Paul

"Mom I wanted to tell you something" I said taking her hand in me.

"Bolo Anika (Yes, Anika)" My mom said with smile.

We were sitting in balcony having our morning tea made by my mom.

"I like someone" I hesitated caressing her knuckles.

"Your colleagues" She asked.

"No, He was in my college, Working as librarian" I said.

"What is his name" She asked.

"Paul Methew" I said looking at her.

"Does he also like you" Mom asked.

"Yes, We have mutual feeling" I said.

"Do you ready to spend your whole life with him" She asked.

"I don't know mummy" I huffed.

"So find out first, Do you ready to spend life with him" She said squeezing my hand.

"Listen Anika, We are Indians. We get married once in our life. We gave ourself to someone for our whole life, So I suggest you first come with conclusion if are ready to spend your life with person whom you Like" She said and I nodded.

"Mummy I am confused" I paused "How do I know I am ready" I asked.

"When you both understand each other feeling, When you are comfortable with him to tell your cons and pros. When you don't have fever of getting judge" She said.

"It's take long time to understand" I said.

"Yes, Take as much as time you want. You are not in india, So take as much time you want but make sure once you get married be happy with your partner" Mom gave me smile.

"Thank you maa" I hugged her.

"So can I meet your Paul" She tease.

"Yes..." chirped.

"Ok then ask him to come for lunch, I will make best Indian food for him" mom said and I nodded.

"Do you remember Rohan" mom asked once I was about to stand from the seat.

"Yes, What happened" I asked looking at him with arching eyebrows.

"He is still waiting for you" My jaw dropped on floor listening her.

"What" I asked.

"Yes, when you escaped from india, We told them everything truth" Mom told me.

"Then" I asked back.

"You know our society, One you left everywhere it was hot topic even Rohan also faced humiliation because of his bride left him" She huffed.

"I had met him once He told me if you had asked him you wanted to study more he will support you but you didn't tell him anything and left him" She said.

"I thought he won't understand me like papa" I whispered.

"May be you were right because what you had seen in our society and how's male dominate female" Mom said and I nodded.

"What he is doing currently" I asked.

"He is doing business and earning good profit" She said smiling at me.

"Whenever you met him next time just tell him I am sorry for what I did to him" I said and mom nodded.

"Let me call Paul" I said standing up from the chair going inside room.

"Hello" I said Once call connected.

"Hi Arina, Do you have time to meet my mother" I asked.

"Yes, I am really sorry for yesterday night. I know you are angry on me but please Listen it was urgent and I couldn't make it possible"He explained.

"I can understand Paul" I huffed.

"Come at my apartment in afternoon" I said.

"Ok, I have take off so I can meet you and your mom" He said and i smiled.

"Ok come for lunch" I said cutting call.

"Is someone coming" Mrs Singh teased me.

"Yes, for lunch" I said grinning.

"Good" She smiled going inside in balcony.

*******

"Were are you" I asked Paul on call 

"Just reached" He said and I heard doorbell ringed.

"Welcome" I smiled looking his blue eyes.

"Thanks" He said.I moved little so he can come inside.

"How are you" I asked taking chocolate from him.

"Good, How you and Aunt" He asked back looking in living room.

I like him because he respect my culture too. He has never  touched me because I had told him earlier I don't like physical contact and He respected my decision.

"She is waiting for in dinning area" I said taking his jacket.

"Did you tell her about me" He asked seems nervous.

"Yes and don't worry she won't judge" I said and he nodded.

"Maa..." I called my mother who was busy in cooking.

"Yes, coming" Mom said taking bowl of rice from platform of kitchen.

"It's Paul" I introduced man beside me.

"Hi,.." Mom said with scrutinized gaze.

"Paul my mother" I introduced him.

"Hello Aunty" He said extending his hand for handsake.

"Hello Paul" Mom said looking at me.

"Ynha ke log pair nai chutte maa (they don't touch feet for greetings)" I rolled my eyes.

"What happened" Paul asked 

"Nothing , take seat" I said and he nodded.

"Where is Angela and Mrs Singh" I asked.

"They are inside room, let me call them" Mom said leaving us alone in dinning area.

"Your mom doesn't like me" Paul asked arching his brows.

"No, It's not like that' I said shrugging my shoulders.

"Then" He asked.

Now how can I tell him indain like when someone touch there feet for blessing. It's sign of respect in india.

"For her it's all new so she is trying to adjust" I said giving him smile.

"Is he Paul" Mrs Singh asked sitting on dinning chair.

"Yes, Paul she is my teacher, I have told you about her" I said looking him..

"Yes.." He said looking Mrs Singh and Angela.

"My baby sister Angela" I introduced my family to him.

"She looks.." He trailed looking Angela.

"Yes I know she doesn't look indian because I am her gaurdian as of now " I said he was still schoked looking at her.

"Guardian" He asked back.

"Long story, I will tell you later" I huffed.

"Hello Paul" Angela smiled hand shaking with him.

"Hi..Hi" He stuttered.

"We have Indian food for lunch" I told him.

"Thank, I always wanted to try indian food" He said.

"Ok so start with food, I am coming" I said going inside in kitchen.

"Why are you not coming outside" I asked my mom who was frying puri (made by wheat flour).

"He didn't know about Angela" Mom arch her brows.

"I didn't tell him because she is my responsibility so didn't let him know about that and I was always busy in study and he has family to give food , Whenever we get time we talk about ourselves" I told her. Her look was showing me she is not happy with Paul arrangements.

"Mom you don't like him" I asked.

"No, Not like that let me talk with him first then I will tell you my point of view", She said and I nodded.

I don't know what mom will decide at the end. I was just praying everything will go smooth.