7– Hand in marriage

Preetah

I had never been in a car like this before. It was so spacious inside it looked like one could live in here! The seats were all brown leather and felt smooth to touch. There was even a small screen facing my seat, highlighting the news.

Mr Korana and I were sitting at the back.

“Do you drink?” He asked me when the car started moving.

“Alcohol?”

“Yes.”

“No, sir.” I shook my head.

“Good. Neither do I.” He answered. “People in America drink a lot.”

“Oh...”

“I don't understand what they like about alcohol. All it does is make you lose yourself and act like a complete fool.” He added.

I nodded.

For the rest of the way, Mr Korana looked out of the window at the country he had left behind. The country had only gotten worse. There was more litter, the streets got busier and with nepotism, jobs were scarce.

As Mr Korana looked upon the transformation of streets he walked and drove in, I thought about Arjun. A smile stole over my face. His long eyelashes, his cute pink lips, and his clean uniform. Was he still as neat as he was in high school? Would he want me to press iron all his work shirts and pants? I looked down at my left hand, at the finger where Arjun would place a ring. I will be the best wife for you, Arjun. The best.

The driver stopped in front of our house. I felt ashamed to let Mr Korana into our house after being in their lavish car.

“Uh... this is our house, sir. Welcome.” I told him, leading him to the door. “It's not much...”

He scoffed and then chuckled. “Are you forgetting I am from here?”

His response made me feel a lot more comfortable. I laughed with him as I opened the door.

Dad was sleeping in his wheelchair and didn't wake up when we walked in.

I went to kneel down next to him, placing my hands on the arm rest of the wheelchair.

“Papa... wake up.” I took his hand in mine. “There is someone here for you.”

He sat upright in his wheelchair when he woke up.

“My child, are you back?”

I nodded. “Yes, papa.”

“Greetings.” Mr Korana came to offer his hand.

My father took it with a frown of confusion.

“This is Mr Korana. I went to school with his son Arjun.” I informed father. “Mr Korana has come to see you.”

“Greetings.” I could see father analysing Mr Korana. Probably wondering what such a rich man wanted from us.

“You can sit.” Father told him.

“Thank you.” Mr Korana took a seat on the couch.

I too, took a seat.

“Is something wrong?” Father asked him.

“On the contrary, Mr Arora.” Arjun's father smiled. “My son went to the same school with Preetah, like she just mentioned. Arjun. He left India in 2018; we now live in New York.”

I fidgeted with my fingers. I was so nervous. What if father refused?

“Arjun is 28 years old. He is a business owner of a company called KE, Korana Enterprises. He has done well for himself but only one thing stays; my son would like to marry. I as his father agree with him. I think that it is time he finds himself a good wife and settle down. So that is the matter at hand.”

Father looked from Mr Korana to me. My heart skipped a beat.

“Your daughter here, Preetah, topped second after my son on their last year. My son got an average of 98% and she got 93%. She is smart, beautiful and I can see that she has manners. There's no one else I see fit for my son than your daughter.” Mr Korana spoke. “Simply put, Mr Arora, we would like to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage.”

Father had his hands clasped and he looked thoughtful. He regarded Mr Korana for a while after he finished talking. He then looked at me and reverted to Mr Korana.

The silence was loud and killing me. If it was appropriate, I would break the silence, just because it was too long than normal.

“If it's your son the one looking for a wife, why is he not here beside you, asking for Preetah's hand in marriage?” Father asked him.

Mr Korana looked a little flushed and nervous. I picked it up. Why was father so blunt? What if Mr Korana changed his mind?

“Uh...” Mr Korana shifted in his seat uncomfortably and then gained his control. “You have a point Mr Arora. I would have preferred Arjun to be here too, but like I mentioned, he has a whole company to run. Especially that it is month end, there is a lot of paperwork to review and—”

“If his business was all he needed, he wouldn't be looking for a wife.” Father went on. “I think it is only appropriate that he is present. How can I make a judgment without seeing the boy whom I am giving my daughter to?”

Oh no... why was father saying all these things? I didn't want Mr Korana to reconsider. I wanted to marry Arjun.

“You have a point, but our boy is a decent man. He believes in hard work and responsibility. How will he take care of his wife if he doesn't prioritize his only source of income?” Mr Korana pointed out.

I nodded because I agreed. I wished father could see it like we did.

Mr Korana approached father and showed him his cell phone screen. “Here he is.”

I wished I could see the picture but it was too far away.

After much silence, father nodded and gave Mr Korana back his cell phone.

“We are a decent family, and that's why I came all the way from America just to find a girl here in India. We want a girl with values and morals.”

“It seems that your son is a very good man, and you seem like a good man yourself, Mr Korana. I have heard the matter that you have brought to my house today, but I have to ask Preetah's opinion.”

I almost died from excitement!

Father turned to me. “Preetah, have you heard what Mr Korana has said?”

I nodded. “Yes, father.”

“Do you know this Arjun Korana?”

I nodded, looking down, out of respect. “Yes.”

“Would you like to marry this boy?”

I smiled, from my heart. I would have leaped up and yelled but of course I couldn’t do that, so I answered, without meeting his eyes, “Yes, papa. I would like to marry him.”

★★★

Arjun

“So, as you all know, it is the last day of the month. I've just reviewed KE's income statement for the month and we had surely made more than we made last month—” I stopped to watch the workers turn to each other, smile and nod encouragingly at one another. I was standing behind my office chair, at the head of the table, facing them.

“But...” I placed my hands on the top of the headrest of the chair. “I feel like we could have done better. We only managed to supply to our usual customers and hadn't contracted anyone new. Anyone care to remind us of our monthly goal?”

Everyone stared elsewhere, avoiding my eyes. Yeah, they should be feeling bad now.

“To sign at least two new companies every month.” Artha raised her pen in the air as she answered.

“Exactly. To contract at least two companies every month.” I raised two fingers. “So, if I was one of you, sitting in that chair, I wouldn't be proud of myself. There's nothing to be proud about. The reason you're even sitting in that chair today is because I employed you, and why did I employ you? Because I thought you would make the best brokers for KE. But here we are, zero companies won. And last month? Only one new contract.”

“Good Hope would have been contracted if they didn't pull out at the last minute.” Finn said it like he was judging me without making it obvious while still wanting me to pick it up.

“Companies get cold feet before contracts, it's no big deal.” I stated.

“I think they really wanted to work with us.” Finn continued. “Bernard mentioned that our offer was the best offer he had come across.”

“Yeah, I'm going to try to get a meeting with him again. I will try to talk him back in.” I shrugged my hand in the air, dismissing his point. “No big deal.”

All five nodded.

“Um... I will personally go over to Good Hope today.” Artha said. “At this point I think Barnard will keep dodging us unless we are standing in front of him.”

“Good idea, Artha.” I nodded. “You and Dean can get on it now.”

“Sure.” She said, getting up and taking her things. When she got up, I frowned at the length of her dress. It was a few inches above her knee, and as she bent, it looked even shorter.

Dean got up, and after grabbing his things, came to help carry her bag for her.

“Thanks.” She told him, and then they left.

I was proud of Artha, she was only 17 but she had such strong leadership skills. She always took initiative, always wanted to be directly involved with the action. Once again, this proves that father was wrong, and I was right. If we had gone with father's wishes of letting her finish high school, she wouldn't be as knowledgeable as she was now. Sure, she still had a lot to learn, but with the help of my best friend, Dean, she was learning fast and doing well.

“Uh... for the rest of you, continue playing your role as you should. Let's make March a good month for KE. Let's beat our own records. January and February were nothing.” I finished off. “Elza, see me in my office so we can discuss where our next donation is going to go. The company is currently under bad light, and we need something to change that.”

“Okay, sir.” She smiled flirtatiously at me as she picked up her notepad and pen.

She followed after me as I led the way to my office. When we got in, I closed the door.

“Come here.” I pulled her by her arm towards me.

She giggled as she let me pull her in. “The blinds are open.” She said, placing her hands around my neck.

“What did you expect after giving me that look?”

“After this though, we really have to think about places you can donate to. I don't like them portraying you as the big bad villain.”

I shrugged as she ran a pointy fingernail along my tie. “I don't mind being the big bad villain.”

“Be my big bad villain then...” She said, then bit my earlobe.

“Turn around.” I said and then turned her to the door, pinning her against it.

“Are you gonna be my big bad villain?” She asked as I unbuckled my belt.

“Any day...” I said, biting my bottom lip as I lifted her dress to her waist.

My phone began ringing.

“Don't take it...” She urged me, turning back as I took the phone out of my pocket.

It was father. Ahg... if only he could just let me breathe for a second. What did he want now? Did he want to remind me that my video was still trending, four days later?

“Yes?” I answered, watching Elza go close my blinds.

“I've found you a wife!” He sounded ecstatic.

“Father, I am at work.” I responded indifferently.

“I just wanted to give you the news. She's so beautiful. You will love her.”

As he spoke, Elza kissed my neck.

“Ok. But I am working right now.” I answered.

“I spoke to her father, and he accepted. We will go to the temple tomorrow to get an auspicious date for the wedding. Once we have one—”

“Dad, I really have to go.”

“Okay, let me not disturb you while—”

I hung up the phone before he completed his sentence.

He was the one that wanted me to marry so bad. There was no need at all to fill me in on every little detail. I will show up when I'm really needed, for the wedding. The rest doesn't concern me.

★★★

Artha

I got into my car and Dean got in on the other side. I looked over at him, smiled and then started driving.

“Once again, Arjun messes up and we have to clean up after him.” Dean said, and then let out a heavy sigh. “It's about to be a long day...”

With my smile still in place, I shook my head at his ignorance. Why are men like this?

He placed his hand on my thigh, as he often did when I was driving. His hand was warm, and gently slid between my thighs, where it rested. “Why did you offer to go?” He then let out a loud lazy groan.

“Do you even know what day it is?” I asked him.

“Wednesday.” He responded, casually.

“It's the 28th of Feb, babe...”

He looked quizzical, I could see him trying to figure it out. I shook my head and laughed. He looked so cute, this confused. His beard was trimmed short, brown. He had brown hair and eyebrows and very fair skin— apparently, he was almost born an albino. With the darker brown freckles on his nose, he looked perfect. Beautiful.

“I'm hurt.” I pouted, pretending to be sad.

“Oh... Oh!” His face finally lit up. “Oh shit... happy first year anniversary, Artha-bear!”

“Ahg.” I groaned, pretending to be mad.

He leaned over and began kissing me.

“Hm!” I laughed. “I'm driving, D...”

I enjoyed the affection and attention Dean gave me, always treating me so delicate. Perhaps it was the age difference, but I loved it. Although we had to act formally at the office, in private, Dean was the sweetest ever, and I treasured every single moment with him.

After we broke the kiss, he kissed me on my cheek and then took my free hand in his. “Happy anniversary to us.”

“Happy anniversary to us...” I responded.

“Are we really spending our anniversary trying to sign that asshole, Barnard?”

I shook my head. “Of course not. I just needed an excuse to get us off my brother's radar.”

“Nice.”

“And we won't have to worry about him calling, because he'll think we're at Good Hope.” I smirked.

“Smart girl.” He winked at me. “So, where are we going?”

“Your place.”

Dean had no clue, but I had given Bianca, my best friend, the extra keys I had to his apartment. And when we would walk in, there would be rose petals from his front door, and it would lead us to his bed; where there would be more rose petals in the shape of a heart, and on the side of his bed, would be an ice bucket with a nice bottle of champaign waiting.