7. The Timer's Set

He stood there still. He knew who it was, he never bothered to turn. "So you are the Ram who travelled all the way for his Sita ?" asked the cold low tone to Aadi with his right hand on his shoulder. This was the first time he was meeting this man but Aadi knew who he was and he guessed what he want. He never had the strength to speak back. He
was a lost man.

"You have a pretty strong arm my son, something which went into that river usually never comes back. You are not so tough as I heard" said the man in a mocking cold tone. "What do you want?" replied Aadi finally. "The question is not what I want, the question is what you want",continued the stranger. Aadi gulped and spoke "Your daughter".

John Varghese,a strong msn in his mid sixties, father to Poornima Varghese, he reached US way back in the 80s. Struggled hard to build what he has today. The only thing that he lost during this time was his Indian citizenship. Aadi never liked him, the only reason for that was he always considered him the villain of his story, Poornima always said so. "Even if I said I love you my father won't make this happen" she used to stress that a lot.

The thing is you cannot heavily relay on words from women, because you cannot decipher what they actually meant. Like, Aadi and Poornima used to speak a lot on phone. One conversion went like this.

Aadi: Do you really, like talking with me?
Poornima: Yea, why?
A: Nothing, just..! You like the poems I wrote to you?
P: I love them.
*Aadi blushes*
A: Will you miss me if i stop calling you.
P: Obviously, because we are talking daily, I'll miss you.
A: So, do you love me?
P: mmmmm..
A: What?
P: I'll never say that.

That's it, that's the thing. You can't know what she meant by that. She said "will never say that" that doesn't mean she don't love him but that also doesn't mean she loves him. See, that's the way women talk.

"Son, I don't have that hot boiling blood these days, it's a bit cold here. Let's go somewhere and sit, then we can continue our conversation." said Mr Varughese

Aadi too thought so. He realized that he should get some heat. He was standing there for quite some time now. He too was feeling the the winter of Chicago.

Aadi nodded to Mr Varughese. Mr Varughese led him to his car.

The car stopped by a chinese restaruent at Madison Street, "Panda Express" read Aadi. I love the shrimps they serve here said Mr Varughese. Let's have some.

"Do you think she loves you ?" asked Mr Varughese. The reply was a bright smile from Aadi. "I don't mind you marrying my daughter, but I want her to tell me that". Aadi looked confused. "I know you love her that much but what about her? Does she really love you. If she does, she will  find courage to speak this matter to me. I'll give you three months, and after that I will find someone else for her, a nice christian guy", Mr Varughese spoke in his usual calm voice.