She looked at his retreating back and blushed touching her lips. The kiss! She felt it in her soul. She touched up her lipgloss and moved out.

The parents were talking about their favourite topic. Bacho ki shaadi (Children's marriage).

“Hum toh dekh rhe hai apne Dheer ke liye ladki. Lekin iss ladke ko koi samajh hi nhi aati. Aapki nazar mai koi ho toh batana bhabhi.”

His mother said to hers. Dheer rolled her eyes while Pratishtha looked at him wide eyed. His marriage? With someone else? No way! She had to do something. And do it soon!

Pratishtha had started a new routine. Walk at night. To stay fit. Well, that's what she told her parents. In reality, it was to spend some time with Dheer.

She had started wearing traditionals more seeing his reaction to her wearing them once. Even right now, the two were walking around the park and she was in a full length suit with matching pants.

Dheer held her hand in his and kissed her knuckles occasionally.

“Achha suno na!”

She said remembering something and turned to him. He smiled and leaned in a little while saying.

“Haan sunao na!”

She blushed and hit his chest lightly before biting her lip shyly while playing with his shirt’s button and asking.

“Shaadi kroge mujhse?”

Dheer froze and kept looking at her wide eyed.

“W-what?”

He asked after a minute of shock. She smiled and asked again.

“Shaadi? Kroge mujhse?”

His shock dissipated and his eyes sparkled.

“Why is that even a question? Yes! Yes I'll marry you.”

“Good! Ab rishta bhijwao mere ghar.”

She said and he got mummed again.

“Mai?”

“Haan toh aur kaun? Propose bhi mai kru? Rishta bhi mai bhijwau? Toh tum kya kroge? Chupchap mere ghar rishta bhijwao.”

She said and he looked at her gobsmacked. What was this girl? Well, what can he say, he was the one who fell in love with her first.

“Ok mam. Waise tum na bhut kharab ho. Aise public mai propose kia hai. Mai kiss bhi kr skta yaha tumhe.”

He grumbled and she bit her lip.

“Ab toh jis din mere ghar rishta lekar aaoge tab hi kiss krungi.”

She said mischievously while sticking out her tongue at him like a kid and ran away making him laugh and chase behind her.

About two days after her proposal Pratishtha and her father were sitting in the living room, watching a cricket match on the tv when her mother came in and switched off the tv making both of them look at her.

“Kya?”

“Kuch baat krni hai”

She said and sat in front of Pratishtha. She had an idea what it could be about and bit her lip nervously.

“Arre toh sun rhe hai na hum. Isme tv band krne wali kya baat thi? Match aa raha hai na.”

Her father said and switched on the tv again. He muted the volume and focused back on the match. Her mother rolled her eyes and focused on Pratishtha.

“Damini ji mili thi mujhe aaj market mai.”

“Ohh.”

“Kal ghar aana chahte hai tere liye rishta lekar.”

This statement got her father's attention and he turned to them shocked.

“Rishta? Ishu ke liye? Kiska?”

“Ye kaise sawal hai? Ek hi beta hai na unka. Aur kiska rishta le kar aayenge? Dheer ka.”

Her father got up and declared sternly.

“Uss ladke ka rishta kyu bhijwaya hai? Mai nhi karunga Ishu ki shaadi usse.”

Her mother rolled her eyes again and Pratishtha looked scared. 

“Aap neeche baitho pehle.”

She said and turned to Pratishtha who gulped.

“Kab se chal raha hai ye sab?”

Pratishtha's eyes widened and she asked.

“K-Kya chal rha hai? Kuch bhi toh nhi chal raha.”

She said nervously and her mother gave her a ‘seriously’ look.

“Tum bacho ko kya lagta hai? Maa baap pagal hai? Unhe kuch samajh nhi aata? Sab dikhai deta hai hume. Ye tera walk ka routine. Ek dum se traditional pehna. Ghar se kahi do minute ki duri pr bhi achhe se taiyar ho kar jaana. Ahujas ka naam sunte hi blush krna. Mujhe kya samajh nhi aa raha ki kya chal raha hai?”

Pratishtha lowered her head as she felt both her parents’ gaze on her.

“Kya keh rhe ho? Aisa kuch bhi nhi hai.”

“Achha? Toh mai mana ke deti hu Damini ji ko ki hum interested nhi hai.”

“NHI!”

Pratishtha yelled as her head snapped up at her mother.

“Mai-mai pyaar krti hu usse. Aur wo bhi krta hai.”

She said and then again looked down when her mother gave her a look.

“Pyaar krte ho?! Aise kaise pyaar krte ho?”

Her father asked incredulously.

“Kya matlab hai kaise pyaar krte ho? Pyaar kaise hota hai?”

Her mother asked and her father looked at her.

“Arre mera matlab-”

“Aap rehne do abhi. Kal aa rhe hai wo log. Ab jo baat hogi wo kal hi hogi. Aap apni tasalli aaram se kr lena.”

She said and her father nodded with determination. Pratishtha looked at them scared. What if they scare Dheer away?

She had to warn him. And she did. To which he asked her to relax and let her handle it.

Both the families were sitting in Pratishtha’s living room. She was sitting with her parents on one couch while Dheer sat with his on the other.

She looked at him and he blinked her eyes in assurance. She gave a slight nod and smiled.

“Bura mat maniyega bhaisahab lekin ek ladki ka baap hu. Beti dene se pehle achhe se satisfy hona chahta hu ki jiss ghar jaayegi achhe se rahegi. Jiske saath rahegi wo khush rakhega.”

Her father said and looked at Dheer on his last statement.

“Aapko problem na ho toh Dheer se kuchh sawal krna chahta hu.”

“Bilkul bilkul bhaishab. Apni puri tasalli rakhiye.”

Dheer's father said and her father stared questioning Dheer about normal things. His job, his views, his opnions about different things. And when he felt satisfied, he nodded.

Pratishtha smiled at Dheer who gave her a smile back as if saying ‘See everything is ok’.