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“Yeah. I can’t wait, and I’m ecstatic for them.”
“How did they meet?” He raised his eyes in curiosity.
“Um, my brother was about to graduate college, and my parents wanted him to get married. So, through friends, my parents spoke to my sister-in-law’s parents, and decided they would be a good match to marry, and then set them up to meet.”
“You’re serious? Just like that, they agreed they liked each other and got married? Like an arranged marriage?”
“Well, yes. I mean, they had a choice if they didn’t like each other, but they suited each other well and are very happy, so it all worked out.”
“And what about you? Is that what you will do, too?”
I thought about Kiran and how our families had been hinting at us making a good match. “Probably. It’s not uncommon in our culture to have an arranged marriage, but it’s not as archaic as you are probably thinking it is.”
“I’m not saying it is.” His eyes narrowed slightly as he glanced down at me. “But…” he said slowly. “Does that mean your mom already has someone in mind for you?”
I paused before I answered lightly, “Yes.” I rolled my eyes as if it was a joke. “She likes to play matchmaker.”
“And?” He pulled up short with his hand on my arm in a death grip, forcing me to face him. “What will you do?”
“Axel. I haven’t given it much thought because I’m not looking to get married right now. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were jealous.” This time, we weren’t talking about keeping up appearances in front of people. I didn’t think he was teasing, either. Our project had a timeline, and soon, he would go on with his life, and I’d go on with mine. As long as I told myself that, it would make things easier when our project was over.
He seemed to remember that, too, and he shook his head. “I just don’t want you to settle or have regrets.”
My heart deflated because there was a part of me that wanted him to be jealous and tell me that the only person I was marrying washim. A foolish notion, but I shouldn’t be surprised, and at least he was being semi-honest. Pasting a smile on my face, I said, “Don’t worry about it. I won’t. And I’m trying to live my life without regrets right now, with your help, remember?” I didn’t know how I kept myself together when I added, “Why are you so concerned? We’re just having fun, right?”
He rolled his mouth into a flat line, otherwise giving nothing else away in his expression. “Yeah. We’re just having fun.”
My week at home was passing me by. My days had been filled with shopping, helping my mom out at the salon, and studying for my classes. Sitting on the living room floor with my books spread out, the doorbell chimed. It was late afternoon, and my mother was still at work.
Reaching the door, my face lit up when. “Kiran. I didn’t know you were home.”
“Got in last night. Can I come in?” He mustered a wry smile but appeared tired with dark shadows under his eyes.
“Sure.”
He walked over to the sofa in the living room and dropped down, folding his hands over his knees, staring down at his hands with his shoulders slumped.
“Is something bothering you?” What was he doing home? I knew he had a grueling schedule and normally didn’t come home until the end of the semester. “Did something happen?” His silence and demeanor were beginning to freak me out. If anything, Kiran had always been upbeat, and rarely had I ever seen him down about anything. However, today, he looked defeated.
“I came home for the weekend to clear my head. And to discuss us.”
“What about us?”
He twisted his lips wryly. “I told my mom I’d consider you and I… getting married.”
“You did? B-but I thought you had a girlfriend?”
He shook his head. “We broke up.” His voice was flat, much like his expression.
“Why?”
“Because she pressured me into making a more serious commitment.”
“And you don’t want that?”
“I realized what I want doesn’t really matter.” He ran his hand over his forehead. “You know as well as I do that our families want us to get married. If I’d chosen her, then they would’ve been disappointed in me. You know it, Nat. We come from different worlds.”
I did know. My thoughts turned to Axel. I’d only heard from him a few times this week. A few texts here and there, checking in. Maybe the “having fun” stage between us was already coming to an end for him. Who was I kidding? He was in Southern California, having the time of his life. On the precipice of becoming a global star. Did I actually believe he was sitting in his luxury suite in a high-class hotel thinking about me?
