Chapter 52: chapter 52

Aman – What! I can’t do that! I have already given them time! And I don’t think we should postpone it. We are already getting no normal matches. It’s a kind of first normal match I found on the internet!Mom – No! Say to them to meet us next month!Aman – Mom, they are coming next Sunday. And it’s final! She said furiously, “You are not the head of the house. It’s me!”I had no way left except playing the emotional card. I said to my mom in a serious tone, “Mom, if you don’t agree with me then I will not eat food. I am on my hunger strike!”Mom – Don't eat! Let me see how long can you stay hungry! Huh!At about 9:30 p.m.Mom – Aman, take your supper!Aman – I won’t. Mom – What! Take your supper!Aman – I am on my hunger strike! Have you forgotten? She said putting emphasis on her every word, “I said take your food.” Aman – I won’t eat even a piece of chapatti unless you become ready to meet that new family. Mom – Don't eat! I am not going to meet them this Sunday. Aman – Then I will also not eat anything. She asked angrily, “Are you going to eat or not?”Aman – Not!She shouted loudly, “Okay, I am going to meet them this Sunday! Now, have it!”I smiled and asked, “Are you sure?”Mom – Yes, I am going to meet them. Have your supper now!I became happy and hugged my mother. But she started talking to herself ignoring my presence, “Nowadays, the kids have become very stubborn! They are not even ready to listen to their own parents! Now, they do everything they want! They don’t even care what their parents want!”I said to myself, “Mom, now, I have become accustomed to your emotional blackmailing techniques! These are not going to work now. Hehe! Anyway mom, I love you because you always agree to whatever I want!”On Friday, at about 8 p.m., when I was watching an old Bollywood movie on tv, I received the call from Rekha. I picked up her call, “Hi Rekha, how are you?”Rekha – I am good. You say, what about you? Aman – Me also good. I gave a small pause so that she might say whatever she wanted to say. She said, “Aman, I want to discuss one thing with you.”Aman – I guess we had already discussed everything. Rekha – No, what I am going to discuss now, is completely different. Aman – Okay, tell me. Rekha – The thing is I am coming with my whole family from Uttar Pradesh to Punjab. Aman – Hmm...Rekha – And we are first time coming to Punjab. We don’t know anything about it. Aman – Hmm...Rekha – We don’t even know where to stay. Aman – Oh...Rekha – Can we stay at your home? Because we also have to refreshen ourselves a bit. I ran short of words! I didn’t know what to say to them now. I could neither be disrespectful nor could I say to them yes, for I don’t know them. They could be anything. One the stray thought was they could also be thieves! And it was the first time I was going to meet absolutely unknown people! My voice started faltering, “Hmm... I can understand....but …. hmm.... I have to ask my mom.”She sensed what I was trying to say and she said in a straight tone, “Okay, I got your answer. Can you please help us by telling any name of a resort nearby your house so that we may stay there for a night, refreshens ourselves up and then come to your home.”My voice became a bit confident this time as I knew the name of such a resort, “Yes, I know about one resort nearby my house. It’s also very cheap and my home is just about three minutes walking distance away from the hostel.”She asked quickly, “What’s the name of the restaurant?”Aman – Rahat.I told her the complete address of that resort so that she and her family might not feel any difficulty in finding out the restaurant. Then I disconnected the call and took a deep breath. I said to myself, “Thank God! I tackled the situation successfully. I am just imagining how would my mom and I feel, if they stay in our house? It will be just horrible! Uff!”On Sunday at about 10 a.m.My mom had cleaned all the house despite my sayings that we should worry much about these things. She was looking much more curious to meet them than me. I didn’t know what the reason was. She was more excited than me. Perhaps, the full responsibility was on my shoulder because it was me who called them. And if something happens bad, it was only me who was going to be blamed. Obviously, I was well aware of my mom’s scolding and nagging. I was waiting for Rekha’s call because it was the day when she along with family was supposed to come to my house and then my phone buzzed. It was Rekha’s call. I picked up the phone. Aman – Hello, Rekha how are you? I didn’t wait for her answer. I put forth her my next question, “Where have you reached?”Rekha – We are in your said restaurant. Aman – Oh, okay. So, when are you going to come? Rekha – We are ready to meet you. But we don’t know the way to your house. Can you come and guide us?Aman – Yeah, sure. I will be there within five minutes.She smiled and said, “Okay, I am waiting for you.”I took my bike, kicked it and ignited its engine. Soon I reached the Rahat restaurant. I looked here and there but I was not able to find her. “Where is she?” I called her and when she picked up my call, I came to know that a dark complexion girl, with over makeup, holding an umbrella in a very old Bollywood style was her! “Oh shit! She is very different from the pictures she sent to me! That’s why she has not uploaded any video in her profile!”(It will be so nice of you, if you leave at least a single word comment 🌺❇️🌹🌺❇️)