Forced Marriage

Mehul's POV

" Mehul, your dad called up. He wants to talk to you immediately. " Mom told me as soon as I came back after walking my friend Rahul and his wife Priya out. 

Rahul was going to London for 2-3 weeks so he came to meet me. They are so cute and made for each other. I am really happy for Rahul, he has always liked her.

" Ok mom, I will call him right away, but can you tell me, it is regarding what? "

" How do I know beta, why don't you call and ask him? " Mom said.

I called up my father, he picked up the phone on the 4th ring.

" Hello dad !! Did you call me? Mom said you called up and you wanted to talk to me immediately. What is the matter? Dad, is everything alright?  Are you fine? "

" I am fine son, I want you and your mom to come here immediately. Take the next flight and come to Surat it is very urgent son come fast."

" Ok dad, we will be on the next flight, but you are scaring me.  Is everything alright? Why don't you tell me? Is everything alright dad? "

" Trust me, Son, everything is fine I just need you and your mom here. Please come fast. I will tell you everything once you are here. Okay now go and pack and before that just book your tickets. "

" Ok dad," I said but I was sure something was not right. What was it?

" Mom, dad is calling us there as soon as possible. So please pack, we have to be on the next flight. I am a bit worried... What is the problem?  Why is dad calling us so urgently?" 

" I have no idea Mehul now please go and let me pack for both of us. " I went to my room upstairs to get ready. 

Though I tried not to think about it, I was still wondering why he was behaving in a mysterious way. Dad went to Surat all of a sudden about 3 days back. What was going on?

Why was he not telling me anything? I was missing Mudit bhai.  He is just 2 years older to me but I am very close to him. He is my elder brother, friend, mentor and partner in crime.

He handles our dad very well. Much better than I can. He has this natural ability to make people confess. I wish he was here right now. He would have solved the mystery in no time. But he is on a world tour with his wife Sneha. 

They got married last month. She is a wonderful girl. They make just a perfect couple... Cool, funny, witty...

Missing you Bhai. We reached Surat and drove to our ancestral Haveli ( mansion). Our family have been dealing in diamonds for many decades now. My father Mr Vipul Damodar Shah is the most famous diamond merchant of the country. 

Most of the time he and mom are spending in Surat and Mudit and I work from New Delhi. We have our own jewellery houses all over India. I joined my family business only last year after finishing my MBA. 

Bhai is managing the overseas orders and I am managing the store chains with him. 

Gopal Kaka is waiting for us anxiously. He is the caretaker of our ancestral haveli in Surat." How are you Gopal Kaka?" I hugged him and he hugged me back. 

He smiled brightly and said, " I have been waiting for you Beta Ji. " and then he asked a man servant to take our luggage to our rooms. He went inside to order the Maharaj Ji ( traditional chef or cook) to serve food for us and went to inform dad that we have reached. 

Everything looked normal so what was the urgency? Let's forget that and enjoy food... I really enjoyed the Undhiyu - poori, khandvi, raita and shrikhand. 

Dad came home after a few hours. I went running towards him and asked, "What is the matter dad? You seem to be very tense. Are you alright? Is anything wrong with the business? Dad, please tell me."

He smiled and told us to relax and get ready as we had to go to his best friend Suresh uncle's place.

What????? Here I was anxious that something was wrong somewhere and my dad wanted us to go to some dinner at his friend's house?? Seriously?