Chapter 4
Reyansh
The loud, shrill sound of the alarm fills the room, jolting me awake, and I groan in frustration . Rolling over, I hit the snooze button and squint at the clock on the nightstand before sitting up straight with a jerk.
“ Shit, it’s eleven already! I need to be at my parents’ house in an hour ,” I mutter under my breath, pressing my fingers against my throbbing forehead . Goddamn, I am still exhausted from last night. Fuck I haven’t drunk so much in ages, and now my damn body is paying the price. My head throbs like a drum, my mouth feels like it’s filled with sand, and every muscle in my body aches as it’s been through a hurricane.
I run my hands down my face as memories of last night flicker through my mind. Alcohol. Loads of alcohol. Women. Dancing. Kisses... and…… Pulling in a deep breath I glance to my right and find the bed is empty. I sit still, listening for any sounds from the bathroom, but I hear nothing. I then glance down and see that I am still dressed in my clothes from last night, not naked. Phew! I finally let out a sigh of relief. “Thank heavens.” The last thing I wanted was to wake up with some random hookup.
I swing my legs over the bed and head into the bathroom. After doing my morning chores, I strip out of my clothes and stand under the hot shower. The water cascades over me, soothing my tired muscles and washing away the remnants of the previous night. After a few minutes, I grab the white towel and dry myself off, feeling a bit more human. Once dressed in my jeans and t-shirt, I grab my mobile and walk out of my room, only to find Aditya sitting by the kitchen barstool with his black coffee.
“How’s the hangover?” I smirk, making my way inside the kitchen towards the coffee machine.
He lifts his finger to his forehead. “God, I am never drinking so much again... My head feels like it’s about to explode, and I am pretty sure I am dying .”
Smiling, I reach up to the cabinet above the coffee machine and grab a cup. Placing it under the spout of the machine, I press the start button and turn to Aditya with a smirk . “Ah, the classic ‘never again’ declaration.” I tease, bringing the steaming cup to my lips as I lean against the counter. I grin at him before saying, “I’ll believe it when I see it … maybe next weekend, when you’re not nursing a hangover .”
Aditya gives me a cheeky grin. “You do know I am not so great at sticking to those promises.”
I let out a chuckle. “I won’t argue with you on that. You are pretty crappy at keeping them, especially the ones where you have to keep it in your pants.”
He raises an eyebrow in mock offence . “Hey, I am not a man whore.”
“That’s still a topic of debate, given your reputation and track record,” I retort with a grin.
“That’s rich coming from you ,” Aditya says with a smirk, “ especially when your hands were literally all over that woman in the tight black dress, and your tongue was down her throat last night.” I wince at the reminder and glance around.
“Lucky, I woke up alone in bed,” I huff.
Aditya shrugs nonchalantly. “At least we had the sense not to bring any random woman home. Imagine the chaos of waking up next to them and then trying to ask them to leave.”
With my coffee in hand, I make my way over and sit on one of the stools next to him. “ True, it would have been a nightmare, especially since I need to be at my parents’ house in an hour .”
He flinches. “Tell me about it. I have my parents’ anniversary party to attend tonight, and I am still battling this hangover. Hopefully, I’ll look presentable enough by evening so they won’t suspect a thing. Speaking of which,” he says, glancing at me, “don’t forget that you have to attend the party too.”
“I will be there,” I say as my lips curve into a smile and I point at him. “Just for the records, right now you do look like shit and need a hell of a lot of time for you to get yourself back together.”
He gazes down at his crinkled clothes from last night, grimacing as he smells under his armpits. With a shudder, he runs a hand through his messy hair. “God, I desperately need a shower.”
“You sure as hell do,” I agree, gulping down the coffee before glancing at my wristwatch and then back at him. “I better rush to my parents’ house. I promised them I’d be there by lunch, and I don’t want to keep them waiting.”
Aditya downs the last of his coffee and stands. “I too have to rush and grab a gift for my parents, and then spend hours trying to make myself look like an ideal responsible son.”
“Well, good luck with that! But I won’t hold my breath,” I grin.
“Fuck you, man,” Aditya calls out, laughing as he strides out the door .
I shake my head.
It’s time to head to my parents. With a grin still on my face, I gear up for some quality family time!
???
Two hours later, I finally pull up at my childhood home. A wide smile spreads across my face as I gaze at the massive white bungalow where I spent my childhood. Stepping out of the car, I climb the three stairs leading to the entryway. Just as I am about to ring the bell, the door swings open, and there stands my mom. She’s wearing her favourite dark green sari that beautifully complements her radiant skin. Her salt-and-pepper hair is neatly tied in a bun, and the wrinkles around her eyes add a touch of warmth to her appearance. I shake my head, marvelling at how she always seems to know exactly when I’ve arrived .
“You are here,” she exclaims, enveloping me into a warm hug, her petite frame barely reaching my shoulders.
“I told you I’d be,” I reply, pulling back from the hug and planting a kiss on her cheeks.
“Come on, your dad is waiting for you,” she says, her black eyes twinkling with excitement .
Wrapping my hand around her shoulder, we step inside and walk into the living room.
“There’s my son,” Dad greets me, getting up from the couch with a broad smile.
“Hey, Dad,” I say, giving him a hug.
Pulling back from the hug, Dad gives me a smack on the shoulder, his eyes glinting with playfulness . “I have booked the tennis court for tomorrow, son. Get ready to lose.”
I shoot him a competitive glare, matching his grin. “Oh, you’re in for a surprise, Dad. I’ve been training in secret.”
“Ha! We’ll see about that,” Dad chuckles, his grin widening. “Bring your A-game, kiddo.”
“Challenge accepted, Dad. You’re going down.”
“You wish, son,” Dad says, and we both burst out laughing. I love the bond we share. To any observer, it’s unmistakable that we’re more like buddies and our affection for each other knows no limits. We share not only a deep bond but also striking similarities in our appearance. We’re almost like copies of each other. From the curve of our smiles and the way we carry ourselves to our height and features, it’s clear we’re cut from the same mold—except for Dad’s gray hair, of course. He’s a big part of who I am, inside and out.
“You two can keep up your banter while I get you something to eat,” Mom chimes in, making her way toward the kitchen, but I shake my head to stop her.
“Later, Mom. I had my third coffee before coming here. Let’s sit and catch up before I start feeling hungry ,” I suggest.
Nodding, my parents take a seat on the couch while I settle across from them. Taking a deep breath, I gather a moment to look around , noticing how much it’s changed . Mom had recently redecorated the house, transforming the once plain white walls to a soothing shade of blue. Even the sofa covers had been changed to match the new colour scheme. Her prized scenic paintings still hang on the walls, complemented by her favourite oversized, expensive vases strategically placed around the house. The space feels more elegant, with Mom’s personal touch visible in every corner of the room.
“Rough night?” Mom remarks, a knowing grin on her face. “ It looks like the party and the girls kept you awake until the wee hours. ”
I jerk my head back to look at her. “Do you still smell liquor?” I give myself a quick sniff, but there’s no scent of it. Glancing up at her, I roll my eyes at the ever-present look on her face that says, ‘You can’t hide.’ “I suppose Mom’s sixth sense is in full swing today.”
Both my parents burst out laughing, and Dad says, “We’re your parents. We know you too well for you to hide anything.”
“You sure know me too well for my liking,” I mutter under my breath.
“Fuss all you want, son, but it’s a parental superpower you can’t escape,” Dad retorts with a wink.
“So, is there a special woman among the many you hang out with?” Mom asks, a mischievous glint in her eye, suggesting she’s already planning the wedding.
“Mom, not this topic again ,” I reply, rolling my eyes . “There’s no one right now. I promise I’ll tell you if I ever happen to find someone.”
“Take your time, son. There’s no rush,” Dad says reassuringly. I give him a nod, grateful that at least Dad understands me well enough not to push the matter further.
Mom shoots him a look. “Are you kidding me, Rajesh? Did you just tell him there’s no rush? He’s in his thirties, and he’s still not married. At this rate, I don’t know when I’ll see my grandchildren. God, men can be so laid-back about these things sometimes .”
Dad looks at Mom with a calm smile. “Sweetheart, what I meant is, we shouldn’t rush into these matters. It’s about his entire life. One wrong choice, and it could spell disaster. Not everyone is as fortunate as me to have a life partner like you.” I can’t help but chuckle at my dad’s cleverness. He is indeed a true businessman, one who knows how to play his cards wisely.
Shaking her head, her cheeks tinted red, Mom turns her attention back to me. “If you’re not seeing anyone, let us help you find someone. I’ve reached out to a few of my friends and collected photos of some girls. If someone catches your eye, we can plan a meeting.”
“ I am not sure if I am quite ready for marriage yet, Mom .” I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to alleviate the headache that’s starting to build.
Both of them exchange a look of concern before turning their attention back to me.
“Son, it’s completely normal to feel nervous about marriage. We get it; it’s a big step for you. But at some point, you will have to take the leap of faith. You can’t stay single forever,” Mom says gently.
“Your mom is right, son. I, too, was in your shoes once , but I took a step forward eventually. You’ve got to do the same. And remember, we’re here for you every step of the way, to support you through it all,” Dad chimes in, his tone supportive yet resolute.
“At least give it a chance before you make a decision,” Mom adds.
Dad’s lips curve into a faint smile. “You know your mom won’t give up until you agree. You know how determined she can be when she sets her mind to something. Even after all these years of marriage, I still can’t win against her .”
I sigh. I know I can’t argue with them forever. Deep down, I want to give them everything and make them happy. “Fine, I will give it a try and meet whoever you have in mind.”
Dad smiles at me, while Mom squeals with joy and rises to her feet. She then comes to sit beside me, wrapping her arms around me.
“Thank you so much, son, for giving us this. I promise you won’t regret it,” she says earnestly.
I nod and gently pull back from the hug, meeting her gaze. “But I should have the final say in who I want to marry.”
“I promise, we won’t force you. The final call is yours, as long as you don’t keep us waiting for years,” Mom says, her eyes twinkling.
“I won’t,” I promise. After witnessing the joy on my parents’ faces, I realise I don’t want to deny them this happiness, no matter what surprises marriage might bring my way.
“That’s my boy,” Dad pitches in.
“Now that this is settled, I hope you two remember we have Aditya’s parents party to attend tonight,” I remind them.
“We do,” they both say simultaneously, nodding in agreement.
“How about feeding me now, Mom? I am starving,” I say to Mom. She gives me a kiss on the forehead and rushes off to the kitchen to get the food ready while Dad and I delve into our business talks.