"I guess it is time for you to meet them", he sipped his coffee
gently and looked at her trying to decipher her reaction.
"Time to meet whom", she questioned scanning the menu.
"My parents obviously. You've always asked so much about them. Don't
you want to meet them now?"
"Ummm... You know I am a little skeptical. You've known how different
we are when it comes to our respective backgrounds. I am not very sure they'll
appreciate the fact that we have been together for a while."
"What makes you think so? What matters is where you are right now and
not where you were before. At this point of time you have graduated from the
same university as I have and that too with a scholarship and grades higher
than mine. We both work in MNC's. So right now you are in a better light than
me", he smirked stroking her cheek.
"You use silverware at home?"
"Where does that come from?"
"No I saw that in one of your photographs. I mean really? Do you?"
"Well yes we do. You are very observant. You know mum is a little finicky about table etiquette sometimes. But don't you think we should focus
on more important things like the questions they might ask?"
"I do not know how to use fork and knife", she declared.
"Most of us don't ", he was still sipping his coffee with the
same ease.
"I want to learn. I don't want to appear rustic in front of your
parents."
"Huh?"
He was clearly displeased.
"See my parents are not going to judge you. Had you asked me how to
use a fork and knife because you wanted to know I would have gladly accepted
but then for this reason I am afraid but I am hurt. You are perfect the way you
are. You are going to meet them and not please them for God sake."
She shifted uneasily in her chair. She stuck her lower lip out like she
always did when she was sad.
"I just wanted to be perfect."
He smiled at her innocence. She was so naive, so child like. Her craze for
perfection suited her fierce desire to win under any circumstance, it being the
reason for his fatal attraction towards her that resulted in love.
"Okay so you hold the knife in your right hand and the fork in your left", he gestured
using both his hands.
"No no you are wrong. We eat with our right hand so fork should be in
the right one na", she seemed visibly confused.
"See the deal is you are a right handed person. You exert more force
with your right hand which is necessary to cut the food and that brings us to
the conclusion so as to why you hold the knife in your right hand", he
smiled victoriously at the show of his knowledge secretly thanking his mother
for the grilling table manners.
"Oh!", she hit her head with her palm.
"Now dig deep into the food cutting it with the edge trying to push
the other half away."
She stared at him.
"Oh ho see", he held her hand and taught her.
"Hello ma'am and sir", she stammered as she stood in front of his
parents wearing her best dress.
His mother engulfed her into a hug and his father wore a smug smile.
"It is lovely to meet you. My son always keeps talking about you.
Let's get to the dining room. I have the tea and snacks ready", his mother
spoke excitedly.
She felt like that little child who gets nervous before the exam after days
of practice and study.
Her mental thoughts were running wild.
*Oh! Sandwitches. Thank God no knife and fork. Wait. Did I say that too
early? Why are they using a knife and fork? Oh my God*
She felt someone tugging the hem of her dress only to realize that her love
was staring at her.
"Mum is asking you something. Are you okay", he questioned.
"Umm yes yes I am totally fine. It is just that I was lost in some
random thoughts. Not that it always happens but then sometimes it does",
she was amazed rather ridiculed by her own verbosity.
"It is okay beta. Calm down", his mother said suppressing a smile.
She fidgeted with the knife.
"So how are your parents?"
She was still busy dissecting the sandwitches pulling it apart like a
surgeon operating his patient.
Across the table he could see how uncomfortable she looked. Her entire
concentration was on the sandwitch and her way of eating than the conversation.
He was slightly amused by her flabbergasted ways but then the fact that she was
not being herself bothered him regardless of how funny the situation seemed.
He held his sandwitch in his hand and took a big bite.
"Yum!! It's great mum."
"Why aren't you using the cutlery darling?"
"Mum it tastes the same without them. Why don't you try it as
well", he asked his girlfriend.
She glared at him.
"What? Try it out."
She did the same and smiled.
"Yeah mum was asking about your family", he blurted out.
The conversation went on and on. He winked at her several times secretly
giving her thumbs up every time she spoke something really nice. She felt a lot
better.
The conversation steered to her family background sooner than she expected.
"Ma'am my father was a government employee and my mother a teacher. We
belong to a very humble background. My parents have worked very hard and so have
I. We value money and it's origins."
"Oh that is lovely. That is how every girl rather every child should
be. Now I know why my son has become so responsible off late. I guess he has
credits to do", she raised an eyebrow throwing accusatory glances at her
son.
"Well yes mum. She is just so perfect. She was the topper of our
batch", he patted her back.
His father who was quiet through out the conversation finally broke his
silence.
"He is an impulsive man. How do you manage to put up with his
recklessness?"
She blushed a little and cleared her throat.
"The same way he deals with the ignorance of my mind, the insecurities
of my heart and the specks of impurities in my soul."
"Our son has grown up. His choice of a life partner makes me proud.
Welcome to the family", his father extended a handshake.
She was shell shocked by the sudden change of events. She sucked in breath
and smiled confidently.
Back at her home, after changing into her night clothes, she messaged him.
*Thank you. Your parents are really nice. I am a little tired. We'll talk
tomorrow. Good night.*
Instantly her cell beeped.
*We wouldn't talk tonight? huh huh Meanie!! Well now that you are
officially mine and very soon you''ll be sleeping next to me so I guess one
night wouldn't hurt. My parents will be coming over to meet yours tomorrow.
Good night.*
She pulled her diary out of her Almira and sat down to write.
It is strange how life decides to teach us different lessons. I vividly
remember the first time I met him. I was so judgmental. I always thought
people who were rich are mean , obnoxious and have an easy life. I had this
strange animosity towards him. But then we started talking. His easy ways, down
to earth thinking wooed me. I was smitten by his inquisitiveness. There are
many things that I really adore about him. Unlike me he doesn't judge people
and has this strange quality of finding the good in people. He is highly
optimistic. The best part is that he understands me in and out. Even today just
by looking at me he could know that I wasn't comfortable and with so much ease
he just solved the problem. This is him. Always standing there to help me out.
So many times I have given up hope but he would challenge me yet again, losing
at times just to see me win. Male ego is cruel but then I never saw his as if
he deliberately killed his ego in order to love me fully. What have I done to
deserve him? His love? His care? I wish I knew. It is sheer destiny that I met
him. Isn't it? He says I am different and I guess if he says so then I might
also be. But then he says only good things about everyone. With him I do not
feel the need to put up a pretense or be what I am not. With him , I am me.
Love if I am asked to define would be what I see in his actions more than
his words. Love is a verb not a noun . Love is him . And now he is mine. I so
wish to laugh and cry at the same time. The absurdity of my statement might
amaze you but that is how I feel. He gets my emotions do a salsa. I love him. I
do not say that often but I do. And I know that he knows.
Good Night.
