Chapter 5

Jake's Pov

Hi, I am Jake, I have completed masters in general medicine and currently working at a private hospital as a physician. I love my job a lot though it makes me tired at times. My parents are Mr Peter, who is also a doctor, a well known surgeon and Mrs Sherin, she is a house wife. I have two elder brothers, one younger brother and a younger sister. The eldest one is Jerom, he is a cardiologist and he is married to my sweet sister in law, Jenitta, she is a neurologist. And they both have a little son Eric. My second brother is Donny, he is a software engineer and he is married to Jessica, who is an assistant professor. They are also blessed with a cute angel Mia. My younger brother is Luke, currently he is pursuing his studies in business management and I have a younger sister, apple of our eye, our little angel, Ananya, who is pursuing her studies in fashion technology.

As I have completed my studies and got a job, my parents are so eager to find my girl. During my masters, they had asked me whether I had anyone in my mind, and to that question I told no. Yeah I know what you people might be thinking, No I am not a studious boy, even I had crushes and affairs when I was doing my degrees. Its just that I didn't find my girl yet. No girls have been able to conquer my heart, so yeah I thought of giving my parents a chance to find out my girl. Now every weekend my Mummy used to call and ask me whether I am free or not so that she can arrange the so called meeting of the groom and bride, and she wont even allow me to back out. So I used to go back to my hometown every weekend. It was a tiring job as I used to have off only on Sundays, so I had to start my journey at Saturday night, and by the time I reach home it will be morning and then again I have to travel back to Bangalore on that evening itself. Anyway what can I do if I have a stubborn mother.

So now I am currently travelling back to my hometown from my workplace, and today I am taking flight. But today Mummy didn't tell me about tomorrow's schedule," Oh God please let me live in peace at least for a day". By the time I had reached home everyone other than Mummy and Jerom had already slept, it was Jerom who had picked me up from the airport. So after taking a shower I took a nap as I was so tired. Morning I was woken up by my two monsters, Eric and Mia. I love them a lot and according to their moms its me who is spoiling them. Then after freshening up I got ready to attend the Holy Mass. We all went to church. And after that my parents suggested us to meet the Priest, but as I got a call, I asked them to go. After completing my phone calls, I went to join my family, and then I spotted an Aunty and Uncle and Mummy and Daddy introduced me to them and vice versa. Uncle's name was Joe and Aunty's name was Anna, and it seems that my parents were so impressed. Then after telling something secretly to my parents they left. After having a talk with the Priest we too went to home.

As we were having our dinner, Daddy and Mummy told me that this evening we had to go to someone's house to see their daughter, as it was a weekly routine to see some random girls I didn't oppose them. By evening everyone had got ready and we soon left to the destination. Within twenty minutes we reached there and I was so pleased to see their house. Its surroundings were filled with plants which added the beauty of the house, then I saw Joe uncle and Anna Aunty coming out of the house followed by a boy, I guess he is their son. We were welcomed and then as we took a seat in the living room my Mummy asked for their daughter. And there came a girl wearing a light blue color salwar, half of her hair were tied leaving the rest to fall on to her shoulders and which gave a perfect view of her Jumukkas, she isn't wearing any make up other than a bindi which reflects her natural beauty. I don't know why but I felt my heart beating so fast when she looked at me. She answered to the questions that was asked by my family members and even I too answered some questions which were asked by uncle and aunty. Then I came to know that her name is Shruti and she is having an elder sister who is settled at abroad with her family and then a younger brother who is the person I saw with uncle and aunty, it was so fun to talk to him and I liked him so much, even he loved football.

Then we were given some space so that we can talk to each other privately. So Shruti lead me to upstairs and then at first we both didn't know what to talk and it was being a bit awkward, so I decided to break the silence, and I asked about her likes and dislikes and to my surprise she became so comfortable with me and even I was feeling so comfortable. Then she promised me that she will take care of my parents if everything works out between us, and then she told me that she just want a man who will respect her family and who will consider them as his own. Even I always have wished for a girl who will treat my parents as her own, and I felt Shruti's words as genuine. Then she told that she had a past which was not that serious but she didn't like to hide it, even I told her about my past experience. And truth to be told, I liked her at the first sight itself, so I thought of telling about my feelings to her, as I was about to talk her brother Edwin came and told that elders were asking for us, Shruti told him that we are coming and then she turned and gave me a look asking me whether we can go? And I just smiled. As she was about to go I called her, "Shruti". She turned towards me, "I think I like you and I would like to give us a chance and I am sure that my parent's choice would not be a wrong one" as I told her my opinion she stood their silently, and if I am not wrong she was surprised by my sudden opinion. She then smiled and nodded her head and we went downstairs to meet everyone.

As soon as we reached the living room to join others, my parents asked about our opinion, and she told them that she would like to talk to her parents for a second, and that made me tensed, I made a silent prayer to God, I mean I really liked her a lot. After a few minutes I saw them coming out of the room, and uncle was smiling, so I guess that its a positive response from their side too. And then uncle announced that its a yes from their side, and this news brought a big smile on my face and Anu (my little sister) gave me a teasing smile. but I just ignored her. As soon as Uncle told us about their opinion Shruti and I were engulfed with a group hug, my siblings seemed to be so happy that they engulfed us in a tight hug, followed by our parents. And even I saw a smile on her face which told me that she was happy. Then we were asked to pose for picture, and I accepted that gladly. Then Edwin video called their sister and brother, and I felt so comfortable with them too. And then Aunty called us to have the dinner, in the mean time me and Shruti exchanged numbers without anyone's notice or else they will tease us to hell. As we were having the dinner I couldn't stop myself from looking at her, and even she blushed when she knew about me staring at her. And I was so happy that the reason behind her blush was me.

After having the dinner and the dessert our parents started to discuss about the dates for the marriage fixing ceremony. And they decided that it would be held on coming Sunday as I had to return tomorrow, and I will be returning back only on next Friday. So they decided that we will be also exchanging rings on Sunday, so we would be buying our rings on Saturday. Now our parents have a hectic week ahead, as they have to inform our relatives about the same. And then we all bid bye to them, when I bid bye to uncle and aunty they told me to call them as Pappa and Mamma, and that made me so happy. Then as we were returning back to our home, the main topic of the discussion was Shruti, Daddy and Mummy were so happy to have a daughter in law sorry not daughter in law but a daughter like her, even my brothers and sisters were so happy. They all told that they were feeling happy for me. And I told that even I was happy. After reaching home, I took a shower and got ready to take a nap. As I was laying on the bed I thought of messaging Shruti, so I messaged her asking whether she was free or not, and I think she hadn't saved my number, because a few minutes back I couldn't see her profile pic, but now I could see it. She immediately replied me that she was preparing to go to bed, and she said that she was ok with chatting.

Then I asked, "Shruti I just wanted to know whether are you really happy with this alliance or are you being forced into the relation, if yes please be free to tell me, I'll find out a way". I was just concerned about her feelings, I couldn't ask her earlier. She replied me, "Jake will you be happy if I reject? You told me that you like me and now you are saying me that you will see a way to stop this alliance". And that question made me to think a lot, Yeah I wont be happy if she tells No but can I force her? no right so I replied her, "Shruti its not like that, I mean I really do not want you to be forced into a relation. And honestly speaking, I really like you and it would make me sad, if you reject but yeah its ok, if you want you can do it, I will manage". Then she messaged me, "Jake I would be a fool if I reject this alliance. I really liked your family a lot, I am blessed to have a family like yours." I was happy with her reply, so she liked my family and not me, so I asked her, "So you are telling me that you liked my family but not me (with a sad emoji)". She replied me, " Yeah what to do I got loving and caring parents, brothers and sisters even two adorable niece and nephew, but sadly my to be fiance turned to be not so handsome (with a playful emoji)". I knew that she was playing with me, because the way she blushed while having the dinner told me that I had an effect on her. Then I replied, "Hey even I am so loving and caring person and even I am so handsome (with pouting emoji)". Then she messaged me that, "Just kidding, I like you, I am feeling so sleepy so bye good night, sweet dreams and take care". I was so happy that she told me that she liked me, I liked her straightforward nature of telling me everything that she feels, she was so comfortable with me. Then I messaged her "Ok bye Good night, take care ,and don't forget to dream about me". And I am sure that she would be blushing now by reading my message. Even I started to sleep thinking about her, hoping that my future would be a beautiful one.