Aanya came home from an exhausting day at work. She changed her clothes and freshened up. When she came out of her room in the living room, she saw her father sitting on the sofa, watching a cricket match.

She slumped against him and he patted her head softly. 

“Thak gyi meri laado?”

(My daughter is tired?)

Aanya hummed and closed her eyes as he massaged her head in slow, firm motions.

“Aanya! Sona nhi hai beta. Khaana laga rhi hu. Dining table pr aa jaao dono.”

(Do not sleep. I am serving the food. Come to the dinner table, both of you.)

The father-daughter duo moved to the dining table. Aanya helped her mother to place all the dishes on the table and the three of them had their dinner. Aanya had an elder brother who lived in America with his wife.

Her brother, Aakash and his wife, Samiksha, visited them every three to four months. 

“Arre! Mai batana bhul gaya. Abhijeet ka phone aaya tha. Wo bhabhi aur bete ke saath aa raha hai India kuch dino mai. Milna chahta tha sabse ek baar.”

(I forgot to tell. Abhijeet called. He and Bhabhi wanted to visit with their son. They wanted to meet.)

Aanya’s father spoke when they were all sitting in the living room on Sunday afternoon. Both Aanya and her mother smiled. Abhijeet was her father’s best friend from college.

He was like family to them. Both him and his wife, Manya, were very nice people. Although Aanya had not met their son a lot of times, she remembered their childhood when Abhijeet used to visit.

His name was Abhimanyu. She hadn’t met him in almost 10 years now but she still followed him on social media and not to lie, he did grow up into a very handsome man. 

And now he was visiting. Would he still talk to her? He always did when they were kids. Aanya had always been shy and introvert and felt hesitant to approach someone first.

“Arre waah! Kab aa rhe hai dono? Kitna time ho gaya unse mile huye. Aur Abhimanyu toh kitna bada ho gaya hoga na. Kitne time pehle aaya tha.”

(That’s great! When are they coming? It’s been so long we’ve met. Abhimanyu must be so grown up. He came long back.)

Her mother spoke and Aanya smiled. 

“Ek hafte baad aayenge. Agle Sunday ghar aane ko keh rhe the. Maine haan krdi. Tu free hai na Aanya?”

(They’ll come after a week. They wanted to come home next Sunday. I said yes. Aanya are you free?)

“Haan papa. Sunday toh free hi hu.”

(Yes papa. I am free on Sundays.)

Aanya answered, making her father nod. The following Sunday arrived quicker than Aanya had assumed. She had been super busy the whole week. 

Abhijeet and Manya were on their way from their hotel. Aanya was in her room, getting ready. They were planning on going out for dinner after the evening tea and snacks. She wore a coord-set and left her hair open.

The bell rang and Aanya moved out of her room just in time to see Abhijeet and Manya being welcomed by her parents. Aanya too went and greeted the two.

“You’ve grown up so beautiful, Aanya.”

Manya complimented and pulled Aanya into a warm, motherly hug. Even Abhijeet patted her head lovingly and said.

“She’s always been beautiful, Manya. Now, she’s grown into a gorgeous and kind lady. Right, Aanya?”

Aanya giggled and nodded.

“Right uncle.”

All of them shared a laugh and took their places in the living room. 

“Abhimanyu nhi aaya?”

(Abhimanyu did not come?)

Aanya’s mother asked and Manya spoke up.

“Uski flight two din baad hai. He had an important conference with some delegates. Wo attend krke aayega.”

(His flight is two days later…He’ll come after attending that.)

Her mother nodded and Aanya noticed her father and Abhijeet exchanging secret glances.

“Waise bhabhi…hamare yaha aane ka two fold motive tha. He knows.”

(Bhabhi…we had a two fold motive of coming here.)

Abhijeet said pointing towards her father and her mother looked at him surprised.

“Achha? Mujhe bataya nhi inhone kuch. Kya baat hai?”

(Really? He did not tell me anything. What is it?)

The two men and Manya smiled, making Aanya and her mother look at them in curiosity.

“I’ll tell you. Actually, we were thinking…ki bache ab bade ho rhe hai. We have to get them married some day. And Abhimanyu also wanted to marry someone from India.”

(…that kids are grown up.)

Aanya’s heart started beating wildly. She had an idea what might come next but nothing could have prepared her for it.

“Hum Abhimanyu ka rishta lekar aaye hai. For Aanya.”

(We have come with Abhimanyu’s alliance.)

Abhijeet said with a soft smile and everyone turned to look at Aanya who had gone still. Her heart skipped a beat. Her marriage. With Abhimanyu? 

She lowered her head in embarrassment, seeing all the eyes on her. Abhijeet spoke first.

“Let’s not make her conscious. Aanya beta. Aap apna pura time lo. In fact, talk to Abhimanyu when he comes here. Discuss whatever you want to with him. Ask whatever question or doubt you have in mind. Agar aapko thik lage, toh haan krna, otherwise there’s no pressure.”

(You take your time….If you think you’re okay, say yes, otherwise there’s no pressure.)

Manya nodded in support and said.

“Jeet is right, Aanya. Take your time and think about it. Whatever your decision is going to be, we’ll support you.”

Aanya nodded in gratitude. She did need a lot of time to think, she felt. The same night, after Abhijeet and Manya had left for their hotel, Aanya’s mother entered her room and sat on the bed.

She patted her lap and asked Aanya to come to her. Aanya did so with a soft smile and sighed when her mother moved her fingers in her hair in a massaging motion. 

“Pata hi nhi chala kab itni badi ho gyi tu. Tere papa waise toh bhut khush hai lekin mujhse keh rhe the…kaise vida krunga usse? Unke liye toh tu aaj bhi unki nanhi si gudiya hai jo unki ungli pakad kr harr jagah ghuma krti thi.”

(We never realised when you grew up. Your father is happy but he was asking…how will he send you away? For him, you’re still that little girl who used to roam around everywhere holding his finger.)

Her mother started getting emotional and Aanya too felt tears in her eyes.

“Mumma yaar! Senti kyu kr rhe ho? Abhi thodi na jaa rhi hu mai. Abhi toh kuch decide bhi nhi kia maine.”

(Why are you making me sentimental? I am not going anywhere right now. I have not even decided yet.)

“Abhimanyu na sahi lekin kisi se toh shaadi krke jaayegi na ek din. Waise log bhut achhe hai Aanya. Bhut saal se jaante hai hum unhe. Itna bada business hai New York mai. Aur phir Aakash aur Samiksha bhi toh wahi rehte hai. Aisa bhi nhi hoga ki tu akeli hai. Phir bhi soch le aaram se. Abhimanyu aa jaata hai toh usse baat krio. Apne dil ki baat rakhio aur uski sunna. Dono milke decide krlo jo tumhe thik lage.”

(You will marry someone if not Abhimanyu. They are very good people Aanya. We know them since so many years. They have a flourishing business in New York. And Aakash and Samiksha are also there. You’ll not be alone there. You think carefully. Talk to Abhimanyu when he comes. Talk your heart out and listen to his. Both of you decide whatever you think fine.)