Chapter 14: chapter 14

I said, “Oh shit! Shit! Shit! What the hell I did! I thought it’s the number of the girl herself but it is not. I guess, it’s the number of her dad or brother. Oh! I am so stupid! How can a girl give her number publicly in the newspaper! I am so stupid! It’s definitely the number either of her dad or brother. I have to make up my mind again to talk to girl’s daddies.”I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths to relax my mind. I again started thinking what I should talk to a girl’s dad and what not. I kept on thinking for about thirty minutes. And then I decided to call the same number again. I called the same number again. The same man picked up the call. He said, “Hallo.” I also said, “Hallo”.The stranger – Who is this? I mustered all my courage and said, “I read your advertisement in an English newspaper.”The stranger – Oh, okay. Aman – So, what kind of boy are you looking for? The stranger – Let me note down your son’s profile first. What’s the job of your son? Aman – I am a government teacher. The stranger – Are you the boy himself? My voice trembled a bit, “Ye...yeah..”The stranger – Where are you parents?I recomposed myself and said in a bit grave and mature tone, “My dad has passed away.”The stranger – Oh, I am sorry. And your mom?Aman – My mom is with me but she can’t handle such affairs. The stranger – Oh, okay. No problem. Don’t worry. I want to ask you a few more questions. Aman – Yeah sure. The stranger – Have you become a regular teacher or still on contract?Aman – I am a regular teacher. Probation period is going on. After two years, I will start getting full salary.The stranger – How many family members are there in your home? Aman – Only two. Me and my mom in my house. The stranger – Hmm... What’s your height? Aman – 5.9’The stranger – Weight?Aman – About 75 kg I guess.The stranger – What's your salary right now? Aman – Fifteen thousand. The stranger – And after two years, how much it would be?Aman – About fifty thousand.I thought, ”Is he taking my interview? I never thought girl’s parents conduct this kind of conversation with boy’s parents for deciding who will be their son-in-law.The stranger – You from where? Aman – Sorry, I didn’t get you.The stranger – Where are you from? Aman – I am from Bathinda. The stranger – Oh, you are from Bathinda... Aman – What happened uncle? The stranger – Actually, we are from Hoshiarpur, you must have read that.Aman – Yeah, I read that. The stranger – We are looking for a match nearby hoshiarpur. Bathinda is too far from here. Aman – Hmm...The stranger – We can’t proceed ahead. He hung up the call on my face! I said, “Hallo, hallo.” And there was no voice from the other side at all. I said to myself, “What! How rude! They just asked my data and disconnected the call. Have I committed a sin by taking birth in Bathinda? I can’t believe it’s all over within two minutes. Huh!”I said to myself, “I think I should call girls only with government jobs. But the problem is that there was only one such profile and they rejected me. It really hurts! He didn’t ask me anything about my nature, about my likes and dislikes, nothing. I guess it was a stupid family. I will try next week by purchasing new newspapers. Perhaps, I may find more girls with government jobs.” I gave up the idea of calling more profiles. I was clear about what I wanted. I looked at the clock. The clock had struck 11 a.m. I said to myself, “Today is wasted again.” My mom came almost running to me, “Aman! Aman!”I became alert and said loudly, “What happened mom?”Mom said in an excited tone, “There is good news for you!”Aman – Good news? Which one? Mom – Uncle Mohan called me just now. Aman – What!Mom – Yes. He said there is a match for you. Aman – Oh great! What does the girl do? Mom – I don’t know. He asked us to meet him today. Aman – Okay, then let’s go. Mom – We will go in the evening. Aman – Why in the evening? Let’s go now and finish it. Mom – Why are you on fire to get married? Aman – I am not on fire, but I don’t want to miss any good opportunity. Please get ready and let’s go. She made a face and I felt very awkward but still, I insisted to go. Finally, my mom said frowning at me, “Okay, get ready.”Within ten minutes we reached uncle Mohan’s house and knocked at the door. He opened the door with a warm smile and allowed us in.  He made us sit on comfortable arm chairs.Aman – Namaste Uncle.Mohan – Namaste ji.Mom – Namaste brother.Mohan – Namaste Ji.Mom said to uncle Mohan, “You said that you have found a match.”Mohan – Yeah, I have found a very good match for your son. Mom – What does she do? Mohan – She is a government employee in post office.My mom became happy but she made a fake sad face that could be easily recognized and said, “In post office? Is she not a government teacher?”Mohan said in a low voice adjusting his specks, “No, she is not.”My mom – We were looking only for a government teacher. I looked at the face of my mom and twitched my nose. I was indirectly trying to say, “What are you saying mom? Just say yes.”Mohan – I am also trying hard to find a girl in teaching job but I thought you would like this match too because she is also earning a handsome income. My mom said, “Hmm...”I nudged my mom. He noticed what happened between me and my mom but he didn’t react. He preferred to stay silent for a couple of seconds. I realized my mom’s ego was not letting her say yes. I didn’t want to lose the opportunity. I said, “Okay, uncle. We are ready take a step ahead.”(It will be so nice of you, if you leave at least a single word comment 🌺❇️🌹🌺❇️)