Vani’s teary eyes met her mother’s glassy ones.

“Bachi thi…bewakoof nhi…sab samajh aata tha…ki kya ho raha hai…”

(I was small…not a fool…I understood everything…what is happening…)

Then she looked at her father sharply who still had his head lowered.

“...kyu ho raha hai? Toh mujhe aapse toh atleast ye nhi sunna ki love marriage wala dokha dega aur arranged marriage wala nhi. Bhut achhe examples nhi hai mere paas arranged marriage ke.”

(…why it is happening? So I don’t want to listen from you atleast that love marriage will give betrayal and arranged marriage won’t. I don’t have very good examples of arranged marriage before me.)

“Kya ho raha hai ye sab?”

(What is happening?)

Varun asked, confused.

“Bas Vani!”

(Enough Vani!)

Her mother intervened. She didn’t want Varun to know anything. Vani nodded and got up.

“Bas itna batana tha ki pyaar krte hai hum ek dusre se. Aapko ye baat kahi aur se pata chalti isse pehle maine hi bata di. Uske parents ne invite kia hai iss Sunday. Dinner par. Baap ka farz nibhane ke liye aa sko toh aa jaana. Nhi toh mai apni maa ke saath chali jaaungi.”

(I just wanted to tell that we love each other. I told you before you would find out from elsewhere. His parents have invited this Sunday. Over dinner. Come if you could to fulfil the duties of a father. Otherwise I will go with my mother.)

With that she left to her room, leaving the three behind. Varun tried asking his parents what had happened and what did Vani mean by all that. But his mother deflated the situation saying that she just got upset because her father didn’t understand her point of view.

Varun wasn’t a fool. He went after Vani and asked her.

“Kya bola aapne bahar? Kya matlab tha uska? Kya hua hai?”

(What did you say outside? What did that mean? What has happened?)

“Kuch nhi.”

(Nothing.)

Her voice was hoarse from subduing all the emotions she was feeling.

“Koi mujhe kuch bata kyu nhi raha hai? Mai iss ghar ka member nhi hu kya?”

(Why is no one telling me anything? Am I not a member of this family?)

He asked, mildly irritated now. Vani turned to face him and smiled sadly.

“Teri wajah se hi toh ye family normal lagti hai. Kuch cheezein na…hume na hi pata ho toh better hoti hai. Aur waise bhi…bhut purani baat hai. Jaane de.”

(This family looks normal because of you. It is better…if we do not know some things. And moreover…this is too old. Leave it.)

Vani told Veer what happened.

“He has no right to comment on the topic of marriage. Apni toh wo nibha nhi paaye. Dusro ko kya advice denge?”

(He couldn’t fulfil his. Who is he to advice others?)

“Calm down, meri jaan. Sab thik hai.”

(Everything is fine.)

His soothing voice did calm her down and she sighed. Tears fell from her eyes and she closed them. She felt someone caress her face and saw her mother looking at her.

“I’ll talk to you later, Veer.”

She disconnected the call and sat straight, shifting to make space for her mother. Her mother opened her arms and Vani immediately snuggled into her.

“Kabse pata hai tujhe?”

(Since when do you know?)

“Nani nanu ghar aaye the tabse.”

(Since nanu nani came home.)

Their voices came out as whispers. Emotions clogged their throats.

“Darr lagne lag gaya mujhe shaadi se mumma….bhut strong ho aap…aap ruk gye…mai hoti toh nhi ruk paati. Kabhi maaf nhi kr paati.”

(I started feeling scared of marriage…you are very strong…you stayed…I wouldn’t have been able to. I wouldn’t have forgiven.)

“Aasan nhi tha. Shuru mai bhut mann krta tha…ki kahi bhaag jaau…sab chhodkr chali jaau. Lekin phir…tera aur Varun ka khayal aata tha. Ki iss sab mai mere maasoom bacho ki toh koi galti nhi hai. Unhe kyu saza du. Phir dheere dheere aadat si ho gyi. Ab farak hi nhi padta.”

(It wasn’t easy. In the beginning…I wanted to run away…leave everything behind. But then…I thought about you and Varun. That my innocent children are at no fault in all this. Why punish them. Then slowly I got habitual. Not it doesn’t matter.)

She said with a sad smile and Vani hugged her tightly. The mother daughter cried silently.

“I told Veer that I don’t want to get married. Ever. I told him why.”

Her mother looked at her surprised but nodded. She understood. And she wished all the happiness and love for her daughter. The happiness and love she didn’t get. 

Sunday was here and Vani and her family members were getting ready to go meet Veer’s family. Officially as Vani’s life partner. Her father hadn’t talked to her since that day. He couldn’t meet her eyes. 

Varenya was bubbling with excitement. She was so excited to call Vani as bhabhi finally. And she did. As soon as she opened the door for her family to enter.

“Namaste aunty! Namaste uncle! Hii bhabhi!”

Vani chuckled and Varun rolled his eyes. He was there too. Couldn’t she greet him also?

“Hi Varenya! And you can call me di.”

“Tsk! Aise kaise? Mai toh kabse wait kr rhi thi kisi ko bhabhi bulane ka. And when I got to know ki aap ho bhaiya ki girlfriend, I knew me and my bhabhi were going to be best friends.”

(How so? I was so excited to call someone Bhabhi. And when I got to know that you are bhaiya’s girlfriend, I knew and my bhabhi were going to be best friends.)

Vani laughed and nodded. They entered inside. Vani’s mother was happy seeing her being welcomed so graciously. As if she was always a part of their family. 

Veer looked at her father looking at them with a shameful look in his eyes. He had respected the man as the father of the woman he loved. But he lost the respect he had for him as a good human. 

They were sitting at the dinner table, chitchatting and having their food. Vani was sitting beside Veer and her father, wanting to test his intentions, asked.

“Veer? Kya socha hai phir aapne shaadi ke baare mai? Matlab hum bhi kuch time mai Vani ke liye rishte dekhne shuru krne wale the. Aur phir aapki bhi shaadi ki umar ho gyi hai ab.”

(What have you thought about marriage? We were about to start looking for alliances for Vani in some time. And then it is the right time for marriage.)

Veer felt Vani freeze beside him. Even his parents were surprised. Veer had specifically asked them not to approach the topic of marriage. 

Veer held Vani’s hand under the table and intertwined her fingers with his.

“Bilkul uncle. Hum bta denge aapko whenever we’re ready for marriage. Aur phir abhi toh humne date krna start kia hai. We’re still getting to know each other.”

(Ofcourse uncle. We will tell you whenever we’re ready for marriage. And we just started dating.)

Her father smirked as if he had struck gold assuming that Veer did not intend to get married to Vani and was deflating the topic. 

“Toh matlab shaadi nhi krni?”

(So you don’t want to get married?)

“Abhi nhi krni uncle. We’re not mentally prepared for it.”

(Not right now uncle.)

His answer was crisp and to the point. His father felt the need to intervene.

“Thik hai na bhaisahab. Matlab maa baap ka concern toh yahi rehta hai na ki bacho ko achha life partner mil jaaye. Now they have each other. So hum bhi tension free hai. Shaadi toh jab chahe hoti rahegi. Kyu?”

(It’s ok. Parents are concerned that their kids find the right life partner. Now they have each other. So we are tension free. Marriage will happen. Why?)

He said with a chuckle effectively lightening the atmosphere. Vani clutched Veer’s hand tighter and looked into his eyes expressing her gratitude. He squeezed her hand in return as if saying that he had always got her back.

It has been more than six months since they’ve told their families about each other. Vani was at Veer’s place most of the time. She felt more at home with him and his family than at her own.

Even now, it was a Sunday and she was ringing the doorbell to his home. His mother opened the door and smiled.

Vani grinned and greeted her enthusiastically, making her chuckle and cup her face lovingly.

“Study room mai hai Veer.”

(Veer is in the study room.)

Vani nodded and skipped off towards the study. She first knocked to make sure he wasn’t in a meeting or over an important call. 

She understood and respected his job and its boundaries. There were certain things he couldn’t share with anyone for the reason of them being highly confidential.

Veer opened the door and smiled wide seeing her standing there. She hugged him tightly and immediately melted into his arms. Letting him take all of her weight.

He didn’t complain. He never did. She knew he loved when she did this. Let herself melt against him. Letting him become her safe anchor.

He, as always, picked her up bridal style and walked inside. He sat on his chair with her on his lap and she round her arm around his neck, hiding her face. 

Veer’s hands snaked around her back and he sighed, holding her close. He knew something was bothering her. Her body was rigid. But he didn’t ask. Didn’t probe. Because he knew if he did, she’d block her feelings. Instead, he gave her time to open up herself.

“I’m scared…”

She started in a small voice. He rubbed her back in soft, slow lines. 

“...darr lagta hai ki ek din aap thak jaaoge. Intezaar krte krte…umeed krte krte…mujhse.”

(…I am scared that you will get tired one day. Of waiting…of hoping…of me.)

He pulled back and made her look at him. Her eyes had unshed tears. He cupped her face and kissed her softly. He kissed her a few seconds before pulling back and whispering sincerely.

“Zindagi se thak gaya toh khatam ho jaaunga na Vani. Tum sirf meri zindagi ka ek hissa nhi ho. Meri zindagi ho.”

(I will be finished if I get tired of life, Vani. You are not just a part of my life. You are my life.)

The tear escaped her eyes and he wiped it softly. She opened her eyes and her glassy eyes met his love filled ones.

“Jhooth nhi bolunga…haan intezaar hai…umeed bhi hai…aur yakeen bhi…ki ek din mera pyaar tumhare iss darr ke upar jeet jaayega. Lekin agar nhi bhi toh koi baat nhi. Tum saath ho. Mere liye kaafi hai. Bas tum saath raho.”

(I will not lie…I am waiting…and hoping too…and I also believe this…that one day my love will overcome this fear of yours. But even if not, there’s no problem. You are with me. It’s enough. Just stay with me.)

He said and she hugged him again. This time, he felt her body relax. They stayed in that embrace for a long time. 

Two months back, the two celebrated their one-year dating anniversary by taking a trip together. Also, the first time they made love to each other. The night was magical. Both of them felt more in love with the other.

Veer had become more obsessed with her. Wanting to be near her all the time. Hold her. Just be with her.

She was in his room snuggling into him. His parents weren’t home and Varenya too was out with her friends. Celebrating the end of her school and the start of college. 

Veer caressed her naked back and she sighed in content basking in his warmth.

She gazed up at him and smiled softly. Her eyes shone with love and worship. They didn’t need words to convey their love anymore. Their eyes spoke their feelings. 

He caressed her face with such tenderness that she felt her heart burst with happiness. She rested her face in the crook of his neck and he held her close.

He pulled back abruptly and looked at her wide eyed. She smiled with teary eyes. Was he imagining things or did she really utter those words?

His own eyes teared up and he asked her to repeat what she said. She cupped his face and whispered the words again.

“Marry me, Veer.”

“I…fuck…yes! Yes! Yes! Let’s get married! Right now!”

She chuckled at his happiness. He held her face between his palms and asked.

“You’re serious, right?”

“I am. Marry me, Veer.”

“Thank you so much for trusting me, meri jaan.”

He hugged her tightly and kissed her head repeatedly. 

An year later

Vani entered the study room and shut the door behind her softly. Veer was on call with someone and listening to whatever the person said intently. 

He smiled at her and his eyes followed each of her moves. She walked towards him. He knew what she wanted and he immediately turned his chair to give her access.

She smiled and curled herself on his lap and rested her face in the crook of his neck. One of arms came to snake around her waist while the other held the phone to his ear.

He placed a kiss on her head and she smiled while still keeping her face in his neck. 

He froze in his place and looked at her in shock. 

“I’ll call back in some time.”

He told the person on the line and disconnected the call.

“What did you say?”

She smiled and held his hand, guiding to her stomach.

“I’m pregnant.”

He smiled through tears of happiness and hugged her close. That was it. Everything he could wish for. In his lap.