Abhishek too was sitting on his bed. He had been scrolling for two weeks and had matched with a few girls. They chatted for some time only to realise that they wanted different things.

One wanted him to leave his job and take over her father's business. Like what in bollywood is that? One wanted him to not live with his parents after marriage. Not like he had any problem living alone but the way she mentioned it, he knew she wasn’t the one for her. With the third one, his vibe didn't match at all. Their texts were drier than a desert. And with the other one he felt like he was talking to a good friend rather than a future partner.

All in all, he had not found anyone worth deleting the app yet.

He was lazily swiping when one profile came and his thumb stopped. His pupils dilated to take in more of it. His brain got laser sharp as it skimmed through her profile. All of that involuntarily.

Praunuti Chaudhary

A microscopic smile formed on his face as he swiped right. The next moment, a message displayed on his screen and he sat straight.

It's a match!

What? Match? Already? Did she swipe right on him too? Well, obviously because that's how it works. His thumb hovered over the ‘Chat’ option.

“Why are you getting so nervous Abhishek? Pehli baar thodi na baat kr rha hai kisi se.”

(You are not talking to someone for the first time.)

But his heart was still beating loudly. As if telling him that this time was different.

He clicked on the Chat button and it directed him to her chat. His fingers kept hovering over the keyboard thinking of what to write.

He finally settled on a simple greeting.

Hey

How are you?

And he waited. 5 minutes. 10 minutes. 15 minutes. When he realised that she wasn't online, he clicked his phone shut and sighed.

“Stop being so impatient. Kaam kr kaam.”

(Do your work.)

He reprimanded himself and got up to do his pending work.

Praunuti entered her room after a long day at work. She had just had her dinner and was ready to crash into bed.

She picked up her phone to see a notification from the site. Without wasting another second, she clicked on it.

It first displayed the message, ‘It’s a match!’ and then directed her to someone's chat.

Praunuti opened the profile and her heart skipped a beat. She remembered swiping right on him.

The first person who stuck her eye in a different way. She had paused when his profile had displayed earlier. Reading through it with utmost detail. As if memorizing every word of it.

And she had matched with him. That meant he had also liked her.

She saw his messages waiting and immediately typed a reply.

Hey

I'm good.

How are you?

The dots started dancing on the screen and she blinked. He was online? She bit her lip in anticipation.

Do you have a pet dog? I saw a picture with one in your profile.

Praunuti smiled warmly remembering her cutie dog, Coco. Her fingers started moving on the screen.

I did. Coco, my little baby. I lost him to old age two years back.

She replied and the dots immediately appeared.

I am sorry to hear that. He really was a cutie.

Praunuti smiled and then asked him if he ever had any pets or has one now.

He replied in negative for both and admitted the fact that he was shit scared from dogs, with a sheepish smile emoji.

That's how their conversation started. Asking questions back and forth. Getting to know what their profiles didn't answer.

After Anwesha, it was him that Praunuti enjoyed talking to. She was a very shy and introverted person and never felt comfortable talking to strangers.

But this man erupted a strange warmth in her. They've been talking back and forth for almost a week. After 5 days, Abhishek finally started the serious topic.

I am assuming that since you're on a matrimonial site rather than a dating app, you want something serious out of it. Mai phir bhi sab baatein pehle hi clear krna chahta hu. Because I am getting attached, Praunuti. I've talked to a lot of people before you but none of them got to me like you did. 

(I still want to clear things beforehand.)

Praunuti crossed her leg and bit her lip, waiting and letting him type.

I know it's just been a week and it might be too soon to say this but I am thinking about this, about us, very seriously. So, I want to clarify everything from the start. So that either of us doesn't get hurt in the future because of misplaced expectations.

Her heart thudded in her chest. What did he mean? Clarify what? 

For me, this doesn't end with breakup or blocking each other. If we do this, for me it's forever. I want to get married to you some day. I don't have very high expectations from my wife. I just want us to have mutual love and respect for each other and each other's families. Before we continue talking any further, I want you to be sure that you're in with me on this.

Praunuti smiled. Abhishek waited with bated breath as she typed. He had been honest to her but now he was scared. What if she says that she doesn't want the same thing? He really did feel a connection with her. 

Thank you for clearing this Abhishek.

He stopped breathing. She was going to end this. His heart felt heavy and he clicked his phone shut because he couldn't see her type the words out.

His phone pinged with a notification and it took everything in his will power to open that message and shatter his heart himself.

I am happy that you told me this in the beginning. Pehle sure nhi thi but ab ho gyi. I also don't do timepass Abhishek. Honestly, maine isse pehle ye sab kabhi nhi kia hai. I have always been a shy and introverted person. I don't talk to new people easily. But you make everything easy, Abhishek. I know it sounds cheesy and filmy, but aapke saath sab different hai.

(I wasn’t sure before but I am now….Honestly, I have never done this before. I know it sounds cheesy and filmy, but everything is different with you.)

He released the breath he was holding. A smile slowly started making its way on his lips.