Chapter 01

MILIND

Milind rang the doorbell and waited for his girlfriend, Esha, to open the door. He needed to reiterate his eternal love for her.

The smell of fresh roses and jasmine, growing near the porch, wafted in the air. After traveling for two hours from Mysore to Bangalore, Milind wished to return successfully. His pulse quickened as the latch sounded. The door opened. Esha, in her dark blue skirt and white top, opened the door and glared at him. Her startled look turned to stone as her heart-shaped face slowly turned crimson and her eyes darkened.

“I don’t want to hear. You can marry whoever you want.” Esha frowned, a deep furrow growing across her brow. “You told me everything over the phone. Why did you come to meet me?”

Milind drew in a sharp breath and looked into her eyes. “I have something……”

Before he finished talking, she turned her back and walked inside, her black ponytail wagging.

Milind followed her with his fists clenched. He needed to remain patient to achieve his goal.

The living room was newly painted in ivory and was lit with fluorescent light. Esha sat on a black, leather couch with her arms crossed.

Milind sat beside her. Esha’s gold necklace on her elongated neck glittered in the light. He needed to ignore her cheekiness and focus on appeasing her. “Esha, I know you’re disappointed. But you need to listen.”

“I don’t want to.” She shrugged.

Milind’s heart sank. “Esha, I still love you. I have planned something for our future happiness. I need your support.”

“Planned something?” Her eyes narrowed. “What is that?”

“Let me marry Rohita tomorrow. I’ll come back to India next year and we will get married together.”

Esha’s nostrils flared. “Milind, don’t be stupid.” She lowered her gaze then looked back at him. “Before leaving America, you promised me we would get married this month. And my mother is eager to meet your parents.” She put her curls behind her ears. “Why don’t you tell your father you love me and we intend to get married?”

Milind had not expected his dad to oppose his plan to marry Esha. “Dad is stubborn. If I go against his wishes, I’ll be disinherited.”

“What are you talking about, Milind?” Esha frowned. “Are you ready to lose me for the sake of wealth?”

“No. Don’t misunderstand me. I love you and I need you in my life.” Milind cleared his throat. “Rohita’s parents want her to settle in America. I’ll help her achieve her goal before I return.”

“How can you leave her alone?” Esha narrowed her eyes. “Are you trying to cheat on her?”

Milind’s stomach clenched. He should reiterate his stance without losing face. “But I love you, Esha. How can I live my life without you?”

Tears touched Esha’s lashes. “You can still marry me. Right?”

“My dad and Rohita’s father own a pharmaceutical company.” Milind swallowed. “They fixed my marriage with Rohita. Dad never listens to what I want. It’s his business that he cared about.”

“I hate you.”

Milind’s heart pounded. But he didn’t want to give up. “Esha, can’t you see I’m doing this for us?”

“But you are earning money.”

Milind needed to tell Esha the total worth of his ancestral assets. “The property I’m talking about isn’t peanuts.” He cleared his throat. “It’s valued up to fifty crores. And Dad has recently purchased eight hundred acres of fertile land near Mysore. I would never make so much money by working in America.”

Esha stared at the floor and appeared to contemplate. Being from a middle-class family, she was interested in money.

“We can start a software company of our own instead of working for someone else. The opportunities are plenty if we have enough money to invest.”

Esha’s eyes widened. “But you told my mother we are getting married this month. How will you convince her?”

Milind straightened. “Don’t worry. I’ll talk to your mom.”

Esha’s phone rang. She grabbed it from the table and answered. “Hi, Mom.” She paused, and said, “Okay. I’ll wait for you.” She placed the phone back on the table. “Mom will be back soon.”

Milind scooted closer to Esha. Leaning towards her, he kissed her on her cheek. “Esha, everything will be all right. I just need you to wait a little longer. I love you.”

Her breath increased. “My mother is coming home soon. You can meet her before you go.”

He laced his fingers through hers. “I’ll be glad to talk to her.” Her mother wouldn’t object if Esha supported him.

She rose. “I’ll get coffee for you.” Her lips quivered as she left the room.

Milind leaned back and stretched out his legs. Though he was tired, he was contented about convincing Esha. He would go home relieved.

Milind had tried to convince Esha over the phone in the morning, but Esha had cut the call short. He didn’t anticipate this would happen when he left New Jersey the week before. His dad never cared to listen to him in spite of his repeated appeals. Milind loved Esha, but he also needed his family’s fortune. He didn’t want to risk his future because the jobs in America were not secure.

Esha approached, holding a green metallic tray. “My M-Tech second-semester results will be announced in two days.” She handed a cup to Milind. “The course will end in one year.”

“You’ll no doubt secure a distinction grade.” Milind sipped his coffee. “I’ll be back by that time.”

The doorbell rang.

Esha placed her cup on the table and opened the door. “Hi, Mom.”

Esha’s mother, Arti, entered holding shopping bags. Her black braid was adorned with a small jasmine garland. She looked young in her purple sari.

“Hi, Aunty.” Milind held his cup high. “How are you?”

“I am doing well.” Arti placed her black flats in the closet. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes, with your blessings.”

“Esha told me you came last week.” Arti looked at Esha then at Milind. “How was the journey?”

“Tiresome, as usual.”

Arti placed the bags on the floor and sat on the recliner. “When are we meeting your parents?”

“No, Aunty. Not this time. I need to return to America as my manager wants me there within a week. We’ll meet them when I come back next year.” He looked at Esha then at her mother. “I’ve told everything to Esha about my schedule.”

Arti narrowed her eyes. “But can’t you explain to your manager? The wedding can be arranged in a week’s time.” She sounded peeved.

Milind didn’t want to hurt her anymore. “But my manager needs me there in two days. I may lose my job if I don’t go.”

Arti looked at Esha, smiling. “Are you ready to wait for one more year?” She looked back at Milind. “I am sure she is disappointed.”

Milind smiled at Esha. “Are you okay with my plan?”

Esha nodded. “Mom, I can’t go to America this year as I want to finish my degree.”

Milind sighed in relief. No doubt his plans sounded interesting to Esha.

“I have no objections if you both are okay with your decision,” Arti said.

They chatted for a few more minutes until the clock chimed. “Okay.” Milind rose. “I’ll call you tonight.” He looked at Arti. “Thank you, Aunty. I need your blessings and support.”

“God bless you.” Arti smiled. “Come back next year. Esha is eager to see America with you.”

“I am eager as well.” Milind turned to Esha, smiling. “Bye, bye.” He stepped out.

Holding the wrought-iron gate, he looked back at Esha and waved.

The evening breeze ruffled his hair as he sat in his car. A sense of contentment coursed through his soul. Though Esha was cordial, Milind should continue to reiterate his eternal love to her. If he were in her shoes, he would have gotten irritated.

What if I convince my parents one more time to avoid the impending doom? If they won’t change their minds, I will convince Rohita and seek her help. He needed to do it before he married her the next day.

After driving for two hours, he arrived outside his home. The sky glittered with the yellow-orange hue and a flock of pigeons flew above the adjacent apartment building. He parked his car in the garage and walked inside his home.

His father, Rishi, in his blue suit, was speaking on his phone, pacing. He sounded peeved while he spoke.

Milind sat on the couch and waited for his father to finish talking.

Rishi ended his call and approached Milind, his high-arched brows raised. “Where have you been all afternoon?” He sat beside him with his large, eyes narrowed. “Your phone was turned off.”

“I met my friend in Bangalore.”

“Was it necessary?”

“Um...yeah.”

“We have little time left, Milind.” Rishi forced a smile. “It’s your wedding and you’re not serious at all.”

It was imperative Milind speak to his father without annoying him. “Dad, are you still sticking to your decision? Why can’t we wait for one more year?”

“Don’t talk that nonsense. How is it possible now?” He held Milind’s hand, his eyes narrowed. “How can you stay alone in America for so long? We worry about you a lot.”

His dad was a hard nut to crack. “Dad, try not to be so stubborn. You need to understand my concerns. I told you----” Before Milind could finish, his glance shifted to his mother, Purvi, entering the living room. Her blue silk sari with golden borders shone in the fluorescent light.

She wiped her hands with a blue napkin. “Where were you, Milind?”

“Hi, Mom. I went to my friend’s place.”

She sat on a chair beside Rishi. “Why didn’t you inform us?” Her eyes darted between Milind and his father. She was trying to understand what was going on. “Is everything okay?” She knotted her brows.

“Well,” Milind’s father said. “He wants the wedding to be postponed. That’s impossible now.”

“Why are you raising that matter again?” His mother said. “Better you get married before it’s too late.”

Milind didn’t want to naysay his mother and invite trouble. More so, he couldn’t convince them as they had decided about his wedding. He had to go with his next plan without kicking up a row. If he became successful, he would gain both Esha and the family fortune.

“Mom, I was asking Dad…” Milind pretended to be innocent.

“Let’s not repeat the same thing,” his mother said. “You listen to us and stay happy in your life.”

Milind looked down, contemplating. Should he tell his mother once again to stop the wedding? Though he had asked her in the morning, she supported his father. She wouldn’t agree to his decision to postpone and it was best not to talk to his mother about the matter. Milind thought of his last option – speaking with Rohita. He hoped for something positive that would favor him.

He went to his mother and sat beside her. “I am sorry if I hurt you, Mom.”

“No, you didn’t,” his mother said, her eyes sparkling. “Freshen up. I’ll prepare something for you to eat.”

“Thank you, Mom.” Milind strode towards the stairs.

Milind pushed open the door and entered his room. His body ached from the daylong hectic schedules. The cold breeze entered through the windows comforted him as he collapsed on his bed.

The framed photograph of Marilyn Monroe hung on the wall caught his eyes. Milind preferred Esha’s short hair to Rohita’s long braid. He was attracted to Esha’s fairer and leaner physique. How could he forget those four cheerful years spent together during their engineering course?

He pulled his phone from his pocket and tapped Rohita’s name.