The girl in a red chudidhar

The text message "hv u tkd 2 dem?" woke me up from my mind rehearsals. I had lost count of the number of rehearsals I had done. Yet,some element was missing in my narration.

But, I had one thing in my favor. I was not always the favourite kid of my parents, thanks to my elder sister, Devi.So, there was not much pride to be lost. They didn't have great expectations of me, and I too had not tried very hard to get a very cozy corner in their hearts. I had got used to using my sister's old mobile phone, her old school text books and sharing the same log-in ID in our PC.

Well, there they are. My parents have returned home,and it's time for me to talk. I had one last thing to do.

I sent the msg, "swtE,am gonna start-'ll let u knw d status n 5 mins" to her.

"Dad,mom, I have something to tell you",a good start- I felt.

"Don't tell me you haven't passed all papers this semester!"-dad.
not that bad a start as I had thought of. I had managed to pass my papers. OMG!!!

The text message "tk care honE, ATB" came just at the right moment to give a break.

"When you get off the metro tomorrow, you'll have to meet someone for me".

"Why? Which professor is it this time?"-dad. My history speaks for itself.

"Just wait na.. Let him tell. Chotu, don't delay any further"-mom.

"It's not my college professor. When you reach our station tomorrow, you'll see a girl in a red chudidhar. I want you two to talk to her".

"What?? Are you kidding? who's that? Since when did you start doing all these?, rascal"-dad.

"Chotu, who's that? Why should we talk to her?, What's the problem?"

"Fine. That's it papa! I'm in love with this girl from another college. I just want you two to her meet you so that things will be easy later on".

"Are you declaring your love or giving an information?"- dad - a very obvious right question.

"Papa, just meet her. You'll feel she's a good girl for our family".

"Hey, You haven't got even a degree yet! and you want us to talk of marriage?. Are you crazy?" -dad.

"Who's that girl? Is she from our caste? What's her name, chotu?"

"No ma. I'll not tell anything now. It's better to know when you meet her."

"Arey! Who told we'are gonna meet her tomorrow?"-dad.

"Please, for my sake, just meet her, and you'll like her dad". I tried my best to woo my father into this.

"So, this is what you have grown up to do? You boasted of your ambitions and other stuff when you took this useless course, didn't even apply for the competitive exams I told you of, and now, you say you have wasted your time running behind some girl".

"What do you want me to do, papa?"- a meek surrender might help sometimes.

"You ask that now, oh! It's too late,son. Look at Devi. She got her degree, joined a reputed company and has been very co-operative in our attempts to find her a match. Why can't you just take a leaf out of her book?"

"papa, I don't wanna be someone else. I wanna be myself. Do you mean to say you'll have no problems with this proposal if I too had a job like Devi?"- lost control very early.

"Look her son, you can't be ready for matrimony unless you have a settled job with a decent salary. Why don't you listen to us at least now?"- my time was up-

"Okay. But why don't you meet her at least ?"

"No, we won't see anyone until you get settled. I can't entertain any such thoughts".

"Alright then. Don't watch out for any girl in a red chudidhar tomorrow. She won't meet you unless I get the so-called 'decent job".

"Understand, it's all for your good. Get settled into a decent job and we won't interfere into your love-life".

"Wait, papa! I haven't completed. When you get down tomorrow, a man in black-and-white formals will approach you. Talk to him".

"Chotu, what do you mean?"

"Yes, papa, Devi loves this guy whom she met in her office. The guy is ready to talk marriage plans with you, but your darling daughter, Devi, is not ready to declare her love. That's why I made up this story. I guess you won't change your mind for Devi, as the guy has already got settled in his job".

"Chotu, you scared the hell out me, you rascal"-dad. The rascal was less threatening than the one before.

My parents talked for a while when I waited patiently to hear their consent. They were quite happy with this alliance.

The text message "HonE, wt's up? Wt dd they tl?" gave a break to the silence in the vacant terrace at 11 pm.

"SwtE, all wnt as v pland"- yes all which was not well had ended quite well.

The message "gr8. i knw u wd do t. gd n8 honE" , the last one before the next morning, has been no different in the past few years.

"Bg ks, swtE gd n8"- my sign off style. The "bg ks" stood for "Big kiss", the one Colin Farrell used whenever he hung up his phone in the movie PHONE BOOTH. But I don't know when the Big kiss would happen because it might be another 6 or 7 months before I got the "so-called " decent job.

Yes. Today was just another rehearsal of that day when I declare my love interest to my parents. Chitra, the one who had helped me with the small skit to let my parents know of my sister's love, has been my lady love for the past few months.

Now I shall wait for a while before I introduce her to my parents. No prizes for guessing what dress she would be wearing then.