Life is all good until you turn 22, when you hit the number, we are watched by the society with a moral obligation to get a job, earn good enough to marry someone, earn some more to bring in a new life to earth, but what choices do we have? Vish was forced to take part in the cycle, the worst part of this is to marry someone who you met twice or thrice and spend the rest of the life with him/her.
Sumi ma: Vish, what do you think about this boy?
Vish: maa, if you are fine then I will marry him. Btw where does he work? because my work is now in bangalore, so?
Sumi ma: let me check with your father, he just spoke with the boys family.
dad: He has completed his degree in economics and the only son in the family
My dad and I don't usually talk, but whenever we do ... it ends in a fight, and this very moment I knew where this conversation is headed for.
Mahir: The question was , where does he work?
dad: he need not work, his family has ton of money.
Mahir: So he doesn't have a job
dad: Does having a job make you any better Mahir? Look at you (I'm not irked by his comment on me, its his usually level of stooping low)
Mahir: probably that's because of the single parenting ,
Sumi Ma: Mahir!! drop the conversation
dad: All that he can do is only that, this is the 4th boy that I have showed you. The only thing you have done or tried doing is by turning it all down
Mahir: Because the way you look is just by money.
dad: oh, then what do you think the world runs on? If not my job and money your mom wouldn't have married me, so essentially everything is money.
That one word about my mom burnt the last straw that I was holding on to.
Mahir: oh that one mistake still haunts her right in the face!!! That is why I don't want my sister to be like that.
Sumi ma: Mahir!!! stop, go to your room.
Mahir: For once try stopping him mom, he should know that everyone has a limit to their patience.
dad: I am trying to fulfill my duty as a father to my daughter, now if you want to teach me the rules why don't you find a boy and marry her to him?
Mahir: Duty? you? You were never there.
dad: The dresses that you wore, the fluent english that you speak, where do you think you got it? I paid you , you ungrateful idiot.
Sumi ma: Please both of you, don't stoop low.
dad: This is all what you wanted, isnt it Sumithra? Make your son turn against me? He is just the toy, you turned the key. Wow, amazing that he dances very well to your tune
Vish: Dad, why are you talking to mom like this? She would never imagine something like this.
Mahir: Leave him Vish, he is just a coward man who likes fighting women, and its not like they don't know how to fight back, its just you are not worth the time.
My dad raised a hand to slap me but I stood there still without a slight fear in the eyes, he couldn't hit me, he for sure knew that I can give it back. This is not new to me but every time I fight with him , its my mom and Vish who are affected. I felt bad about what happened here, so I wanted to apolozise to Vish and then mom.
Vish: What are you doing in my room?
Mahir: As if you don't enter my room! Atleast I knock before I enter
Vish: hey, you are my small brother, and I can enter your room anytime I want, without knocking unless Bela is in (giggles)
Mahir: There you go again. I am here to talk to you, not about me. ... see I know there is a lot of pressure but that doesn't mean you need to marry anyone Vish just like that. I wish you loved someone instead of being here in a mess
Vish: Even i'm saying the same Mahi ... Don't wait, tell her before its too late.
Mahir: We are just friends Vish
Vish: I knew that you liked her the moment she set her foot on this house. That day I saw my little boy rushing to room to change his trousers into pants (laughs). I can be wrong too , I cant read minds Mahi, but you can read yours. Be true to yourself, and don't worry about me, just go and talk to mom.
All that Vish told me echoed in my thoughts every second, I opened my room and saw the room color, all peach with lavender curtains, white cupboards and floral bed sheets. My room looked just like how Bela wanted her room to be, mine was just a reflection of it. That moment gave me an energy to propose to Bela, I texted her quickly to meet at a park nearby her house.
That park is actually a old paddy field that was turned into a commercial ground, and now a place where people walk, jog, and post late night a party spot. The place was losing light soon because of winter, and most of the available lights were swallowed by standing long trees and bushes. Bela came pretty late, literally pretty even in her night dress, a kurthi and pant. She waved at me, I was supposed to wave back as an acknowledgement, but at this rate of nervousness I wont be able to move my fingers.
Bela: Mahi, Did you wait long ?
I stood there for the last one hour killing a dozen of mosquitos, witnessed two teenagers kissing, cuddling , wondering how they do that so confidently when I shutter speaking to Bela. But the moment she called me mahi, everything melted like a caramel. She calls me mahi only when she finds me lovable else i'm just Mahir or no one.
Mahir: No, I came just now ( big fat lie)
Bela: You know my mom (citing reason for being late, but that was not the only reason. Being late is part of her living), so what can we do today?
Mahir: I want to tell you something
My hands were in my pocket searching for something, no ... no it was not searching for a ring or a rose or a letter, it was looking for a handkerchief
Bela: Nervous? Did someone propose you today? ( laughs her heart out)
Mahir: What?? Why would I be nervous about that?
Bela: Vish di told me that you once cried when your classmate proposed you
Mahir: That was in 2nd standard, I was a child back then and i was worried about my studies
Bela : You are no different now ... cutie(Damn it Vish, she has spoiled my image of lover boy, now im a mere cute baby )
Mahir: No, I wanted to tell you that I.... ( thuddd a loud sound )
Thudd!!! Thuud!!! was the sound .... i touched my cheeks , no they weren't mine. I was still unharmed and standing sound before Bela, the sound was coming behind us. We both quickly went behind to check who was doing that. There were two school kids whom I was jealous of a few hours ago, not anymore, they were caught by Neil uncle. And that was the sound of slap that each one got from him, now I feel bad for those kids. He is now going to call their parents, and the father will be the next one to get the slap. Seeing that Bela got upset, I could risk myself with a slap as she is Neil uncles daughter . Btw Neil uncle is a orthodox guy when it comes to love marriages.
We walked back to her home with a disappointment,
Bela: I'm sorry , you were about to tell me something
Mahir: No, It can wait
Bela: ok
The Thing I love about Bela is she would never compel me to tell something, but sometimes I wish she had asked me one more time. She doesn't text me often, she doesn't call me but ,a "hey" from her energizes me. If she is asking me , "wanna meet?", that means she wants to meet me. If she is asking me , "are you at home or office?" , that means she is missing me. She is not very good at expressing her feelings but some I do understand. I understand her comfort, her liking's but I'm not sure if she loves me.
On my way back to home, I got a call from Ajitab, my manager or my buddy. He has visited home twice as he had some work on way, It was good having him here. He is funny, plus matured at the same time which makes him a great manager.
Mahir: Hello Ajitab, I'm not going to work even if you give me an increment
Ajitab: Hey drama queen, I didnt call you for work
Mahir: Is it, then what is this about?
Ajitab: Just checking if you reached home, and how are things at home?
Mahir: You are checking me after 2 days? Its Sunday today, I left on friday. Anyway, at home... things are not so bright, lets talk on monday i have so much frustration to take out.
Ajitab: Anyway , there is a 4 pm call on monday that I have forwarded, make sure you join it. Its very important.
Mahir: Okey,
Ajitab: yaar, one more thing, the clients production is down... please fix it man.... yaar you are the only one the client trusts with
Mahir : again .... now who is the drama queen?
Ajitab: Its me, you can call me like that, but fix the issue man. btw don't call me like that before Vish. ( I was puzzled for a moment)
Mahir : whatever, send me the link...
I reached home and saw a message from bela
Bela: Are you going to leave today itself or tomorrow?
She wants me to leave tomorrow and not tonight.
Mahir: I was thinking of taking off tomorrow,
Bela: oh great, then lets go to that coffee place, I have booked.
A smile grew on my face looking at her way of expressing.
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That was one more chapter in Behir life, please leave your feedback
As we move on, we will have more behir scenes
Any feedback, pls leave it in the comments anf if you like the story do vote, it encourages me.
BTW, if you guys know how to add this ff to behir ff group, it would be great