Luv (Un)Arranged (Luv Shuv #3)

Chapter 8

8

Song: Tera Fitoor

- Arijit Singh

Kriti

T he loud bell signaled the end of the school day, and, as always, chaos erupted in the classroom. Some students had already packed their bags, some ran with a book or two in hand, and a few of my patient students quietly packed their bags, let the crowd pass, wished me goodbye, and walked out of the class. Usually, I loved my patient students, but today, I cheered for my rowdy bunch who didn’t like to stay in after the bell.

I checked my watch—it was twelve-thirty. Quickly, I plugged my earphones into my phone and put in the earbuds. We hadn’t decided who would call whom, and I didn’t want to waste a minute of our half hour, so I dialed Aakar’s number. After just two rings, the call connected.

“Just hold on a second, Mr. Kirit,” Aakar said.

I couldn’t help it; I giggled. I’d never had a man talk to me in secret and make up lies on the spot for me. “Take your time, Mr. Aakar. I’m on my way out of the class.”

I put my notes and pens in my purse and checked the classroom for any missing items, all the while hearing Aakar moving around on the other side.

“Just a minute,” he whispered, and my heartbeat sped up. It sounded oddly intimate. Closer.

I mumbled, “Don’t worry about it.”

Soon, I was out of the classroom, and Aakar said, “I’m here. So sorry for that.”

The hallways were almost empty as I walked toward the exit. “It’s okay. Were you busy? We can talk later if you’d prefer.”

His response was quick. “No, no. I had assigned some work to Abhi, and he had a few questions. And when it comes to Abhi, I’m afraid he would lose interest in the work and stop coming to the office if I don’t help him out properly.”

“He would leave? Just like that?”

He chuckled. “Well, he just joined the office to get some experience. He’s helping me out with some accounting, which I hate. So I don’t want to run him off too soon.”

I laughed as I stepped outside the school and stood under the covered steps leading to the parking lot. “Smart. I make Rati prepare charts and drawings for my schoolwork, and Kartik makes the best chai in the house.”

He laughed out loud on the other end. “Some of the few perks that come with being an older sibling.”

Leaning against the wall, I waited for Rati and Kartik with my lips stretched into a constant smile. “Right? How is your day going? Other than putting the little brother to work?”

He scoffed, and I could feel his smile in his words. “Same old, same old. I can work on more pressing matters now that Abhi is handling some accounts. What about you? How was school?”

“Same old for me too. But still, pretty good.”

“What’s the plan for today?”

“Nothing special. Go home, have lunch, correct some assignments, and maybe go for a movie with Rati and Kartik. They’ve been on me about it for the past two days.”

“What kind of movies do you like to watch?”

Well, there was only one answer here. “Romantic movies, of course.”

He groaned loudly in my ears. I knew it wasn’t anything sexual, but his groan sent tingles up my spine. “No, Kriti. C’mon. They’re so dramatic and cheesy and ridiculous.”

I gasped dramatically. “How dare you? They’re emotional and romantic and with the best grand gestures that make me believe in the soulmate love.”

“There’s no such thing as soulmates.”

“Of course, there is.”

“Nope. That instant attraction is just dopamine and serotonin. It’s just science.”

My hand tightened around the phone. “I’ll show you science. ”

His loud laughter in my ears had blood rushing up to my cheeks. I did that. I made him laugh, and that made me unreasonably giddy.

Just to keep the conversation flowing, I asked, “What do you like to watch?”

“Comedy movies if it’s Bollywood and action if it’s Hollywood.”

I scoffed. “Of course. You’re such a guy.”

“If I must tell you, those movies also have a lot of emotions in them. And romance.”

“Sure there is.”

“I’m gonna make you watch some of them so you believe it.”

“Ha. Only if you watch some of my recommendations.”

“Deal. Text me a list of your favorite movies, and I’ll text you mine. We’ll compare notes later.”

“Deal.”

Despite having such opposing choices, I realized I was smiling. Aakar wasn’t mean or condescending about my preferences, which made it easier for me to share more of myself with him. I realized that I really wanted him to know me. And every little thing he shared about himself with me just made me greedier for more.

We talked about random things, debating and laughing about our opposing views for the next few minutes when the loud bell indicating the end of school for Rati and Kartik rang, silencing any conversation for a few seconds.

Once the bell stopped ringing, Aakar said, “I think our time’s up for now.”

A herd of students came rushing out of the main staircase, pushing each other out. I tried not to show my disappointment at having to end the call. “Yeah. Talk soon?”

“Yes. I’ll text you.”

His words brought this giddy joy inside me that I’d never experienced before. “Can’t wait.”

After a goodbye, we ended the call.

I saw Rati and Kartik walking down the stairs when a message popped up.

Aakar: Since you couldn't wait ;-) Thanks, Kriti. I can’t wait to talk to you more. Half an hour wasn’t enough.

Me: :-) Soon…

When Rati asked why I was smiling, I had absolutely no answer.

The three of us drove back home on my two-wheeler. Rati and Kartik bickered nonstop in the background as my conversation with Aakar played on an endless loop in my mind.

Half an hour was certainly not long enough.

Aakar: Did you ever want pets?

Kriti: Nope

Aakar: What? Why?

Kriti: Duh. Cuz I’d be the one who would’ve had to take care of it. Rati and Kartik would just play with it. All the feeding and bathing and pooping responsibilities would fall on me.

Aakar: But how cute would a dog be?

Kriti: Would gladly play with somebody else’s cute dog.

Aakar: What if I wanted a dog in the future?

Kriti: Well. Umm. Who would take care of it?

Aakar: Both of us? Equally?

Kriti. What if I say no? Would you take responsibility?

Aakar: You drive a hard bargain, Kriti.

Kriti: You’re the one who wants a dog, Aakar.

Aakar: Fiiine. I’ll take care of it. You can just play with it. We can also get Abhi and Soham and the kids to take care of it too.

Kriti: Now that sounds like a great idea.

Kriti: What makes you angry?

Aakar: That’s a broad question.

Kriti: Not really. Except if there’s a whole lot of things that make you mad.

Aakar: Not a whole lot of things.

Aakar: I guess I hate it when people lie to me or hide things from me.

Kriti: Speaking from experience?

Aakar: Yep. Akira. She didn’t tell me when she started dating her boyfriend.

Aakar: She didn’t tell me when she got serious about him.

Aakar: She didn’t tell me she was planning to announce it to the whole family.

Aakar: I would’ve helped her had I known. I would’ve been able to plan it better. I wouldn’t have been left behind to put out fires that could’ve been avoided.

Kriti: That sucks.

Aakar: Yeah, well. What about you? What makes you mad?

Kriti: Umm. When people start making judgments without even getting to know me.

Aakar: Speaking from experience?

Kriti: A hundred experiences.

Kriti: Especially when you’re a curvy girl. People just assume that I’m a lazy couch potato.

Kriti: I’ve been given countless advice on how to exercise. How to diet.

Kriti: There’s also me being more focused on my job than finding a husband.

Kriti: Trust me, I hate it when I’m the topic of someone’s judgments and comments. If you truly want to know me, just talk to me. If you want to give me advice, just think if I really want your advice, especially if it doesn’t affect you.

Aakar: I’m with you.

Aakar: Animal movie - Yes or No?

Kriti: NOOO

Aakar: Lol. Yes. C’mon, the action sequences?!!

Kriti: The story

Kriti: Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani - Yes or No?

Aakar: Eh.

Kriti: EH???? It’s a BIG YES. The most romantic movie in recent times.

Aakar: Predictable and cheesy and the main leads were barely together.

Aakar: Andhadhun - Yes or No?

Kriti: YES. It’s a masterpiece.

Aakar: Thank God.

Aakar

I’d been working on expanding our business in more directions than my dad and uncles. In today’s day and age, it was crucial to keep changing and evolving per market trends. It wasn’t just working on innovative ideas regarding our business. The first step had been convincing Dad and my uncles to approve new ideas. Sometimes it took more time to convince them to accept emerging trends and ideas than to implement those ideas in practice. Those were the challenging days at work.

By the time Abhi and I got home around nine o’clock, I was exhausted.

I removed my shoes in the vestibule and could already hear the loud volume of the television and the chatter from the living room. Walking in, I found my grandparents engrossed in a soap opera where the heroine could turn into a snake. Maa was sitting at the dining table with Ekta Kaki, talking on a video call, probably with Akira, while Ria was having dinner beside them, occasionally joining in the conversation.

Before Maa could catch me, I swiftly climbed the stairs and headed to my room. After a quick shower and changing into my T-shirt and sweatpants, I headed downstairs for dinner. Abhi was already seated at the table, halfway through his meal, talking to Akira with the phone propped up in front of him.

I walked behind him and bent down a little to fit into the video camera. Akira’s eyes brightened, and she said, “Bhai, all good?”

I smiled at her and gave her a thumbs-up. “First class. You?”

As she updated me on how busy she was, I grabbed a bite of paneer paratha from Abhi’s plate. He groaned, making Akira laugh. I was about to grab another bite when he shouted at Mom, “Maa, Aakar Bhai keeps taking all my food.”

Just then, Maa came out of the kitchen with a plate piled high of paneer parathas. I quickly grabbed the plate from her hands—because I was famished—and took a seat beside Abhi while Maa sat on the other side. I added some yogurt, coriander chutney, and ketchup to my plate and dug in.

For the first few bites, I completely lost track of what Abhi, Akira, and Maa discussed. Only when Abhi knocked his elbow against mine did I notice both him and Maa staring at me with expectant looks.

I swallowed my bite. “What?”

Maa rolled her eyes as Akira laughed on the phone. “See how he completely ignores me?” Maa said, looking at Akira.

Maa turned the phone to face me, and Akira said, “Aakar Bhai, come on. Tell us.”

“Tell you what? I didn’t hear the question. I was eating.”

She rolled her eyes. “Well, what did you think about the woman you met? Kriti. Remember?”

Kriti’s name had my heart racing, and it took a solid effort not to let it show on my face. Inside, my mind scrambled to find a proper response to the three very expectant faces.

I cleared my throat, took a sip of water, and said, “Well, I remember.”

“And?” Maa asked, her eyes wide, voice impatient.

“Well, she was good. Decent.”

“Do you like her? Are you gonna meet her again?” Akira asked.

She was way too interested in my arranged marriage situation, considering she was sitting in America with an American boyfriend. I glared at her, warning her with my eyes to keep her excitement in check so as not to get Maa overly excited.

But it was clearly too late because Maa too joined in. “Should I give them a call to arrange a second meeting? We need to make quick decisions here, Aakar. We don’t want to lose this opportunity if you’re remotely interested.”

“Yeah, bhai. Maa is right.” Abhi jumped in, clearly missing out on all the fun. I glared at him, earning a reprimand from Maa from over his shoulder.

I should’ve said no. I should’ve delayed giving them an answer. But all I could think about was a chance to meet Kriti again, to talk to her in person. And for the life of me, I couldn’t deny myself—or my mother.

“Fine,” I said, trying to sound a little put out. “You can arrange one more meeting if Kriti is interested as well.”

Maa’s excited squeal had both the aunts come running. Even my grandparents turned down the volume of their TV serial.

Maa turned to them with a maddening glee. “Aakar has finally agreed to meet a woman for the second time. I’ll give her mother a call first thing tomorrow morning.”

I rolled my eyes at the cheering from everyone, while inside, my heart pounded in excitement.

Maa took the phone from me and turned to Akira. “Oh Akira, once Aakar gets a wife, I can completely relax. She can handle Aakar, wait for him at night, serve him dinner, and care for him. And I’ll finally get a daughter-in-law to help me out around the house. We can be like those cool mother-in-law and daughter-in-law pairs who shop together. It would be so much fun.”

Well, it was good while it lasted.

My hand shook as I took a sip of water. Anger clouded my vision. “Handle me? Take care of me? And what if my wife is a working woman? How will she help you?”

Maa frowned at me, confusion clouding her face. “Well, beta, of course she can work. I wouldn’t expect her to leave her job. It’s just that she can help me around the house once she’s home. And naturally, she’ll be the one to take care of your needs once you’re married. You don’t expect me to wait around and serve you dinner when you have a wife, do you?”

She then turned to Akira and asked, “Akira, beta, am I wrong?”

Akira stayed silent, clearly not wanting to agree with Maa’s outdated thoughts. So I pressed further, “What if my wife is too tired after work to help you around the house? And what if she doesn’t enjoy shopping?”

Mom turned redder with every question I asked. She sputtered, “Well, why wouldn’t you marry someone who can take care of you and help your family? You wouldn’t mind if your wife relaxes on the sofa while your mother and aunts toil in the kitchen?”

“Are you hearing yourself? Work takes time and effort. You don’t see me or Pappa helping you out when we’re back from work. So if my wife comes home from a long day at work, I wouldn’t expect anything from her.”

Mom frowned in indignation. “If you must know, Aakar, women can manage both work and family. They even raise kids while they work. Your wife wouldn’t be the only one with responsibilities toward her new family. And what happens when you have kids? Would she leave them to us at home?”

“That’s it.” I stood with the plate in my hand. I went into the kitchen, put the dirty dishes in the sink with the rest, washed my hands, and came out to find Mom ranting about how every daughter-in-law helps around the house.

I couldn’t help but jump in. “Maa, why are you going on and on about needing help around the house? We have two helpers coming in every day, and Raju Kaka to help in the kitchen. If you still need more help, we can hire more people. I didn’t agree to an arranged marriage to find you a housemaid. I agreed to find a wife for myself. If you want me to keep seeing women for these arrangements, you need to be prepared to face the fact that even if it's an arranged marriage, our choices might be entirely different. And I will only marry the woman that I choose. If that’s a problem, then I won’t marry at all.”

I didn’t wait for her response and walked back to my room.

I couldn’t help but wonder if being the first child came with a curse of never escaping your parents’ expectations.