tales of Suchita

Chiranjeev didn’t want to be here. Here being on a date with someone other than Chanderi. Here being the god-level emotional blackmail his mother unleashed on him when he told her no, he would not meet Tamanna in 1BHK because she was waiting for him. Here being telling the lovely woman sitting in front of him that he was not interested but they could still have a meal together if she so wished.

Here being him alone because Tamanna had left to meet up with her boyfriend. It was ridiculous – the things they had to do to placate their parents.

He had wanted to leave too but in the mood he was in, he knew here or at home, neither would be good. So he stayed, nursing a mojito and a plate of french fries. His appetite had fled and he was not feeling charitable towards his mother for putting him in such a position.

He had thought he couldn’t feel worse but then, he saw the object of all his dreams walk into 1BHK with another man. He almost choked on his french fries, which meant he caught her attention and though he wanted to hide, he was seething and close to tears.

Why did life have to be so unfair?

To his horror, she walked up to his table, leaving the asshole who had accompanied her with the hostess. She didn’t see it but they were giving her very odd looks. He stayed put, staring at her, not hiding what he was feeling. If it made him pathetic, so be it. If it went against everything Seema didi had advised, so. be. it.

Chanderi didn’t want to be with Rajneesh either. It was her mother who had sprung the plan on her. After the fight they had over her feelings for Chiranjeev, Mrs. Chudasma hadn’t spoken to her for three days. On the fourth day, she had come up with the brilliant plan of setting her daughter up with a stranger.

“It’ll help you sort through your feelings, beta. It’s a good plan. Trust me. I am your mother. Would I ever lie to you?”

So Chanderi, who never really listened to her mother, listened to her for once in her life. She met up with Raj at a common place and they walked to the restaurant. He was polite, he smelt heavenly. But he wasn’t Chiranjeev. He did not have the same laugh, he did not speak of his students like they were his kids, and most importantly, he did not make her giddy.

Chanderi was no quitter though. She wished she was when she walked into 1BHK and saw Chiranjeev sitting alone at a table of two. He was wearing his maroon shirt which one of his cousins had named his date shirt colour. She knew he had four of them. She didn’t know why she knew that.

It was not a conscious decision to go to his table. She saw him and it seemed unfathomable that she would not go and speak to him.

“Hi! What are you doing here?”

He snorted angrily. He wanted to storm out of there but that would mean she would continue whatever she was doing with that asshole. So, he stayed put. He knew he was pouting with the way his arms were crossed across his chest and how he was looking away from her. He knew he looked no better than an eight-year-old. But he was upset and he was allowed to be petty.

“Chiranjeev, are you honestly going to just ignore me?” When he refused to acknowledge her, she said accusingly, “I know you’re on a date too! You’re wearing your date shirt.”

His neck snapped to his chest and then to her. His lips parted and then he grinned. The asshole had caught up with them by then. He ignored Chanderi, hard as it was, stood up and extended his hand. He said politely, “Chiranjeev. And you are?”

“Raj. Nice to meet you. Are you waiting for someone?”

He looked at Chanderi pointedly when he said, “No I’m not.”

Some of the ire Chanderi was feeling melted at that confession. She sniffed and with her nose in the air she marched Raj a little way away from Chiranjeev’s table. Within five minutes, she was back, sans Raj.

He sat straighter as Chanderi sat opposite him. His heart was thudding in his chest and his back was sweaty. He could not hide his smile. “What did you tell him?”

She shrugged. “So, what are we eating?”

“You can’t just not tell me about Raj,” he said, motioning for the server to get them the menus.

“Would you like to talk about your date shirt?”

“No.”

Chanderi took the menu the server was holding and without looking at him said, “Exactly. Now, if you haven’t tried their lasagna, it is to die for.”

Chiranjeev smirked but accepted the change of topic. As it turned out, he was hungry.

And if neither of them ever realised that it was their dear, meddling, mothers who had orchestrated the whole evening, well…all was fair in love.

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Chapter 21 of 26 of the ongoing series Chanderi. You can read all posts here. Written as part of #BlogchatterA2Z.