Swiping for Shaadi: Episode 14 - When a Guy Doesn't Reply to You

The next day, her eyes searched only for one person in the office, Varun - the guy who interacted with her nicely but failed to message her every time. Surprisingly, he waved at her as if he had never received any message from her.

“Hi, I am sorry I couldn’t reply to your message. I am always occupied at home; I live in a joint family, so my nephews are more interested in my mobile than me. Sometimes, I even have to hide my mobile from them.” Those were a lot of sentences for an introverted Varun, but Anjali was overwhelmed with his massive explanation.

Anjali laughed hysterically, forgetting all the rage she had in her mind for her. Because he was so innocent and explained the reason like a cute, little child! No doubt he was attractive but he was also humble and grounded. 😍

“A family man!” She remarked with a grin.

“Yeah.  But those kiddos are my brother’s sons. They are pranksters, I must say. Anyways, what had you messaged for?”

“It doesn’t matter. I was wondering when you have time to teach me Marathi.” She asked with an innocent face as if she really had purchased books and pens to learn the regional language.

“Sure, I am working this weekend. Maybe, next weekend. But please text me if I forget.” He shook hands with her and left for his department.

                                                  -x-

“So that he can again forget to message you and then you will forgive him and fall for him unconditionally?” Sid asked dramatically, a bit furious at Anjali for being so naïve in the superficial relationship with that guy. 😏

“He isn’t fooling around. He is too busy to be in a relationship. At home, his nephews use his mobile phone. It means he doesn’t even have a girlfriend. And at the office, he talks less with his colleagues, yeah, girls flirt with him a lot but he doesn’t entertain them.”

Sid glanced at her in irritation and continued, “Do you still think there are any chances? I mean the guy doesn’t have time for a girlfriend, will he have time for a wife?”

“I don’t want to regret later that I never tried. That’s all. And Papa has kept my search process on hold because he is occupied with some community work. So, let me try my luck for a while!”

Sid gestured ‘All the best’ with his hands but he had no hopes for Anjali’s busy crush.

“If he doesn’t reply this time, you know what to do. My formula never works!” He winked at her and Anjali flatly ignored him. 😉

                                                  -x-

One weekend passed but since Varun had already shared with her that he was occupied with work, she didn’t message him. Instead, she went on a trek near Pune for the weekend and had fun. Next Friday, she didn’t fail to message him. In fact, she had been waiting for Friday evening so that she could fix the weekend plan before he could make other commitments.  

Hi, let’s meet this Sunday. Let me know.

She had messaged after careful thinking and hoped for a quick reply. Please don’t give your phone to your nephews; she said looking at the mobile screen. But the waiting period extended to a few hours. At around 11 pm, she could find herself staring at the mobile screen, waiting patiently for his reply.

She had never met a stubborn guy in her life. At IIM, she was approached by studious guys, not-so-studious guys, and guys who only messaged but avoided meeting in public, guys who wanted to meet in private, but Varun had completely unconventional methods of dating. He blushed at her in the cafeteria; she could easily notice the twinkle in his eyes. But his communication skills needed a major upgrade, man!

Another half passed and she was furious. First, at him and then at herself. What kind of a person she had turned into! 😡

Are you there?

She typed again, this time, she wasn’t eager to receive his response, but she decided to do something quirky.

‘Is it your senior or your nephew who has your mobile phone now?’ She yelled at the mobile screen, but when she noticed a ‘typing’ notification on the WhatsApp screen, her heart skipped a beat. Oh my god! Can this mobile send my voice and yells to the other person or what? She wondered in bewilderment.

She lingered for the most-awaited reply but there was no signal from the other side. It seemed he had stopped typing and it had been another 15 minutes since she had been staring at the screen again. Anjali remained calm for another minute and decided to apply Sid’s formula. Ferociously and without hesitation, she typed,

E kute?

The next moment, it was Varun calling her mobile phone. With a satisfactory smile, she picked it up and answered, “Hello?”

“Er..Anjali, Hi! You messaged me something…emm..What is that?” 😖

“Oh, I told you na I am learning Marathi these days. So, I thought of practicing with you. I was asking you in Marathi E –kute, which means ‘Hey, where are you?’” She fluttered her eyes innocently and added, “What did you think?” 🤷

Varun seemed to be tongue-tied at her message, but managed to mutter, “Oh wow! You are learning quite a deal.” And he laughed without any reason.

“Anyways, see you in the office on Monday,” Anjali said politely and disconnected the call. 😎

Now, no matter how much Varun would blush to look at her and show her signs of affection, love, and approval, Anjali would never be affected.

It was not a possibility but a sure thing that Varun was not a dream man. So, where was he? Maybe, her father 👨was looking for him, or Prem Uncle 👺 was searching passively at wedding functions and other events.

Hey, why couldn’t she find her dream man on her own? On a marriage portal? Anjali always thought that checking on marriage portals would be the last, miserable thing she had to do. But she had witnessed several stories of her fellow colleagues and friends who had found their soulmates and were happily married.

Finally, she had entered the “Swiping for Shaadi” phase of her life! 📱