Abhimanyu sat beside a girl, his expression resolute and unreadable, with a poker face that masked his deep annoyance.
The weekend had been hijacked by his parents, who had insisted he come home for a "very important" family need, leaving him feeling trapped and frustrated.
As he glanced over at the girl's family, he could feel the tension coiling in his jaw. Every awkward moment dragged on as he forced a smile, attempting to meet their curious gazes with politeness while internally revolting against the entire situation.
"Umm I think we should let the kids have a talk in private!" Suggested the girls Father
"Abhi, Take Chetna to your room" said his Father and Abhimanyu somehow stopped himself from rolling his eyes.
He got up and behind him followed Chetna, but he didn't take her to his room but instead the guest room "My room is messy so" He lied but still she smiled "No problem"
She is beautiful no doubt but he isn't practically ready for marriage even if he agrees that he is at the age !
"Your parents said you are a professor in college, teaching architecture" She said looking at him
"Yeah"
But any further she could ask he said "aa Chetna, umm I am sorry but, I am not ready"
She raise her eye brows "Sorry?"
"I am getting forced from my family to get married even if I am not willing to. I will be saying No so please don't think it's because you are not good or anything"
"Oh" She let out a voice "um won't you even like to know me?"
He take a deep breath "Well, I am not ready to be with anyone, not even thinking of dating or knowing"
"Honestly I do like you, your family background and everything, I would really like to know you"
He pass a small smile "You are a nice girl as well but still, I am sorry. Very Sorry can't force myself to be unwilling with you"
She nods "Well, it's okay"
"Thank you for understanding Chetna"
"Oh it's Fine" She smiled politely at him
"And I am sorry, my parents shouldn't have held the meeting like this, it's actually their concern I.." He shrugged not knowing how to explain
She said nothing and after few minutes they came to the hall.
When they left, Abhimanyu stared at his parents and folded his arms "You guys are so unbelievable"
"Get married Abhi beta, You are getting old, you won't find anyone later" said his mother
"Aree toh I don't want anyone, later or any soon please. Understand Na Mom, please, I am not mentally prepared even if you guys want me to get married to any random girl" He ran his hand through his hair to calm himself
"Do you like anyone?" Asked his father
Abhimanyu shook his head "No, No I don't" He sighed "But I don't want to be with anyone as simple as that"
They looked at him.
"Please don't hurt your son like this? I understand you guys but please, understand me as well?" He looked at them
He close his eyes and held his mother's hand "Mom, look at me"
But she look the other"Mom please, acha listen. I am not against marriage, I...Okay fine. I promise you I will get married but when I will be ready. Currently I am not"
"By what age?" She looked at him immediately
His jaw clinched but he close his eyes "before 40!"
"40?" His mother screams in shock
"Okay, 39"
"38"
"Okay 38"
"No, 37"
"Fix 37 ! Last or else I will go back to 40" he warned and she roll her eyes "Okay 37 last and then you are getting married"
He nods "I promise you"
She smiled and hugged his son.
______________________
He is getting back to his flat but thought of meeting his friend at his restaurant so he turn the car towards that direction.
He enter the small and cozy restaurant of his friend, Anirudh.
Tapping his hand on the counter he ask the waiter "Umm can you call Mr.Anirudh? Tell him that Abhimanyu Raina is here to meet him"
The waiter nods and went to call him.
Abhimanyu look around and settle down on an empty table. Waiting for his friend, his eyes fall on the corner table, where Amrita is with her parents, Laughing and giggling. Also her Massi is there with her teenage daughter.
Amrita talk with her massi's daughter and She giggles finding her funny.
Abhimanyu roll his tongue to his inner right cheek. He scratch his stubble beard. She is for sure an introvert for the outside world he thought, as in college she is alone, not talking to anyone and just roaming around.
She reminds him of one girl from his college itself, who used to stay alone mostly, no one knew that she is going through depression and she ended up taking her life, she wrote a note saying that she can't handle being alone and with no support from parents.
But at least Amrita has supporting parents, it seems like that only. He had many friends because he was popular and talkative during his college times but his best friendships had been with introvert people only, Anirudh being one of them. Yeah Anirudh did study architecture with him but this is his father's restaurant which he is carrying over.
He sigh and blinked his eyes away from Amrita when Anirudh came to his table. They both hugged and Anirudh is extremely happy to see Abhimanyu at his restaurant.
He orders some food for them "so, how is work going?" Asked Anirudh
Abhimanyu Shrugged "Good actually, this University is paying so well and students also study"
Anirudh smiles "Liked any female professor yet?" He wiggled his eye brows and Abhimanyu Chuckled "No, but yeah I think one do wants to date me"
Anirudh laughed "Who wouldn't want to date you man? I am sure not one but all the female unmarried professors would like to date you and even your female students I am damn sure and you definitely know that"
Abhimanyu Rub his hands on his face sighing "Yeah, I do. In the pretext of talking to me, the female students text me and I only know how I have been handling them"
"Man, being handsome is hectic ! Look at me only, many women ask for my number but then I show them my ring finger" Anirudh show off his engagement ring
Abhimanyu Grins "bhabhi is lucky that you are madly in love with her"
"I am lucky that she fell in love with me actually"
Abhimanyu smiled and licked his lips, his eyes go behind Anirudh's shoulder when he watched Amrita getting up, pulling her specs to her nose walking towards a waiter.
After saying something to the waiter She turned around only to get bumped into an old uncle, she apologised and held him to go to his seat, the old uncle bless her.
Sweet ! He said to himself.
"Oh hello? Abhi?" Anirudh waved his hand in front of his face
"Hm?" He looks at him
"Where were you looking?"
He took a deep breath and shook his head "Nothing, saw one of my students"
Anirudh raise his eye brows "Student? From your this university"
Abhimanyu nods and make him look Behind him "The girl with specs, Amrita"
Anirudh have a look and smiles "She looks nerdy"
Abhimanyu nods "She is actually in those topper students just need bit of concept clarities" He sip on the drink which just arrived
"You remember everything about your students?"
Abhimanyu frown shaking his head "No, Just those who answer me, the impressive works I notice and yeah of-course those who are you know Try to act cool and chill"
Anirudh laughed "you were in those cool and chill ones"
Abhimanyu Sighed "Tsk, I miss school and college, Adult life is full of handling yourself and people around you"
Anirudh nods in agreement.
"Umm Do you think as she is your student, I should offer something dish for free?"
Abhimanyu Shrugged "umm! It's her whole family so...I don't know, wouldn't it get weird?"
"Oh come on ! Won't let them know, just think you gave a treat to your nerdy student"
"Smart student!" Abhimanyu corrected him
Anirudh nods "correct, Smart!"
Anirudh call the waiter and tell him to serve free gulab Jamun with ice cream for dessert, reason being an offer, random.
Abhi have a bite of panner tikka and enjoy the food "mm best!"
"Thank you, have hired the best chef from every corner of India"
"I love crispy corn of your place, mind blowing Biryani this is" Said Abhimanyu licking his finger
"Umm Abhi I know you hate this topic but..."
"No, today only I would have ended up in a fight with mom and dad so no marriage talks"
Anirudh roll his eyes "Okay even I won't take up the topic then"
"Thank you my lord" Abhimanyu Smiled joining his hands in front of him
A smile forms on Amrita's face looking at the free desert. Her parents thank for the free sweets enjoying their dinner with a big smile.
Free food makes everyone Happy ð And Anirudh is the Best Friend as well â¤ï¸