*****
Karan looked at the wrecked Suzuki power bike, he once cherished and loved, being taken away by the car carrier trailer. He did not know how it happened, but it was a miracle that he was still alive. The trailer that hit his bike was turned on its side-lying on the other side of the road.
"I wondered what would have happened if you did not jump out of the bike" Koran shook his head while his hands rest on his waist.
"He would have lost his brain. I can't even imagine it" Salem stared at the bike. "The trailer would have grounded your head into powder."
Karan's shoulders dropped. The people he called for help were the worst humans. Instead of thinking positively and thanking God for sparing his life, they kept on ranting negative thoughts about the accident.
"We should go home. Everyone must have been worried now."
"Yes. You are right" Koran pressed the unlock bottom on the car keys and a white Mercedes-Benz made an acknowledging sound. "Get inside, Karan and Salem.
They all got in and the car started.
"How did you get into such an accident?" Salem wondered while sitting at the back. His legs were placed at the other end of the seat. "I think this is your first time experiencing this."
Karan sighed, turning to the strudel's face "that is why it is called an accident, Salem. You barely know how, why or when it is going to happen."
"It's probably one of the girls you dumped after you slept with," Koran told him.
"What does that have to do with the accident now?" Karan frowned, glaring at the window.
"Maybe she decides to go to the temple and pray. You must have hurt her, barely."
"I think it's Anupriya or Mehek...It should be Sara..." Salem chimed in to assist Koran in his claim. The list was long and they weren't sure, which girl could have done it. They all have a sassy vibe.
"I'm going to poke you if you do not keep your fucking mouth out of my business" Karan warned. They usually teased each other but not today. The accident was a shocking experience. He expected them to reasonable and caring.
"We are sorry, big brother" Koran apologized on their behalf. "Should I call them at home? Mother won't stop calling."
They were three streets away from the house, so there was no need to call them. "No, we will soon reach home."
"O.K. if you say so."
There was a suffocating silence as the car drove from street to street unhindered, till it got to the Sighn's mansion.
Karan knew that the media had already created tension at home. His family won't eat or sleep until they confirm that he was alive. Coming down from the car, he walked to the door and noticed that his brothers were whispering.
He wondered what they were planning since the boys were mischievous. Salem was his cousin but he behaved like he was their twin.
Stepping into the tense environment, his family came rushing to him. They offered prayers in his name. Grandmother Gangaa was the first to speak "we got scared when we watched the news."
"I'm fine, Grandmother" Karan broke away from her grip. His mother was waiting for a hug too. "How long have you been crying?"
Saraswati's face was covered with tears. She embrace her son tightly, like he was going to run away "I got scared, my child. I was scared."
He ran his hands through her hair before kissing her. "Enough with the tears, everyone. I will go upstairs and refresh. We will all have dinner together."
Quickly, his aunt Jigyasa called one of the servants, standing far away to prepare his bath.
His family cared and loved him so much that at times, he wish they never did. It affected them psychologically. He was the life of the Sighn family.
Their existence depends on him.
****
Karan took a quick bath before joining them at the family dining table. It was not the normal setting, one could find in a small family home. The dining hall was the biggest space in the Mansion. The table was about eighteen to twenty-twenty centimeters long. There were twenty seats opposite each other. But only Ten family members were around today. His dad traveled two weeks ago.
Karan was glad that he was not at home or else, there would have been no peace. They did not have a good Dad and son relationship. Each time they were together, they would fight like cats and dogs.
The servants to serve them stood behind the seats waiting for an order. Karan settled in the seat adjacent to Grandmother's sitting. His food was served.
"Karan, did you take Aarti to the mall as I said?" Grandmother Gaanga asked, before chewing the food in her mouth. she wanted to be sure if the boy followed her instructions.
Karan felt like flinging the plates to the wall. When will their Grandmother understand that you can't force someone to get married? it was a matter of choice.
"It was my first day at the new clinic. I did not have time to think about women" he answered, drinking from the cup beside him. The old woman was not going to take it likely. He ditched one of the dates, she arranged.
"You should try and settle down so that your brothers will do the same," she said. "Each time I talk to them about marriage, they point a finger at you. It seemed you have become their role model."
Karan looked up and said "please don't start Grandmother. I'm not in the mood for marriage talks."
"I wondered when you will be" She added, looking at the other women for backup but nobody spoke up. They kept on with their food. "Love is a good thing, I wish you could experience it. Maybe when you get married..."
"Love is a cheap game of confused people. The one who withdraws first is the winner. the one who cries over and over, wishing for more is the loser" Karan dropped the cutleries in his hands on the table. "And marriage is bondage. Two people begin to find out the truth about their selves. they end up with a divorce."
Gangaa was pissed off with the way her grandson spoke. "Keep quiet, if you don't know what to say, Karan. Not every marriage ends up with a divorce."
Karan smiled before getting up from his seat. He was going to drop a bomb that would make everyone sad "I'm not experiencing when it comes to marriage but this is the truth, Grandmother. At least my mother can testify since her marriage is an example of what I just said."
"Karan!" Gangaa hit the table with her fist. His lips curled into a smile as he walked out of the dining hall, leaving his food untouched. Marriage was just a show off affair!