Fighting!

Chapter 3

Aayush's pov:

“Mom, why are you hell bent on ruining that girl’s future?” I asked exasperated by this whole conversation.

I looked down at my beautiful daughter, Diya. My heart fills with love and guilt.

Guilt, because I spent awful amount of time away from her working in another city away from her. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate her or regret having her but she reminds me a lot of my ex-wife and even after the divorce it hurts.

Now, my parents want me to marry some girl they saw in my friend’s wedding which I didn’t attend. He’s so pissed at me. I have to make it up to him next week. Right now he is busy with his wife and all the honeymoon phase s**t.

To be honest, I’m not in a right frame of mind. In the last few months, a lot of things happened and it is kind of hard for me to digest everything and not to forget I don’t think I have any kind of closure from my ended marriage.

“But Ayush, we are getting old beta. Your dad has a lot of health issues and you know it. Last night Diya was crying in the middle of the night and we didn’t get to sleep at all. I love my grand-daughter but we can’t look after every day. And another thing, I’m not forcing you to marry her. Just talk to her once, if you like her than we will see how it goes. Remember, even you need a life partner who will help you and support you. Diya needs mother’s love” My mom explained for the nth time slowly and calmly.

“Mom, you said she is a master’s student who is career oriented. How will she manage all of this?” I asked looking at her annoyed.

How can a career oriented girl, who is filled with goals and ambition manage to take care of a year and half baby girl and adjust with me? Not to forget look after house hold activities.

It’s a moot point.

“And who says a girl can’t have a career and manage a baby? Huh, you think I would have recommended a girl for you if I didn’t think she would be perfect for your situation” My feminist mom reprimanded me.

“How can you know she would handle all this just by seeing her in a wedding?” I asked looking confused.

“Look, I’m a women and I know how a female is when I see her. That girl was so graceful and pro-active my god, If I had an option to adopt her I would have. Her sense of humour is amazing and also the fact that when I saw her, I felt like I was looking at a younger version of myself” My mom said going into her own deep thoughts.

I rolled my eyes at her analogy.

I still don’t believe her.

“Fine, whatever. I’ll meet her but no guarantee that I will say yes” I said arrogantly.

“Oh mister, even she has to accept you” My mom said rolling her eyes, inflating my ego.

Begrudgingly, I stood up.

“I’ll take Diya upstairs and get her to sleep” I said picking up my sleepy daughter in my arms. She is so precious.

“Yeah, after that come down for lunch” Mom said wandering off to kitchen.

My mom was a working lady until few years ago she retired. She has always been an open minded person. She’s independent and very courageous. A feminist too.

She hates when people stereotype women and try to bound them to the kitchen. That’s why she never bonded well with my father’s family. My dad likes her ideology and appreciates her efforts so that’s why he chose her.

I know that my mother is attracted towards women who are just like her and if this girl is anything like my mother, I don’t have any problem but I don’t know how she will handle my emotional baggage. I don’t know how I will fulfil her expectations of me. If she’s expecting a perfect baggage free perfect husband material, then she’s up for a disappointment. Right now, I’m not in a state to entertain all that.

All I can be for her is an acquaintance.

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Ananya's pov:

“Let’s go Anu, I’m hungry” Maya whined, tugging my shirt while I shushed her, concentrating on the program. I’m half way done but my annoying friend is not letting me complete.

“Maya listen properly and clearly, I’m on a verge of solving this program and you are disturbing me. If you don’t wander off in 10 seconds, I’ll make sure tonight food be mixed with the vicious poison there is” I warned her concentrating on my program.

I heard her gulp.

Good.

She should fear me.

I’m caa-rraazy.

“Fine b***h, will wait for you at the cafeteria and if you don’t come before Vishal does then I’m murdering you tonight” She grumbled and walked away grabbing Arshi by her arm.

Promises. Promises.

I shook my head at her threat.

Vishal, is the most irritating person there is.

Why?

Let me explain.

He is obsessed with Maya. He thinks that she is his soulmate, no matter how many times Maya has shown him that she hates him. He doesn’t get it. Don’t get me wrong, we don’t hate him for his looks but for his personality. It’s very clear that she doesn’t like him because since day 1, he followed her around like a love-sick puppy in her words, like a creep. I personally don’t have any beef with him but seeing him sell his self-respect makes me want to barf. And for some reason he fears me and Maya needs me to get rid of him whenever he irritates her, which is all the time.

In next few minutes I get the solution for the program.

“HELL YEAH” I yelled closing my laptop.

Two of my classmates gave me a stick eye. I rolled my eyes mentally giving them THE finger.

I packed my bag and made my way towards the cafeteria. I’m famished.

I was up all night thinking about Saturday. Tomorrow is Friday and I’m going to Pune to my parents’ house. Saturday Akshay, my cousin’s friend’s family is coming to see me. My parents are worried about this relation too. They trust Akshay a lot and have the utmost respect for him but this guy has a baby and since my parents are a bit conservative they are not sure about that part and also that they know I can’t handle a baby for sure.

I was worried for a while but last night I made up my mind that I will give this an honest try, I mean I don’t love anyone right now so what’s the harm. I’ll put forth my conditions and if they are okay with it and if I find the guy okay then why not. The chances of me finding a guy for myself is equals to null.

I entered the cafeteria to see Maya and Arshi sitting at our usual table with Vishal sitting in front of Maya. I sighed at the sight.

Today is my funeral.

I walked towards them and Maya threw me a glare while Arshi controlled her laughter. Arshi is a sweetheart and for some reason she doesn’t have a problem with Vishal.

I think she’s a bigger psychopath in our group.

“Hey guys” I said taking a seat in front of Arshi.

“Hey Anu” Arshi greeted while Maya glared and pointed towards Vishal with her eyes to send him away. Vishal looked at me and give a constipated smile.

“Hey Vishal, what brings you here?” I asked settling myself lazily.

“Huh, I actually wanted to invite you guys to my party next weekend” He said giving Maya a grin. She gave a fake smile to him and turned towards me with hard eyes.

“And I said we will be there, right Anu?” Arshi asked excitedly making Maya sigh in despair.

“Vishal, we are actually going to my hometown this weekend not sure about our next week’s plans. If we are free we will definitely come to your party” I said giving him a fakest smile with hard eyes silently telling him to scram.

He gulped and nodded.

“Yeah sure, whatever you guys decide. Bye Maya, bye guys” He stood up urgently and walked away giving us a nod.

Maya breathed a sigh of relief as soon as he leaves our sight.

“Oh god” She said rolling her eyes.

“Oh come on Maya, he’s so sweet” Arshi said lightly hitting on Maya’s arm.

“Then marry him, at least that way he will leave me alone” Maya said biting on her sandwich.

“I’ll go get my food” I said getting up.

Maya is a kind of girl who is attracted to a guy who gives no attention to the girl whatsoever, basically she wants a bad boy and Vishal is completely opposite to that.

I ordered my food and stood there waiting for them to serve. Before my mind could wander off to my pandering arrange marriage, I heard a nasal voice which irritated me to my very own core. I squeezed my eyes tightly praying to the deity there is to make her go away.

Why God? Why?

“Hey Ananya, heard you were getting married? Guess you’re lucky haa, it saved you from an embarrassed career” I heard her voice which boiled my blood.

That’s none other than Cassie.

You remember, the girl who gave a blowjob to a professor for grades. Yeah, that slut.

I hate her with my every being.

She is the single most person to get this kind of reaction from me. And I’m sure one of her posies(friends) heard Maya and Arshi talk about the arrange marriage thing and now she has to taunt me.

“Hello Cassie, it’s so nice to see you” I said sarcastically with a big fake smile turning towards her.

Kill em with kindness, my ass.

She rolled her eyes at my words. She hates when I act nonchalantly because she wants a reaction out of me and b***h ain’t getting it.

“Whatever, I thought you had big plans for your career but is this it? An arranged marriage” She laughed like a maniac giving me a sight headache.

“Well, unlike you I don’t go around getting things done in return for s****l favours” I said with a bright smile as I saw her face turn mortified and red filled her face.

Ah, take that b-.

I’m HBIC.

Head b***h in Charge, like my home girl Daya said in her song ‘Sit still, look pretty’.

“What the hell did you just say?” She took a step towards me with a deadly glare.

“What? You didn’t hear? Want me to scream it out loud. Okay” I said shrugging and opened my mouth.

Before I could say anything, she huffed and walked away, stomping her foot like a spoilt brat she is. I grabbed my food as soon as it arrived and walked towards the table where both my friends were looking at me in curiosity.

“What did she want?” Arshi asked looking at the way Cassie went in distaste.

I told them about our unfortunate conversation.

“She and her posies doesn’t have any work or what” Maya said in irritation.

“Leave her, lets worry about Saturday. Are you ready Anu?” Arshi asked me and all I could do was shrug.

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