Praunuti reached the cafe where she and her best friend from college, Anwesha, had decided to meet. She was really excited to meet her. It had been so many months that the two sat down to have a chit chat.

“Praunuti!”

She heard an excited whisper from close by. She turned and saw Anwesha sitting two tables away and walked towards her. Anwesha got up and hugged Praunuti tightly.

“I missed you so much!”

“Me too! Kitna time ho gaya tha hume mile huye.”

(It’s been so long since we’ve met.)

“I know right! Mere paas itni saari gossips hai.”

(I have so many gossips.)

And the two sat down, gossiping and chatting about their lives and all the mirch masala that had happened.

“Waise maine na tere liye kuch kia hai. Ye dekh!”

(I did something for you. See!)

Anwesha said and forwarded her phone to Praunuti. At first, she frowned, skimming through what was displayed and then her wide eyes met Anwesha’s proud and mischievous ones’.

“Ye kya hai? Ye kyu hai? Anu tu pagal hai kya?”

(What is this? Why is this? Amu are you mad?)

“Arre kya problem hai? Uncle aunty ladka toh dhund hi rhe hai na. Toh khud bhi dhund le toh kya problem hai?”

(What is the problem? Uncle aunty are looking for alliances. What is the problem if you find yourself?)

Praunuti shook her head, visibly appalled at the idea. A matrimonial site? No!

“Mumma papa dekh rhe hai ladke aur mujhe unpe bharosa hai.”

(Mumma papa are looking for alliances and I trust them.)

Praunuti declared and Anwesha sighed.

“Mujhe bhi unpr bharosa hai and I know wo tere liye best hi choose krenge. But for once in your life, I want you to have a choice of your own. Not because someone else chose it for you, Praunuti. Tujhe shayad realise nhi hota but teri khudki koi choice nhi hai. Kab tak dusre ki choices pr dependent rahegi?”

(I also trust them and I know they will choose the best for you….You might not realise but you don’t have a choice of your own. Till when will you remain dependant on other’s choices?)

Anwesha said and Praunuti frowned. Anwesha held Praunuti’s hand and said.

“Abhi nhi pata chalega kyunki hum sab hai tere saath, to help you and choose for you. But what will happen when you get married? Tu toh waha bhi apni pasand ko maarti rahegi. Kyunki tujhe pata hi nhi ki tujhe kya pasand hai Praunuti. And that’s why I want you to do this. Look for men you like. Your own choice. Koi nhi samajh aaye toh baat alag hai but tu choose hi nhi kre ye sahi nhi hai na.”

(You won’t realise because we are with you, to help you and choose for you….You will keep killing your preferences there. Because you don’t know what you prefer….If you don’t like anything then it’s another matter but you don’t choose only is not the right thing.)

“But…what if I cannot judge their character properly?”

She mumbled in a low tone and Anwesha smiled.

“Toh uske liye hai na uncle aunty. Tujhe koi pasand aata hai toh unse kahio. Wo krenge background check and character check. Par tu pasand toh kr.”

(Uncle aunty are there for it. Tell them if you like someone. They will check the background and character. But you choose.)

“Are you sure?”

She asked and Anwesha nodded.

“I am! 110%! Isliye toh maine 6 mahine ka subscription bhi le lia hai.”

(That’s why I took 6 months’ subscription also.)

Praunuti’s eyes widened and she looked at Anwesha with shock.

“Tu pagal hai kya? 6 mahine? Kitna mehanga hoga na! Mujhe bata.”

(Are you mad? 6 months? It must be expensive! Tell me.)

“Shh! Chup reh tu! Just promise me you’ll look for people.”

(Keep quiet!)

Praunuti thought for some time and then realised that the subscription money was already paid. She might as well look through it. She nodded, making Anwesha jump on her seat.

“Good girl! Aur haan! Agli baar se hum kahi bhi milenge, jagah tu decide kregi, hum kya khaayenge wo bhi tu decide kregi and if we go shopping or purchase anything in general, toh apne liye sab cheezein tu khud pasand kregi.”

(And yes! From next time when we meet, you will decide the place, and whatever we order and if we go shopping or purchase anything in general, you will select everything for yourself on your own.)

Praunuti’s eyes widened. No! This was a nightmare for her. She got super stressed when the decision of selection was given to her. She was highly indecisive.

“Anu! Nhi!”

(No!)

“Shh! Keh dia na maine. Ab tujhe na tere shell se bahar nikalna padega. I don’t want your future husband or in-laws to take any undue advantage of you.”

(I told you. I have to get you out of our shell.)

Abhishek was sprawled on the couch in his living room, when his best friend, Sarthak slumped beside him with an oomph.

“Whatsup bro? Kaha itna busy hai tu?”

(Where are you so busy?)

He asked, making Abhishek hum. Sarthak frowned and narrowed his eyes at him. Abhishek was typing something on his phone with utmost concentration.

Sarthak snatched his phone, making Abhishek yell.

“Bhenchod! Dating app? Kya ho gaya tujhe? Tu toh ye dating apps wagerah pasand hi nhi krta tha na.”

(Mot*****!...What has happened to you? You never liked dating apps and all.)

“Dating app nhi hai. It's a matrimonial site.”

(It’s not a dating app.)

Abhishek said and took his phone back. Sarthak did a double take.

“Ye matrimonial site hai? Woah! This is exactly how a dating app looks.”

(This is matrimonial site?)

“Hmmm. So that people don't feel bored seeing the plain, old sites. I still feel the same about dating apps. Those are not for me.”

Abhishek said and completed his profile.

“Sahi hai bhai. Scroll like you do on a dating app and find a life partner. Cool! Very cool! So you are planning on finding a partner online? Uncle aunty ki pasand se nhi krega?”

(Good….You will not marry uncle aunty’s choice?)

“I am meeting people both offline and online. Agar unki pasand achhi lagi toh wo sahi otherwise I'll find one on my own.”

(If I like who they find, then ok otherwise I’ll find one on my own.)

Abhishek said and kept his phone aside. Sarthak nodded in understanding and said.

“Sahi hai bhai. Mere liye bhi koi dikhe toh bataio.”

(Good. Find one for me too.)

He grinned like a fool, making Abhishek roll his eyes.

“Saale! Tera baap hu mai? Ladki dekhu tere liye?”

(Moron! Am I your father? Look for girls for you?)

Sarthak laughed, making Abhishek chuckled.

It had been almost a week since Anwesha had given Praunuti the password and username to the app. She had gotten busy with work and couldn't check it.

Until now. She was sprawled on her bed on her stomach with her feet dangling up in the air.

She clicked open the app and logged in using the login information Anwesha had given her.

You just have to swipe right or left. Swipe left if it's a pass and swipe right if it's a go!

She remembered her words and started scrolling. She spent an hour on the site and swiped almost everyone left.

She waited for the few whom she swiped right on. Anwesh told her that it works like dating apps. If they also swipe right on her, it will be a match and they can chat. Else not.

The more she thought about it, the more excited she got to explore the site. She hadn't informed her parents though.

They wouldn't stop her or anything. But she was too shy to tell them.