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"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."
-Pride and Prejudice

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"Mum, you listen to me na. I don't wanna get married...now," Rahul sighed, repeating to her his words for the umpteenth time. For the past few weeks, his mother was suddenly obsessed with the idea of him "settling down" because now he had everything important in life, except for a wife. Oh! He so wished to curse her colleague whose son was of his age and married recently.

"You listen to me, Rahul. We have given up on your sister, at least you listen to us. Nīvu maduveyāgalu eṣṭu varṣagaḷu bēku?" She sighed. His sister, Bhavana, clarified to them in clear terms that she did not wish to be married ever again. One heartbreak was enough for a lifetime, she did not wish to experience it twice. They had to accept with resignation. But Rahul...

"Amma, I'm just twenty eight. Who gets married at twenty eight? Virat got married at twenty nine, I should get another year too for thinking about this." Using Virat's name would work. Always, he thought gleefully till his mother burst his bubble.

"Hardik."

"Hardik is an idiot!"

"Rahul, you!"

When a ping from his professional mobile phone, resting on the nightstand, interrupted their 'peaceful' conversation. Rahul sighed, glad to have a distraction from the on-going talk, and reached for the device covered in black.

Meeting right now! Assemble in the discussion room. The message read from Virat. And a flood of "okay", "sure" followed up with it.

In five minutes, Cap! Rahul confirmed, adding to the list of affirmative messages.

Thank you, Vi! Rahul danced in joy internally as he informed her, "maa, I have a team meeting. Need to go." and ended the call without hearing her further. All her exasperated yells of "Rahul! Rahul!" fell on deaf ears.

Feeling the need to thank and hug Virat for saving him, he entered the discussion room where most of his teammates were assembled. He noted that he wasn't early but not late either. Virat glanced at Rahul, before resuming his discussion with their coaches, looking meditative.

"Hi guys." He greeted everyone, passing a smile at them. They nodded warmly, and he pulled his phone out playing with it till Virat cleared his throat. They were about to start.

The meeting was a usual discussion of strategies and tactics of how to win. The coaches put their points, the players had few suggestions. At the end of it, two hours later, everyone concluded it was a satisfactory one and they could leave.

Rahul was back in his room, fiddling with his phone, as the entire conversation between his mom and him over the two weeks played in his mind. He possibly can't agree with her, isn't it. Argh! He let the phone slip from his hands on the bed, massaging his hair with finger tips. When the door of his room opened, revealing a visibly vibrating Virat, who had come to invite him for a FIFA match.

"Hi bruh." Rahul waved rather tiredly, causing Virat to frown, seeing his upset face. He took his seat beside Rahul, putting the younger lad's head on his lap and massaging his scalp. Rahul visibly relaxed under the calming touch of his elder brother as he informed, "ma called during brunch..." Virat just hummed, urging him to continue, "She thinks I should get married. Settled and all. She's interested in making me meet a girl. What do you think?"

It won't harm if he asked Virat, especially when he was unable to make a decision. For he would always suggest something beneficial for Rahul only. Virat thought for few minutes, racking his brain for an idea. Something to make both aunty and Rahul happy...

"Ladki dekh le, aunty khush. Uske baad agar chahe toh mana kar de, tu bhi khush." Virat shrugged, suggesting him with a grin.

Rahul contemplated for few moments before matching Virat's grin with a small smile, as he got up and wrapped his arms around Virat's neck, "You're the best, bossman! Aapke bina mai kya karta?" He exclaimed dramatically, making Virat first chuckle and then inform him sweetly with mirthful eyes, "Devdas bane baithe hote. Woh bhi bina Paro ke. Tere liye toh koi Chandramukhi bhi nahi dhoondh ke la sakte."

Rest of the day was uneventful; they spent either lounging in respective rooms or playing FIFA in the team room. Rahul definitely did not miss the excitement in his mother's voice when he called her after dinner to agree for the meet. After the series ends, he has a three day break before moving to the IPL. "Of course, of course. Come home soon." She replied, disconnecting the call. He stared at the picture of Simba, the home screen wallpaper, and sighed.

"Let's hope for the best, Simbito." He murmured, falling back on the bed. Letting sleep consume him under its wings. For they had an important match and it won't do if he spent the entire night overthinking about this. No, it won't absolutely do! Even though he really wasn't ready for marriage yet.

Even just the word marriage sufficing in giving him cold feet. He was really too young to be married yet and by young, he meant he wasn't ready for that kind of commitment yet. Marriage was kind of a different institution altogether. It needed quite many things to make it work.

It wasn't a highlight he could skip or a match he could just forget about. Marriage was a commitment, he surely didn't feel ready for yet but it's not like he could tell his parents yet and again, Virat was right there was no harm in going along his parents wish and then telling them of his decision. After all, the last decision, the choice was supposed to be his, wasn't it?

He was the one supposed to marry, not his parents and he really should sleep and not overthink and reassure himself. He had a bl**dy important match tomorrow and with that bright thought he let sleep consume himself finally. He didn't want to open the innings and face balls zapping towards him at a speed of 145 km/h without proper sleep.

Thank you very much!!!

Match! Match was important! Cricket match!!

No thinking of wedding match!! He chided his brain, a few more times before finally falling asleep.

+to be continued+

A little context to Bhavana's decision of never getting married again (which is purely imaginary, before anyone comes at our throat) : she was betrothed to the man she loved, when Rahul made his debut for India in 2014. Turning blind eye to the red flags, they were married. And separated. All within a span of one and half years.

And another creative liberty (within limits of course), Rahul was named the captain of Kings XI Punjab in 2019 (even after the disastrous KWK debacle) and Hardik married Natasa in 2019, not in 2020.