Match Made In Hotel | Ruturaj Gaikwad ✓

Binge watching

Sudha Pillai

10th May, 2019

I'm in the kitchen when I hear Kriti's, "Bhow." I smile at her antics. Believe it or not, Kriti used to be a naughty child. She had this spark in her eyes. A mischievous kind of twinkle. But her innocent image would save her from getting caught or scolded.

"Ponnu!! What was that?!" Ajith's tone tells me that he is quite startled by her sudden appearance which tells me that he's still....

"Appa! You're watching Rutu's videos?!"

I can't help but chuckle as I enter the living room to find an amused Kriti eyeing Ajith.

"Your Appa wasn't simply watching Rutu's videos, Kriti, but binge watching, right, Ajith? Not only that, he interrupted my cooking several times to show me different clips." I smile victoriously as Ajith squints his eyes at me.

"Ya ya I was 'binge watching' that Gaikwad boy, no need to tease me about it."

"Oh I haven't even begun teasing you yet, Ajith." My smug tone has the corners of his lips upturned and I recall the first few years of our marriage. Talking about Kriti and Rutu has somehow managed to ignite the spark within us. There are lively banters about Rutu day in day out and for this reason, I love Rutu even more strongly now.

I shall never forget how Kriti's features shone as she spoke about him. Her love for him was quite palpable in every word and every gesture of hers. Moreover, he made my daughter's life happier. And what more could a mother want?

Alas, fathers aren't pleased so easily. Or rather they pretend not to be pleased easily.

"Come Kriti, I'll tell you the details of your father's binge-watching." I link my arm with her as I take her inside.

"Amma, what is happening? He is supposed to meet Rutu tomorrow itself, so why is watching his videos today?"

"Because... my dear Kriti, your Appa couldn't wait to see who this Gaikwad boy was who had swept his Kriti off her feet. And in order to do that he has been watching his interviews, reading up articles about him and even stalking his Instagram account."

"Stalking his what?!! Really?" I chuckle at Kriti's bewildered expression. Even their own daughters can't gauge how far their fathers would go for them, can they?

"Yes! He made an Insta account and has seen every photo your Rutu has posted until now."

Kriti hits her head with her palm.

"Oh my God. Poor Rutu. Now I understand why he was so nervous..."

"Rutu is nervous?" I ask Kriti, leaving my jestering tone for a while.

"Yes! Super duper nervous. Why won't he be? The guy has taken the extra effort of learning how to say Good morning, How are you, Sir? And bye in Tamil, Amma. He has ironed his shirt crisp. And was literally pacing up and down wondering about the kind of questions Appa could ask him. It would have been hilarious if he weren't so stressed."

"Oh dear God, why am I stuck with perfectionists all around me?" I look at Kriti and let out an exaggerated sigh.

"Amma...."

"Okay okay, jokes apart, tell Rutu that he doesn't need to be nervous."

"Um... no offense Amma but Appa can be quite brutal when he wants to so I think this eustress will do Rutu good."

"No, no, Kriti, I'll tell you why I'm asking you to assure Rutu. Ajith's binge-watching has had it's advantages."

"As in?" Kriti's entire face perks up at the possibility of my remark. And I have to reach out to squeeze her hand.

"He likes him!"

"What?!! No, wait what?!! Really? Am-maaa how are you so sure?"

I want to pull Kriti's cheeks but I Know that she'll throw a tantrum if I do and hence I refrain from doing so.

"Because... he's everything your father always wanted for you."

I swallow before I continue. "A lot can be understood about someone through their answers. And Rutu's interviews have assured your father of his level headedness, composure and confidence. Take my word on it Kriti, Ajith is already impressed even though he won't admit it yet. Now Rutu just needs to be himself tomorrow and all will go well."

Kriti silently takes everything in. And once I finish, I see the widest of the smiles and the slightest of tears in her eyes.

My own eyes tear up a little as I look at the idol of Lord Venkateshwara in our room.

Lord, I'm grateful to you for making my girl meet her match.

******

Just before the doorbell rings, Kriti gets up. Ajith and I exchange a knowing look. He whispers to me, "Should I open the door?" I shake my head violently.

"The poor boy is already nervous about today. Let him see Kriti first."

Ajith sighs but agrees.

It had been very difficult for him to accept that his little Ponnu had fallen in love. Ruturaj was never the problem. The problem was seeing his daughter love someone so fiercely. You know, that's the way with a father daughter duo. They're inexplicably attached to each other. And when they see the other showering his/her affections on someone else, they find it difficult to deal with.

An image of a jealous 6 year old Kriti floats in my brain. Kritika had cried her heart out when she saw Devi being held by Ajith, everyday.

I catch a glimpse of a smiling Rutu as Kriti whispers something in his ears. He gives her an excited thumbs up before turning his attention towards us.

And Ajith's smile as he witnesses this five second exchange, tells me that he knows this in his heart too.

Ruturaj Gaikwad is the boy for our girl.