Chapter 32: Aakash

"Maa!"

"You have to look like Mr India! Your Miss India is coming to meet you!"

Sighing, Aakash allowed his mother to straighten his jacket.

"Maate, I'm too busy for this right now."

"No one is too busy to meet his future wife. Your in-laws own a chain of stores and your wife is one of the most beautiphool girls in the city. Together, you will be Mr and Mrs India!"

"But …" the feeble protest died on his lips.

Maa reached into the wardrobe for cologne.

"I don't wear that!"

Ignoring him, she sprayed some on his suit, "I asked your Bhai to bring this for you on his last trip. You need to look and smell like a rich man, bitwa."

He ducked as she aimed the spray at his face, and caught sight of Bhai as he paused at the door. Relieved, Aakash pleaded for help with a series of silent gestures.

"Uhh, Mami-ji …" Bhai spoke from the doorway, "I'll help him, you still have to get ready."

Aakash ran a cursory eye over his mother's blue and yellow sari, matching jewellery and makeup.

What else could she possibly have left to do?

"I have to fix my hair," Maa answered his unspoken question, "You finish up with him and bring him downstairs, Arnav-bitwa. They'll be here soon!"

Bhai stepped aside to allow Maa to bustle out of the room before smirking.

"Unbelievable."

Aakash couldn't hide his grin. "Papa asked her earlier if the family was coming to see me or her, and offered to leave her if she wanted to marry again."

Bhai's laugh was short but genuine. Aakash placed the bottle of cologne on a table before looking up. His pulse sped up as Bhai asked a question.

"You don't want this, do you?"

Lying to Bhai was impossible. "No. But Maa and Papa …"

Bhai nodded.

"Meet her," he suggested, "and then say no."

Just like that, as if it was that simple. And maybe for Bhai … it was.

Aakash pressed his lips together.

"We are not all Arnav Singh Raizada," he spoke as stuffed the unwanted cologne into the wardrobe, "that we get to say no again and again."

"Then say yes. One girl is much the same as any other."

Startled, Aakash faced his brother, "Do you still believe that, Bhai? After everything that's happened."

"I don't," came the smooth reply, "I'm testing something Khushi said last week."

"And … did I pass?"

"No," Bhai flashed a grin in his direction as he stood, "and that means that I won our bet. Now come, let's meet your Miss India."

Grimacing, Aakash allowed his brother to lead him out of the room, trying to banish the memory of a small figure huddled against a temple pillar.

What's happening to me?

Kavya Aggarwal was tall and beautiful, immaculate in a trendy kameez and designer jewellery. Her father was a third-generation jeweller, of the esteemed Aggarwal Jewellers, and Maa had no doubt factored in the potential wedding gifts alongside the qualities of her future daughter-in-law.

Papa sat to the side, content as usual to let Maa take the lead.

"Your daughter is so beautiphool, an absolute gem. My bitwa, he is so handsome. Mr India! And your daughter, she can be his Mrs India!"

Aakash felt his mouth twist. Bhai's eyebrow was in danger of disappearing into his hairline. Di shook with laughter for a brief moment before composing herself but Papa was not so fortunate – his indelicate snort earned him a glare from Maa as the Aggarwals exchanged bewildered glances.

"Manorama …" Dadi-ji's tone held a warning that Maa ignored.

"I think your Kavya is perfect for my son. What do you think?"

This last was addressed to his father, who snapped to attention with a stammer, "Uhh, yes, well … Aakash should probably …"

"Aakash is a shy boy, bery shy, but I can tell that he likes her. Aakash, son, show Kavya the poolwa."

Panic flared in his chest. "Maa, I think …"

"It's fine," grinned Mrs Aggarwal as she placed her untouched up of tea on the table, "I'm sure you and Kavya have a lot to talk about."

Kavya-ji stood gracefully, her kameez elegantly falling about her as she picked her way to his side. She cocked her head expectantly when he didn't move.

"Shall we …?"

He led the away, refusing to look at Bhai or Di as he passed by, and opened the sliding doors that led to the poolside. Kavya-ji surveyed the space with interest.

"You have gardeners?"

"No … Bhai … Bhai takes care of these."

"The great ASR? Pot plants?" the incredulity in her tone was hard to miss.

Aakash nodded, the warmth of pride swelling inside his chest, "Bhai has always loved gardening. He finds his peace amongst the plants."

"And where you do you find your peace?"

He sucked in a breath, turning instinctively away from her as he replied, "In books. Movies. It's … juvenile, I know."

"I like movies," she offered, "I watch one every week. On release day if I can manage it."

Turning back to her, Aakash suddenly decided that her eyes were the wrong shade of brown.

Another pair of eyes, bright and warm, swam into his vision.

The woman who belonged to those eyes was at once strong and vulnerable, and that combination intrigued him as nothing else ever had. She'd barely registered when they'd first met, just the sister of Bhai's bride, but now …

The temple meeting had triggered something inside him.

"Aakash!"

He blinked, registering Kavya-ji's hand in front of his face as she waved it frantically.

"Where did you go?" her frown betrayed her irritation though her words didn't.

Heat crept up the back of his neck, uncomfortable and cloying, "Sorry, I was thinking about work."

"I asked," she began with exaggerated patience, "whether you wanted to meet again, maybe lunch next week? Our parents seem eager enough."

Kavya-ji gestured towards the sitting room, where Maa was plying Mrs Aggarwal with more sweets as Papa nodded along to something Mr Aggarwal said. Di and Dadi-ji engaged Mrs Aggarwal in conversation. Bhai had disappeared.

"Are you really open to the idea of an arranged marriage?"

The words were out of his mouth before he'd given himself permission to speak. Kavya-ji cut a surprised glance at him before pursing her lips.

"You mean that, with my background and family, you expected me to choose for myself?"

Aakash nodded.

"Marriage is a partnership," she trailed an idle finger along a bright green leaf, "A deal of sorts. "

For a heartbeat, he feared that she had become confused in her choice of ASR — that she wanted Bhai, and not him. But then —

"It is more than a formality, however. I think that, with the right person, marriage could be enjoyable. Fun."

She hadn't mentioned love, and the omission told Aakash more than her words had. A part of his mind wandered, imagining how Payal-ji would've answered the question before her fiancé had left her.

And how she would answer it now.

Aakash cleared his throat, "We should head back inside."

"Your mother will have named our children by now," Kavya-ji giggled as she preceded him through the doors, "she's very excitable."

Though there was not discernible insult in the words, the need to defend his mother bubbled inside Aakash.

"I'm her only child, and she only wants the best for me. That's no crime."

"I didn't mean—"

He nodded sharply, cutting off whatever reply Kavya-ji was going to give, and they crossed to the sitting area in silence. She didn't look up as she settled between her parents, shaking her head slightly when her mother looked at her in askance.

And just like that, it was done.

The Aggarwals took their time, exchanging effusive and polite goodbyes with promises to call again at the earliest opportunity, but everyone except Maa could read the outcome in their posture and tone.

"That went well," she grinned as HP shut the front door.

Di managed a small smile. Dadi-ji tutted under her breath before rushing away, muttering about releasing Lakshmi from the bedroom she'd been confined to for duration of the visit.

And incredibly, Papa winked from where he stood behind Maa.

Sighing, Aakash hastened to his bedroom, intent on sequestering himself before his mother's torrent of questions could begin. His laptop was on the small table in his room, open to a photo from a recent photo-shoot. The model – Lisa, Aakash recalled vaguely – toyed suggestively with the hem of a royal blue dress as she pouted into the lens. He flicked to the next photo distractedly. She wore custard yellow and pale green, her back exposed and hair swept into a loose knot as she gazed over a bare shoulder.

Payal-ji had worn similar colours when she'd visited the day before. She'd perched on the edge of the sofa, bent towards Di as they'd pored over sample catalogues sent by jewellers, and he'd been distracted all afternoon. Inventing an excuse to work in the study, he'd studied her covertly while avoiding Maa's pointed questions. And later, he'd chanced upon her in the kitchen.

"Namaste, Aakash-ji."

"Namaste."

"You haven't been at the temple this week."

This, of course, meant that she'd looked for him.

His pulse had quickened. "I'm preparing for a meeting in Mumbai. There hasn't been time."

"Oh. Good luck," her smile had been sweet and genuine.

"Thank you, Payal-ji."

Aakash slumped back into his chair with a groan.

Bhai's fiancé's sister. What are you thinking, Aakash?

Author's Note: Thank you for taking the time to read, and for your lovely reviews. I appreciate them all :D