Part 20

ASR was frustrated, irritated, infuriated… all at the same time.

He was frustrated that he was not able to keep his feelings in control, when he saw her or even when he thought about her.

He was irritated at Sanaa who was talking non-stop at all the wrong topics, about the girl in yellow and her rude friend.

He was infuriated at NK who was blocking ASR’s view of her. He wanted to see her …. And NK was in the way.

ASR and even one of those feelings was not a good combination, in the current situation it was ASR and all of those feelings at once… it was a fool proof formula for disaster.

Here is how he invited his own misfortune that night…

He snapped at Sanaa which she recognized as the ASR way of asking her to keep her mouth shut.

He picked up his phone and dialed NK’s number and said

“NK we need to go. Something has come up… are you done?”

“Nannav…we need to leave… so soon, we just ordered ice cream.”

“Yes NK, now.”

“ok wait Nannav…” he heard NK say something and heard Lavanya say something…then NK was back on the line saying the last thing ASR wanted to hear

“Nannav, Lavanya says she will drop me, go guys go ahead… see you at home.” And he cut the call

“What the!!” Arnav said to the disconnected phone and looked in the direction of NK’s table. NK had turned to look at him too and then NK proceeded to wave goodbye and made a saluting gesture to say goodnight.

ASR was fuming now, he got up with such force that the table almost toppled over, Sanaa stood up too surprised and worried about ASR blackening mood. She didn’t want to be caught in the storm. She followed ASR out of the restaurant hurriedly.

ASR realized the door out of the restaurant was facing away from her, there was no way he could even get one more glance of her… that was the last straw and he barked at everybody and ever thing the rest of the night and the following morning too…

He had had a terrible night thinking about her, deciding not to think about her, thinking about her unknowingly and then realizing that he was thinking about her again… it was a restless night for ASR. So the next morning ASR was in a mood that would scare satan himself.

His family recognized his mood and steered clear of his path, which ASR thought was a very good thing but it was actually a very bad bad bad thing….  He didn’t realize that his life had turned into “a series of unfortunate events” till he stepped in to the house that evening.

**************

As soon as he stepped in he noticed the festive atmosphere that was there in the house. He walked to the living room and joined his family. Just then NK came up to him and said

“Nannav mere bhai, we are the only two who were left out of the fun, the rest of the family had a great time.” pouting like a girl

ASR frowned tried to think about what NK was referring to when he came up with nothing he looked at his Di for help.

“Chotey, today was the Roka ceremony for Lavanyaji, NK couldn’t come as he was the groom.. so he is upset.”

ASR relaxed he missed nothing important, but his thoughts changed in a split second when he heard Nani speak.

“Khushi bitiya makes the best Jelabis hain na Anjali bitiya?” Nani asked her eyes unfocused a small smile playing on her lips like she was remembering a very fond memory.

“Ji Nani, It was so nice to meet Payalji and Khushiji again today. It wold have been great if Garima aunty would have come too but it seems she had some other work.”

“Di, why didn’t anyone tell me about the ceremony?” ASR growled

Everybody started at him, and when they realized he was really expecting an answer from them, Anjali cleared her throat and tentatively said “Chotey, you were in such a bad mood this morning we didn’t want to irritate you more by asking you to attend a ceremony. We know you hate such things so we thought it best to leave you out of it.”

ASR was not used to this things usually went the way he wanted them to go, here in a short period of two days he seemed to have written his fate to do the exact opposite of what he wanted. If wanted to see her and he could have done that if had kept his mood in control this morning!!

“Nobody can mess up your life better than yourself.” Some wise man had said some day and ASR realized the saying’s worth this day

He stood up and stormed out of the room leaving the family to wonder what they had said/done to throw him back into a black mood.

***********

The engagement was fixed for a week after the roka ceremony so that NK’s parent s could make it in good time for it. Shantivan was a flurry of activity as it was decided that the event was to be held in Shantivan as all the wedding ceremony’s will be at the bride’s home or at a place of her choice.

ASR was busy too, his plans to expand to cities other than New York in USA for his Raizada Real Estates brach were moving forward pretty quickly and he was busy in that and had no time to spare for anything at home.

When he did get home late at night and HP would receive him and he would have a quick word with his family at breakfast before he hurried out. Di was complaining about his lack of involvement and he promised her he would be here at home for the engagement.

***********

On the day of the engagement Arnav got up really early, got ready and almost slipped out of the house without anyone noticing…but as he was about to open his car door he heard

“You are going to work today, beta?”

He turned around to face Mr.Neeraj Sharma and Mrs.Meena Sharma, they had landed in India a two days back and had settled in well. Right now it looked like they were returning from a morning walk together.

“Uncle, the engagement is at night, I have things I need to take care of. I will be back by the time it starts.” He said wondering if the couple will feel bad but to his surprise

“No worries Arnav, work is important and you are absolutely right no need to waste the whole day.” And Arnav saw Meena aunty nodding in the affirmative to what her husband was saying.

ASR was amazed if this were any of his family members they would have tried a variety of emotions on him to get him to stay back from begging to emotional blackmail. And here were the Sharma’s who not only understood his logic but also agreed with his decision.

“NK was a lucky guy… a family that does not interfere what else could one ask for..”

He didn’t know this is the very same issue that is making NK run away from his own family and try to be a part of ASR’s family.

ASR said his goodbyes and drove to work.

All day he was really busy and he had no choice but to ignore his Di’s calls but he asked Aman to call home and find out if there were any problems… and to inform them at home that he is busy now and he will call as soon as he is free.

Aman had come back and whispered to him saying that Di was very upset and angry that he was not home. He just nodded in reply and went back to the conference that was going on.

BY the time everything was wrapped up… it was he saw the clock and it said “7:00 PM”

ASR knew he was in big trouble when he got home… as the engagement time was 7:00 PM …”S**T, Di is going to kill me today”