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“No,” he denied, shifting uneasily in his place. “I am ready to settle down only with you for lifelong.”
Maya felt like someone had just pushed her from the sky and she was speedily descending with an unimaginable speed.
“The dinner is ready,” Daadi came back. “Come,” she took Maya and then led her to the table. “Excuse me if the cuisine doesn't appeal to you. I only know what my grandson likes. So, all of this is his favorite. But I promise, the next time I will make something which you prefer.”
“That's okay, Daadi. These cuisines are not alien to me.” Maya sat down and Ranveer once again opposite to her. Daadi sat at the center of the square table, just where the head of the family was supposed to sit down.
“Bitter gourd is his favorite in curries,” Daadi explained, serving the curry for Ranveer in a bowl. “His father liked the same.”
Maya smiled and started serving herself. Daadi dipped a piece of roti in the curry and fed Ranveer. Maya kept watching the two. He didn't mind being fed. Looked like he really felt at home around Daadi, which was good. Everyone should have someone to look upon, to rely on in times of emotional needs. She was glad he had that.
“How many days do I have with you both here?” Daadi asked Ranveer.
“One more,” he replied. “We will fly back to Delhi Monday morning.”
“Oh,” she suddenly became low. “Anyways, I heard you and your mother are staying with Ranveer there,” she continued to ask Maya.
“Yes.”
“Whose idea was that?”
Maya glanced at Ranveer and Daadi nodded. “Hmm. I knew he is the one to offer such a thing. But never mind. Let me be very clear. People don't give a good name to this sort of live-in relationship.”
“Daadi, I don't want to talk about this,” Ranveer interrupted.
Maya got equally nervous. “You don't like to talk about a lot of topics, Ranveer. But that doesn't mean people will stop talking about it. Let me speak.”
Ranveer dropped his spoon and leaned back on the chair.
“If things are running smooth for you two, why don't you make it official?”
Maya gripped her fork. Official? No way. She had never thought about it and this gave her goosebumps every time she even tried to think, sensing Ranveer’s growing attraction for her.
“I am not asking you to marry right away. But what's the harm in getting engaged?” Daadi put forth her point.
Before Maya could deny that, Ranveer held her hand above the table. “We will think about it,” he replied on their behalf. Maya stiffened again and tried to withdraw her hand from his but he gripped her hard.
“Please do,” Daadi answered with a smile. “And Maya, I would like to speak to your mother. If you don't mind.”
Maya faked a smile. Talk to her mother? About what?
“Sure.”
“Good then. Now if you both don't mind eating using your one hand while the other is busy entwined with the other, I don't have a problem either.”
Maya drew her arm back uneasily and Daadi laughed at her reactions. They continued having their dinner again. Though Ranveer and Daadi kept talking and discussing some other topics in between their meal, Maya was blank and trying hard to make her point to herself. She was confused where all of this was leading her to. Why was Ranveer even entertaining giving such hopes to his Daadi of a future between them?
Chapter 35
Night – Jaipur
Maya and Ranveer had returned back to their room and ever since then Maya was confused and disoriented by the situations happening around her. Daadi wanted them to get engaged. Kunal somehow wanted to break their relationship, her mother’s treatment was showing some great signs, all thanks to Ranveer’s special recommendation to the hospital and the doctor. But she too wanted her to settle down with Ranveer whereas her father didn’t wish the same. Her step sister Adira was another pain and if she had been involved in her accident then it was going to take a different turn again. So much was happening in her life and she had no grip on any of it. She was like a river, flowing in whichever direction the breeze was taking her along. This had to stop. She had to ignore everyone’s opinion about her and Ranveer’s relationship because they were only seeing what she was showing them. People had no idea she and Ranveer were just pretending to be in love. The day they would get to know this, another ugly change of events was going to happen and she didn’t know how she would handle all that. It was all too much to process.
Amid her contemplation, her phone buzzed—a call from Kunal. Why was he reaching out now? She answered hesitantly, intending to confront him.
“Kunal,” she said.
“Hey, are you okay?” he inquired.
