Chapter 25

JENNIFER'S POV

"NO... NOT AGAIN! THIS GIRL!" I exahled. Shrishti, my collegue but from the physiotherapy
department. She was standing behind me. My opponent seemed to be more eager to see who it was
for which is attention shifted from his hand to her behind. And that instant was when I pinned his arm
on the table surface with a thud. He got twisted on a side for that sudden impact. And me, with a
triumphant smile, I got up with grace ever so slowly like a queen and waved at him as I started walking
towards Shrishti, my back towards him.

Shrishti Ahuja :- Crazy ...... check✅

My best friend...... check✅

Sometimes can be a pain in the ass..... check✅

Becomes my protective mama bear whenever finds me mingling with unsuitable people..... double
check ✅✅

In a summary, my second true friend after Sameera.

"So... Here this out!" She said in a grave tone, folding her hands as we sat on our usual spot beside the
billing counter.

"Hmm.. spill the beans." I said huffing.

"The so called potential groom's family is coming today to see me, dammit! What should I do? Last
time when maa and papa arranged a meeting with some other lad, I said I am not into boys... What
should I do now? To drive him away? As this time they shall be visiting our house!" She said stroking
her chin, deep in thought.



God! Shrishti and her to-be-husband tantrums! Let me tell you. The "into girls" excuse was the time
before when the potential groom and she met in a library. Then, the next potential groom was rejected
by sighting lack of 'sizzling chemistry' problem. The next was knocked out by saying that she could not
have sex with him ever as it would instantly kill her to-be-husband. Like really!? Such ridiculous ideas
as excuses? Till now, even her parents had figured it out that all the rejections were not coincidences.
They were all planned!

"I think this time I should say I am pregnant with my boyfriend's baby in my tummy!" She said happy as
ever as if she just discovered an HIV vaccine!

I rolled my eyes and scrunched my nose in annoyance, " Simply tell them that you are not into
marraige for now! That's it!" I said huffing.

"No fur! Papa wants me to get married till he's 53! Then he will go to Rishikesh for a tirthyaatra."(a
pilgrimage journey to places of famous deities for finding expanding meaning of one's self)

"Then I guess.. its upto you!" I replied.

We soon shifted to other regular topics as we devoured our food and the rest of the day went in a daze.
As it was second Saturday, I had my routine wrapped up by 7 in the evening. I exited my cabin after
completing 7 hours of duty.

I reversed Sweety from the parking lot and drove towards the oldage home homing almost 20
homeless old couples and some 15 people single. They called their abode as "Our Family". I soon
reached there. It took some time due to the famous Mumbai traffic but I made it within an hour. As I
entered the two-floored big bunglow, all my grandpas and grandmas gathered at the entrance, kissing
me on my cheek and forehead. It had been a while since I had seen them. I giggled as all of them
ushered me with their kisses. Then pushing me by my back, all of us sat on the table and they started
feeding me all my favorite delicacies by their own hands. The table was full with jalebis, kheer, gevar,



gulabjamun, chocolate pudding and what not. While one grandma shall feed me with a jalebi, another
dadi( grandmother in hindi) was ready with khaman(gujarati dish) in her hand.

"Come on sweetie! What has happened to your appetite?" Asked Kushala dadi, the owner of this
house.

"Look how slowly she is chewing! Aren't the dishes tasty?" Enquired Leela dadi,one of the cooks here,
with furrowed brows.

"I told you the jalebis haven't been made that sweet this time!" Said Veer dada(grandfather in hindi)
husband of Leela dadi.

"Oh come on! The children thses days! They care of their face more than their tummy!" Screeched
Ramu kaka, the gardener from afar.

"Oh my God Jennifer! Are you dieting!?" All of them yelled together. They expected a reply but my
mouth was already stuffed with too many goodies, thanks to them!

This, this was what I had always craved for - True, genuine Love, care towards me, making me feel
important for them and not a piece of dirt sooner or later to be dusted off. Eventually, my eyes filled with
tears on receiving so much of warmth, that I literally deserved but had been deprived of all my life.

Once, we were done with all the feeding business, all of us gathered in the assembly room. This was
the area where each day, early in the morning, bhajan and keertans(songs on praise of the almighty)
were played. We sat in a circle and talked and talked and talked, laughed on the same century old
jokes, while all if them reminisced their childhood, I listened to their tales. The clock ticked by and I
didn't even realize that it already had been 3 hours since I had got there. I needed to return back to the
house before it got too late. I soon got up.

"Do take your blessings from Guruma before leaving." Kushala dadi reminded me. I nodded.



Guruma was the eldest of all the people living in this abode of peace,nearly in her 80s. She had been
the very person who had advised Kushala dadi to use this vacant house for making an oldage home.
Guruma had been herself thrown out of her own house when she refused to transfer her only house to
her son's name. Hence, in the fit of rage, her sin had left her homeless on the streets as revenge. She
for the timing had asked for aome help from her childhood friend Kushala dadi to allow her to stay with
her and then soon, they laid the foundations of "OUR FAMILY" her.

Now... why was she called so right? That's because of her skill of reading others fate through tarrot
cards. Once the 'old gang' started flowing in, they soon came to know about her abilities of reading
others future. Hence, the once called Narmada soon became Guruma. I remember the shells and
cards she used to have in her closet through which she used to tell people's fortunes.

She loved me dearly. I had been visiting this place and her with mama since the days I remember of
my childhood. Even when I had been a kid, she used to pick me up and twirl me in thd air and kiss me
on my temple.

She didn't talk much and had a reserved room of her own which she rarely left except for once in the
morning for prayer and once in the evening for a walk in the garden.

I crossed the library and entered her quite sanctum. She had been seating on her stool with one of the
Shakespeare's classics. Yup! She was a great literature fan. I hugged her from behind and greeted her
"Namaste Naru dadi!" I exclaimed.

She patted my cheek and brought me in front of her. " So how's my princess doing?" She said with a
smile.

I pouted," Oh come on dadi! I am grown up now!" I announced throwing my hands up in an
exasperated way.

"No. You remain my princess always." She replied.



"Okay! Okay! So... Where is the annual picnic for the family this time?" I asked, changing the topic.

"Its Udaipur. A perfect place for peace and beauty."

"Whoa! Sounds cool huh! You are joining us right?" I asked thrilled by the mere thought of those
enchanting palaces.

She shook her head. "No, I am not leaving this house anytime soon, even for a picnic. I don't think you
shall be able to leave too. The Devil wont let you." She said in a poised but serious tone.

Suddenly, my heart began to race. The environment turned pensive.

Huh? I thought.

"You still seem to be using your cards a lot I guess?" I laughed half because of the thing she spoke out
and half to ease out the thickening tension in the room.

She shook her head gravelly and continued, " You need to stay calm. He has fallen for you. You are
bound to be claimed by him! That's your destiny."

"I uh... can't actually get you..." I asked in a perplexed state of mind, my brows lifted up in a quizzical
manner.

She laughed softly. " Your future is near princess."

But before I could ask anything further my phone beeped in vibration mode. It was my dance teacher. I
got up to excuse myself from the room. I made my way to the door when Naru dadi called out.

"Princess?"

I turned.



"At the end of the day, a beauty like you destined to have a beast like him!" Saying so she got up and
walked off to the backyard.

I couldn't ponder more on those spoken words as I accepted the call and walked to the entrance ready
to leave.

"Hello mam." I greeted.

"Hello Jennifer. Sorry to disturb you beta ( an endearment used for 'child') But I actually called you to let
you know that we are having an extra class tomorrow at 7 in the evening." She informed.

"Alright mam. 7 in the evening right? I'll make upto it." I replied promptly.

"Okay then see you tomorrow."

"Yes mam, bye!" Saying so, we hung up. And then simply I drove off to the house I had been staying in
without giving much thought about the conversation with Naru dadi.

"At the end of the day, a beauty like you destined to have a beast like him!" Saying so she got up and
walked off to the backyard.

| couldn't ponder more on those spoken words as | accepted the call and walked to the entrance ready
to leave.

"Hello mam." | greeted.

"Hello Jennifer. Sorry to disturb you beta ( an endearment used for 'child') But | actually called you to let
you know that we are having an extra class tomorrow at 7 in the evening." She informed.

"Alright mam. 7 in the evening right? I'll make upto it." | replied promptly.
"Okay then see you tomorrow."

"Yes mam, bye!" Saying so, we hung up. And then simply | drove off to the house | had been staying in
without giving much thought about the conversation with Naru dadi.



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