IPKKND:The'TeriMeri'Series OS1 P74/OS2 P78/OS3 P83 - Page 29

Simplicity is the beauty of a woman. And I searched for that in each of the dozen proposals my mother brought me. Some had nothing called the epidermal cells visible. Oopsi! Sorry for the biological terminology but my professional instincts tend to kick in sometimes. But the point anyways does not change. Light and makeup to cover up the flawless, for what? To give the new hubby a heart attack seeing the actual plight of his wife on the first night? Nah! I knew more and I was adamant that I choose a woman who knows her strengths and can accept her weaknesses. Then when today morning, Mom literally blew my skull off me (see that, I could have easily used 'head' there) asking me to give her the name of a lady by the end of the day. What nonsense! Arguing with my mother was never a good idea but I had crossed the heights of tolerance and so I slammed the front door and instead of indulging in my earnings, I walked along the pavements, repeating over and over to my already filled cerebrum with more mess. My over tendency to rethink and ponder upon everything made me to attempt to think in my mother's angle. Maybe, she is just really concerned, I mused. It's not like I am in my 20s. I would be 32 in a month's time. She did have a right to be hysterical about this whole issue. But should that include driving me nuts every damn day? My own self contradicted the former thought. Of course, I have my own decisions to make. I do not have a problem tying the knot but I just need to find the right girl. Desperate as both my stands balanced out each perfectly just like Uncle Newton rightly pointed, I sighed and decided to relax my legs. I found an empty bench below a small canopy of tree that sort of fenced the straight road in between. Feeling restless, I looked around at the near empty street for it was slightly distant from the main roads. Across the street, to my right, I heard hushes and squeals of children. With no other source to keep me distracted, I watched the kids' excitement around the florist cart that stood gracefully with the multi coloured beauties surrounding it. Someone from behind the long stems was bending, picking up tiny cuttings and handing them over to the kids. In time, each of them was holding one flower and when the last one took his, I saw her beautiful hair wave in the gentle breeze. As though I was Shah Rukh Khan and this was a Karan Johar film, I felt my breath leaving my lungs at the sight of her twirling and dancing amidst her garden for the children. Even at the distance, I could see her big black eyes enhanced by kohl and nothing else that destroyed her now perfectly sun kissed face. I felt my lips curl automatically. Maybe I should apologize to my mother with a bunch of flowers. I chuckled at my own lame joke and as the kids withdrew giving flying kisses to her, I reached up to her cart. She was tending to a yellow rose and with her back faced me, I was drawn with sudden kicked in hormones at the sight of the deep back of her summer dress. I had lost my voice when she turned and with a surprised 'Oh' quickly gifted me a smile. "What may I get you, sir?" her voice rung in my ears long after she had completed. I never knew a day would come when I could make my mother happy and content myself at the same time. "I need you to give me your most precious bouquet," I answered. My fists tightened underneath my pockets as I resisted my new found temptations. "Let me guess, girlfriend?" she talked to me easily moving around, collecting the best flowers. "Yeah, sort of," I replied. She smiled at me and then returned to her work humming a tune to herself. "My mother," I added after a pause. I somehow felt the urge to tell that. This time she beamed at me and I could tell that I had never been merrier. Long after her face had dug down to pluck some lilies, I saw the lingering elements of her stunning smile merging with the air. Pulling myself out of the trance, I found her working on a small basket neatly arranging the flowers she had collected one by one. I watched patiently as her fingers moved fluidly along to basket lines and flowers as if they were little babies. I was lucky that she was engrossed in her job or else she would have freaked out at all my stares. Time flew fast and she was standing before me with her basket done, apologizing for the delay, not realizing one bit how much I would pay to stand longer. I took the basket from her and I paid her. "I hope your mother will like it," she said sweetly, almost in a 'good-bye' tone that actually made me feel worse than I thought. But here was an opportunity and a silver lining for me. I took my chance. "About that," I began. She earnestly put forward her attention to me. "Would you come home with me?" I asked her, taking in all the confidence I had. "Me? Why?" she exclaimed in disbelief. I sort of understood that she considered herself ordinary. "My mom has been looking for someone. Erm.. for a marriage. Will you be interested?" I asked sincerely, looking straight into her eye. "Oh. You need my services?" "Yeah, sort of," I laughed at the back of my head. "I..Of course. Sure," she said, stammering excitedly, "I can't believe this. You know, no one's ever asked my services before," she continued. I hid a smile and simply said a 'Yeah." Clearly overwhelmed at the idea that I requested her flowers when I actually asked her hand in marriage, I wondered if there ever will be a stranger proposal. "Should I come home now?" she asked me. I raised my eyebrows. "Would you?" I questioned back. She rolled her eyes. I couldn't help but fall for her expressive features. "But I am a total mess. I need a shower. I mean, I should look presentable right," she ranted. She looked up at me expecting an answer. "You needn't worry. Will you be able to make it in the evening?" "That's perfect" she said, literally hopping around. I gave her my address and I thought I would scream in joy. She bid me farewell with the newly made bouquet for my mother and a promise to meet me at my residence at 5. I walked back home, skipping at each stone, telling them of my immortal happiness. I knew just well that receiving a 'no' to my actual proposal in the evening would be too unlikely an event. "Mamma!" I yelled and my mother ignored it. I ran and hug her from behind and put forth the basket. Like any other mother, her eyes swelled and tears began misting them. "I am sorry, Ma" I apologized and then continued with my morning incident. She rubbed my cheeks with her palms and hugged me and by the condition of my shirt, I knew well that her water tanks were flooding. My mom is so filmy, I tell you. I laughed. My mom smacked me and then shoo'ed me off for a bath whilst she prepared a heavy dinner especially for her daughter ' in ' law to be. I beamed and then left to oblige my mother, anticipating the grandfather clock to chime 5 times.

About the Title : Roses stands for his mother. Lilies stand for 'her'. Rest is self explanatory.