Chapter 3
- Mehul's POV
- She bent a little to touch my dad's feet. My dad said, " God bless you beta. But please, don't do it you are like my daughter." She smiled and her face lit up like a bulb.
- I must have been staring at her as my dad coughed and said, " Mehul do you remember her? "
- I was not sure what to say... I was still thinking about how to respond to it. She was looking at me through her eyelashes.
- " Come on Mehul how can you not remember her. You have been scolded so many times because of her. She is Megha, Suresh's daughter. " My dad said chuckling.
- My eyes widened, I looked at her again as if I was trying to find the similarity between this beautiful girl and that irritating girl with pigtails.
- I couldn't find the similarity but this beautiful Megha was smiling faintly as if she knew that I was comparing her with her little self.
- That little irritating girl used to frown at me all the time and this one was smiling shyly... Are they one person only??
- Not possible...
- She folded her hand and said namaste to me. I just said hello...
- She was sitting exactly in front of me between aunty and my mom. She was talking sweetly with my mom. Was she the same girl who used to shout at the top of her voice and her voice was shrill. She was talking so softly that I couldn't even hear her across the table.
- We all enjoyed the food and then went to the sitting area again.
- " Aunty the food was amazing, I ate like a glutton. Thanks for the delicious dinner. "
- " There is no need to say thanks beta, this is your home. You give me a list of all your favourite dishes and I'll get it prepared for you while you are here." Aunty said smiling.
- " Oh !! No aunty, if I would eat like this for a week, nobody would recognise me in Delhi. I would have to spend more time in the gym. " I was grinning at the thought of heavenly food.
- Everyone laughed and then dad said, " How is aunty Ji Suresh? Let's go and see her. "
- " I was about to say that, she can't come and meet you, but I know she would love to meet you, specially Mehul. " Uncle said.
- We all got upstairs, to go to her room. I remember she used to tell us stories and would make delicacies for us specially Laddoos. She was a God-fearing lady. we went to her room she is lying in bed. Her face lit up the moment she saw all of us. My dad and I touched her feet and she beamed at us. I helped her to sit properly as she requested.
- She held my hand in her fragile hands. I sat down beside her. She touched my face with her hand and said, " You have become a nice young man, but you never came to meet me. Did you forget this old lady? "
- " No dadi, I did not forget you. I just got a bit busy. I had gone to study and then we settled in Delhi. Now I am helping dad and Bhai. I am sorry I didn't come to meet you. " She smiled lovingly.
- She turned towards uncle and said, "Suresh, I hope you and Vipul remember the promise you made to me and your dad? I think it is time to fulfil that now... I may not live for another year, so I want that it should happen now. Consider it to be my last wish. " Tears started flowing from her eyes.
- What was going on?? I looked at my father but he did not say anything.
- Uncle looked at my dad and asked, " Is that ok with you Vipul if we do it?"
- Dad smiled and nodded. Uncle looked at aunty and she came up with a Pooja thali. She handed it to Uncle.
- Uncle brought the thali near Dadi Ji and she smiled at me. She applied a Tilak on my forehead and gave me a coconut and gold coins.
- I was stunned why was she doing it, I looked at my mom and dad. They just smiled and nodded at me.
- I couldn't help asking, " What is this for Dadi Ji? " Though she was smiling brightly, she also had tears in her eyes.
- Uncle hugged me and said, " Many years ago your dad and I decided that we will get you and Megha married once both of you completed your education and start your career. Now that you and Megha have done well with your life, we want you to get married as soon as possible. "