'The Accidental Wife' New thread link-151 - Page 9

Mulling over Rudy's advice filled Maan with skepticism. Was it ridiculous to assume a woman, especially someone who fit his requirements to a tee, could be found online. Perhaps Rudy was taking him for a fool just like his mother.

He seethed with indignation as he flagged down a yellow cab and slid in. First I fall into my wily mother's trap and then my Casanova friend makes a mockery of me! What kind of idiot am I? So deep was he in his thoughts, that the cabbie had driven several blocks in the wrong direction before Maan realized it and asked him to turn around and head back toward the clinic.

Maan tried to talk himself out of his quandary. "This won't do," he said aloud to himself. "I can't let petty things overtake me and curtail my life. My work comes first. I won't let my patients down."

Later that night, as he sat in his favorite spot on the balcony, holding a barely touched glass of red wine in his hand, Maan contemplated the island of peace (the park) in the middle of the concrete jungle, and let his mind drift. The two surgeries had gone well. He wondered what the biopsy on the mass in Mr. Hirsh's frontal lobe would show. The gross features had looked suspicious. He sighed. As a doctor, he wasn't always a bearer of good news.

Not wanting to dwell on the morbid, he digressed toward something more cheerful. After finishing at the clinic that night he had walked back to the hospital to check on the young boy's condition. He had been pleased to find him chatting up a storm with his friends. The kid was eager to get back on his feet and to play league baseball. Maan, delighted at his enthusiasm, had assured his patient he'd get his wish soon. But just as he was about to leave, Maan was embarrassed with a bouquet of fresh blooms. He said a quick thanks and rushed to make his exit.

The ICU secretary had loved the flowers.

Maan smiled in the dark, closed his eyes, and awaited a wonderful restful sleep to overwhelm him. But he was betrayed just like yesterday.

Well aware of the cause, he flipped on to his side and broke out into song. The valiant effort didn't help much, rather scared a couple of roosting doves off their perch.

"God help me. Mom, how I wish I could strangle you," he cried, before slouching back into the darkness of his living room. "I guess you won't let me sleep until I do something about your bloody wishes!"

While he waited for the monitor of his PC to come alive, he thought; guess there's no harm in checking out Rudy's suggestion, even though what he says seems too fantastic to be true. Maan shrugged. No time like the present.

Typing India Matrimonial' into the search engine, he was struck by the numerous responses that popped up almost instantaneously.

His interest was piqued. Aside from a few, most results appeared to be fairly legitimate outfits. The usually traditional Indian wedding business had now turned commercial. All the marriage brokers and pundits who relied on matchmaking as their primary source of income would have to pack up their bags and move to the Himalayas, he thought chuckling.

He soon found himself engaged in the activity of browsing through the huge databanks of boys and girls seeking potential life partners. He was shocked at the variety he saw and equally surprised at the way they presented themselves, especially how particular they were about the kind of mate they wanted. It was just as Rudy had described"a huge marriage market.

Finally after having amused himself for a few hours, Maan fell asleep thinking there might just be a solution to all his problems.

***

Over the next few days, Maan got down to the serious business of finding a wife. And for once in his life, he knew exactly the kind of person he was looking for. And his requirements weren't many.

1. Mid-twenties (Not too young or flighty.)

2. College educated.

3. A fairly agreeable personality.

4. Not averse to moving to the States.

5. Did not have huge expectations from the marriage, and in particular from him. He didn't want to elevate hopes. He lay everything out in the open so the girl knew exactly what she was getting.

6. And the most important criteria of all"she should possess fairly ordinary looks; pretty enough to satisfy his mother, but not stunning. He had no desire to be overwhelmed by his future wife's beauty. That would be a distraction he wasn't prepared to deal with.

Soon he had narrowed his search down to ten girls. Then ultimately to one. She fit all the specs and also appeared empathetic with his views. In all, she seemed too good to be true but he pushed that uneasy notion aside.

Within the space of a week, the deal was almost sealed.

They chatted via Skype about the arrangements at two a.m. his time on a Sunday.

"Okay...so are we engaged?" she asked.

Engaged? Oh crap! Really? "I...guess we are unofficially," Maan replied.

"You can mail me the ring if you wish, but I really don't care about formalities," she assured him with a bright smile through the screen.

"That's cool," he said while thinking at the same time; these Indian girls are quite tez. Mom may be shocked!

"So when should we set the date?" Deepika said.

"Date? Ah..." The question threw him off. It was completely unexpected. In no hurry to tie the knot, Maan wanted to enjoy his bachelorhood a little longer. "Six months?" he suggested vaguely. That would give his mother enough time to make preparations to her heart's content.

"No, that's not soon enough." She shook her head. "Next month or the deal is off."

"What?" Maan sat up straighter on the couch in his living room. "I... That is not possible."

"Our family priest says that if I don't get married within a month, my father will die in a road accident," she said quite calmly.

"Is that right?" Damnit! His head had started to spin. He was losing control. It was unnerving, so he tried to stall. "Don't your parents wish to speak to mine?"

"They can do so when you and your parents come here for the wedding. My mom and dad have no objections. They love you already!" She smiled. "You know you are a dream catch!"

It was the second time he had heard the description and he didn't like it at all. He probed her eyes carefully on the monitor. She looked sincere enough. There appeared no reason to doubt her statement.

He shrugged it off his mind. He had to take chances in life, at some time or other.

"Don't worry. It'll all go without a hitch. My parents are pros at arranging weddings. You won't have to do a single thing."

He glanced at his schedule. "Uh, okay... I am long overdue for a vacation. I can try to make it there in a couple of weeks, or so." He stared back at her, hoping she would develop cold feet.

Not a chance. She agreed right away.

He could have said no and called the whole blasted thing off. But he didn't. Another girl like her would be hard to come by, and he was already feeling worn out by the entire process.

"So we have a...a date in two weeks or so. I'll see you soon. Till then, take care," he muttered with little enthusiasm before signing off.

It was odd, but he wasn't experiencing any of the excited anticipation that a new bridegroom is supposed to"at least that's what he'd heard"while he awaited D Day. Instead, Maan was filled with a strange dread.

Another thought spiraled in his mind"perhaps he deserved it.

He consoled himself with the good things he had learned about her. His future wife, Deepika, was realistic, mature, and a lot more experienced in these matters than he was. If she could handle the stress, so could he.

tbc

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