Veer and Vani were in the parking lot of their society. She didn’t want to let go of him. He didn’t complain because honestly, he loved to hold her in his arms. His car had tinted glasses so they didn’t even care about anyone seeing them.

“Vani?”

She hummed with her eyes still closed.

“I’ll turn 29 this month.”

He started and she pulled back slightly.

“I know oldie.”

She teased and he smiled.

“What I mean is…we aren’t getting any younger…and I want to settle down now…so if you’re ready…will you marry me, Vani?”

The smile on her face fell quicker than lightning. She pulled back completely and sat straight on her seat. She wrapped her arms around herself and took a deep breath before confessing.

“I…I don’t want to get married.”

He thought that she wanted to wait and wasn’t ready.

“It’s fine. We can wait. Whenever you’re ready-”

“I don’t want to get married ever.”

He was shocked. What did she mean? Her body language screamed that she was hurting and he had no clue how to help her. He didn’t know what was happening.

“Mujhe kabhi shaadi nhi krni. I know it’s…”

(I don’t want to marry.)

She turned to look at him with tears in her eyes.

“...I know I am asking too much…but…hum aise hi saath nhi reh skte kya? Shaadi krni zaruri hai?”

(can we not stay like this? Is marriage necessary?)

He smiled and cupped her face. 

“Nhi. Bilkul zaruri nhi hai. I just want you. You don’t want to get married. Then fine. But baat kya hai?”

(No. Not necessary at all…But what is the matter?)

She looked down and sniffed. Taking a deep breath, she confessed in a croaked voice.

“I’m scared…scared of marriage…scared of everything I’ve seen around me.”

He was confused. But he let her speak. She was shaking due to the emotions inside her.

“Maine hamari family mai ek bhi successful marriage nhi dekhi. Bua had a really tough time in her marriage. Fufaji used to hit her. Rote huye ghar aati thi. I still remember how she always had bruises on her face whenever she visited. He doesn’t do it now but wo toh aaj bhi iss constant fear mai rehti hai ki pata nhi fufaji kab maarenge.”

(I have not seen any successful marriage in our family….She came home crying….He doesn’t do it now but she still lives in that constant fear of when fufaji might hit her.)

He closed his eyes. He just pulled her closer and hugged her tightly letting her let her feelings out.

“Mamu got divorced because the woman he married only wanted his money. Darr lagta hai…”

(I am scared…)

She choked and hid her face in his chest. He rubbed her back and spoke.

“I understand where you’re coming from. There are all kinds of people in this world. And I’m so sorry that your bua and mamu went through that. But hey! There are so many successful marriages also. Take uncle aunty for example.”

He said and heard her chuckle humourlessly.

“They are the biggest reasons I don’t want to get married.”

What? He got tongue tied and what she said next froze him on the spot.

“Papa cheated!”

Her hold on his shirt tightened and he felt his throat tighten. She cried in his arms and he held on tighter.

“Chhoti thi mai. Varun wasn’t even 4. 10 saal ki thi mai. Bachi thi par samajh sab aa raha tha. I still remember mumma crying, wanting to leave, papa begging for her to stay. Mujhe yaad hai nani aur nanu aaye the. Mumma ko samjhane. Baat sort karwane. She wanted divorce. But mamu already divorced the aur nani nanu nhi chahte the ki mumma bhi…I still remember papa asking her to stay. “Mere liye nhi lekin bacho ke liye ruj jaa, Parul”. And she stayed. For us. Unhe lagta hai mujhe pata nhi hai. But jab bhi meri shaadi ki baat hoti hai na, I freeze. Mumma ka rota hua chehra, bua ka chehra and mamu ki yaad aati hai.”

(I was young…I was 10. A kid but I understood…I remember nani and nanu coming home. To make mumma understand. To sort things out….But mamu was already divorced and nani nanu didn’t want mumma also to…”Not for me but stay for the kids, Parul”….They think I don’t know. But whenever the conversation about my marriage started. I freeze. I remember mumma’s crying face, bua’s face and mamu.)

“I’d never do that to you, Vani.”

Veer said and she shook her head. She cupped his face and said.

“I know. I trust you. I just…I…I can’t. I’m sorry.”

He hugged her again and rocked their bodies, trying to calm her down. He kissed her head repeatedly and assured that he wasn’t going anywhere. No matter what.

The two had decided to tell their families about each other. Veer’s parents were totally cool with it. Varenya was dancing with happiness.

“Mai toh bhai bhut khush hu. Shaadi kab kr rhe ho dono phir?”

(I am very happy. When are you two getting married then?)

His mother asked his smile fell. He clenched his jaw remembering her breakdown a few days ago.

“Aren’t you happy that I found someone?”

“Kaisi baat hai ye? Of course I am.”

(What nonsense is that?)

“Bas phir. There are things you don’t know and I don’t even want you to know. Bas ek request hai. Shaadi ki baat nhi krna Vani ke saamne. We will get married when she wants to. But aap log ye sawaal nhi kroge. Ok?”

(That’s it….There’s just one request. Don’t talk about marriage in front of Vani….But you will not ask this from her.)

His parents understood because Veer was rarely serious with them. He might be an officer for the world, but for them he was still the naughty and playful backbencher Veer.

Vani didn’t know how to tell her parents. But she knew she had to. So, she sat them down one evening. The two looked at each other confused and Varun looked on amused.

“Kya baat hai? Aise kyu bithaya hai?”

(What happened? Why did you get us here like this?)

“Aap dono ko kuch batana tha.”

(I wanted to tell you both about something.)

She started. Her mother had an idea of what she might want to say. She wasn’t clueless about her late evening get-togethers with ‘friends’. 

“Kya baat hai?”

(What is it?)

Her father asked and she lowered her eyes. She took a deep breath and started.

“Wo…I and Veer…we love each other and we’ve been dating for the past two months.”

“Kaun Veer?”

(Who Veer?)

“Veer Aggawal. Umm…404. Aggarwals.”

She explained and her father got serious.

“Mujhe toh samajh nhi aata aaj kal ke bacho ka. Inhe lagta hai love marriage sahi hai. Kya guarantee ki ladka achha hoga, saath dega? Shaadi ke liye ladka maa baap se better koi nhi dhund skta. Mujhe toh nhi pasand ye sab. Baaki tum bade bache ho. Sab samajhte ho.”

(I don’t understand this generation. They think love marriage is right. What is the guarantee that the man would be good, will stay together? Nobody can find a better man than parents do. I don’t like all this. You are grown up kids now. You understand everything.)

Vani chuckled humourlessly.

“Harr maa baap achha ladka nhi dhund paate na. Aur zaruri nhi hai ki maa baap ka dhunda hua harr ladka achha ho, saath de. Kuch dhoka bhi de dete hai.”

(Not every parent can find a good man. And it is not necessary that the man found by the parents is good, stays with you. Some even betray you.)

Then she looked at her father and asked.

“Hai na papa?”

(Right papa?)

Her father looked at her shocked and then lowered his eyes not knowing what to say. Her mother too didn’t expect this and asked.

“K-kya matlab hai tera?”

(W-what do you mean?)

Even Varun was surprised at the sudden change of atmosphere. What did her sister mean?