The journey to marriage

When Rumi boarded the bus, she was already too late to get a seat. She stood bewildered among a crowd of all males. Her short height added to her embarrassment as she could not get something to cling to lest she should fall. Finally, she found that the vertical rods could alone give her refuge and moved her left hand around it to make a grip through the inner part of elbow while her palm held the folder just below the chin. Her right hand wasn't free either- the arms secured a hanging purse while the palm held a pack of 3 kg of sweets of the best shop of the city. She was not just tired but even nervous. Slowly even the strainous posture began to feel cozy but then, "tujhe sab hai pta hai na maa". This was her ringtone for her mom's call. "What a timing Mom?" she murmured and somehow using her pre occupied hands picked up the call, "Hmmm Mumma.....yes yes I'm on my way.....ummm....approx 2 hours from now i will be home......(frustrated) what do i do mom? I am on a bus not a plane.........(irritated) Mom! Marriage can wait but if I lose my job I won't get another so soon. I could not ask my boss to leave me early just because the monkey's (boy's/groom's) family is coming to decide upon me." she realised that it was loud enough to be heard by all the passengers of the bus and getting calmer she said," Don't worry Mom I'll reach before the monkey does and yes Mom I have bought the sweets you asked me to......I'll be in time my sweet mummy....ok bye." she ended the call in a smiling mode. As she was again to get into the stable posture the conductor called from behind," Madam..."
"Can I buy the ticket a little late...after I get a seat?" Rumi requested.
"Definitely. But I have come here just to tell you that Sir is calling you." he pointed towards a guy four seats behind Rumi's standing place. Rumi was at once worried," What if he is one of my office colleague or relative or college friend or any person knowing me? What would he think of me talking so rudely to my Mom?" she thought while turning back to have a look. "No, I don't know him. Sorry" said she to the conductor,"tell him I don't....."
"Oh Madam! I called you just to offer my seat" Ramesh shouted understading her expression.
"Oh no thanks...I am ok" Rumi reciprocated with a smile.
"My stoppage is about to come and the seat won't remain vacant if you make a delay." he replied.
So without any delay Rumi took the seat. Ramesh stood beside cautiously maintaining some distance so that Rumi be satisfied that he wanted no return in lieu of the seat. It didn't look like that he was the same guy who dared to shout from his place just to offer seat as he did not even look at her. Ramesh was well dressed and handsome as well but Rumi dare not think further as her family was strictly against love marriage. Rumi engaged herself in her phone but all the time her eyes stealthily looked as Ramesh.
"Where on Earth is his stoppage?"she thought, immediately then the bus stopped. Rumi was content that she would no longer look at him but somewhere from a part of her heart she felt incomplete without giving him Thanks for the seat. "Should I or should not I?". She was busy thinking not noticing that the person seating next to her had gone and Ramesh was asking her something.
"Excuse me....Madam....Hello..."
"Oh yes...Yes"she came out of her thought
"Would you mind me sitting there?"Ramesh pointed the recently vacated window seat.
"Would you be ok this seat because I would like to have the window seat." Rumi was unusually polite.
"Okay...No problem" Ramesh asserted.
And the journey began.
Rumi was uninterested in talking to strangers but this guy, don't know why compelled her.
"So, you are off for interview."she asked enthusiastically.
"Sort off." he replied casually.
Such rude reply held Rumi back and she decided not to approach further. But after a stoic silence of 15 seconds came the awaited explanation.
"Actually I am off to one of the friends of my dad for something that I don't like at all. The same thing about which you were talking to your mom on phone." he said.
Things were making sense but were not coming out clearly, may be because Ramesh didn't want to share them with a strange girl. Thus, Rumi moved forward," but that has become a custom. Even I don't like these things. How can a person decide on something so important in just few minutes talk. Now see I look here as the real me but they can't see this. They will see a thick cover of cosmetic over it and even my behaviour won't be the same.
Ramesh felt a little more comfortable and said," that is why you call him monkey...Hmm?" Both smiled.
"Actually I haven't seen him even." said Rumi sadly
"Neither have I. Actually they had sent a photograph but I said let the girl see and decide on me first. Why should always boys get the first choice?"
"Wow that's so sweet." she thought at heart thinking, " wish mine one would also have such lovely thoughts"
The bus ran at 70km/h but time for them ran even faster. They exchanged their likes and dislikes, some jokes and experiences and many more. Suddenly Ramesh looked at his watch and called the conductor, "Bhai please stop the bus where I can buy something to eat. I have to take medicine."
"You will get no market for the next one hour Sir" the conductor went away saying.
"Now what?" Ramesh thought. Rumi thought for a while and then extended one of the packs of sweet before him.
"Oh no thanks" said Ramesh but when he saw at the sweet, spoke like a child," Is it kaju katli?"
Rumi smilingly nodded in a yes and said, " you like it?"
"It's my favourite" Ramesh took one.
"You can take more." Rumi urged.
He smiled, picked up another not looking at the sweet but at so sweet Rumi.
But something was wrong....Very wrong. They both forgot that they had to marry someone else. Time passed quickly and there stoppage came. Ramesh also had to get down in the same market area as Rumi. Probably this was the point where they felt that they had to depart and they bid each other good bye. Ramesh was less tense because he had made a decision in his mind. He was going to deny from marriage even without seeing the girl, he would convince uncle that he wants to marry someone else....Else?.....But who?..... What's her name?.....Oh my god. He wandered around on the chauraha, when suddenly he found Rumi sitting in an autorickshaw. He ran and reached before the auto moved. Rumi was surprised to see him back. "What's your name?" Asked the panting Ramesh. Rumi burst into laughter and said,"Pratyusha" (that was her official name).
"Okay. And could you please tell me how can I get to this address." he asked showing a piece of paper.
Rumi was shocked...extremely shocked...And happy indeed. It was her address. Ramesh was the monkey. But she controlled her emotions and asked," Are you going to see Rumi?"
"Hmm...That is her name probably but how do you know her."
"We live very close, two streets away."Rumi said, "Don't worry I will get you to your destination."
Ramesh was happy that he would get her company for few more minutes for now.
The auto stopped and Rumi said, " You get into this street, take a left , then right right and left left and you are there."
"And where are you going?" asked the confused Ramesh.
"You know I m already getting late for the monkey and his family...hihihi...My house is straight in the next street. So, I will have to rush." Rumi was very excited to reach home before him and so showed him the longer route.
"Ok...Ok...Bye" said Ramesh but before she turned away he hurriedly asked," are you going to say a Yes to your monkey?"
Rumi thought for a while and said, "Definitely....If he is as graceful as you. Bye"
This left Ramesh puzzled. Well, he walked and walked and walked and finally reached still dwindling between thoughts of what to do? "What if I say a No and she says a Yes to the guy?....Disaster...Oh my God ....Help me" he was thinking when,
"What happened Son? You look tense." asked Rumi's dad.
"Oh nothing serious Uncle. Actually...."
" Actually you are desperate to have a talk. I understand" said Rumi's dad.
"You don't" murmured Ramesh.
"Arey bhai Rumi!! Come here." Rumi was summoned. 
"No it's ok Uncle..." urged Ramesh
"Yes daddy" the voice was recognizable and even the girl was.
"Rumi take him to the garden and have a talk and convey me your decision both of you." Ordered his father but to his surprise his otherwise revolting daughter said, "What do I decide dad, if you have chosen him for me, it's a Yes from me."
Ramesh who was open mouthed all throughout suddenly realized that all his tensions had faded away and smilingly said, "Uncle I was trying to say this before itself that it's a Yes from me without even seeing Rumi."
" Really?" Rumi whispered stealthily.
And thus the journey of the bus led to their marriage.

For previous story click here 👇
The unusual siblings.