Chapter 31 The Confirmation

Anika's PoV

Would he think I am desperate, if I message him? He will!

'Hello Arjun, if I am not disturbing you, may I ask if there is anything positive regarding my job?'

I composed this message but was hesitant to send it. He would think that I am starting a talk deliberately. Or what if he thinks that I don't even know that he is a possible to-be groom for me? Then he won't think bad of me for texting him. Besides, it's been two weeks since I sent my resume to him. He is a busy man and it is my responsibility to follow-up on him. I need that job after-all. I hit the send button. Soon after he read the message, he started typing a reply to me. I waited impatiently for him to finish typing and send a response to me.

'Hi Anika, Sorry, I missed sending you the venue of the interview. I thought it would be helpful for you if you work in Coimbatore itself. That way, you can take care of your family and it will benefit you in savings also. My friend owns a software company named 'Nishta Solutions' in Saravanampatti. It is located on the second floor of the tidel park. You can visit him tomorrow at 10AM for the interview. Tell them your name and that will do. All the best.'

Wow, he can talk this long? Ok, he did what he promised. He is so considerate and thoughtful to have fixed an interview in Coimbatore itself. It is just like he heard my mind voice. He is just climbing to the hilltop in my heart with his goodness. I feel like his goodness is filling in me and it makes me feel elated. Why is mom so adamant in rejecting him?

'Thank you so much, Arjun. I will never forget this timely help. I am sure I will ace the interview. I will talk to you after I am done with the interview tomorrow. Thanks again.' I sent it to him and ran out to tell this to mom.

"Ma, happy news. Arjun sir just texted me with the details of an interview tomorrow. The best part is it is here in Saravanampatti. I just have to make my resume and things ready." I told her.

"Oh, thank god. I know you will do good. All the best, Anu. Prepare yourself for the interview." she said with a happy smile.

"I am already prepared, ma. He is a very nice man, ma." I told her.

"Yes, he is. I wish him all goodness in his life." she said looking up above.

"Am I not good enough for him, ma?" I asked her and I want to cut my tongue for saying that out loud. That was so dumb.

"Anu?" my mom looked at me with wide eyes.

"Nothing, Ma." I tried to leave but she stopped me.

"Anu, he is a divorcee. His wife went missing. He is 29years old. And above all, you hate him."

"A divorcee with no fault on him. I remember you asked me, How can you hold him responsible for something that is not his fault? Do you think Anamika akka disappeared because of him? I know you don't think that. He is 29, what's wrong? I am going to be 22 next month. The age gap between you and dad is 10years. You are both happy. Above all, he is a good man and I don't hate him." I told her. I don't know why I am doing this. Maybe it is time that I give in to that damn feeling inside me instead of denying it.

"Why are you doing this, Anu? Have you heard Sivaprakasam periyappa talk?" she asked me.

"I did, but..."

"No Anu. I can see what you are trying to do. You don't have to sacrifice your life for our well-being. We can't trade your life for our selfish gains." she said. God! How can I tell her that I am not sacrificing anything by marrying him but I am marrying him out of my likeness towards him?

"Not that, ma. You know that except that it is his second marriage, there is nothing you can point out to reject him. And I don't see that as a problem at all." I told her. How will I tell my mom that I like him and I am happy to marry him when my mom thinks that I am struggling with a break-up? I just broke up with my boyfriend and I am ready to marry another man just like that? It sounds so ugly.

"You have insulted him every time you saw him and yet you want to marry him? You like him?" my mom asked me, for which I stayed quiet. I could not say that out loud. Something was stopping me from doing it.

"Anu, think it through. Don't make decisions hastily. If you like him, we don't have anything to stop this except that it is his second marriage. Again, if you are OK with that, we are OK too. They are a very good family and he is a very good man. I am telling you again, only if you like him. Don't you dare think of all the benefits periyappa told. We can live without it." my mom told me and left me alone.

THINK IT THROUGH?! I know I like him, I have a fatal attraction towards him, his face is the only thing that is been disturbing my sane mind ever since I saw him, I like to hear his voice over phone, I want to repair my reputation with him, I want to start fresh with him, I hate myself for insulting him, I am sad that I am an arrogant egoist in his eyes and above all Nithu thinks that, I AM IN LOVE WITH HIM!

"Ma, I am OK to marry him. But I will go to work and will help you out, for which I would need some time." I told her, getting into the kitchen.

"We don't need your help, Anu. We will be happy to see you lead a happy life. Are you sure about your decision? Or is it because you want to forget Arun and move on?" I wanted to hit my forehead hard but I refrained from doing it.

"What? No. Arun has nothing to do with this or anything in my life." How can I make her understand that Arun is a no-one when I myself couldn't understand how he became a no-one overnight?

"So you whole-heartedly are giving your consent for this proposal? You won't change your mind after we tell our consent to them?" She asked me.

"Yes and No!"

"Ok, I will talk to Anna and will tell our consent. Trust me dear, I am so happy that you said yes to marry him. I could see his genuine character when he helped us at our most critical time and extended his help in finding you a good job. I really kept him in my prayers when he came to visit us to check on us. That is out of the line for even the greatest of men. He is a man with boundless goodness in him. You will be happy and prosperous throughout your life." my mom told me, kissing my head and went in to talk to my dad. I can see that she is happy that I said yes.

I said OK to marry Arjun. What will he say? I have insulted him more than once and with the message he sent, it looks like he doesn't even know that there is a wedding talk between us. What if he disapproves of me? Can I handle his rejection?

I ran in to call Nithu. She is the only refuge I have. I prayed to all the gods that Prakash's phone must be broken. Only if that happens, Nithu will be free.

"Hello, Sollu de(tell me!)"

"Nithu, I uh... I told mom that I am ok to marry Arjun." I closed my eyes tight and said that to her.

"You did what?" she asked me, more like shouted at me.

"I gave my consent to marry Arjun."

"I asked you to go with the flow and now you managed to make the flow favorable to you?" she asked me sarcasm evident in her voice.

"Nithu, please. I don't know why I said what I said. But mom said she will let them know that we are ok to proceed." I told her.

"Ha, don't lie to me, Anu. You know very well why you did what you did. You like him, all your heart wants to be with him. You Love Him. You still want to deny it?" she asked me.

"Nithu, I am scared. I agree that he is sitting fat in my heart. I couldn't push him out. I agree that I lost my heart to him at first sight. But all I did was to disrespect him. What if he refuses to marry me?" I asked her.

"Hmph, there is a strong possibility for that to happen. The way you behaved with him, he might think that he cannot put up with an arrogant girl for his whole life." she said.

"Nithu, you are not helping. I am already scared. Don't make it worse."

"What? I just stated the facts. Wait for his response. Make him realize that you are truly sorry and if you get a chance, tell him that you love him." she said. Easier said than done!

"You are an idiot. How can I tell him that I love him when all I did was to insult him at every chance I got? He will laugh at me!" I yelled at her. She is very insensitive. But that thought of me expressing my love to him did give me chills down my spine. It was a feeling of thrill.

"Then go with the flow. Now that I see you are brilliant enough to change the tracks of the flow in your desired direction, you should be good. But all I tell you is, open up to him when you get a chance. Truths are the most important building blocks of life." she said.

"Ok ok! Bye!" I hung up on her. Should I tell him the truth? Would he believe me if I said that I fell hard for him at the first sight?