*Kamal Pov*
“Have a bite of this, Kamal. I think our canteen decided to show some mercy on us today with delicious food.” I heard Girish asking and I turned away from my book only to glare at him.
“No!” I shouted and ignored the looks other students giving hearing my raised voice.
I shook my head and continued to study with my three friends laughing among themselves. I tightened my grip on the book hoping to kill all of them, but took a deep breath to hide the anger and relaxed.
“Why are you shouting at him, Kamal?” Palavi asked sitting at our table.
“Ask them, Pallavi.” I replied in a controlled tone.
“It is just that we ordered this specially today for a special reason.” David explained, but actually didn’t and that’s how he does everything.
He thinks he explained, but forgets to mention the main point making it as a teasing sport for us over him. However, it seems like this is my day to take all the teasing.
“Today, his fiancé had the same breakfast as per his mom.” Rakesh explained bluntly.
“So, today was the day of the week when your mom calls you and gives you live feed of that’s girl’s life?” Pallavi asked chuckling.
“You too, Pallavi?” I asked her still with a normal expression.
“Come on! It is fun to talk about it. It is not like you are going to marry her. You don’t want this madness like you are saying for the past one year since I met you.” She replied smiling.
“And for the past eight years since we met him.” Girish added grinning.
“Right! I don’t want this madness and will do everything to stop it.” I said, nodding and started packing my books.
“We are getting late for our class.” I said and they all nodded, getting up before we started walking to our classes.
“Today was so tiring, guys.” Rakesh said, walking to our spot where we all meet at the end of each day before returning to our hostel.
“Why don’t we go to a bar?” Girish suggested and I nodded before waiting for David.
“Why is he running towards us?” I asked, staring at David, who is running like there is some dog chasing him.
“We all decided to go to a bar as it is the weekend.” Rakesh put the words out ignoring the way David is calming his breath.
“Sure! However, we need to wait for a few minutes.” He said before pushing Rakesh and Girish away from me and also himself.
“For what?” I asked him frowning.
“It’s time!” that’s all he replied and I frowned more not getting one proper thought to suit his reply.
“Oh!” Rakesh and Girish suddenly said at a time and I turned to see some girl walking near to me with a small smile.
“Hi, Kamal!” she said, waving and introduced herself.
“Yes?” I asked, folding my arms.
“I really like you.” She replied and immediately looked down with shyness.
I sighed, rubbing my forehead and took a deep breath before saying, “I need to tell you something.”
She immediately nodded and waited for me like I am a lecturer and she is a student who is preparing for an MBBS entrance exam or some other. However, as I have the experience with MBBS one I will settle for that now.
“The thing is, my parents are amazing and their best friends are our neighbors. So, when our neighbors had a daughter they wanted more than the friendship between the families.” I started saying and she nodded.
“After a few years, when we became little normal friends, our marriage was fixed to be held when she finishes her graduation no matter what.” I added and her face paled.
“I really don’t want to go with all of this. I mean, I don’t even know her as I decided to study in a great school in the city and moved away. This is just madness and completely abnormal right?” I asked, to which she immediately nodded with a smile.
“However, I will come out of this and choose someone on my own without any restrictions and with my Mom’s blessings.” I said and she suddenly grinned.
“So, you like me too?” she asked, but I sighed shaking my head.
“No! As you can see, I have so much to do before even thinking about someone. I think it would be best if you forget me and I try to come out of this.” I replied and she reluctantly nodded before stepping back.
“And, don’t tell this to anyone.” I immediately added to her back.
I turned to my friends to see them covering their mouths like they are attempting to stop themselves from laughing.
“What is the count?” Girish asked finally laughing.
“I forgot!” Rakesh said, shaking his head.
“What guys? Should I have responded to her words without solving all this mess?” I asked walking near to them.
“No! But a simple ‘No’ would have been suffice.” David replied smiling.
“I just want to make them understand.” I said shrugging.
“Like for the past few years you are doing with each girl whenever she proposes to you?” Rakesh asked, and I frowned, but nodded.
“Let’s just go! I have some new problem over my head.” I replied, walking near to our bikes.
“What is it?” Girish asked following me.
“Today was her last exam.” I replied and they had another round of laughter before we reached the bar.
“You know, I really miss my dad.” I mumbled leaning back to the small bed spreading my legs on the floor.
“It’s been a few years right?” Girish asked patting my hand.
“I wish I was there to stop it.” I replied closing my eyes.
“It was an accident, Kamal. No one could do anything about it.” Rakesh said and I felt his hand over mine.
“I just wish my Mom comes here to stay with me.” I mumbled taking a deep breath.
“You will finish your post graduation within a month and then will have a job in any great hospital as you are also doing an internship. Then bring her here with you.” Girish suggested like every time.
“Yes! I need to do that and get her away from that girl. I mean, why does my mom talks only about her and no one else. Is that girl threatening my mom or what?” I asked frowning to myself.
“Ask her next week when she calls you.” Rakesh said and I nodded before drifting off into sleep in the same position.
I don’t want to meet that girl at all and will be out of this mess soon. She is not my fiancé and will never be.
*Kamal Pov*“I don’t know what you will do, Kamal. You should come home this weekend at any cause.” I heard what I feared from the past few weeks while dodging her request to return home.“But Mom…” I started saying along with thinking of a reason to give to her.“I don’t want to hear anything. Here, that girl is waiting for you and you are not even coming here to meet her. You both should get to know each other more before marriage.” She said and I closed my eyes.“Mom! I believe that it would be better to not talk about marriage. I mean, I don’t know her and she doesn’t know me. Maybe we both are just not compatible.” I said and waited for her reaction.“Don’t worry, Kamal. You know a lot about her and she knows so much about you. I am glad that you too think, you should meet her and get to know her on your own. I will be waiting for your return then.” She said and hung up the phone while I took it away from my ear to stare at it in shock.“Did she again, not understand the meaning
*Kamla Pov*“I don’t know why you are dragging us along with you. We three would have taken a well deserved rest before our exams start the next week, right?” Girish asked yawning.“Our exams will take a long time to finish and I can’t make my mom wait for my visit. And you all are here because just a few hours back you decided it.” I replied and pointing out his own plan in the end.“That seemed to be like a sound plan to see your fiance run the in the opposite direction in live. However, I am tired with that bus journey at present along with this walking into the village with no transport we can find.” He explained and yawned again.“Do you think it is right time to tell him?” David whispered near my ear and I stopped myself from laughing.“Tell me, what?” Girish asked, apparently hearing David’s words.“That you are not going to get your wish.” That’s all David replied before walking away.“She is not in the village and left last weekend for her cousin’s wedding.” I explained makin
*Vani Pov*“I know, you wanted to talk to him, but they had to leave early to catch the bus. We don’t get one right after dark and they can’t travel tomorrow with the exams starting from day-after tomorrow.” Aunty explained the moment I walked in her house after freshening up.“His friend explained to me, Aunty.” I said, smiling and sat for dinner along with her.“At least you didn’t run immediately with just the news of him in the house.” She mumbled and I frowned.“He must think I am some crazy person. I shouldn’t have run like that on the roads.” I mumbled back.“I just want you to get to know him and he does the same. We elders are here only to arrange the wedding. However, you both are the ones who should live life long together.” She said in a serious tone.“There will be no change of decision from my side no matter what happens unless he actually doesn’t want this.” I said shrugging ignoring the pinching in the heart.“We will talk about that when he comes here after the exams.
#After One Year#*Kamal Pov*“I just need to go to college for some time and then will travel to the village, mom.” I said, holding the phone and stared at my friends sitting around me.“But I thought you would be here directly.” She mumbled and I sighed.“I know! However, my old principal wanted to meet me for a second to know how much helpful the course was.” I explained to her.“Ok! Just be home soon and I have an important news for you.” She said hanging up and I just frowned.“Shall we leave?” Pallavi asked and I nodded before getting up along with my friends.“We three are going to come with you to the village. We took a week leave.” Girish said when we walked outside the campus after meeting the principal.“Then I will return to the city after one week before searching for a job.” I said nodding at him.“You can just go to the hospitals our principal suggested and I am sure you will get one immediately.” David mumbled.“Actually, I am also coming with you all. I want to meet yo
*Vani Pov*“But Di, I want you to attend this.” I mumbled frowning before glancing at the attire chosen for tomorrow’s function.“I too want to attend, but it is really not possible right now. Why did you all rushed for this?” she asked and I sighed, knowing well everyone will question the same.“We were not sure that tomorrow, there will be engagement in the first place. When Aunty got to know that he has returned and is visiting his college principal, we started the preparations.” I started explaining.“If he had returned tomorrow, then the engagement would be on the latter day.” I added calmly.“But why?” she asked again and then I remember not telling her about everything that happened during this one year.“After he left, I really felt sad, but then thought of passing the time by doing something. So, I joined the computer course which was not done by any girl in our village. Now, they want to make me as their daughter-in-law and all. Because of which I started getting many propos
*Kamal Pov*“Ok! Tell me if she wakes up.” Mom mumbled on the phone before hanging up.“How is she?” I asked her frowning.“Still in a coma and they have wished to stay for a few days there.” She replied sighing.“Satvi will be fine, Mom.” I said holding her hand.“Why don’t you all take some rest?” Mom asked, looking at my friends and me.“We are fine, aunty.” Girish said and she nodded before clutching the phone.“She didn’t talk to me.” She slowly mumbled.“She must be in shock or somewhere.” I mumbled back.“So, did you like the engagement ring she bought for you?” she suddenly asked turning towards me.“Even if you don’t, you should like it because she bought it with her own money.” She added before I could say anything.“She had that much money?” Rakesh asked, frowning at her.“Yes! From the past few years she stopped celebrating her birthday completely and started saving that money for the ring. She even did few works and let go buying some things just for the ring.” Mom replie
*Kamal Pov*“This week was so hectic guys.” I said, taking my place at our regular table in our favorite restaurant.“Well, that’s why my Dad doesn’t stop praising you at all.” Pallavi said smiling at me.“I hope so! I don’t want to lose this job when I am planning to bring Mom here. I even selected a flat.” I said, thinking about the perfect flat.“She will not come here until your marriage is over. Speaking of marriage, did you get a chance to have a word with your fiancé? Or is she still at her friend’s house?” Rakesh asked sipping his coffee.“No! And Mom seems to be worried as this is the first time Vani stayed away from the house.” I replied leaning back.“Why are we talking about her? Let’s talk about something else important.” Pallavi said, shaking her head.“She is his fiancé and is going to be his wife. What else is more important than that?” Girish asked glaring at her.“Guys!” I said, frowning at both of them.“Because she is not his fiancé.” Pallavi retorted without givin
*Vani Pov*“Are you fine?” Rupa asked the moment I stepped out of the ICU after my parents.“Yeah! Why don’t you come in and meet my Aunty?” I asked her trying to smile before dragging her inside.“Aunty! Meet my friend.” I said, ignoring everyone and sat on the stool.“I am Rupa, Aunty.” She said calmly after hesitating a bit.“The Rupa!” Aunty asked slowly smiling.“I guess!” Rupa mumbled scratching her neck.“You made this poor girl walk home from college, so many times, dear.” Aunty said in a stern voice.“Oh! I didn’t mean it like that. It was just…” Rupa stopped herself when she saw Aunty smiling.“You were staying with her?” Aunty asked me with a frown.“Yes! We became great friends.” I replied, smiling at her.“My parents even started loving her more than me.” Rupa added, making me shake my head.“She knows how to make everyone love her. Do you know that we wished she was our daughter when she stayed at my house for the first time?” Aunty said holding my hand.“I can see that.