On one fine day, Jay was back home earlier from work on his mother and taiji’s insistence. The two ladies ambushed him and fed him with love. Jay knew something big was coming because of the way the two were smiling at him.

He felt like he was a sacrificial goat who was being fed moments before being killed. And he wasn’t wrong. Because the moment his mother disclosed why he was being showered with so much love, he wanted to run away.

“Tere liye ek bhut achha rishta aaya hai. Ghar parivaar sab dekh lia hai humne aur sab kuch bhut badiya hai. Haan financially hamare jitne strong nhi hai lekin kaafi reputed family hai. Ladki ke father government job kr chuke hai bhut saal and mother bhi kaafi naami school mai teacher reh chuki hai.”

(There is an alliance for you. We have seen the family and everything is perfect. They might not be financially as strong as we are but the family is very reputed. The girl’s father had worked as a government official and mother had been a teacher in a very reputed school.)

Her mother rambled in excitement. Jay froze and blinked. Rishta? Marriage? Him? No way!

“Maa, aapko pata hai na mujhe shaadi nhi krni hai. Phir ye sab kyu kr rhi ho?”

(Maa, you know I don’t want to get married. Why are you doing all this?)

“Kyunki maine kaha hai.”

(Because I have said so.)

His taiji spoke and he got mum. He sighed and said.

“Taiji, aap toh jaanti ho na mai shaadi kyu nhi krna chahta. I don’t want to be distracted from fulfilling tauji’s dream. Please don’t force me into this.”

(Taiji, you know why I don’t want to get married.)

Her taiji cupped his face lovingly and said.

“Inka sapna tha ki tu business ko nayi heights pr le jaaye lekin apni puri zindagi hi business ko de de ye nhi.”

(His dream was that you take business to new heights but that you give your whole life to business.)

“Lekin taiji-”

(But taiji-)

“Beta! Agar tu issi tarah apni life ko waste krta raha aur khudko overwork krta raha na, toh ye jaha bhi honge, kosenge (blame) khudko ki kyu tujhe iss cheez mai lagaya. Tu chahta hai aisa ho?”

(If you keep wasting your life and overworking yourself, wherever he might be, he would blame himself that why did he push you into this. You want this to happen?)

She didn’t want to use emotional blackmailing but she knew if this continued, there would be a time when he would become a zombie due to overworking himself. 

Jay got quiet listening to her and went into deep thought. Then, in a small voice, he mumbled.

“Agar aapko aisa lagta hai toh thik hai. Mai taiyar hu. Tab toh tauji khudko blame nhi krenge na?”

(If you think so then fine. I am ready. Then tauji would not blame himself right?)

Anita smiled warmly at the sweet boy. He was still the little baby that she had raised as her own for her.

“Bilkul nhi mere chanda! Balki wo khush honge, tujhe khush dekh kar aur tera ghar baste dekh kar.”

(Not at all my moon! He would be happy, to see you happy and settle.)

Jay nodded and Surbhi chirped in excitement again.

“Mai tujhe ladki ka biodata aur photo forward kr rhi hu. Kal tak apna jawaab bta dena mujhe.”

(I am forwarding the girl’s photo and biodata. Tell me your answer by tomorrow.)

Jay shook his head at his mother’s antics and went to his room. He sat on the bed with a thud and sighed. He slumped back and stared at the ceiling.

“Mai sahi kr rha hu na tauji? Agar shaadi ki wajah se mai distract ho gaya aur aapka sapna pura nhi kr paaya toh? Pr taiji kehti hai ki agar mai kaam mai hi busy raha toh aap khudko blame kroge. Mujhe kuch samajh-”

(Am I doing right, tauji? What if I get distracted because of marriage and couldn’t fulfil your dream? But taiji says that if I kept busy in work you would blame yourself. I don’t understand-)

He stopped midway when his phone buzzed and fished it out to see messages from his mother. She had sent the photo and biodata of the girl.

He opened the biodata first and frowned.

Neelam Verma

Why did the name sound familiar? He read through her and her family’s details. She and her family seemed decent and reputed. Like his mother had mentioned.

He closed the biodata and downloaded the picture only to sit up in shock. That was why he felt the name was familiar. Because she was the same woman who worked in his company and had recently joined. The one he met with just a week ago.

Amazing! Out of all the women in the world, his mother and taiji found her? Oh God! It was going to be so embarrassing if he ever crossed paths with her in the office.

Neelam’s condition was no different when she got to know that the alliance her parents had found for her was her boss.

“Mummy! Mai kaam pr kaise face krungi unhe? Imagine agar unhone mana kr dia toh kitna embarrassing ho jaayega mere liye unhe face krna. He’s my boss for God’s sake!”

(How will I face him at work? Imagine how embarrassing it would become for me to face him if he rejects.)

She whined but her mother was nonchalant.

“Arre kyu mana krenge? Itna pyaara bacha hai mera. Haan thodi si muhfatt hai lekin pyaari bhi toh hai na. Pagal hi hoga wo jo tujhe mana krega.”

(Why will he reject? My baby is so sweet. Yes you are a little blunt but you are sweet also. He will be mad if he rejects.)

Okay that was relieving. She pouted cutely and kept her chin on her mother’s shoulder hugging her from behind as she stirred the vegetable.

“Par mumma-”

(But mumma-)

“Arre ek baar unka jawab toh aane de. Phir dekhte hai. Tu apna jawab toh bta.”

(Let them answer first. We will see then. You tell me your answer.)

She twisted her lips and thought for a while. 

“Pehla unka jawab aane do. Agar maine haan kr dia aur phir unhone mana kr dia toh? Beizzati ho jaayegi.”

(First let him reply. What if I say yes and he denies later? It would be embarrassing.)

Her mother chuckled and nodded.

“Waise, ladka handsome hai na?”

(Is he handsome?)

“Mummy! Boss hai wo mere!”

(He is my boss!)

“Haan toh kuch time baad toh pati ho jaayenge na.”

(He will be husband in some time.)

“Agar unhone haan kri toh.”

(If he says yes.)

“Tsk! Think positive na!”

(Think positive.!)

Her mother reprimanded with a soft hit with a spatula. Neelam hissed because the spatula was a little hot and rubbed her arm.

“I am not thinking about anything right now. Jab koi jawab aayega tab dekhenge.”

(We will see when a reply comes.)

And from the next day onwards, she had made it a mission to avoid the man at all costs. Luck seemed to be on her side because she didn’t have any encounter with him.

Jay, on the other hand, was completely confused. He didn’t want to take any decision in haste. What if she becomes a distraction for him and he loses focus from his main aim?

Jay was in the elevator riding up to his office when two employees entered in completely oblivious of their boss. They were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn’t pay any heed to him. Moreover, he had a mask up to his nose and that was why they failed to recognise him.

His tauji had always liked travelling with his employees in the common elevator and there was no private elevator in the office for this reason.

Jay too followed the same and loved to get insights about the daily gossip happening in the office.