Coax

                                    

                                          
My parents and sister came on thursday evening and Robin dropped them to my PG. I was happy they came hugged them all Rosie aunty and Mr Thomas also came along with my parents if I was not mad at aunty I would have talked to her a lot like I used to do within a month so many things changed . Prof was looking like he wanted a chance to talk to me but I didn't want to talk to him at all these few days he had spammed my messages like anything I didn't even bother to read those messages. Rosie aunty looked hurt when I didn't hug her. They all came to my room thank God it was clean I passed them bottle to drink water as I didn't have enough glasses. I asked them if they wanted tea for which aunty and uncle said no but my dad said yes I smiled at that I knew my dad loves it when I prepare tea for him. Ri also came greeted my parents we had prepared batter to fry onion fritters Abhi and Arnav had reached our gate by the time we were measuring and preparing tea and fritters my mom and sister said they would help us but we denied and asked them to take rest they had travelled a lot. 
I was grating ginger when I felt a presence behind me I saw prof so I turned back to the task at hand. I could feel him getting irritated behind me then he said are you really not going to talk to me ever how will we work if you continue giving me this silent treatment I have to approve your thesis you do remember right I felt like dipping his whole hand into that boiling tea. When he saw I was still not talking to him he asked Ri to ask me to talk to him. For which Ri replied that sorry Robin we already had the talk and with much difficulty I made her talk with me as well now you are your own ,these brother and sister were so mad at me that I didn't tell them that you liked her. I went into my room and asked for the sugar preference in tea for everyone for my dad, mom and Thomas uncle they didn't want sugar in their tea. I went back Ri and Robin were still talking I asked Ri if the fritters were ready to transfer it into the bowl in the meanwhile I had prepared coriander chutney. We had 6 cups so we served tea to my parents and sister prof's parents and prof we 4 drank in the various coffee mugs me and Mrinal had. Thank god Abhi and Arnav came they made the situation less awkward. Thomas uncle then congratulated me then asked me about future plans if I was planning to stay back in India or was I planning to go abroad like my sister to which I answered honestly that I don't know uncle I will see to it when the time comes right now I want to take it easy he smiled at that he was bald but had a thick moustache and looked kinda cute with his golden rimmed spectacles he too had dimple now that I look closely Robin is a mixture of his mom and dad. 
Uncle and aunty praised me and Ri for the tea and fritters. Then they got ready to leave I still hadn't talked to Robin till now I saw him talking to my mom and sister. 
After they left Abhi and Arnav were still with us we thought of ordering food since we were already gathered. A² left around midnight that too because we had to go to college tomorrow. Ri went to her room saying bye she gave me the extra blankets she had . I was waiting for my parents to talk I knew they didn't come without an agenda. As me and my sister sat down on the bedding they all said sorry to me which I didn't expect from them because as I was growing up I had learnt that I am always wrong because I am the youngest. Then my father said we had a talk with Robin and we think you should give him a chance forget what we said to you we know you were not aware of his feelings or his intention to marry you we were just angry as they came unexpectedly we thought you knowingly played with us. Robin's feelings seems genuine to us we have searched about his family background and its good we ourselves wouldn't have been able to find such perfect match for you from us it's a YES think about it ,if it's yes from you as well then we were thinking about sealing the deal with this ring which you could put on his finger as we have prepared for David as well we are thinking about your sister's wedding in March we don't want to delay it further. About your marriage you don't have to rush you both can talk and decide. After his soliloquy what I could deduce was I was to say Yes they have made their decision I don't know what Robin had told them that convinced them this much. I just hummed and focused on the more important thing that my sister is getting married in March I was really happy for her David is really nice. I congratulated her and I thought why not just take permission for clubbing as well let's just give it a name of late night dinner I looked at my parents expectingly and they gave in I told them that I was giving party to few people for my birthday as well as for my result. 
Next day me and Ri went happily to college as we were fully fed and even had a lunch box packed with love for my parents and sister David was taking them out. As prof was back I was shifted back to prof Robin. I went into his cabin last minute when patients were lined up so that we could avoid talking as much as possible. By lunch Robin had enough of my antics after seeing all the patients he went straight and locked the gate and dragged me to sit on the chair which made me more angry I wanted to eat roti and bhindi ki sabji prepared by my mom he was just wasting my time. I still didn't say anything so he started come on Ruth please speak to me I haven't heard you speak in so many days atleast shout on me be angry on me but don't stay silent with me please say something anything if you want to curse me go ahead. I said in a low voice I want to eat lunch prepared by my mom he looked at me wide eyed then said okay but please something else what do you think about the proposal why aren't you talking to me or my mom. Mom is really hurt you know. I still didn't say anything I could see his neck getting red as his anger was rising. And there it was he shouted on me what is your problem Ruth I know you want to eat your damn lunch but I want to talk to you Damn it. I didn't know why but my eyes welled up I was still angry but I didn't know why I felt like crying. I said to him when you asked my parents for my hand why are you shouting on me, go ask your answer from them. Why are you and your mom sad I should be the one getting sad that you both tricked me so nicely asked me if any proposals were coming up or if I was seeing anyone you fooled me in everyway possible atleast I didn't do anything like that to you both now you want to play the victim card do hell with it I have every right to be angry and you won't shout on me I got up to go out but he pulled me back to the chair. Then he knelt down in front of me and took my hands into his hands which I tried my best to pry off but he didn't let me and said Ruth listen to me very carefully because I won't repeat this again first let me wipe those precious tears I don't want you wasting them for which I replied coz you will give me more reasons to cry he smiled while wiping my tears and said ,and she is back. Still holding my hand he started you won't remember what you were wearing the day you stepped into this college but I do I remember every detail of you , you were wearing a simple V neck maroon kurta with white palazzos you khol rimmed eyes your beautiful black bindi which would be seen only when concentrated on your face that heart pendant you wore I thought if you had someone in that heart then I saw a boy with whom you came and I lost it I didn't even know that I was drawn to you from the moment I saw your photo on the document your mole on the lip drove me crazy. I still remember your baby hair going haywire. I was so mad at you for coming with that boy that I shouted on you and I knew you wanted to cry that day but I liked it more when your cheeks were heating up. I had never asked God for anything with this intensity that I had asked for you that day. Every time I saw you smiling and laughing with others it drove me crazy that I was not the one making you laugh or smile like that. When I saw Abhishek and Arnav so close to you on that trip I wanted to push them off the mountain and hold you for myself that more than Mrinal I was sadder that I can't spend time with you alone without making you feel uncomfortable. I had told my mom the first day you stepped here that the woman I am going to marry would be you no one else. That morning when you brought me tea for my hangover at David's house it was true I didn't want to wake up from that dream where you were so close to me. You were the reason I drank that day because Mrinal was an excuse for me to be close to you to know your choices and suddenly you changed everything I loved going to church with you. As you warmed up to me I thought to introduce you to my mom. And you know what my mom had told me after meeting you that it was one of my best decisions and do whatever it takes to make you her daughter in law be angry on me but not my mom please she adores you . You are like the daughter she always wanted if not for me but for her please say yes. I didn't want you to feel pressurized if I asked you directly as your professor you may feel you are at a disadvantage so we thought to ask your parents first so that they also don't get any wrong idea. I think I am falling for you please think about it.
My jaw was hanging open when I heard his rant he seemed nervous and my face had expression like being in awe , anger, shyness I didn't know what to say to him. 
I told him to stand up he did I looked him in the eye but he wasn't ready to look into my eyes I took his face into my hands and made him look into my eyes he looked nervous then I said come to my party tomorrow evening it will really mean a lot to me if he came and then I said don't you dare shout on me after today for anything that you think is true without clearing it with me he blinked his eyes and nodded. I said okay so I am going to have lunch now we just have 10 minutes if he wants he can join me. He looked blank then he heard me unbolting the gate he turned and asked wait what is your answer. I smiled and said what's the rush Prof Robbie you will get your answer with time now lets go to cafeteria with that I stepped out with my lunchbox and him behind me.