Chapter 2

Bhabhi - Sister in law (Brother's wife)

Bhai/Bhaiya - Brother

Jiju - Brother in law (Sister's husband)

"Maa, no ways, do you see the shade of her lipstick, she isn't bhai's type for sure!" Aman cried out as he slammed the picture on the dining table.

"Kisi ki lipstick kharaab hai, kisi ki naak tedhi hai, koi padhi likhi nahin hai, (somebody's got a bad lipstick shade, somebody needs a nose job, somebody isn't well read) oh god Aman, and do you think your brother is some Tom Cruise! I am rejecting proposals after proposals all because of you guys, and your brother is not getting any younger! I have shown him all the single ladies in this city but neither you guys nor him like any of them! This way I'll probably die before I see grandkids!" Pratibha replied, as she nodded her head frantically. 

"Grandkids shouldn't be an issue maa, that I am sure Divya bhabhi and Aakash bhai can give you!" Aman said cheekily his face resting on his palm Divya came out holding a plate in her hand as she lightly slapped Aman on his head. 

"Bohut bolne laga hai maa yeh, (He's being too cheeky mom) Forget Arjun bhaiya, I think you should begin to look for a girl for him first!" She said as she set the plate on the table, Aman leaned in and stretched his hand to pick the snacks in the plate, when Divya slapped his hand and showed him a slap for the irreverent comment he had just made. "Sorry bhabhi" Aman said his lips frowning and his hands holding his ears. 

"Divya I am being really serious, How will we ever find a bride for Arjun! just make a decision and choose from one of these girls now!" Pratibha cried out holding the photos in her hand like a pack of cards

"Maa, Arjun bhaiya is also one in a million na, how will he just like anyone!" Divya tried to placate her mother-in-law

"Why what is wrong with these girls tho!" Pratibha tried to reason 

"Maa, Miss Raichand's daughter, she hasn't got a job and only obsesses over expensive handbags, shoes and make up, do you think Arjun bhaiya would ever want her as his wife?" Divya said holding a photo in her hand

"Maa, this Varali Chopra, she failed her graduation year in Singapore, do you think she has the intellect to hold up a conversation with Arjun bhaiya!" Aman reasoned holding another photo

"This Mrs. Aroroa's daughter, Mr. Sham's daughter, Mrs. Majumdar's daughter, all of them are from Mrs Raichand's daughter's gang, it's not their fault but they have been spoilt with luxury and expensive gift and can barely hold up an intellectual conversation, do you think Arjun bhaiya would be happy with them? We need someone of Arjun's bhaiya's type" Divya tried to explain

"Then what should I do, where should I get a girl from a good family, who fits into Arjun's categories! What do you mean by Arjun's type! He is turning 30 now,all the girls his age are already married!" Pratibha sighed rubbing her hand on her forehead

"Maa, bhaiya needs someone who is as intellectual as him" Divya listed out

"Listen to the same kind of music as him" Aman added

"Can hold up a conversation with him" Divya added

"Be an actual competition in chess for him" Aman added

"Doesn't believe in elaborate concept of love!" Divya added

"has read more books than him" Aman added

"And give him his space, while understanding him" Divya said

"Also, has to be fun enough to get bade bhaiya out of his uptight mood!" Aman ended on a subtle note

Pratibha face palmed herself, "Oh my my! Where will I get a girl like that! and have you heard the kind of music he listens to! Such old old tracks! Older than me! Where will I get a girl like that!" She exclaimed

"Hmm, where will we" Divya and Aman said in unison, seating themselves next to Pratibha, rested their heads on their palm and dreaming with Pratibha

-

Aakash honked at the car infront of him as he found himself stuck in another inevitable traffic jam. "It's green you morons, move!" he muttered under his breath as he honked again, his engine ready to sail through, until the signal became red again. He turned off the car to save fuel, it seemed like they had some time in hand till it turned green again. He looked at his brother seated beside him, checking his emails on his phone.

"Maa, was asking whether you liked the girl whose picture she sent" Aakash said trying to sound casual and not like he had already repeated this conversation in his head, already, a million times, before he actually started conversing. 

"We had this same discussion day before yesterday if I remember correctly?" Arjun said nonchalantly

"No, that was a different photo" Aakash replied trying to sound just as composed as he did

"But the topic is still the same" 

"Bhai the topic has been same for a really long time now! don't you think you should make a decision and move on! Bhai, mom and dad don't sleep nights thinking about your marriage! why cant you make a decision!" Aakash vented out

"Aakash, I have made my decision already, you guys don't understand it! I don't want to marry any one of mum's choice, spoilt brats! what will I discuss with them, 'when does Gucci have sale!' tell me! will you find someone who won't be clingy and give me space?"

"I don't think Gucci has a sale" Aakash mentioned

"That's not the point, the point is that I don't want to get married to someone i barely know! and especially not to someone from our social circle or mom's acquaintances because I know that type and I don't think I can stand them, they're so immature and materialistic ugh! I'm not ready to keep up with their tantrums and needs"

"We're from the same circle you know, Divya is from the same circle, don't you think you're being a little judgmental?"

"Yes, maybe I am! or maybe I am just taking precautionary measures! Besides you and Divya were young and in love!" Arjun said 

"it's impossible to not lose in an argument with you, you're right, where will we get a girl who can argue back with you" Aakash nodded in frustration

"That's why don't even try" Arjun said with a snigger

-

"Hey" Aakash said as he entered the room, flung his bag onto the sofa and removed his shoes. Divya was sitting there snuggled in the sheets, she glanced at the watch, "You're quite early today" her words dripping in sarcasm. She hated having to wait without any message or call. 

"Yes I know, crazy traffic at the junction near the railway station" Aakash said casually as he unbuttoned his shirt

"Could've texted atleast" Divya muttered. "Anyway, how was your day" 

"Spent an hour racking my brains with Arjun bhaiya and didn't get an approval by him on any girl that Maa has considered showing him the pictures of. God knows what he is going to do" Aakash sighed

"Tell me about it, Maa can't stop talking about it! Day in and out, there is only one thing that she chants 'Arjun's marriage' 'Arjun's marriage' how do you explain to her that her older son's choice is a little out of the world!" Divya explained to him

"Why doesn't he want to get married tho!" Divya added

"He isn't ready apparently" Aakash replied 

"Ready? The man's 30, financially settled, has a great job, how else do you get ready!" Divya said in frustration. Arjun was a brother to her, an older brother, he would always back Divya even when she and Aakash fought, sometimes pamper her like a little sister but this marriage issue of his was getting on her nerves now. Especially since they couldn't plan a baby until Arjun got married.

"Well what do I say, it was easier to understand calculus as a kid, than understanding him! I am sure they can find out where MH 370 went but never find out what is going on in Bhai's brain"

"What about love and companionship doesn't he crave it?" 

"No, apparently meaningless sex makes up for it"

"God how do people even have meaningless sex man!"

"You know we could have meaningful sex, tonight" Aakash said bawdily

"Shut up! No way, I freaked out the other day when my period's got delayed by a month, not today, I am at the peak of my menses and we cant take a chance now" Divya declared

"Ugh, now you're at peak so it can't happen, a week later you'll be bleeding, so it won't happen" Aakash sighed as he leapt on to the bed and placed his head in her lap. She smiled to him and nodded her head, followed by running her hands through his hair and slowly looking up, to her a thought had occured!

"Where are you lost!" Aakash asked, snapping her out of it

"Kuch nahin, you know Meera? My dad's sister's-" she began

"Yes yes Divya I know Meera! your cousin in reality but like your own sister in totality, your father's sister - Aunt Niyati's daughter! Her father's name is Prakash! She has a brother named Sidhant! yes I know! good god, just cuz I screwed up one relative's name at a family event doesn't mean I don't know the close ones! And btw aunt niyati and uncle prakash have been old acquaintances of our family" Aakash

"well you did call a cousin as 'uncle' so yes I have to double check Aakash!" Divya reminded him for the nth time

"Well that was a mistake and thanks to that I know your family tree now! by heart!" Aakash declared

"That will be tested at the next family get together!" Divya said as she pressed his nose with her finger

"Anyways, what about Meera?" Aakash asked getting back on track

"She's back" Divya said

"She's back? How come, we spoke to her on our anniversary right, she seemed pretty happy, she was telling me 'jiju you guys have gotta plan your next honeymoon here' which miracle on this planet has brought her back" Aakash laughed

"Not a miracle, a tragedy" Divya said, her eyes zoned out to the wall in front of them

"A tragedy? Why, is everything okay" Aakash said, moving out of her lap, realizing that it was a serious matter

"Yeah, I mean not exactly, Aunt Niyati's Father-in-law, Meera's grandfather, had a heart attack two days ago, so Meera flew back wanting to stay with him and now his last wish is to see her married"

"What? that's crazy, how's is he though?"

"Doctors have given him 6 months" Divya added

"Well marriage shouldn't be an issue for Meera, she is well educated, they'll find someone"

"Ofcourse they will find someone Aakash, the issue is that she is commitment phobic! she hadn't had a single relationship in her entire life and she is totally against marriage"

"So she isn't going to do it?"

"No, she loves dadu too much, said she'll do anything for him, so she is doing it" 

"Well, it certainly isn't going to be easy!"

"Yeah I know, she almost broke down on phone today and you know her, she won't cry in front of anyone! Anyways we should go visit them tomorrow, Aunt Niyati also seemed very worried"

"Maybe we should inform even mom and dad, they can accompany us"

"yeah sure"

-

The Goenka's lived in a well built bungalow in the well bred localities of the city. Mr. Shantanu Goenka was a self made man who encouraged comfort but not luxury. His wife Pratibha, having three sons Arjun, Aakash and Aman, craved for a daughter to pamper, and her wish was fulfilled when Aakash married Divya. Divya was the perfect daughter-in-law for the family, she was caring, obedient and tolerant of the large family, even though Aakash and Divya had a love marriage, which was also probably the reason why Akash got married before his elder brother. 

Living with Shantanu was his brother, Aravind and his family. Aravind's wife Sudha was a more sociable member of the family but that didn't mean that she didn't harbour reverence for Shantanu and pratibha. She worshiped Pratibha and Pratibha showered her with the same love and affection as that for a sister. Aravind and Sudha has two daughter's- Sakshi who lived with her husband Vivek and two children-parth and riya and the other daughter a young chirpy Ishika, who was the apple of the eyes of her cousin brother's and often gave company to Divya. 

You could look at it as a big Indian happy family, they had everything but all they craved for was their favourite members wedding, Arjun!

But not everyone could adjust to this atmosphere where there was barely any privacy. To someone who may lived alone for so long, the care of the family members may seem as intrusion. Besides conforming to the norms of the house wasn't easy!