Seal the deal

After an hours drive, they reached Ador's neighbourhood .It was 9 in the morning. Unma answered the doorbell and was rooted near the door after seeing Bali, Gopi and Dev. Ita saw them and rushed to greet them, the trio entered. . Kir was reading the newspaper and Ador was busy preparing morning second round of tea.

Everything came to a standstill as Kir and family were all surprised by their sudden arrival. Bali said, "am sorry to disturb you early in the morning, but it's festival time and we will be leaving for Pune in noon. Prior to that we would like to ask the hand of your elder daughter Ador for my youngest son Dev for holy matrimony. Previously you all postponed because of the demise of Didun, so we kept this issue aside. But I think, November the one year of bereavement will be over. We wanted to proceed with Ador so have come. "

Unma was not at all happy. She did not like Dev. She looked at him and found him eyeing her and smiling. She went into the kitchen and told Ador, everything, who was all tensed up, seeing Dev and family enter her house. She was grinning. Unma got furious and left the kitchen seeing her sister's reaction and locked herself in her bedroom . She thought her parents would understand that she did not like Dev and cancel the arrangement. But the opposite happened.

Kir had kept the newspaper folded in his lap and listened to Bali's each and every word cautiously. He then told Ita to bring in some refreshments for them. While Ita was busy trying to stir up some vegetables for breakfast for all, Kir called Ador, in front of Bali and family and asked, " Ador, till now we have taken decisions for you and you have abided. Marriage is totally different. You have met Dev a couple of times. Do you see your future with him? " Ador did not say a word. She didn't want to say yes, she didn't want to say no. Kir then asked , "do you like him or not? " Ador still kept quiet. Gopi tried to ease Ador and said, "Well o8f you feel like mixing with Dev more often, to know him better, we have no problem. " Ador looked up to Develop and saw him smiling wickedly at her and then he winked at her. She looked down and blushed. She still kept quiet. Unma seeing no one was coming to get her, got tensed and came out and saw her mom in the kitchen and her naive sister looking down in front of the family drama. She came to her sister's aid.

She asked Kir what was happening and when she heard him out, she objected. " I have a gut feelingthat Dev is not what he seems to project. He has a vile temper, my sister will not be able to handle him. " Ador lost the shine in her eyes. Bali noticed it. He said"why not let your sister decide, little one? If she agrees we are fine, if she doesn't, we still are not in loss."Dev looked at Unma as if he was targeting his prey. Ita came over, she said " Well, I have noticed that Ador is happy and cheerful when she talks to Dev. So , I think she is shy and not speaking in front of elders. I think she likes him. " Kir looked at Ador and she nodded her head. Kir was heartbroken .

He said "since Ador has agreed and wants Dev has her life partner, so we also agree in unison. Why not fix the date of marriage, today itself. The sooner, the better cause it will be difficult to keep fire and oil away for long. " Kir told Unma to bring the Panjika, a book where all auspicious dates of the year are written for Hindu ceremonies. It's served breakfast. Post breakfast, Bali, Gopi, Kir and Ita sat together to finalise the date of marriage. 6th December was finalised. Unma was angry but she kept silent. Ador was blushing and Dev was all smiles. Unma then suddenly blurted out. My only request is that both would be brother in law and my sister do not meet before marriage. Bali smiled. His plan was well executed. Only two months of restraint. He said, "It's a deal, Dev will not meet with Ador but don't be too harsh on the lovebirds. Let them get along over the phone will you? " and laughed. Unma was feeling embarrassed. She had the best interest of Ador in her mind, when she blurted out her statement to keep her away from Dev, but it went the other way.

Gopi said to Ita, " Now that we will be in laws, we will keep in touch. "