The two have decided to tell their families as soon as they can because Abhishek was desperate to marry her now. His impatience was funny at times.

“Anu yaar! Darr lag raha hai! Kaise batau mummy papa ko?”

(I am scared! How should I tell mummy papa?)

Praunuti was over a call with Anwesha. She sighed and held her hand.

“Praunuti! Uncle aunty se chill parents nhi dekhe maine aaj tak. Tu kyu darti hai unse? Just go and tell aunty. Wo apne aap baat kr lengi uncle se.”

(I have not seen parents more chill than uncle aunty. Why are you scared of them?...She will talk to uncle on her own.)

“But mummy se bhi toh baat krni padegi na. Tu ek kaam kr na, tu yaha aaja. Please! Mere moral support ke liye.”

(But I have to talk to mummy. You do one thing, come here. Please! For my moral support.)

Anwesha sighed and said.

“Parso chhutti hai meri. Tab aati hu. Lekin baat tu hi kregi. Mai nhi bolungi kuch.”

(I have an off day after tomorrow. I’ll come then. But you will talk. I will not say anything.)

“Haan lekin aa jaaio please.”

(Yes but please come.)

They talked about some other random stuff and disconnected after some time. 

Abhishek had already told his parents about Praunuti and his mother was very excited to meet her.

Every four five hours, she would ask Abhishek ‘Praunuti ne baat kri apne parents se? Kab chal rhe hai hum uske ghar?’

(Did Praunuti talk to her parents? When are we going to her place?)

Praunuti had chuckled when Abhishek told her this. She told him that she was going to talk to her parents tomorrow.

“I can't wait, Praunuti. To make you mine forever. I love you so much.”

She blushed and got tongue-tied. 

“I-I love you too, Abhishek.”

She whispered, making his heart go wild.

Praunuti was sweating buckets. Anwesha and she were in her room discussing how to approach the topic with her mother.

“Sun! Saans le! Kuch nhi hoga. Just tell her directly. No need to beat around the bush.”

(Listen! Take a breath! Nothing will happen.)

Praunuti bit her lip and took a deep breath. She nodded and wiped her sweaty hands on her pants. They moved out of the room with Anwesha following behind to make sure she didn't run back to her room.

“Umm…mummy…aapse kuch baat krni thi do minute.”

(Umm…mummy…I have to talk to you for two minutes.)

“Haan bol.”

(Yes tell me.)

Her mother asked distractedly. She was focused on her series on the TV.

“Mummy! Isse roko na. Suno toh.”

(Stop this. Listen.)

“Haan haan kaan khule hai mere. Bol!”

(Yes yes I am listening. Say it!)

Praunuti looked at Anwesha who sighed and picked up the remote. She paused the series making her mother's eyes snap to them sharply.

“Sorry aunty! Par important baat hai. We need your attention.”

(It’s important.)

She then pushed Praunuti towards the sofa where her mother sat and took her place in front of them.

“Wo mummy…mai…mujhe…”

(Mummy…I…I…)

“Meri series roki hai tune. Jaldi bol ab!”

(You stopped my series. Speak fast!)

“Wo thode time pehle na…Anwesha ne mujhe ek site ka login diya tha.”

(Some time back…Anwesha gave me the login of a site.)

She started making Anwesha look at her surprised. She slapped her forehead and shook her head.

“Kaisa login? Kaisi site?”

(What login? What site?)

“Wo mumma…mat-matrimonial site…”

Her mother got quiet, understanding the matter now. Still, she wanted Praunuti to complete her statement.

“Achha? Phir?”

(Ok? Then?)

“Pehle toh maine khola hi nhi. Phir isne bola ki ye 6 mahine ki payment kr chuki hai toh maine socha paise waste honge isse better dekh li leti hu. Aur kuch nhi toh time pass hi ho jaayega. Pehle toh maine seriously nhi lia. Lekin phir…”

(First I did not open. But she said she made 6 months payment so I thought that money would be wasted, better is that I see it once. If nothing it will pass some time. First I did not take it seriously. But then…)

She said quickly but stumbled at the last. Her mother raised her eyebrow and prompted further.

“Phir?”

(Then?)

“Phir…wo…ek…ek ladke se…b-baat start hui…almost…almost do mahine ho gye hai…baat hote huye…”

(Then…umm…one…one boy…I started talking…almost…almost two months have passed…since we’re talking…)

She then looked up at her mother and said seriously.

“I like him. Bhut jyada. I-I love him mummy. Usne propose kia hai. Milna chahta hai aap dono se apni family ke saath. Shaadi krna chahta hai mummy.”

(A lot….He proposed. He wants to meet you both with his family. He wants to get married mummy.)

Her mother was silent for some time. Praunuti felt her heart beat wildly due to nervousness. She lowered her head not being able to look at her mother.

“Toh isme itna darne wali kya baat thi? Jis din tum sab ki chhutti ho bula le usse aur uski family ko dinner pr. Sab baatein ho jaayengi.”

(What was there to be so scared? Invite his family on dinner when you have an off. We will talk about everything.)

Praunuti’s eyes snapped to her and she looked at her mother surprised. Her mother was smiling.

“Aap-aapko problem nhi hai isse?”

(You-you don’t have a problem with this?)

“Isme problem kya hai? Hum bhi toh rishte dhund hi rhe the na. Tune khud pasand kr lia toh usse achha kya hai?”

(What problem in this? We were also looking for alliances. What better than you liking someone?)

Praunuti still couldn't believe her mother had agreed so easily. Anwesha, on the other hand, grinned wide.

“Wahi toh aunty! Mai bhi isse tabse yahi samjha rahi h. Ki aapni pasand aunty uncle ko batane mai koi problem nhi hai. Ab aapse nhi kahegi toh kisko kahegi?”

(Exactly aunty! I was tried to explain this to her. That there is nothing wrong in telling about your choice to uncle aunty. Who else will she tell it to if not you?)

Praunuti’s mother shook her head at the girl’s drama. She had known Anwesha since Praunuti’s college years and she loved the girl like her own.

“Mumma….aap na…papa se baat kr lena…ki kab bula lu…”

(Mumma…you…talk to papa…when to call them…)

Praunuti blushed at the thought of her father knowing about it. Her mother smiled and nodded.

“Chal ab remote chhod mera. Bhaago yaha se dono!”

(Leave my remote. And leave from here!)

The girls giggled and ran to Praunuti’s room. As soon as they entered, Anwesha turned to her.

“Chal chal! Jiju ko phone kr. Good news to dede.”

(Come on! Call jiju. Give him the good news.)

“Mai de dungi. Tu jaa yaha se.”

(I will. You go from here.)

Anwesha gasped and looked at Praunuti horrified.

“Jaa yaha se? Bas itni dosti nibhayi tune? You let a boy get between us. What happened to “sisters before misters”?”

(Go from here?this is your friendship?)

Praunuti rolled her eyes and slumped on her bed.

“Tu tease krti hai mujhe. Mai nhi baat kr rhi unse tere saamne.”

(You tease me. I will not talk to him in front of you.)

“Awww! Dirty talk kroge?”

(Will you do dirty talk?)

“Anu! Chee! Go away!”

(Eww!)

“What chee? You are going to get married to him soon. Dirty talks hi nhi ab toh dirty deeds bhi hongi.”

(What eww? …Not just dirty talks, dirty deeds will also happen.)

Anwesha nudged Praunuti’s side playfully, making her flush red just imagining what she said. Praunuti hid her face in her pillow and Anwesha laughed wholeheartedly.

Abhishek and his parents were discussing what all to take to Praunuti’s house when they visit for the first time. Sarthak reached at that moment and frowned.

“Kaha jaane ki itni preparation ho rhi hai?”

(What are you preparing to go for?)

“Praunuti ke ghar jaana hai na. Uske parents se milne. Iss Sunday ko.”

(We have to go to Praunuti’s place. To meet her parents. This Sunday.)

Sarthak frowned again and that’s when Abhishek realised that he had not told Sarthak anything about Praunuti.

“Kaun Praunuti?”

(Who Praunuti?)

Abhishek’s mother looked at Abhishek with a raised eyebrow and then shrugged her shoulders as if saying ‘Your best friend, you handle’.