When Shanaya asked Abhimanyu if he has someone in his life, his answer was, "Not really".

Flashback: 4 months ago

                     It was marriage anniversary of Abhimanyu's dad and mom. His sister, Ria, who was doing BA in Humanities from University of London was home for the big party in the night. All well known businessmen and friends were invited with their families. In the night, their mansion was a visual sight decorated with flowers and led lights. The outside lawn was lit with beautiful lamps and there was spread of different cuisines. There were four stations of chef preparing food for guests. Guests dressed in high end brands had arrived and were enjoying the live music and food. Young girls chit chatted in groups in lawn and some in the living room of the house with fashionable young boys. Kids ran around in the lawn. The party was in full swing, but Abhimanyu was nowhere.

Mrs. Teja: How is my handsome son, Mrs. Singh? I don't see him.

Mrs. Singh( Abhimanyu's mom): He is good, must be coming. Excuse me. I'll join you soon.

Abhimanyu's mom called on Abhimanyu's cell.

Mom: Where are you?

Abhimanyu: Office. Our banking application is going live. I am busy mom. 

Mom: Abhimanyu. She said sternly.

Mom: It's your parents anniversary party today. That is also important. Guests are asking for you here. She was angry.

Abhimanyu: Oh, no! So sorry, mom! I was so busy today that it completely slipped out of my mind. I am starting immediately. I'll be there soon.

Mom: Thank you. Come soon. She softened.

                         Abhimanyu reached within an hour and his dad took him around to meet all his friends and business men friends who had come from different places in the country and outside the country. His mom also took him around to meet her friends, and they all couldn't stop praising his good looks and the good son that he was. Then, his mom took him by his arm to meet all the beautiful young girls at the party. Many of them he had seen and met before. They all looked hot and sexy in designer short revealing clothes and with full make-up on their faces. He smiled and greeted all of them and answered to what they asked. His mother took him inside the house where his sister Ria was sitting with Maya who looked hot in a red strapless mini dress.

Abhimanyu: Hi, Maya!

Maya: Hi, Abhimanyu! You have vanished from the globe. Earlier I could still find you in some parties and pool parties here and there, but not anymore.

Abhimanyu: Yup, little busy. Actually, a lot busy.

Mom: She finished her jewelry design course in UK and now she is in India with her own boutique stores.

Abhimanyu: Wow! Great! Congratulations!

Maya: Thank you. We are having a pool party next Sunday at Sahil's house. Care to join us?

Abhimanyu: I am afraid, I cannot. I am flying to Los Angeles on Sunday.

Mom: What?

Abhimanyu: Yes, mom.

Abhimanyu: Now, if you ladies will excuse me, I will go and have my dinner.

                    Abhimanyu went to the lawn and stayed there talking to his dad's businessmen friends until party got over. After the party he told his mom, he needed get back to office. Before leaving, he hugged  his sister Ria who had a flight to London early morning.

Ria: I think something is wrong with Abhi.

Mom: No. He is just too busy.

Ria: Yeah mom, but the question is why?

Ria: Earlier, I just used to joke about him being a pope and not interested in girls. But think of it, he never had a girlfriend in his life, not in his school, not in college, not in USA. Never. And, he is such a handsome guy.

Mom: May be we don't know of it.

Ria: I don't think he needs to hide it from a mom like you who so desperately wants him to have one.

Ria: You know mom, there are many Indian boys in London and NYC who are secretly gay. Their families do not even have a hint of it. I tell you, I have in my class, a good looking boy who nobody can guess is a gay. Girls who don't know that he is not straight will drool on him. By looking at him and talking with him, nobody can tell he is not straight. In fact unless he himself tells, nobody would know.

Mom: What are you suggesting Ria, that Abhimanyu is gay. She said angrily

Ria: I knew you'll react like this.

Mom: How am I supposed to react when you are calling your brother a gay. She was very angry.

Ria: Okay, have you ever seen him interested in  any girl? I don't know, I haven't , and we cannot rule out that.

Ria: Maya is such a hot chick. Guys go to lengths to win her. She looks like Katrina Kaif. Fair, tall, slim, perfect body, perfect features. And did you notice Abhimanyu , his cold response. He showed not even a little interest in her when you got him to talk to her. He was like okay, nice meeting you but I got work to do now. Any other guy would have preferred her company instead of going out and chatting with uncles .

Mom: But, he actually got work to do, Ria.

Ria: I am not saying he doesn't, but I think he is hiding something behind that too much work. He is always travelling and we don't know what he does there other than work. Remember, when he was in college,  he paid one lakh to stay a night in  a suite with his roommate Yash. That too when he was pretending to be from a middle class family. He is not on any social media, nothing. I don't know, but something is not right.

Mom: So, you are saying he is gay?

Ria: I don't know mom, but I have seen enough of them in London and their parents don't think their son is one.

                 Seeds of doubt were sown in Abhimanyu's mom's head. She couldn't sleep all night wondering what if Ria was actually right. She knew Abhimanyu came home around 3 am in the night and left again at 7am in the morning. She decided to check his whole room if she could find anything to hint her something. Her friends had told her how they found pornographic magazines under their son's mattress. She threw the mattress out of his bed, but there were no magazines. She checked everything inside all the drawers of his study.  She checked all the books in his book shelf.  She checked all the racks of his closet. Between his clothes. She opened the big plastic bin with lid in the closet. There were engineering and MBA books in it. She told herself how he preserved those books as if was going to need them again. She took them out one by one, so that she could put them back in order. When the bin was half,  her eyes popped at the stash of Volo magazines. She didn't need to turn the pages to know what they were about. Cover pictures were enough to tell that her son was heterosexual. She didn't like to know what magazines her son used, but she was relieved and happy. She put all the books as they were and put the lid back. She called the maid and told her to put the room back as it was.

             She thought Abhimanyu was shy and perhaps she only will have to get a girl for him. She loved Maya who was daughter of their businessman friend, Mr.Shekar Walia . Maya had the looks of a model, and suited her son Abhimanyu. She was two years younger to him. Her parents had many times expressed their desire to have Abhimanyu as their son in law. Her and her husband's was a love marriage, so she always wanted  Abhimanyu to find a girl for himself.

              She called Mrs. Walia and told her how she was interested that Abhimanyu and Maya get to know each other to which Mrs. Walia excitedly agreed. Later that evening when Abhimanyu came back from office.

Mom: You have a date with Maya on Wednesday at AER in Four Seasons Hotel.

Abhimanyu: Why? No, mom.

Mom: Yes, Abhi. You have to. For me. Reach in time at 6 pm on coming Wednesday. Don't keep Maya waiting.

He groaned.

Mom: I know you are here that day. I checked with your PA before fixing the day and time.

Abhimanyu: You are pushing me into marriage, mom.

Mom: No, I just want you to meet her and know her. And then whatever you decide.

Abhimanyu: Are you sure, mom.

Mom: Yes, I made this clear to them also.

Abhimanyu: Okay, only for you. Otherwise, I'm very busy, you know that.

Mom: I love you, beta.

Abhimanyu: Love you too. Goodnight mom! He said walking to his room.

                  On Wednesday evening at 5 pm, Abhimanyu's mom called him to remind him of his date with Maya at 6 pm. His driver dropped him at the hotel and waited there to take him back home. Maya had reached before him and was waiting for him at the rooftop dining. The city lights looked beautiful from there. He smiled and greeted her before sitting opposite her. She was as usual dressed impeccably hot n sexy like any other young rich girl. She was busy texting on her iPhone.

Maya: Come here, lets take a selfie first. I have already checked in our location in facebook and now I want to update my status with a picture with us.

Abhimanyu hated selfie's, but he thought it would be rude, so he put his face next to hers. She pouted and told him to pout for the selfie , but he just smiled. She quickly uploaded the pic on facebook with the caption 'On date with Abhimanyu'.  Abhimanyu turned to go to sit on his chair.

Maya: Wait! We have to make a brief video on snapchat to send to my friends.

         She started recording with snapchat - Look, who I am on date with. She turned the phone to him. See, Abhimanyu is here with me. I am wearing this Dolce & Gabbana dress. Check out my cool necklace and earrings from my own jewelry line. Here is a glimpse of my new emerald green Chanel bag. Will give you gals all the details later. Until then, bye. She threw some flying kisses.

Abhimanyu: I think I should pull my chair beside you and sit with my face against yours for next 10 minutes, so that you can upload pics, videos and update status on facebook, twitter, instagram, whatsapp, snapchat and more. And when we are done we can go home to sleep.

Maya: OMG, Abhi! No wonder you are not on any of them. Are you anti social media?

He took the chair opposite her.

Abhimanyu: No, I think it's great for people who have a lot of time in hand and nobody physically available to talk with, or may be even when someone is available to talk with, like now. Letting everybody know what you are at every second is very important. After all, how are they supposed to survive without that information. It's their lifeline. He expressed his opinion in sarcasm.

Maya: Wooh! You are right. Just now, two of my friends messaged that they are around here. They don't have life of their own. She laughed.

Abhimanyu: Huh! Hope they have something better to do than join us on dinner.

Maya: They won't, they know I'm on a date with you.  I just updated that with a picture. Look, how cool these apps are.

Abhimanyu: Yea...hh, very cool time eating apps.

The waiter got them red wine to drink. Abhimanyu looked at him in surprise.

Maya: I hope you don't mind. I came a little early and ordered the drinks and meals for both of us, because I like to eat my dinner before 7 pm.

Abhimanyu: No, that's a good thing.

Maya: It's good to be health conscious, right. Food must be about to arrive.

Abhimanyu: I'm starving. Let's see what cool meal you ordered. He smiled.

Maya: I haven't ordered any desserts. I am on a strict diet. I need to lose some more weight.

Abhimanyu: Really, aren't you already underweight? He thought she would look better if she ate and put on some weight.

Maya: At the pool party this Sunday, Aanya looked so good in a bikini. You know Aanya .She is size 00, and when you are that size you look like a Barbie. I think I must lose minimum six pounds to achieve that perfect bikini body.

He rounded his mouth and blew out the air.

Maya: What?

Abhimanyu: You girls and your obsession with bikini is crazy.

Maya: Yeah, because it drives you guys crazy.

Abhimanyu smiled a big smile and then laughed a little.

Waiter got green vegetable soup, organic garden-fresh salad for both of them and left.

Abhimanyu: That's all? This is the dinner? He asked looking shocked.

Abhimanyu: Really. I'm not sick or anything.

Abhimanyu: Do you think I need to lose weight?

Maya: No, you look great. Do you workout?

Abhimanyu: No, where is the time to workout.

Maya: You know, no matter how busy you are you must take an hour to work out everyday.

Abhimanyu: I'll try to follow your great advise which I had no idea about before you told me.

Maya: You know you have such a gorgeous face and body, all you need is workout to get those biceps and six packs like John Abraham.

Abhimanyu: You like those bulging arms and chest that looks like they will come out ripping off the shirt anytime.

Maya: Girls dig that.

Abhimanyu: I don't.

They eat their soup.

Maya: Have you never been on a date before?

Abhimanyu: Why?

Maya: A gentleman on date always makes it a point to compliment the lady.

Abhimanyu: Well, don't you think it should come from within rather than forcing yourself to do it just because it's a norm. I would rather be not a gentleman than give fake compliments.

Maya: Oooh! So, you think I'm not looking good?

Abhimanyu: You always look good, and you know it. You don't need a verification from others.

Maya: Well, guys I dated always complimented me on my long sexy legs.

Abhimanyu: They are great, but it's not like I have not seen them before.

Maya: So, should I take it that you have checked me out before. She looked at him smiling.

Abhimanyu smiled mischievously.

Abhimanyu: Think whatever pleases you.

Maya: What is it that attracts you in a girl?

Abimanyu: I don't know. I don't think it's one particular thing. I think it's overall. Sometimes, you might feel a strong  pull towards someone and yet not pin point what exactly is so attractive about them.

Maya:  I know that happens when you are in love. Have you ever been in love?

He knew what he had for Shanaya in college was love, but he thought it was of least importance now.

Abhimanyu: No, I don't think so.

Maya: Okay, so how many girls have you been with?

He smiled and laughed a little.

Abhimanyu: Three or thirty. Does it make any difference?

Maya: Yes, it does. Three means, okay you were curious and you tried and things didn't work out. But thirty makes you a Casanova.

Abhimanyu: Hmmmmmm. He smiled a big smile.

Abhimanyu: I think, past of a person should not affect your future choices with them, if you like them. I mean what you did, you did. It's over you cannot change it and it doesn't hold true now, so why get into that. You can't like/hate a person for what they did in past, you have to like them for what they are in present. People evolve as a person all the time. Once you learn about your partner's previous relationships, you cannot unlearn them. Why go into future with that knowledge. I think it's totally not required.

Maya: I don't agree with you. I want you to know all about my past relationships.

Abhimanyu: I don't want to know.

Maya: But, I want to tell.

Maya: I have been in three serious relationships before. First was in twelfth grade, of course we were too young to sustain long distance relationship then, so when I went to London for my graduation, we broke up. Second was during my Bachelors in Arts. He was good 'n' all though shorter than me, but you know how attraction fades over time and then he started forgetting all the important days of our life. Basically, we lost interest in each other, so we broke up. Third boyfriend was a British from my Jewelry Design class. Parents didn't approve because of the cultural differences and then professionally also he wasn't doing great. We started fighting over small reasons and letting go off each other was the best thing to do.

Abhimanyu: I think, you weren't in true love with any of them, just in a serious relationship because you thought you should be in one.

Maya: Yeah, may be you can say that. At that moment I thought I was, but now that I think of it, I think I wasn't.

Maya: How many serious relationships have you been in?

Abhimanyu: None.

Abhimanyu thought how strange it was that she was in serious relationships with them for years without feeling strong love and he was in love for years without any relationship with the person.

Abhimanyu: What is important to girls?

Maya: Good looking guys who are good in bed are a great turn on.

Maya: Even if you are a Casanova, I would still want to be with you. Good sex doesn't harm anyone.

Abhimanyu smiled.

Maya: We can check our sexual compatibility before marriage, if you want. I am pretty modern and don't see anything wrong with it.

Abhimanyu: I am in no rush.

Maya: I am sure you are not, but I want to let you know that I'm open to the idea of live-in since you are always so busy. It'll help us get know each other faster. I don't think our parents will have any objections to it. Your mom said you have designed your own house.

Abhimanyu: Just started with construction two months back. It will take an year to complete.

Maya: Can't wait to see your mansion!

Abhimanyu: It's just a basic four bedroom house, but it has a big ground around it. You know I'm a nature lover. I'm also making a tree house.

Maya: What about pool? Where are we going to throw party? Well I like your idea of sex in tree house. Isn't it what you are making it for?

Abhimanyu blushed. She was right. He always thought making love in a tree house, in the lap of nature would be fantastic.

Maya: Since you are so good in everything and worked as a finance consultant in McKinsey, I seek some professional advise from you.

Abhimanyu: Yeah, sure.

Maya: I want to go international. I want international stores to sell my jewelry. How do you think I can bring visibility to my jewelry business?

Abhimanyu: I think first you need a good impressive catalog displaying your exclusive designs which you can send to different jewelers around the world. You can have your website also. But if you want to keep it exclusive, then it should be just for your information and not display of your all designs. Deal personally to showcase your designs. You should be good.

Maya: Thank you! Very soon you'll get to see my good work. It'll be so good that your eyeballs will pop out of your eyes.

Abhimanyu: Confidence! I like it.

Maya looked at him without blinking her eyes.

Abhimanyu: What? Very impressed with me?

Maya: You know you might want time to decide if you want me as your girlfriend or wife, but I don't. For me you are my boyfriend from now on. And I am going to call you so. So, my dear boyfriend, I have a confession to make. I always liked you, no, I always loved you from whatever brief meetings we had in parties. I wouldn't have the three relationships I had if I had you as my boyfriend in the first place. I always wanted you to ask me out, but for whatever reasons that never happened.

Abhimanyu didn't think much of the confession. He felt she was more like a girl who fell in and out of love quickly unlike him.

Abhimanyu: Look Maya, I am not your boyfriend, at least not now. So, don't call me that. You know these dates don't bind us. I wouldn't even call them dates, they are meetings. We are only trying to know each other with no promises. You are free to go on dates with other guys and choose anyone else if you want. And so am I.

Maya: I'm not going out with other guys because I'm sure of you. You also know Abhimanyu, we are going to happen one day as our parents also want it.

Abhimanyu: It's not for our parents, it's for us. We should marry only if we want to, not because they want us to.

Maya: Okay. Tell me, how did you find me?

Abhimanyu: First, give me time to know you, then maybe, I can answer this question of yours.

Maya: Time is the one thing you don't have, I hear. Your mom told you are too busy.

Abhimanyu: Well, that's true.

Maya: But, if we have to know each other, you got to take time for our dates from your busy schedule.

Abhimanyu: I cannot promise you a lot of time, but I'll try my best. There can be long gaps between two meetings, but that's how crazy my schedule is. You'll have to understand that.

Maya: I'm looking forward to our second meeting. It was great spending an evening with you.

Abhimanyu pays the bill with his credit card. They hug and say goodnight before leaving in their respective cars.

                      Maya wasn't exactly the kind of girl he wanted in his life, but then all the girls from his society were same including his own sister. Wearing zero size designer clothes and bikini body is what they were obsessed about. Who was going to give them sense that they needed to eat and not starve, because rich boys and men they wanted to date didn't help. They all wanted an arm candy or trophy wife who looked like a model to showoff. Maya had her own business and was ambitious. Above all, she was honest. It didn't hurt that she was good looking. Anyways, how long was he going to live like that, and for what? He had to give a chance to someone to come in his life for his dream of family. Love happened to him only once. There were people who got lucky in love the second time. He so wished he fell in love again, but it was not happening. He was sure love was not going to come knocking on his door the second time