“You don’t?”
“No.”
“Why don’t I believe you?”
“Rian!”
“Don’t be shocked, Nanamma. You know it is well within the realm of possibility when I think you’ve manoeuvred things to suit your goals. You’re a scarily smart woman.”
Chitra couldn’t hold back a pleased smile at that.
“See!” he accused immediately, pointing at her as though he’d won a big argument. “You’re smiling. I knew it!”
“Hush, child. You don’t know anything.”
“You’ve been after me for months. You’ve tricked me into blind dates. I wouldn’t put it past you to plan something by bringing a girl to live two doors down from me just to tempt me to change my mind. Which I won’t,” he added sternly, lest she begin to read between the lines.
“Okay,” Chitra shrugged, unbothered by his statement. “But you should know that she’s in the room right next to you, not two doors down. The other bedroom has a vent issue that needs to be fixed. It is too stuffy for a person to stay there.”
Grandmother and grandson stood there facing each other, both locked in a daring game of who would blink first.
Rian lost.
“Nanamma, whatever you are doing, just stop. Please.”
“I am not doing anything,” Chitra softly pleaded, her downturned lips pulling down even further. “Why would you hurt my feelings like this?”
“I won’t fall for that pout,” he scoffed. “I know you.”
Having given up on trying to convince him of her innocence, Chitra rolled her eyes. “Is that so? Then do you know that I am setting up Adi to meet with other eligible bachelors too?”
That stopped him short.
“That’s right,” Nanamma revealed triumphantly, correctly guessing his reaction.
“Her family has selected a long list of marriageable men for her to meet while she is in town. And I’ve suggested a few myself,” she added with a satisfied look. “So you can rest assured, you are definitely not in consideration.”
Rian didn’t know what else to say.
“Now that we have put this particular concern to rest, do you have any other objections to that sweet child living with us?”
Rian shook his head. Nanamma approached him, her gait slow. He recognized the signs of age on her, suddenly feeling terrible about having kept her up to have this discussion now. She took both his hands in hers and patted him.
“Aditi is a good girl,” she said, all traces of humour gone. “I have promised her family that she will be safe with me in Mumbai. I hope you treat her with the same respect that you would give to your friends.”
“Yes, Nanamma. But that’s all I can give her, okay?”
“I am old, Rian. Not deaf. I heard you the first time you said you were not interested. Do not insult my intelligence by repeating it again.”
“Sorry,” he mumbled immediately, chastised. A moment later, Chitra hugged him, an awkward endeavour considering Rian stood towering over her by nearly two feet. Rian tensed for a moment before softening, standing straight, and letting his grandmother hold him as she wished.
“It’s good to see you back,kanna,” she said, patting his arm before leaning back to look up at him. “I missed you.”
He relented at last, cracking a half-hearted smile.
“Missed you too, Nanamma.”
With that, Chitra left Rian to himself. As she passed the room next door, she smiled at the sight of Aditi, who was slumped in exhaustion at the edge of her bed.