Falling In Love After Marriage

Prabhu's POV

It was already 11 PM. I parked my car, got into the lift, and pressed #7 to reach my apartment floor. It had been a long day in the office. I had to finish a huge project and also make sure that everything was ready for tomorrow's client meeting. Tomorrow, I would have to go to the office early so I could finish that damn presentation for our new project.

The ting sound of the lift broke my chain of thought. I entered my two-bedroom apartment, took a shower, and changed into comfortable cotton shorts. 

I set an alarm on my mobile for work the next day and opened my WhatsApp.

I had 30 texts: 1 goodnight text from my Amma (Amma means "Mom" in Tamil) and others from my cousin Janaki and my sister Vidhya.

They are best friends and are studying CA (Chartered Accountancy) at the same institution. They were so close because they studied in the same school since kindergarten and also because they were family.

My parent's 25th wedding anniversary was coming in 2 weeks. Janaki and Vidhya wanted to get some presents and decorative items for the celebration. They were staying in the hostel, and they needed me to be their driver and their luggage porter for the weekend. That's why they sent those 30 messages, to confirm the shopping.

I sent them, "OK," and drifted off to sleep within a few minutes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I woke up at 5 AM, finished my morning routine, and went to the nearby playground for jogging. I came home after 30 minutes and did exercises for 30 minutes.

I called my friend and team leader, Akash, to confirm the time of the new client's meeting. I love cooking, but I don't have enough time today to cook. I reached the office and completed the presentation and the reports from the last project and forwarded them to Akash for approval.

The meeting was scheduled for after lunch. So I ordered Thalapakati mutton biriyani and chicken fry for lunch.

(Biriyani is a kind of rice made with spices and meat. The Thalapakati hotel is famous for its delicious biriyani in Tamilnadu.)

During lunchtime, my colleagues at the next table were speaking of the company's plan to fire some people for various reasons. I was wondering what the reason could be for a sudden firing and how those people would manage.

After a satisfactory lunch, I checked my email for approval from my team leader. But to my surprise, I was asked to handle the meeting with the new clients, which was supposed to be led by Akash. Anyway, I successfully finished the meeting and forwarded the report to Akash.

There was something odd happening in the office. Usually, team leaders would handle those meetings. And Akash's behaviour was quite different today. He had been acting weird the whole time during the client meeting. I had to ask him after the workday was over.

So I concentrated on preparing the new project details, which had to be shared with our team.

When I opened the email to send it for Akash's approval, I got a new email from the company's board.

My mind rewinds to the conversation between my colleagues during lunch. I was nervous about opening it because I started this job only 10 months ago. Usually, newcomers are more likely to be fired from multinational companies. So I was having second thoughts about opening it. My mind was protesting my wish to open the email. I took a deep breath before deciding what to do.

Prabhu's POV

Mostly MNCs will email their employees to inform them that they are being kicked out in formal language.

I quickly called Akash to confirm my suspicions.

"Akash! I got an email from the company's board. I didn't open it. Do you know anything about it?"

Instead of answering my question, he started laughing like a crazy person.

After a couple of minutes, he composed himself, "Hey, idiot! Just open the email. I will stay on the line."

I opened the email, praying to all the gods I could remember, and started reading it.

I could not believe my own eyes. I started doubting whether I was daydreaming. But the idiot on the line shouted at me to tell him whether I had read it or not.

I disconnected the call and ran into his office. He started laughing after seeing me. I punched him in his gut for not telling me about this earlier.

"You should be thanking me, dude! Not punching me. Anyways, congratulations on the promotion!"

Yes! I got promoted to team leader.

"Your hard work and dedication paid off, Machan," Akash seemed happier than me. 

(Machan means "Buddy" in Tamil.)

"Thanks, Machan. I am very happy. And I can't wait to see my parent's reaction."

"Uncle and aunt will be proud of you, Machan. Okay, let me share this news with our team members. Come with."

"Hmm, ok, Machan."

After that, Akash informed them formally and asked me to share the new project details with them. Akash was assigned to take the lead of another team.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I finished all my work and went to temple to thank god for being promoted to TL.

I called my mom to share this happy news.

"Hello, amma, ena panringa? 

(Hello, mom, what are you doing?)

"Sollu, Prabhu, un Murugan mama veetuku vandhirken da.”

(Tell me, Prabhu, I have come to your Murugan uncle's home.)

"Mama-um Athai-um epdi irukanga amma? And I have good news for you, amma!"

(How are uncle and aunt? And, mom, I have good news for you!)

"Oh, nanum unaku oru good news vachirken. Nee mudhala sollu pa enna vishayam nu?"

(Oh, I too have good news for you. But you tell me what yours is?)

"Amma, I got promoted to team leader!" 

Amma is very happy. She is thanking God for my promotion and sharing the news with my uncle and aunt.

"Great, Prabhu! I am really very proud of you. Congratulations, pa. Wait, your uncle and aunt wanna talk to you."

After talking with them, mom spoke again.

"Prabhu! You have told us great news. Now it is my turn. I got a marriage proposal for you. Do you have any guesses?”

But Janaki is still studying. We can't marry yet! Maybe her parents convinced her to continue her studies after marriage. Shit! Why the hell am I think about her as my future wife? I don't have any feelings for her. Maybe little..? Or maybe due to the frequent teasing from my relatives at every family function... Or maybe there was some other reason yet to be realized.

What if Janaki is not the alliance mom chose? I better ask her.

"No, amma! I don't have any idea."

"You already know the girl, Prabhu. Our family friend Kumar sir's daughter Nandhini. What do you think?”

Whoa! This day couldn't hold any more surprises.

Nandhini! Not Janaki! I mentally slapped myself for thinking about Janaki.

I remember Nandhini. She used to visit her grandparents, who live a few blocks away from Murugan mama's house.

She is a good-looking girl. I don't know about her character. She often comes to Murugan mama's house. She always talks more to me. Both Vidhya and Janaki don't like her because she is kinda modern and our home is a little traditional. Our parents allow us to wear modern clothes, but everything should be properly covered. Nandhini used to wear little revealing dresses, which irritated Janaki. She would divert my attention to something else when Nandhini was around me.

I don't have any second thoughts. I will marry whomever my parents choose. They never forced me into anything. They always suggested and let me make the final decision. I always respected them and loved them more than anything in this world. Being born in a middle-class family, I know very well how hard they worked and how they sacrificed their own happiness to pave a great future for me. 

I am just wondering if Vidhu and Janu (short form of Vidhya and Janaki) will approve of her.

"Prabhu, are you there? Prabhu? Prabhu?"

"Sorry, amma, I zoned out! If the alliance is OK with you, appa (dad), Murugan mama (uncle), and Banu athai (aunt), then it’s fine with me."

"Then we will choose one day to have the formal meeting between our two families."

"Okay, amma. Please check with Vidhu and Janu before confirming the date. Their opinion is also important.”

"Of course. I will call you later, Prabhu. Eat well. Take care, pa."

"Sure, amma. You too, take care!"

After a long conversation, I decided to go to my apartment.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I purchased the necessary groceries for myself and reached my apartment. Today is Friday, and I usually have Saturday and Sunday off.

I did my clean-up routine and started making dosa and coconut chutney for my dinner.

(Dosa is a kind of pancake/crepe made out of a ground and fermented batter of rice and Urad gram. Coconut Chutney is a gravy-type side dish made by grinding a mixture of freshly shredded coconut, green chili, garlic, salt, and fried gram with mustard, urad gram, and red chili.)

While making my last dosa, I got text messages from Vidhu stating that they both didn't have classes for 2 days. So I had to go and pick them up tomorrow morning at 9 AM for shopping. I replied, "okay," and finished my dinner.

I think mom didn't tell them about my promotion. Otherwise, they would have come here and turned my apartment upside down in the name of celebration!

I have to tell them tomorrow, and since we'll be in the shopping centre, I can pay for lunch and announce it as my treat. I set my alarm to 6.30 AM and slept after using Facebook for some time.