She was too scared to think what the upcoming night would bring for her.

“Baithiye.”

Ananya's mother said and Divesh took his seat. Her parents sat on the couch adjacent to his. And Advik sat on the one placed directly in front of his.

“Mai chai naastha laati hu. Ananya chal.”

Chhaya called Ananya with her. As soon as the two entered the kitchen Chhaya whispered.

“Cute hai.”

Ananya smiled and blushed lowering her head. The tea and snacks were placed. Chhaya took her seat beside Advik and Ananya stood there confused.

“Ananya! Yaha aa.”

Her father called and she sat beside him which also made her sit very close to Divesh’s couch.

Ananya's father and Advik asked questions from Divesh. About his family, job, work and everything related to him. 

Ananya sat there fidgeting with her fingers. Her heart was hammering in her chest. Before his every answer she prayed he didn't say anything that upset any of her family members or they'd show him his way out of her life.

After her father was satisfied about his details, got serious and came to the main question.

“Ye sab jaankaari toh mai waise hi pata krwa leta. But I am happy you told everything truthfully, achhi buri dono baatein.”

Ananya smiled and loosened a little in relaxation. But it was short lived because his next question filled her with 100X more tension.

“What I actually want to know is, your intentions towards my daughter. What do you want with her?”

Ananya looked at Divesh who smiled warmly looking at her and said.

“My intentions towards her aren't wrong sir. I deeply respect Ananya. I adore her professionalism. The way she handles everything at work…it's amazing sir. I've never seen her without a smile, no matter how hard the task or the problem at hand is. She just has a way of solving everything and also motivating her team with herself. And I respect her for that because I know how difficult it is and how effortless she makes it look.”

Ananya felt tears pool her eyes. She had been praised by her family many times but no one had said they respected her for her work. They were proud of her and they wished her more success.

She lowered her lashes and hid her smile.

“But most of all, I love her, sir.”

Her head snapped back up at his words and she looked at him wide eyed.

“Love? Don't you think bhut jaldi hai ye? Jaante kitne time se ho tum Ananya ko? Do mahine?”

Advik said and Divesh looked at him with a smile.

“Aapko bhabhi se kab pyaar hua tha Sir? Love doesn't take time to happen. It just happens. And it grows as the trust and respect between two people grows.”

Divesh again looked at her father and said.

“I love her sir. And I want to marry her in the future. Whenever she wants.”

“And what if I don't agree.”

Her father countered and his smile fell a little but he composed himself.

“Then I'll try harder to convince you. But I'll not give up sir. I'll never give up on her, on us.”

“And what if she herself doesn't agree. She doesn't even want date you, what then?”

Divesh looked down for a moment and then said.

“I'll try once more and listen to her point of view, explain her mine and if she still doesn't want to be with me, I'll stop. Nothing ever tops her comfort and consent. She says no, it's a no. Until obviously she means it playfully.”

Ananya felt a tear fell from her eye. Was this guy for real? How can someone be like him?

“And what if your family disagrees?”

At this, Divesh chuckled making Advik and Ananya's father frown.

“Sorry for that sir. But this won't happen. My family is already going crazy to meet her. They already love her and consider her a part of themselves sir.”

Her father still trying to act stern said.

“Kehne ki baat aur hoti hai lekin asliyat hamesha kuch aur nikalti hai.”

Divesh pulled out his phone from his pocket and unlocked it. He placed it before Ananya and she looked at him confused.

“Call my mother. It's saved as mumma.”

She looked at him wide eyed and then at her family. They looked equally surprised. She looked back at Divesh.

“I-”

“Just do it. Trust me. Call her and put the call on speaker.”

He said softly and she picked up his phone with shaking hands. She searched for his mother's name and dialed her number.

“Hello Divesh? Kaha hai tu? Kaisa raha sab? Abhi wahi baitha hai kya? Maan gye uske parents? Ananya ko kab ghar laa raha hai?”

Divesh smiled hearing his mother's over excited voice and Ananya was shocked.

“Dadi ne menu bhi soch lia hai ki wo aayegi toh kya kya banega. Keh rhi hai ki bachi pehli baar aayegi toh sirf ghar ka bana khaana khilayenge.”

His mother chuckled and Ananya felt tears pool into her eyes.

“Mumma! I'm still there. Infact sabke saath ho baitha hu. And the phone is in Ananya's hand. Aap khud hi puchhoo kab aayegi.”

There was an instant shift in his mother's energy and she chirped excitedly.

“Arre Ananya beta! Kaise ho aap? Aur ye pagal toh mujhe batayega nhi ki kab laa raha hai ghar, aap ho bata do kab aa rhe ho ghar?”

Ananya felt warmth in her heart as she answered. 

“Mai thi hu aunty. Aap kaise ho?”

“Mai toh ekdum badiya hu. Toh kab aaoge ghar?”

“Jaldi aaungi aunty.”

Ananya answered looking at Divesh who grinned wide.

“Hello bhabhi!”

She heard another excited voice. 

“Divi!”

Divesh reprimanded and Ananya heard the girl giggle.

“Oops! Sorry! Hello Ananya di!”

She teased and Divesh shook his head.

“Hello Divi!”

Ananya replied and the girl spoke again with too much excitement.

“Waise toh mera naam Divyanka hai. Lekin sab mujhe pyaar se Divi ya Divu bulate hai. Aap bhi yahi bulana. Aur aap na jaldi se aao milne. Aap aur mai milkr bhai ko khub tang krenge.”

Divyanka giggled and Ananya smiled remembering how she had said the same thing to Chhaya when she was getting married to Advik. Advik and Chhaya too looked at each other and Chhaya smiled blinking her eyes as if asking him to trust the man.

“Definitely.”

“Ok Divi! Mumma! Mai baad mai baat krta hu.”

Divesh disconnected the call. Everyone looked at him in silence and Ananya felt the silence weigh on her. In that moment, she realised how much she loved the man.