The proposal

'So, what have you decided?' Mom asked me sternly.

'About what?'

I wondered what made her become stern suddenly. Oh, I had not gotten back to her on articles about outsourcing to India, I realised.

As I tried to make peace, something told me the issue is something else.

'Your time is up', she said.

'What time?' I got the feeling my inability to grasp the situation was considered deliberate.

'The time you asked. March 2011. I told you that your days of being single will end on March 31. That is when I will start looking for you', she glared.

There goes my weekend, I thought. I had to buy time, and quickly.

'I want some more time...' I began, when she cut in.

'No more time for you. I have had it. Our neighbour Nirmala has approached us with a proposal.'

'Is that so?'

'Yes, the girl is in the US. She is the daughter of one of their relatives. She feels you two will make a fine match.'

'Don't they all' I murmured to myself.

'So, I am going to tell her to send the girl's photo to me. I will send it to you when I get it.'

'Ma, not so soon. I am taking a couple of interviews this week. Let's see how they go and then we can think about this proposal.' I just had to buy time, any excuse will do for now.

'Hmm, ok. Next week you will tell me how the interviews went'

'Yes Ma' I said meekly.

* * * * *

'I don't like working here anymore' she told me.

'Why da, the US is not treating you well? You got this assignment after a lot of arguments with your manager and now you don't like it? Why?' I asked.

'It is because you are not here! And I miss you like crazy. I want to return to Bangalore now.' she cried.

'I know da. Just hold on for a little while' I tried to pacify her.

'How can I remain calm when you tell me your mother has a proposal for you?'

I cursed myself for bringing it p. The stupid things we men do in the name of honesty and openness...

'And my parents tell me there is a software engineer in Bangalore who they think is a good match for me.'

Aha! Now I know the cause of this storm.

'Some guy in Bangalore whose parents are in Madras. My relative is their neighbour.'

'Hush hush my darling. We'll find a way out soon. Let these interviews get over and I'll tell my folks about you'

'And you think they'll accept me?'

'Why shouldn't they? They just want me to settle down.'

It seemed to calm her down. After a few minutes, we ended the phone conversation.

Another calamity averted. Quick thinking my boy, I said to myself.

* * * * *

It was only many weeks later that we realised how small the world really is.