I took her to the hospital.
She met Mark outside.
He was so excited to meet my mum. He was the sweetest version of himself. And trust me he was already as sweet as sugar.
"Mum, he is my best friend, Mark." I introduced him.
He already knew my mum was coming. He bought her a bouquet of roses. My mum loves roses.
"Hello, aunty! Its so good to see you. I've heard so much about you from Stella. I really wanted to meet you. Can't believe you're here today."
"Thankyou darling, I'm so overwhelmed. Its good to see you too. You are such a nice boy. A perfect handsome gentleman."
I can feel my mum booking marriage halls in her head right now. I gotta stop her.
"Okay guys, Now lets go eat something ." I said.
"Sure!" said Mark and took us to where his car was and opened the gates for me and mum.
"I'll take you to the best restaurant here, aunty. You won't be able to forget the food from here." he said and drove.
We talked the entire way.
Mom revealed some embarrassing stories of me. Mark laughed and kept looking at me from the rear mirror where I was sitting with my mum.
Mom would surely have noticed this.
He took as at a very fancy restaurant. Ordered almost all the most expensive delicacies.
He asked mom about her trip and how dad and my siblings were.
He by now knew almost everything about me and my family, I suppose.
Before me and mum could even finish our food. It was already paid by him.
He also got some mouthwatering sweets for my mum.
After showing some places, he dropped us back home.
"Oh my god, my dear daughter!" mom said immediately.
I knew it would come. I was preparing myself mentally for it for a long time.
"Was he your boyfriend? Are you both dating? He is such a perfect man."
"No mom. He is just a friend of mine. I know he is really sweet, well mannered, decent guy. But no, he is not my boyfriend."
"May I even ask you to take the pain of telling me the reason?"
"Because I don't love him, mom. I just think of him as my best friend and nothing more than that.
He confessed to me that he loves me. I met his family. I tried to look at him the other way but I just can't.
Its better if we remain friends like this and not ruin what we have." I told her.
She understood my feelings and said. "Then maybe it's someone else you've given your heart to."
That hit me. Can it be true? But apart from Mark, a few colleagues at work whom I'm just friends with and Aiden. I don't know anybody.
So if not Mark, who can it be?
But still I replied her," not necessarily mom. Maybe its just not him. Maybe I'm waiting for the right one."
"Okay, okay! I hope you find that someone soon." she said and since we were already full, I showed her the guest room which she loved and after saying goodnight and thanking mum for being here with me today, I went back to my room.
I lied on my bed and in the desolute silence of the night, I thought about Aiden. How we would probably be fighting this time. Or maybe he would be sweet. I enjoy the both.
I was thinking about his great looks and amazing personality. How he immediately came up with a solution and gave up his room and comfort, without even giving a thought, when he heard mom was coming.
Why was I thinking about him? Silly me. Maybe he is a part of my habit now.
Thinking all this and laughing at my stupid self, soon I fell asleep.