Yash
''So, you wish to marry my daughter?'' Asked Resh's father Retd. Colonel Asif Siddiqi. I answered bobbling my head up ad down, gulping another glass of water. I was nervous beyond limits, right now I hated myself for being such a wuss. I have promised big words to Resh about convincing her parents and here I am shivering like a dry leaf sitting opposite to her father, a retired army officer.
''What is so special about you that would push me to say yes.'' He asked again and another glass of water went down my throat. I felt like the living form of Atacama desert , starving for water for hundreds of years. ''Would you like some tea.'' Reshu's mother asked politely.
''Can I have more water?'' That's all I could say. Resh will die laughing looking at my condition currently. Mrs Siddiqi glared at her husband, before moving in. Mrs Ameena Siddiqi could easily pass for Resh's elder sister , dressed in trouser and long ethnic shirt, her shoulder length salt pepper hair parted on the side made her look like a corporate mogul. Resh had told me that her mother was an English teacher in Army school. If not for her timely intervention, Resh would have been widowed even before marrying me.
''Where was I?'' he started again , but by now my bladder was full with water , nervousness and fear. ''Excuse me Sir, I need you use the wash room urgently.'' I quickly walked in asking for the directions to the washroom. Locking myself in I took long deep breaths to calm my nerves. I splashed water on my face to cool down a bit, staring in the mirror I gave myself an inspirational speech ''You can do this, you just need little confidence. You have achieved so much in life and you even proposed Resh, that wasn't easy either. Yet you achieved it. Common Yash Mathur, you can't give up after coming this far. '' Pointing at the guy in mirror , I added, ''If you decide , you can move the mountains. This is just a conversation, you will have to make yourself proud.''
''Yash, all good?'' Mrs Siddiqi knocked the door and all my confidence flew away through the ventilator. After a minute, I stepped out. She was still in the room pacing from one corner to other, ''I got worried and whom were you talking to?''
''Myself! Was trying to boost my confidence.'' I replied embarrassed. She took a step to me, ''Do you love Reshu?''
''I do, with all my heart.'' I replied looking straight into her eyes. She matched my gaze for a minute, her lips stretching into a big smile ,''Then what are you fearing, your single sentence is the answer of all his questions. And please don't mind him, he thinks he is still in army and can court marshal anyone.''
''What if he refuses?''
''Why would he?'' She asked
''We are from different communities and its not yet acceptable ...'' My words died at the rise of her palm
''Why do we have to look for the acceptance of the world , when all what matters in my daughter's smile. I have put her through pain before, not now. She chose someone and I believe in her.'' I could feel the tension of my nerves easing out. She smiled, ''Let's go and give Colonel a piece of advice.'' She extended her crooked arm, I looped it around hers walking out.
Colonel stared at us with a raised brow, he folded the newspaper neatly and dumped it on the table. ''So since you have heard the nature's call for quite long, lets come to the point.'' I lost my confidence that I had build up with hard work.
''Will you let him breathe.'' Resh's mom warned her husband. She sat next to me , patting my shoulder she gave me the necessary boost to face her husband.
''Sir, you were asking something?'' He looked at me, smiled and leaned a little forward
''I asked, what makes you special enough for Reshu?''
''I love her. She loves me and above all, I am her choice.''
''Love!'' He smirked. He let out a chuckle, leaned back and fired another question, ''If you Love her, I am sure you are ready to do anything for her.'' I nodded. He pressed his lips, narrowed his sharp gaze on me and shot, ''So will you embrace our faith and denounce yours? I have seen guys doing that.''
''What are you saying?'' Interrupted Resh's mother
I smiled, ''Sir, I can do that and marry Resh to have your approval. What if after marrying Resh, I go back to my faith gain. Will you ask her to divorce me?'' He kept his eyes on me, ''I respect other faiths as I do mine, I will never ask Resh to change it for me.''
''What about the kids?''
''They can learn the good of both or follow the 3 rd one as per their wish.'' Mrs. Siddiqi patted my back.
''Things won't be easy. Society won't accept this easily.''
''Society is made of people close to you. Someone who doesn't know you is least concerned what you do in your life, and the others turn quiet once you stand tall ready to face them. '' He smiled, then nodded at my reply
''Are you sure you want to marry her?'' I blinked at that question. After all the interrogation he is asking me if I am sure. Hadn't I been sure, I wouldn't have turn my body into a water tank.
''Did you consume some kind of Pot?'' Mrs. Siddiqi looked angry at her husbands query
He just ignored his wife ,bringing his focus back to me he added, ''After her broken engagement, that girl literally shooed the other guys away scaring them with her temperament. I know she wouldn't have told you this to protect her sweet image.''
''I am aware of her broken engagement. Resh never told me about other guys and I am glad she shooed them way. Above all Resh is all but sweet.'' I replied
''Resh! Wow, looks you guys are deep. My daughter isn't a flower, she like a bolt of lightning which might hurt you.'' he warned
''Trust me sir, I have been struck by that lightning more than anyone. And yet I am scared and excited at the same time about getting struck again.'' That bought a laughter.
''Look Yash, I basically don't have issues with you coming from a different belief. As a parent we look forward that our kids get an adjustable environment, a new faith and family can sometime be a reason of clash.''
''I agree, but in my case It won't be. I promise.''
''So , how do we proceed.'' He asked and I froze. Did I just win modern time battle of Haldi ghati. I forgot and hugged him. He was too taken aback to respond, after a minute he patted my back, ''That's fine.'' Quickly moving back I sat in my place with my head hung low.
''So any specific choice in sweets.'' Mrs. Siddiqi asked clasping her hands together in delight.
''If you could make sewaiyan, it had been years I had it.'' I said little nervous. She nodded and disappearing in the kitchen.
Later, I was being guided to the guest room which was on the first floor of the house. Resh's house reminded me of the old time architecture, it was a huge house with a central open veranda . Each room has high ceilings , with big windows. The majestic building was surrounded by a beautiful lawn , giving a serene calmness. I actually had plans to book a hotel, not sure how her family would react to our relationship but when he requested me to stay back, I just couldn't refuse.
''Are you busy?'' Mrs. Siddiqi smiled at me standing at the room entrance
''Not all all.''
''Let me show you around, and also your RESH's room.'' She teased and I blushed. She took me around , I was in awe of the old structure. The house was almost 100 yrs old, it was being made by Resh's great grandfather. She told me that due her husband's defence job , they kept moving to various city and one Reshu put her step down She decided to go back to grandfather's house and live with him till her schooling was done, ''She loves this house, and this why we decided to settle here after the retirement.'' She concluded.
''Its beautiful. She had told me about it few times, but never I had imagined it to be this grand.'' She smiled at my words. ''Can I ask something ?'' With a nod she gave go ahead.
''Did her ex finace hurt Resh so bad that she wasn't ready to meet anyone? I am asking because the Resh I knew was fearless without compare.''
She smiled, ''Follow me.'' I followed her to a locked door, she undid the latch and switched on the lights after stepping in. I followed taking a look around, doesn't seems to be a girls room.
''This is Resh's room, I know its not so girly.'' She walked to the cupboard and pulled out a big album. ''These are the pictures of her pre-engagement functions.'' I slowly turned pages , she looked happy bright. Someone who had dreams and hopes in her eyes, ''She looks so happy.''
''She was bubbling with happiness, her eyes seemed to laden with the dreams of beautiful future. '' She turned silent and then looked at me, ''But a night before her engagement, she turned restless. She looked nervous worried, it appeared as if she was losing something precious. I asked her and you know what answer she gave. Mom, I miss my best friend. I miss Yash.''
I swallowed the emotional lump in my throat. Mrs Siddiqi leaned on the head board of the bed, ''She turned jelly. She said mom I don't know if this is right. I took all that to be pre wedding jitters, but now when I look back. She had always been in love with you. Now my wait was for her to realise her feelings.''
I didn't know whether to feel happy or curse myself for vanishing away. ''She would browse her college pictures again. Halting at every picture that had you, If you had a smile, she would smile. Like a friend I started asking her about her good friend, and guess what all her words had just you.'' I stayed quiet , after a moment she added, ''That day I decided not to push her for any more proposals, until she is over you or ready to love again. Though, we did pressurize her n between and that made her maintain a distance from us. She felt we considered her to be a burden, but we just wanted her happy. Now, when you are back I hope she comes back too. '' She concluded with a hope in her eyes.
''Thank you!'' Is all that I could whisper
''No, Thanks to you. You came back and she realised, because of that we are sitting here discussing all this. I am so happy , finally my daughter is getting married to the guy she loves. Now I can't wait to see your parents and finalise all.''
''even they are waiting for the same.''
''So, after wedding you guys are planning to settle in US.'' She said
''No, I am planning to come back and find something here. Resh has build herself such a good business, I don't want that uprooted.'' She stared at me for good 5 minutes, her lips stretched into an emotional smile. ''I knew my daughter could never settle for good, she had a habit of grabbing the best. I am so glad she chose you.'' We kept going through different pictures when my phone started buzzing. I checked the name and then turned it on silent, I just didn't wanted make my host feel neglected. It rang again, she smiled, ''I know its Resh. Talk to her, while I finish some of my work.'' I just smiled in reply. Once she left, I answered to be blasted from other side, ''Where the hell are you and why didn't you answer my call?''
''Relax , and come on a video call. I want to show you something.'' With that I ran to find her mother. As soon as she called back, I pulled Mrs Siddiqi with me in front of the camera, ''Hi Resh.''
Her expression was treat to watch, her jaw looked ready to touch the floor. ''Say something Resh.'' She blinked for a minute, ''Bye'' and disconnected leaving us in the fits of laughter. It was the first time, I could stump Reshu Siddiqi .
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2 more to go. And after this I will be starting choice. Do vote and comment