THE BOMB

LOIS' POV.

Someone wake me up, because I got to be dreaming. I just heard the biggest joke of my life. I'm getting married. And then, they threw the BOMB. I am getting married to OLIVER.

"Oliver Grant?

Mom did you just say Oliver Grant!!?" I asked, completely bewildered.

"Ye...sss baby" she replied unsure

"Hahahaha. You're joking right?"

"No I'm not" she said, looked guilty.

"Dad is this true?....... Why am I even asking? It's not true. Of course it's not. It can't be." I smiled hopefully, though I had a feeling that this was more serious than I thought.

"Yes princess, It's true" Dad replied, quite unperturbed. His demeanor sent chills down my spine.

"What's going on Dad? I'm really finding it difficult to understand things here" I was already close to tears, not because I thought they were serious, but because of the fear of them being serious. They would not do such a thing to me.

"My princess, the only thing there to understand, Is the fact that you are getting married to Oliver." He said.

"How? why? I don't understand this all" I gushed out apprehensively.

"Baby girl, let your Dad explain" Mom cuts in.

"My dear" Dad calls me in his usual calm and collected tone.

"Dad...?" I responded immediately urging him to go on.

"Your grandparents had a sort of pact with Oliver's grandparents"

"Okay....?" I said wanting to hear the rest of his explanation.

"Now, this wonderful and unbreakable bond between the Grant's Family and ours went way back when your grandparents were still alive.

They treasured the great relationship between them and decided strengthen ties by joining their grandchildren in holy matrimony.

They made sure to tell your mom and I, and also Ashley and William (Oliver's parents) about their decision and made us promise to aid the plan"

"The plan...which is joining I and Oliver in marriage?" I said, completely appalled by the reply I knew was coming.

"Exactly" He replied to my utter dismay.

“Honestly I don’t know why I’m still here. This is a sick joke!” I made to walk out, but my father’s rebuke made me stand in my place.

“You won’t dare to walk out on your parents! No matter what the situation is” He ordered to which I grudgingly obeyed.

"Are you people being serious right now? I leave home to school for just a few years, I come back and I don't know what's up any longer. Wow!"

"Lois calm down... " Mom tried to speak but I cut her short.

"Calm down!!?.... I can't cope with all this. It's all too sudden, it's nuts!!! With Oliver of all people. You guys should have known better than to do this. And you feel because you are my parents, you can navigate my life any which way? Even to the extent of dictating who I would spend forever with?"

"It's not the way you see it baby. We didn't have a choice. I'm sorry. So sorry" Mum croaked out. I could tell, it wouldn't take so long before she starts crying.

"You know I don't really have a rapport with Oliver. So why would you make such a decision!?"

"But Matt is married" Dad referred to Oliver's older brother.

"I know Dad, but there is still Justin, and we are really great friends" I replied, quite hopeful that I would be able to excape the horror of getting married to Oliver. But I was soooo damn wrong.

 "Well Oliver is the only available one. William told us Justin is dating someone, and it would be unfair to destroy his relationship for a matter that has an alternative"

"Wow, 'he's the only available one' You say it like he's a business pawn"

I glared at the two people I had always respected and loved. I wasn't sure if they were the parents I knew any longer. Ready to give away my happiness for some sort of agreement between two groups of people who are long dead! I was even surprised that I had easily taken all they said, without passing out.

"By the way, everyone knows that you never had a rapport with him, compared to how you flow with his siblings and the same goes with him. But he is the only single one in the family right now, that's the reason why William and Ashley decided to honour our parents wish now, before it becomes to late---" Dad sighed.

"---Before Oliver goes into a serious relationship. Though they doubt he would. He has proven nonchalant to having a productive relationship. It seems the two of you were made for each other" Dad said rather comically. This was not a funny situation.

"That's not funny Dad. For crying out loud I thought I have the right to choose with whom I want to spend the rest of my life? I'm 24 years of Age. I can perfectly make decisions for myself"

"I know princess, but we are choiceless right now" And for the first time since the conversation began, Dad looked helpless.

"Please my dear, do this for us" Mom pleaded, looking anywhere apart from my face.

"Mom this is not an ordinary request. When did Uncle William let you know about this" I queried.

"About what?" Mom asked

"About the fact that he is ready to honour our grandparents' wish"

"Well...3 months ago" Dad shrugged.

"What! 3months? and I'm just finding out about this? What if I was in a relationship or something!"

"We are really sorry dear, that we didn't tell you this earlier on, until 2 weeks to your wedding...." Mom quickly put her hands to her mouth. And then, what she let out dawned on me.

"What? 2 weeks?

Seriously Mom. Did you plan on tricking me down the aisle on my wedding day?" My voice sounded much lower than I wanted It to be right now. I felt really wronged, most of all, betrayed. I gave a bitter laugh.

I didn't realise I was crying until I tasted the salty fluid on my tongue.

"You know what?" I asked admist my tears. "You guys should have this house to yourselves, because...... I just realised that I no longer matter"

I quickly picked up my phone ran to my room, took my car keys, and went straight to the parking lot, Not once looking back at my parents who kept calling me, as I entered my car and Zoomed off.

****************************

I drove to Moya's bar. A really nice Bar close to my working place. I visited there once in a while, with Harrieth, my best friend. I parked my car at the lot and walked in. I had a few shots of vodka. I unsteadily stumbled from my seat and walked unstably to the parking lot. I was about to go in and drive back home, but I had a change of mind.

As I walked by the pavement on the road side, the cool breeze brushed through my face, as the conversation I had with my parents replayed in my head.

I just couldn't believe that they decided to dictate my life and didn't bother to let me in on it. It felt so cruel, I never imagined things would turn out this way.

I know that part of this was due to my nonchalant attitude towards having a relationship. I was too invested in my work, so much that I didn't even entertain date invites.

I even told Mom and Dad that I didn't think I was gonna get married anytime soon, because I didn't believe that I could give any man the kind of attention I gave my work. It actually makes it easier, since it's Oliver we are talking about here.

He doesn't really care about me or the attention that comes from me.

God what am I thinking?.... I'm not considering wedding Oliver, am I?

But on the brighter side, I have nothing to lose, I get to have a husband that I practically have no issues with. I can continue living like a single girl, even while married.

Funny enough, I don't really know much about Oliver compared to my brothers, but I definitely know that he doesn't see me as a friend.

How ironic! I never had a rapport with Oliver, the way I interacted with his siblings. It was due to an incident that took place when we were much younger. His only sister Harrieth is my best friend and his brother Justin is the closest male friend I have ever had.

Matthew the first born is also a wonderful friend of mine, and it could have been a lot more easier if it was him I had to marry. He was so mature and reasonable. But he was already married. How great! I just wish I wasn't the only daughter.

Things would have been a lot more different. Talking of siblings, I happen to have 3 elder brothers, they are great, the best infact. The first is Jake, Harrison is second and Derrick is the third, and all of them are single as hell!! I wonder if they had actually known about this marriage pact as well.

Though, every now and then, I seem to notice that Jake has a thing for Harrieth...the way he looks when he talks to her, appears to be all sweet and gentle with her. He really is gentle, to be honest. Well I think, they look lovely together.

Maybe the marriage terms could be amended, a guy from my family and a girl from Oliver's family instead. That way, Jake and Harrieth can just get married. At least, they tolerate each other, unlike Oliver and I.

I really don't think it's time to lament or keep sulking on how unfair life is being to me. Instead, It's time to make a big decision. This wedding we are talking about, is in two weeks time. It's either I get married, or call off this silly Joke.

******************************

OLIVER'S POV

"Alright Dad, I will be there..... Of course I would make it.... Bye Dad"

I hung up the call with my Dad, as I cleared my table for the day. I guess I would be officially meeting my 'fiancee' today.

It's not like all our other meetings were informal, we practically made seeing each other so formal, even though we were literally family, considering our family bond. We still weren't free around each other till now, and we're supposed to get married. How on earth was that possible?I didn't even remember how she looked anymore. It'd been so long since we last saw each other. Ever since she went to attend Medical school in London, we never met each other even by chance.

It's been six years But I would consider having amnesia, if I forget those icy blue eyes of hers, and her wavy curly dirty blonde hair.She was quite cute then. I actually can't believe I'm getting married to Lois. If anyone had told me this years ago, I would have punched them in the face for such a silly joke. It was like I was in a trance, when my parents told me about it. Who is being forced into marriage in this century.

But I have nothing to lose, because I'm totally single and so not ready mingle, so there's absolutely no one by the side, suffering a heartbreak from this decision. But I have to admit that I'm gonna miss bachelor hood. It's so free and enjoyable.No one to whom you owe early nights, or explanations. I will also miss the good sex with no emotional attachments.

Pheew!! God help me, because this is going to be one hell of a ride. A crazy one. I better get going, I don't wanna be late to dinner.