Rishi

In a month of vacation , I have heard more rumors than my actual deeds. My family is page 3 and I get dragged every time. Tabloids can't get enough of me. In past, it was parents whirlwind romance which had created a stir and now me. Me being spotted with a friend means a relationship. Having a glass of drink makes me being alcoholic and not to forget some blind item suggested that my mother follows a cult that has helped her stay young. Well, I don't care! My mother has bought me up to be a strong mentally and trivial things don't matter.

With a shake of my head , I scrolled the gallery of phone stopping at a picture. It was of Sanjana. I had clicked it while she sat busy discussing something with her friends in the common pantry. I am not sure, why and what attracted me to her but Sanjana feels like my own. I smiled, she wasn't anything I would have settled in the past but she is everything I want now.

''She is cute.'' I jumped hearing my mother. ''Mom, that's breaching my privacy.''

''That would have been if I would steal your phone and then snoop around. I never touched anything, but it happened.''

I just smiled. ''Tell me about her.'' she asked

''She is a good girl. I am not right for her.'' I replied, my eyes on the picture. There was a silence and then my mom lifted my chin up. ''You are the best , remember that.''

''No Mom!'' I replied with a sigh. Taking a moment I further added. ''She has these good guy rules that I don't fit in. Plus, she don't feel the same way.''

''Or She is not allowing her heart to feel that way.'' Mom replied. I just shrugged my shoulders, ''Its the same thing. One day she wants me around and another day she puts an arm distance.'' I moved my hand through my hair. ''Mom, since Sanjana, I have changed. I am not even that wild now because that would make her put a distance.''

''Will you be able to keep this charade for long? Will you stop being you if you get her?''

''NO!''

''Then stop trying to be someone you are not just to make her happy. You accepted her the way she is, let her do the same. If she does, she is worth or just let her go.'' I stared at my mother, if it was that easy. I have never felt the way I felt for Sanjana.

''Its easy said than done but you are not some emotional fool. You think of long term. We married because we knew we were best for each other. You need to decide on that.'' She pecked my forehead, ''Rishi, I will be coming with you to see you off.'' I smiled. My campus will be on fire. My mom was an idol then and she is sill an idol. But I know why is she tagging along, she wants to meet Sanjana. 

***

Jai irritated me to he core on our flight. He had that googly look with permanent smile on his face staring at my mom. This isn't the first time he is meeting her . We grew up together and my house has been a second home to him , likewise with me. But today, I am tempted to crush that face

Mom lightly slapped Jai. ''What?''

''I am being goofy because that embarrasses others who are staring at you. You are my family as well.''  He replied with a wink and my mom  just shook her head. ''Shall I give same look Rishi whenever Sanajna is around, may be she might get jealous'' I wanted to hit him but that made my mom laugh more. ''Let's try that.''

''Mom , NO!'' I knew Jai, the guy is wacky to the core, he will do everything to make a person lose their mind. Mom just kept laughing as Jai decided to target me. I am going to ask for room change once in campus.

''If you don't give up, you will never find a girl.'' I said

Jai raised a brow. ''Then I will marry you. What say, we have been compatible since we were in diapers.'' I just wanted to die.

***

As expected, people flocked around as they recognized my mom. She has always been humble and she accepted all compliments, smiles directed to her. We stooped at Sanjana's apartment , and found Pooja taking a stroll , I waved at her. Her jaw dropped and then she grinned like a grim reaper. ''Roma Sehgal.'' She called out my mom's maiden name

''Its Roma Mehra now and I am Rishi's mother so would prefer aunty from his friends. '' Pooja shook her head a couple of times as if trying to wake herself up. ''Pooja, she is real.'' The girl had gone mad, she hopped around , plucked a random flower and went on her knee.

''This is why I was against you visiting.'' I was irritated. Mom smiled , took the flower and gave Pooja a small hug. I saw something in her eyes before she covered it. ''Its a pleasure to meet you. Someday, I would want to be you.''

Mom shook her head. ''no, just be you.'' Pooja gave her a wide smile and ran back to call Sanjana. ''She could have called via phone.''

''She is having  a fan girl moment.'' Jai replied. After a minute Sanjana walked out of the building towards us. Our eyes met but she moved them away, I knew something happened in this month. She smiled at my mother and my mother returned the greetings. One thing about my mom, she knows I like Sanjana but she never let it show to Sanjana. She is a successful woman and can read body language in a minute. Mom moved her attention from Sanjana to Pooja. ''Have you ever thought of still modelling?''

Pooja looked at herself and then mom. ''Me?''

''Your beauty is unconventional, if you want to, reach out to me.'' Pooja grinned wide like a child, I have never seen this girl so happy. She is withdrawn and quite. The only people she speaks to is me and Sanjana, even with Jai, she is formal.

''You mean it.'' She asked again

''Yes Pooja, I don't say things to impress anyone.'' Mom extended her card and Pooja grabbed it. We took our leave and I couldn't stop thinking of what transpired in a month. Mom gently touched my arm, ''She is putting a distance. You do that too.''

''Mom, I am sorry on her behalf, she is never cold to anyone.''  I couldn't understand Sanjana's lack of enthusiasm  in meeting my mom. She could have put a show.

***

Mom stayed for a day and in that time students flocked to meet her. She obliged but best happened when Ruby tried so hard to impress her. Mom just sat through all the charade and then closed the chapter in one line. ''Ruby, you understand that I run a brand.'' Ruby nodded. ''I have a gift of reading personalities and yours is not suitable for my son.'' Ruby just smiled and took her leave. 

''Rishi, Sanjana is withdrawing herself from you. Don't chase, just let it be. And, you don't have to change as you are not bad.'' I nodded. I stood there till the vehicle disappeared. I agree with mom but I will check once with Pooja.

Sanjana

I am going crazy with Rishi's thoughts clouding my brain. Don't know why, but I decided to do a search him on web, that was a mistake. The results were filled with his pictures with random females. I was little taken aback and then clicked on a link, there was an article about Rishi Mehra , Son of former Model Roma and Builder Rajat Mehra. The boy born with the golden spoon had all he asked for. There were articles which described how Rishi was a wild animal at lose who hunted beautiful prey every night.

There were pictures of him wrapped around few girls skimpily dressed, while others had women good to be his mon getting cozy. I saw his picture on race track with a random girl and huge beer peg. 'You can change him. He is a good guy and he will change when he gets right influence.' My mind explained. Yes, may be he grew up in an environment that lacked values . He isn't to be blamed. I agreed completely. Bu Curiosity got better of me and I dug a little more, in the past. 

His parents were outcasted by respective families. There were numerous article about the them painting them in worst light. 'But not all would lie.' My mind countered. Yes, there must be some truth here. By now felt confused and betrayed. I have known he was wild but I couldn't make out the pretense he put up to befriend me. No, these are not my values and I will stay away from him.

I kept swinging in between good and bad Rishi the whole day. A message on my phone helped me lose my thoughts. It was from Karan bhai. He had requested me to meet in a restaurant. That surprised me. Why do I have to meet my brother outside our own house. I wanted to question my family but then he messaged me again asking to keep it a secret. I decided to step out making an excuse.

***

The moment I saw my brother, I hugged him tight . ''I have missed you.'' He pecked my head. ''Same here Sanju. How are you?''

I nodded smiling at him and then my eyes met with another female standing at a distance. Karan bhai moved to her, ''She is Simi, my wife.''

My eyes went wide as I stared at bhai. ''You married against the wishes of the family.'' Yes, that came as an accusation. 

''Sanju, I expected you to listen and not judge.'' I took a deep breath and decided to hear what he had to say. Simi squeezed bhai's arm. He smiled at her and said. ''We never wanted to go against the family but were left with no choice.'' He paused for a minute. ''I have known Simi since we were in school and had decided that we would spend our life together. Dadu had been on bride hunting and I told him I liked Simi. He stayed calm and promised he would work it out. Instead, he offered her family money to marry her off. Sanju, Dadu had right to blame or scold me but not deiced for Simi. That was wrong. When I confronted , he said it was his house . Plus, Simi's family could not stand the insult and decided to marry her off. We eloped and married. I did let the family know but I am dead for them.''

''You broke everybody's heart. Dadu had the right to take good decisions for us.'' I accused

Karan bahi smiled but it didn't reach his eyes.  ''yes, he had. But so do I. I have one life, and I want to spend with one I can truly call as my partner.'' He kept his hand over mine. ''Sanju, love in any form, be that of a parent , guardian or spouse should liberate and not smother. Love is freedom , not the shackle.''

''There should have been a way. May be you didn't try hard. Look at all the couples , they are arranged and so happy.''

Bhai smiled, ''you are young, you don't see what I can. Plus, it was the choice they made and this is the choice I made.'' I shook my head. Bhai looked at his wife. ''I expected you to understand me but you are more of a Khanna than my Sanju. Fine, we won't meet any further. I don't want anyone insulting and tell me that my Simi is a wrong choice.''

''You broke years of relationships for one.''

''Years of relationships couldn't understand one thing I wanted. Yes, I made a choice.'' He gestured the waiter for the bill, cleared it and then let pecking my head.  I had no intention of insulting his relationship but my family mattered more. I have been bought up that way, so has been bhai and others but I couldn't understand that how he could suddenly change.

***

Once I reached home, I went straight to my grandfather hugging him tight. It must have been so hard on him .''Sanju, are you fine?''

I sniffed. ''My vacations are over and I am going to miss he.'' He chuckled patting my head. ''You can call me whenever you want to. My Sanju will always make me proud and I decided I will. Even if i meant making some hard choices.

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Pls don't judge the Sanjana , I have met a many such boys/girls who put family first. Plus, in such scenarios no one is right or wrong

Next- I don't want us to meet anymore. I said looking straight into Rishi's eyes. He stood there, leaning against the wall,  watching me, but didn't say a word.  After a moment, he straighten and took steps to me. ''Why?''

''because you are a wrong choice.'' He smirked . ''Fine! Farewell Sanjana Khanna'' And he walked away, not giving me a single glance