It's actually a very calming feeling when you go home after a long time. Its not the the calmness that one feels after going to a place that is very close to nature. Its the calmness or rather the relief one feels on the inertia after running for a long time. 

My feeling was no different. Sitting on the couch with my family members bustling in and out. I was just thinking how to get started 'The Talk' with my mother. I don't know what in God's name my mother is thinking and planning an engagement for me. 

After walking with Arjun in the verenda, a tiny bit of peace was restored in my heart considering how supportive he was. A smile automaticalled curved up my lips and I  looked down; imagining the excitement he has to meet my girl. Without even meeting her, she was managed to impress him. 

" Oye Hoye! Why are you smiling like that?" I heard Arjun's mother, my aunt, standing on the edge of the hall. 

Her comment directed all the attention of everybody in the hall towards me putting me in the spotlight. Even though nervousness was all I could feel, a broad smile etched on my face again and I rushed to hug my aunt who was looking at me with the same warm smile which I had seen since I was a kid. " I missed you"

" You are hugging me at the last. I can see how much you have missed me," My Aunt complained while patting my shoulder while I could see everybody present in the hall except my mother looking at us with a smile. 

"I can never dare to do that. I was just saving the best for the last," I moved a little away and winked charmingly making everybody laugh while my aunt just smacked my shoulder and I wrapped my hand around her and kissed her hair. 

" So tell me, why were you smiling like that?" My aunt questioned as we again made our way to the couch.

"Yes Yes, Bhai! Why were you smiling? We all want to know," Arjun wiggled his eyebrows at me and I glared at him with all my might. Seeing my widened eyes, he slowly lowered his head in order to hide the smile that had already formed on his lips. 

" I was just thinking that its so nice to be home," I replied with a genuine smile and shifted a little to put my head on my aunt's lap while I could my brother snickering making me hide my head a little to avoid the heat that was creeping up on my cheeks.

" My child," My aunt slowly let her hands move through my hair and started chatting about something with my uncle while the tiredness of travelling got to me and I don't know when I drifted off to sleep, forgetting all the things that were lurking in the back of my mind except one face that kept flashing. 

*******

Feeling a tap on my shoulder, I could feel the clouds of sleep going away from me as I slowly opened my eyes to find out Arjun holding two cups of hot pipping tea for both of us. Rubbing my eyes, I slowly drank in the surroundings of the dimly lit room making me wonder for how long was I out.

I smiled and gently took a cup from his hand and patted on the seat next to me. Arjun settled and gave me a weak smile making me raise my eyebrows at him in order to ask what's bothering him.

What is wrong with this guy? why is he looking tensed so much?

" Bhai, Aunty is just around the corner room having tea. Go and have a talk with her before its too late because she is getting really excited about the engagement. If you keep on delaying it, things will hurt the people who are involved in all this" Arjun said and kept a hand on my shoulder while I lowered my head in anticipation of the conversation that I would have to have with my mother. 

It's not that my mother would not understand. If anything, my mother has always been a pillar of strength to me. I know if I make her understand she will because that's how mothers are I guess. And that's why I just don't wish to hurt her. Hence, I am also very apprehensive about how exactly I should approach my mother in order to not make Meghna look like a tramp who trapped me for money. 

Feeling a strong nudge on my shoulder, I came out of my trance. " You are right, Arjun. I will go and speak to her at this instant", I said and headed towards the designated room. 

Knocking on the door, I entered the room to find my mother sitting and leaning against the headboard of the bed with a cup of tea waiting on the side table. Hearing the knock, she opened her eyes and immediately gave me a tired smile making me more nervous as I was about to tell her that all this tiredness was for nothing. 

" Come Come Beta, I hardly got any time to speak to you today. Your father is having a tea with Arjun's father and your Aunt is overlooking the dinner preparations," My mother informed and moved her legs in a way to get up from the bed when I went and kneeled before her; keeping my hands on both her knees. 

" Maa, I wanted to talk to you about something," My mother smiled and cupped my hands that were on her knees

" Yes beta tell me, also Mumbai treated you well no? You enjoyed working there right?" My mother asked and a smile formed on my lips as I found myself nodding at her question though only my heart knew how it was bouncing up and down in anxiety. 

" Maa, please don't take it wrong but please cancel this engagement," I said gently and looked up to see my mother's face. A warm smile that was beautifully carved on her face suddenly turned into one with concern and panic.  

" Why Beta? I have made the arrangements already. Just meet her once. Why are you not listening to me," With deep creases on her forehead and her eyes shinning with tears, Maa asked in a very helpless tone that immediately made my eyes teary.

" Because I love someone else Maa" 

A lone tear escaped my left eye and my mother's expressions froze before turning blank which meant that she needed more explanation before deciding anything. And with that I narrated to her the whole story of how I had seen the Meghna once and was deeply attracted to her. How I made a mistake of saying yes to the marriage in order to move on from her but yet I found myself being in the same branch as hers after some time as a plan of destiny.  I also described how I was not willing to act on it until Dev caught me looking at her in adoration and asked me to not let this chance go. After that, I was just an unknown stranger to her who you used to send her random notes and eventually in that process of wooing her I found myself falling more deep in love with her. 

" Do you have a picture of her?" I turned my head up to look at my mother which was earlier lowered due to the things that I was telling her which I had hid from her for a long time. Registering her question, I slowly nodded and reached out to pocket of my tracks. I unzipped the pocket and took out my phone where I opened the folder which contained her images. 

As this was the first time, my mother was seeing my girlfriend. I wanted to show her the best picture that I thought I had with me of hers which was taken on the last day before I came here to London. 

Ah! Girlfriend sounds so right!!

Before I could show the photo to my mother, Maa held me by my shoulders and made me sit beside her on the bed." Now show me" 

I gently passed my phone to Maa as she critically looked at the picture. I can't tell you how worrisome those few seconds were where I was trying to understand what my mother was actually thinking considering the way she had a blank expression on while looking at the photo.

"She is Pretty," My mother said while zooming in and out of the photo bringing a smile on my face which only lasted for a moment when suddenly my mother swiped right which showed a candid picture of me and Meghna sitting close and laughing about something. 

Oh my God!!! How can I forget to put that photo in the private folder, I mentally facepalmed myself for screwing up.

I felt the life immediately being sucked out of me as I saw my mother's eyes widening at the picture. Maa locked the phone and passed it to me without even looking at me making me all the while more jittery. 

" Ask your father to come here, I need to speak to him" My mother said and I felt a lump forming in my neck as if I was going to experience an anxiety attack. 

" Maa, I can expl" I started off but I was cut off by her saying," Okay, Let me only go and meet him," With that my mother got up from the bed. 

She had only taken a few steps when I shrieked ' Maa' which made her stop instantly. " Beta, Do you really want to cancel this engagement or not? Your father is also equally dealing with everything" 

Just like a glass of cold juice satisfies your thirst on a hot sunny day, I found myself getting my peace back as I saw my mother's lips finally turning into one of her beautiful smiles which immediately made me stand on my legs where I rushed and gave her a tight hug as I smiled through my eyes that were now shinning with happy tears. 

To be continued...

****

"Deep in the meadow, hidden far away

A cloak of leaves, a moonbeam rayForget your woes and let your troubles layAnd when it's morning again, they'll wash awayHere it's safe, here it's warmHere the daisies guard you from every harmHere your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them trueHere is the place where I love you."

― Suzanne Collins 

****

Hello Guys, 

I hope all you are doing good. So, here is another update based on the responses I got. I was surprised to know that how many of you guys really wanted to know the chat between Ayaan and his mother so here it is. I know it has been so long that many readers would have forgotten this book. But those who have not forgotten, I cant help but feel grateful that this book has succeeded in touching your hearts. And the ones who have, I don't blame you guys but I hope that you stumble on this book once again and read it like you have never read it before. 

So a very big thank you. Keep in touch to know what happens in Ayaan's side of story in the next chapter. Let me know your comments on the chapter. 

Happy Reading :)