"
Sharan was gone
Ashvin flung the balled up paper towel clear across the room.
Texts from Rajat Mehra were forwarded to him in rapid succession
An Instagram invite appeared a FB invite appeared all in a matter of seconds
"does he really believe I have no f**king say in this Mom?" he called his mother as he walked down MG Road
"Language Ashvin" she reminded
"Oh well... you say it enough times"
"There was a time I craved for his phone call or to see him" Ashvin found himself choking up
Soon after his Dad died he did indeed expect Sharanbir to step in and take over
Nope
"NOW he shows up and asks me to meet someone he insists will make a good wife" he yelled
The din of traffic her angry son all made Mandira very anxious
"He is the head of the family. Do it"
"Youve got to be kidding" he shouted
"I am not beta. What choice do you have? You work for one of his companies" she reminded
"Oh really Mom? You think he will fire me if I didnt marry whoever this Aanya Mehra is?" he asked
"You dont know? Look what he did for something plain stupid 10 years ago" she reminded
"I am well aware of that. But it has to stop after some point. He cant treat me like I am the family dog" Ashvin ranted
"He did that to all your cousins you know"
"YOU dont know that. HE told you that. As far as I know they all knew and dated the women they married... LONG before they married them"
"Go back to work, its too noisy" she worried
"I am fine"
"She is coming tonight. Can you meet her for breakfast?" she asked
"No I absolutely will not. Infact I am going to try and figure out whats in it for HIM" he said thoughtfully
"We are just two paranoid souls beta, there is nothing." she sighed "he wants to see you married"
"And I am his favorite grandson" Ashvin cackled derisively indicating his Mom was being ridiculous
"There is nothing more, we both are crazy"
"No we are not... Trisha Shanbag is THE DAUGHTER of that man that caused this whole mess" he said
"But they are broke and impoverished now, so thats the end of that story" she mumbled
"No its not" he said firmly
Anupamaa
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
