As all three walked on the street, it was the first time, I was not holding mom’s hand while walking for a while, my mom kept looking at me and I kept looking at mom, my sister obviously enjoying our discomfort, she went into the bookshop and I said I would stay outside, telling mom to go with her, my sister would have none of it and made me join both her and mom. Immediately the shop keeper came out of nowhere and addressed and started talking to me. Mom was trying her best to avoid him, he went up to her, “Mrs. Raja who is your lovely companion, is that your sister, You and your husband are very welcome” Mom was so embarrassed she looked at my sister, then me and muttering “Thank you” to the book shop guy walked out of the store. My sister ran out too and then I came out. The ride home was silent, nobody talking, but I could not help notice my sister’s grin.
We had our dinner quietly and then after dinner , Uma sat in front of mom and I was in a chair beside her.
“Mom?” Uma started.
Mom just looked at her and was quiet.
“Mom, I have found the perfect man for you” She said.
“What?” Mom gasped.
“Yes, He is wonderful and I have seen him, and I think he will make a perfect fit for this family”.
“But, but, I don’t agree” She said.
“Oh mom you told me the other day, if I find the man who will be everything he should be for you and me and Raja, you would not hesitate to marry him” Uma continued.
“Oh no, Uma, please be reasonable, I am happy, let us be just the three of us” Mom said.
“Mom, You agreed, a promise is a promise and you will love him, I know” She said.
Mom looked at me pleadingly “Raja, you also have a say in this, don’t you?”.
“Yes mom” I replied.
“Do you want me to see me married?” She queried, a worried look at her face, asking me to say no.
“Yes, mom, I want you married and happy”.
“You want me married??” She looked a little angry at me.
“He is the one who wanted you married” Uma interrupted.
“What?” Mom was angrier.
“Is there someone on your mind, mom?” Uma continued.
“I want this family, not be a part of someone’s family” Mom sobbed.
“You will be, mother, you will be” Uma tried to console her.
Mom looked up, and looked at me “What do you mean?”.
“I want the book shop keeper’s word to be true”.
“What?” mom was shocked.
“Yes, I want you to marry Raja, I want you to be my sister-in-law, I want Raja to be my step-father, I want you two to do my kanyadaan (giving away of the bride)”.
Mom looked at me shocked and there in the corner of her eye, I could see a smile “I am supposed to marry my son, my Raja, Do you know this?”.
“Yes, mom, I want to marry you, you are my dream girl” I replied looking at her.
“I want you to be Mrs.Raja” I continued.
Immediately I got down on one knee and held her hand and slipped a ring on her hand
“Will you marry me, Rukmini?”.
Mom was so shocked, but as she looked at me, then Uma and then her hand, she got up, and I then got up and she hugged me and said “YES”.
We all screamed and hugged each other, my sister kissing both of us, then retiring to her room “You lovebirds should be left alone” winking at us.
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