The migraine began near the starters.
Not an actual migraine.
Mrs. Verma.
“Arjun! Long time. What are you doing these days?”
“Same job. Still in Bangalore.”
“Oh, nice. My son is in Canada now.”
Arjun nodded.
Nobody had asked where her son was, but Canada had apparently entered the conversation anyway.
“Very good,” he said, and escaped.
Unfortunately, Mr. Sinha was waiting near the lawn.
“So what do you do apart from work?”
“I travel sometimes.”
“With friends?”
“Mostly solo.”
Mr. Sinha frowned.
“Solo? What is the point? Spending so much money and going alone. Waste only.”
Arjun smiled.
‘TERE BAAP KA KHATA HOON KYA?’ he thought to himself.
“I like it.”
“You’ll understand after marriage. Last year we all went to Goa. Whole family.”
“Nice.”
“Hotel was terrible. Food was bad. Too much traffic.”
Arjun paused.
“You enjoyed?”
“Family was together.”
“Right.”
The migraine was settling in nicely.
Arjun reached the bar and ordered a whisky.
“Arjun beta!”
Mrs. Mehta.
Of course.
“Shaadi ka kya plan hai?”
“Bas ladki mil jaaye, kar lunga.”
He meant it as a joke.
Mrs. Mehta did not.
“You should marry soon. Look at my Rohan. Such a happy marriage.”
Rohan was Mrs. Mehta’s laadla beta, a man Arjun had known for years and had never once seen look as happy as his mother claimed.
“Happy?” someone said behind her.
Rohan’s wife was glaring at Mrs. Mehta.
“I didn’t say anything,” Mrs. Mehta said.
“You never do. That’s the problem.”
And just like that, the two of them walked away arguing.
Arjun took a sip.
‘Aur mujhe shaadi karni chahiye,’ he thought to himself.
A few minutes later, Rohan quietly appeared beside him at the bar.
He looked over his shoulder.
Then at the whisky.
“Pour one for me.”
Arjun nodded toward the argument still happening across the lawn.
“What happened to the peace talks?”
Rohan picked up the glass.
“I have withdrawn from negotiations.”
Arjun laughed.
They stood quietly for a moment.
Then Rohan said, “You’re not married, right?”
Arjun slowly turned toward him.
Rohan raised both hands.
“No advice. I swear.”
“Thank you.”
They clinked glasses.
Across the lawn, Mrs. Mehta spotted them.
“Rohan! Bring Arjun also. I know one very nice girl!”
Rohan looked at Arjun.
Arjun looked at Rohan.
“Back entrance?” Rohan asked.
Arjun finished his drink.
“Lead the way.”