It started with arranged marriage

Chapter 9

- Lily Jane Collin  -

I couldn’t believe what mom said. I tried my best not to understand it but I couldn’t. I couldn’t think straight anymore. “Mom you are kidding right?” I asked. 

“Your mom isn’t. It's my wish too sweetie,” granny said and she continued “I don’t know how long I can live. I wanna witness you getting married.” “Why me? Why not Nick? Why not Steve? They are older than me. They should have married first logically?” I said to them.

“Lily! Listen to me first before you come to a conclusion by yourself,” mom said. I didn’t hear clearly what mom said because I was still in shock. “I’m going out to get fresh air?” I said and walked out quickly.

I went straight to the outdoor visitors area. I was looking to the skies and recalled what was happening inside granny hospital room. “Here! It might help you a bit,” Nick said, handing over the coffee to me. Nick and Steve were standing next to me. 

I looked at them and asked “when did you guys know that?” They both looked at each other and hesitated to answer my question. “Common! I can tell both of you know before I do from the reaction a while ago,” I said. I was mad at them. How come they didn’t tell me anything. 

“Actually mom told us two days ago,” Steve replied. “Honestly I knew before mom told us. I knew that before we came back from the holiday house from Eric,” Nick said, looking at me cautiously. 

“What!!” I was more stunned that Eric also knew about that already. I just lost words. I didn’t know what to do next. I was just standing stumbling. “Are you Okay? We are sorry. We couldn’t let you know first,” Steve said. 

I couldn’t say anything back. I didn’t even know how I felt. Then I decided to do the first thing first. “Do you have his phone number,” I asked Nick. He looked at me stunningly “who? Eric?”he asked me back. I nodded at him and he gave me the phone number. 

“I need to find a way to deal with it. Please tell mom I went back home,” I told them. “Where are you going and how are you gonna do?” Nick asked me. “Don’t know yet. I’ll find a way. And can I use your car?” I said to Nick. I didn’t wait for his permission and I just took the car key from him and walked out quickly. 

I was inside my brother’s car, I could feel my blood pressure was going up. I was super mad and confused. I took out my phone from my purse and dialed Eric’s number. 

I wasn’t sure why I called him and what I was going to ask or say. He picked up the phone in fourth rings. 

Eric : Hello. 

Me : Ahhh, hello. 

Eric : “Who it’s?”He sounded annoyed by the unexpected phone call.

Me : “sorry, it’s Lily, Nick’s sister.” 

The phone line was silent. I wasn’t sure what I should tell him next. I was thinking…..

Me : “ahhh sorry to call you suddenly. I want to talk to you about………”

I stopped and didn’t know how to continue. I heard him sighed. 

Eric : “cut the chase. What do you want?,” 

My blood was boiling more because of his answer. 

Me : “I need to meet you and discuss something important. Let’s meet at Cafe365, advene street at 6” 

Eric : Okay. 

As soon as I heard Okay I hung up the phone first. I knew he already found out the reason why I called him. 

I had one hour left before I went to meet him. I decided to go to Nicole's office which is close to the meeting point. I called Nicole and informed her I’ll drop by at her office. When I reached there Emily was there too. They came back from lunch a few hours back. 

They gave me a hug as soon as I got into the office. “Are you Okay?,” they said. They didn’t know about the marriage plan yet they just thought I looked really tired because of granny. “You look really tired. How is grandma?,” Emily asked. “Granny’s fine,” I replied with no energy. 

“What else it’s that you didn’t tell us,” Nicole asked, looking at me like she knew something. Nicole was always the one with quick-witted among three of us. She was the one who figured out what was going on with us first. 

I told them about my arranged marriage plan by mom. They were also stunned by the unexpected news. “We always wanted you to date someone but never expect that you will get a husband like this, this much sooner,” Emily said, laughing and teasing at me. They also knew I didn't like Eric the fact that he was rude to me. “What should I do? Give me suggestions. I have a plan to meet him at 6,” I said, asking suggestions from them. 

“First, change your outfit,” Nicole said. I was surprised by her answer. “Why? I’m asking for advice on how to solve this. Don’t joke around. I’m serious,” I said, looking at her with my serious face. “I’m not joking too. Look at yourself in the mirror,” Nicole said, pushing me in front of her full body mirror. 

I took back on what I said before I seriously needed to change clothes first. I was busy worrying granny and hurrying to go to hospital so I didn’t care to dress up when I went to hospital. I was wearing my casual oversized T-shirt with shorts. 

Nicole gave me one dress from her new collection. I changed into a new outfit and now I looked more presentable. With the new outfit I sat in one of the chair In front of both of them. “Now what is next?” I asked. 

“Don’t do anything, just tell him you don’t want to marry him and ask him to cancel from his side,” Nicole said. Then Emily also said “I think he might not like the idea too. Think about who will like arranged marriage in this century.” 

It was kinda true too. Who would like arranged marriage especially like Eric. I could tell he might have a lot of girls. “Thanks girls, I feel a bit relieved now. I just need to think simple, not over think,” I thanked them and went straight to the meeting point. 

I kept telling myself everything will be back to normal soon. With that thought I entered the coffee shop. He was already there looking at his phone. All the girls from inside the shop were peeking at him. 

I arrived at the table and cleared my throat, letting him know I was there. I took a seat in front of him. “You’re late,” he said. That was the first thing he said, not even caring to greet me. 

“Hello to you too. For your information, I’m not late, I'm on time,” I said, putting my purse. The waiter came to take the order. I ordered coffee and asked him “what do you like?” 

“I don’t come to drink coffee,” he answered rudely. My blood was boiling inside again. I wished I could punch him right in his face. I calmed myself down and told the waiter “two coffee please.” 

Then he looked at me and he was about to say something. I cut him before he could start “it’s not for you. Both are for me,” I said without looking at him. Then I continued “please tell your parents to cancel the marriage plan.” 

“Do you think I don’t ask them?” he said and continued with “why didn't you say anything to your mom too?” I explained to him I just got to know about this today and I told him I’ll talk to mom again. 

Meantime the waiter delivered coffee. It was great timing, I needed coffee too. My brain was about to be blown up with the marriage thingy plus his rudeness. I drank half of the coffee straight away. 

“You’ll die earlier if you drink coffee like that,” he said. “None of your business,” I told him back and finished one cup of coffee. “Why are you so rude and sarcastic?” he said. “Same question to you too?” I said. 

He looked frustrated because of me. He kept looking at his phone and asked “what is your next plan?” 

“Talk to mom,” I answered. “That's it? No other plans? What if you cannot convince your mom?” he asked me again. “That’s I don’t know yet. I don’t have any plan yet,” I said. “Stop wondering around and think about the action plan,” he said, his tone was more like giving orders to me. 

“I’ll figure it out by myself and you don’t talk to me like that again,” I said, finishing up another cup of coffee. I took my purse, stood up from my seat and told him “I hope you have a lot of action plans and I can’t wait to hear the marriage proposal break out news soon.” Then I paid the bill and walked out first.