Chapter 3

Bhaisahab - A term of reverence and endearment for an elderly man 

Beta - a term of endearment for somebody younger

Di - Sister

"Aah Shantanu, why did you take the trouble and come all the way!" Prithviraj said as audibly as he could

"Prithviraj bhai, what is the trouble in this, besides you have been my mentor! How wouldn't I come and see you! I had no idea about this or I would've come sooner! These kids told me just today morning" Shantanu answered

"Aah yes, how should these poor kids know about how early in time, our relations date to!" Prithviraj said, stooping his shoulders as he laughed in a hoarse tone

"How are you doing Prithviraj bhaisahab?" Shantanu asked, a plump man with only a few hair left sprouting out on the edges said as he sipped on the tea that Nidhi had just served him

"Arrey shantanu beta,  ab tumse kya chupana (what do we hide from you), our girl, Meera has finally returned even if it was for my sickness"

"Yes yes, we just met her outside, she is such a well brought up child" Pratibha added

"Well, what should I say, ab hamare toh kitne hi din baaki hain (god knows how much more life is left) but my only concern is that I don't want to die before marrying her off"

"Bhaisahab, please don't say thing like these, don't worry you'll be fit and fine"

"Beta, a man knows very well when he is going to die, and I don't want to die before I see Meera married, I will never get moksh (enlightenment)! I will never get moksh!" Prithviraj said folding his hands into a namaste suddenly his eyes watering, he'd be dehydrated with a few minutes if he continued crying

Shantanu suddenly went to his bed and put his hands over Prithvirajs, "Prithviraj Bhaisahab, you don't have to worry, and then Meera is like a daughter to us, we will look for someone for her"

"Hmm, very well then, Manish, beta do take Shantanu's help while listing out prospective alliance" Prithviraj called out to manish

"Tell me more, how are your children, your brother? I just met Divya and Akash, what about the rest of the kids?"

"They're okay"

"Has your elder son returned from the US - Arjun if I am not wrong? As far as I remember, I hadn't spotted him in Divya's wedding" Prithviraj said, straining his memory

"Yeah he came back shortly after their wedding, currently he is the one managing the business, we are also looking for alliances for him" Shantanu answered politely.

"Shantanu, I have been your mentor, but I never got my guru dakshina (something to thank a teacher with)" Prithviraj said thoughtfully

"Arrey bhaisahb, what is there in that, I owe my life to you, how can I ever repay back my debt!"

"Then repay back my debt, Shantanu" Prithviraj said taking everyone into the room by surprise

"Bhaisahab?" Shantanu asked hoping that Prithviraj wasn't being delirious

"Make my granddaughter, your eldest daughter-in-law and repay my debt back Shantanu, repay it back! let me get my moksh" Prithviraj said feebly, nodding his head, bending towards shantanu and folding his hands

"Bhaisahab, what are you talking about! we didn't think of this before! please don't think of this as a repayment! Meera is such a qualified and well brought up girl, we'd be honored to take her to our house!" An elated Shantanu said. How had he not considered it! He had always seen Meera as Divya's cousin but having noticed her strong will and drive, there couldn't have been a better match for his son! 

Pratibha got up, she placed her tea cup on the table, suddenly every one who were processing this idea in their heads, looked at her turning away to leave the room, 

Niyati took this as her unwillingness and called out, "Pratibha, please wait, please don't get angry, we understand that it is a joint decision, you can think it over and come back again" 

Pratibha turned around and smiled to her, "Niyati, I was going to get some sweets, muh meetha karwane (to celebrate) now when we come back, it will only be to make your daughter ours!" All the lines of worry on the faces ceased to exist and all the member's in the room, joyfully hugged each other.

-

"Then what did you say to them?" Divya asked as she placed her hand for comfort over Meera's shoulder

"What could i say Di, I will never understand all this but for Dadu's sake, anyways I told them to get me married to anyone they find, obviously without meeting, because a meeting with the person won't let me marry them, you know me, I'd rather to get married to them not knowing anything about them than get married knowing what's wrong with them" Meera replied

"That's extremely stupid meera, be a little smarter, what if you get married to someone who isn't even into a woman, or a drug addict or an alcoholic!" aakash added

"jij, marrying someone is going to be really hard for me, I honestly would like a place where I don't have to fulfill expectations! I know it's sounding stupid Jiju but it's only an attempt to make things easier for myself!"

"besides aakash, she'll get some time with Dadu, it'll take them atleast a month to look for an alliance and another month for the wedding!" Divya added

Aakash sighed just when they were interrupted by a knock just then.

"yes?" 

"Didiji, bula rahen hain neeche"

All three of them quickly walked down the stairs. 

Suddenly Nidhi ran towards her and hugged her, "Mubarak ho, congratulations, we have fixed your marriage!" 

"WHAT!? WHEN!?!" 

"To our elder son, Arjun" Pratibha said as she came out of the room with a box of sweets. Aakash and Divya looked at each other, "What! when!?" they screamed in unison. Suddenly aakash leapt over Meera, "Oh my god! this is perfect!! You're going to be my bhabhi!!!" he said in excitement

"Meera!!!" An overenthusiastic Divya hugged her , "Oh my god, we can live in the same house, like we wanted as kids!!!" 

"The wedding is in a week!" someone else announced

Everyone seemed very elated, hugging each other, while Meera stood there, unknown to who was even hugging her, numb. She knew it was coming but she wasn't prepared for it. She expected it, yet she was very surprised. She did know that Akaksh Jiju had an elder brother but she hadn't met him, forget met, she hadn't seen him! She was clueless, her brain went blank on the logical side, on the emotional side however, multiple doubts were cropping up just then she saw the smiling face of her grandfather. She smiled back to him and slowly did as she was instructed, touching the feet of all the elders.

-

"Khalo khalo bhaiya (Eat well brother) now once your wife comes, you won't be able to enjoy the food that Pratibha taiji (Aunt) makes" Ishika said cheekily

Arjun glared at her, got up and walked away. 

"Arjun, beta don't do this, don't walk away like this, Meera is a wonderful girl,atleast meet her once!" Pratibha tried to justify

"Maa, just because someone is wonderful, doesn't mean you fix my marriage to them!" Arjun raised his voice

"Arjun! tone down! you had to get married some day or the other! besides, prithvirajji was so sick! we couldn't say no to the wish of a man on his deathbed! you can't back out! I have given him my word" shantanu declared as he put out his hand

"Papa, what about me! papa she is 25! 5 years younger to me! forget knowing her, I haven't seen her! how did you think I'd ever be happy!?"

"Beta, you can meet her now, know her now, she is perfect for you" Shantanu added

"And after all this papa, if I don't like her, will you go back from your words? Will your refuse this proposal?" Arjun asked, this time subtly, his eyes reeking of sorrow as he looked at his father

"I'm afraid I can't do that" Shantanu replied

"Then what's the point in meeting her dad? You seem to have decided everything in my life, might as well decide this as well!" Arjun exclaimed as he briskly walked away towards the door and slammed it, leaving the house. 

"Aakash, none of this should go to Divya, after all Meera is her cousin, bhaisahab can't back down from his word now, this marriage has to happen" Aravind chachu said nonchalantly, eyeing the door.

-

"I don't know Divya di he hasn't even met me yet? Hasn't even offered to meet me? god knows what he expects, besides he is 5 years older to me" Meera told Divya on call

"There is nothing like that, Aakash told me that Arjun bhaiya just want's some mysteriousness in the marriage ya, he is also a thriller type of person dont worry"

"Di, but, i don't know-"

"Meera, Meera chill, trust me he is perfect for you!" Divya cut her in between "Okay anyways, there is only a week left for the wedding and I have so much work being from both the groom's side and the bride's side, now let me go!!! okay bye!"

"bye" Meera said reluctantly. She wasn't assured. she wouldn't be if he were any other guy either. She hadn't been in a relationship ever, she was scared of intimacy, what if he expected love - physically or mentally! that was a concept alien to her! forget kiss, she barely even hugged anyone. She hated physical touching of any kind! it just sent some chills down her spine. Neverthless, she did what she never thought she'd have to do, helplessly rest her destiny to the gods.