Fear & Love

Eight

"Accha, so first you don't want to pick up the call, then when you do, you mock me with your sarcasm. Arre, even I am not so free to keep calling you. Get LOST!" Gita yelled on the phone.

"Gita, shant balike (keep calm, child). You are shouting as if I am Anand." It was Ami, her cousin on the call. Gita has been fuming since an hour. She told her how he didn't answer the call at first and what he said when he finally answered  it. Honestly, Ami would have laughed if it was not for Gita in anger. And since an hour, Gita has been calling names to Anand.

"And stop roaring. You should have said all this to him. Instead, you hung up."

"What should I do? I was so angry. 'Am I running  for the president?' No, you fool. I am up for the toughest task i.e to be your wife." Ami had to put her phone away from her ear hearing Gita shout so much.

"Truly, marriage does miracles. I believe it now. I mean Gita who never screams is screaming so loud on the phone. Don't know what more is to happen." Ami said.

"Shut up!"

At this point, Gita wanted to either pull her hair out or someone else's. Preferably Anand's but no one is ready for the grave consequences.

But, Ami was right about two things. First, Gita  had almost never yelled while talking to someone on phone and second, Gita should have ranted all this to Anand instead of Ami.

A while later, when Gita got to work, the air around her screamed 'not to mess with me' and may be her students understood the energy because of which no student messed with her.

Her usual 'masti' (fun) attitude was missing while teaching. While in other classes, students have their inside joke against the teacher, this was the only class where Gita and her students had their inside jokes. While Gita tried to be balanced between being strict and friendly, her children knew she can't be strict and if she is ever angry at them, it is for their own good. Gita never took someone's else's anger out on them. But may be, today was different. Even in staff room, the ever-smiling Gita concentrated on her work and nothing else. While finishing her work, she saw her Maa calling.

"Hello Gitu. Come home quick today. Don't do timepass with your friends. Okay? There is a big news!" Gita could hear her mom's excitement through the phone.

And before she could ask what it is the big news, the phone was cut. What is wrong with her and the phone calls? Either she cuts the call or someone hangs up on her. So, as her mother instructed, she did not spent much time with her friends and quickly got home.

Upon entering, her mother pulled her inside the house and made her sit. Her usually ill dad also was in the living room and looking happy. She smiled at her dad, he looked tension free after so many days and looked better than usual.

"Papa, you look so healthy today."

"Ofcourse, he will look healthy and happy. The news is so good." Her mom said to which her father nodded.

"What news?" Gita asked looking at her mom.

"Anand's family called. They have called us today for dinner. Ofcourse, I refused for dinner. But we have to be there by 7.30 or 8 pm.  We are going to discuss the engagement  date!"  Her mother said excitedly. The smile on her face only getting wider.

"What?" Gita stood up. Engagement?
"When did they call you to tell about this?"

"Today morning around 11.30. But why are you inspecting like a police officer?"

"Maa, we are not going today. And that's it."

"Why are you saying this Gitu? What happened?", her father asked concerned.

"Papa, how can they call us in the morning  and ask us to meet in the evening to discuss the dates? Are we free for them? They should inform us a day prior."

"Gita, I understand  but they apologized to me and your father for the urgent meeting. Also, we did not have anything planned today so it was futile to refuse them."

"No Maa, they are going to take advantage of this. They are not the only busy people here. They are always going to think that we are free for them anytime. So, now we won't go without them informing us a day prior."

"Gita, what has happened to you? How can you say like this about your to be in- laws. And you are making it seem like they ordered us. They were very polite and apologetic while asking us to meet today on such a short notice. Why this disrespect?" Aksed her mother. Gita was still angry with Anand about not answering her messages. She was not in the mood to see him.

"No mom, tell them we will see them tomorrow."

"Gita, now you are just being stubborn. What happened to my good child? If you are in bad mood, go sleep. But when you get up, we are getting ready and going."

Gita looked at her dad asking him to convince Maa.
"Beta, you are being unreasonable  right now. Your mother is right. We can't refuse them simply, without a reason."

"Okay, you both can go and decide the dates. I don't even think I am needed. Besides, Anand might also not be there. I have never seen anyone force him. He was not even there when they came to see me." She stated calmly.

"But he knew about you, what you are doing, how you look, everything. He didn't doubt his family's decision like you did. And he is a busy man. We cannot order him. But, you are my daughter and I can tell you where you have to be present. Also, deciding the engagement date is an important event. Don't you want to be there?"

"I want to be. But not today. Call them and tell them we are not coming. You can go if you want."

"Okay, out of all the years, this is the time you have decided to be stubborn and embarrass your parents. We get it. Okay fine, we will do what you want. Don't listen to one word your parents are  saying." Her mom lectured her. All the other times, this guilt  trip would have worked but not today. She was angry at Anand and now even at her mother.Despite saying no, her mother was trying to convince her to come.

Gita didn't say a word and went to her room. A while later, she could hear her mom talk on the phone. Her room  door was knocked.

"We told them you are sick and couldn't come." Her mother informed. Gita sighed in relief.

Her mobile beeped. It was Isha who messaged  her. "Can I call?" To which Gita replied yes.

"Hello? You are not well and you didn't bother to tell  me?" Isha asked a bit angry.

"Umm, ya my head hurts since afternoon." Gita answered lowly to sound sick. She also felt bad about lying to Isha.

"Ohh, take care. I was so excited to meet you today. I even told Bhai that you didn't tell me anything about being sick.  I was going to be so upset for not telling me. But anyway, take rest. If not today, we will plan some day in coming week. Bye babyy." 

Gita tsked. Why did big-mouth Isha has to tell this to Anand? Now he would know that I am just making reasons to avoid him.

Her door was barged open by her mother. "Anand called and was so concerned about your health. Bless him. I felt so bad to lie to him. So we have decided me and your father will atleast go and meet them. They  called us so lovingly and it is so rude to reject  them. Unlike you, we feel bad for lying. Do you want to come with us?"

Anand called? Concerned for me? No way! If he knows Isha and I talk, he would know that I will tell her if I was sick. But I didn't. Ugh, he knows I am making reasons to not see him. And he called mom to guilt trip her. Otherwise, that arrogance machine would have never called here. But anyway, I won't go. Do whatever you want.

"No, I am not coming with you. I want to sleep."Gita  heard the door close with a thud.

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24/12/20