Eshaan had invited Ishika home finally. The atmosphere at his home was filled with the aroma of home-cooked food, fresh flowers and a nervous energy that radiated from his mother.

She had cleaned the house three times, rearranged the cushions and made sure that the food was perfect.

She was happy for her son, but a small part of her was scared. What if this girl isn't as kind as she seems? What if the two of them together would be a wrong match and made their lives harder?

Eshaan stood by the door, checking his reflection in the hallway mirror for the nth time. His sister leaned against the wall and teasing him with a playful grin playing on her lips.

"Bas kro bhaiya! Aise saj rhe ho jaise aapka haath maangne aa rhi hai wo."

(Stop it now bhaiya! You are getting ready as if she is here to ask you to marry her.)

Eshaan gave her a mock glare and signed.

Chup! Bhut bolti hai tu!

(Shut up! You speak a lot!)

The doorbell rang, indicating Ishika's arrival. Eshaan took a deep breath, his heart racing wildly as he opened the door.

Ishika was standing there. She looked nervous but was glowing in her soft pastel blue dress. She held a small box of sweets tightly in her hands.

When she saw Eshaan, her nervous eased a little. He stepped back, gesturing for her to come in with a swift motion of his arms.

Sunita came forward, her eyes scanning Ishika from top to bottom. She observed the way she moved, softly, observing everything with a hint of shyness.

Ishika walked up to Sunita and joined her hands in a respectful namaste and she voiced out the greeting.

Sunita's heard melted instantly. She smiled and pulled Ishika in a soft hug. She fear she initially felt, vanished into thin air.

"Namaste beta! Hamesha khush raho. Kitni pyaari ho."

(Stay happy. You are so lovely.)

Ishika smiled and felt the motherly warmth radiating off her. She pulled back and looked at Eshaan, who was smiling so wide, she was afraid his face might break into two.

They sat in the living room and the conversation that followed was unlike any other. It was beautiful mix of spoken Hindu, quick sign language and scribbled notes because Meera couldn't understand sign language.

Meera was fascinated though. She had never taken interest but right now, seeing Ishika communicate with her brother through her hands, made her curious. 

"Mumma dekho na. Ishika di aur bhaiya kitne cute lagte hai na saath mai. She's so nice. I've never seen bhaiya smile so wide or blush so hard."

(Mummy look. Ishika di and bhaiya look so cute together.)

Sunita watched them. She saw how Ishika looked at Eshaan, not with pity, but with an understanding.

For a moment, she felt a sting of tears in her eyes. As a mother, she had always worried about him after she was gone. 

But seeing them together, she realised Eshaan had never needed a caretaker. He always needed a partner. And he finally found her.

The afternoon passed in a blur of laughter, food and sweets. The air was filled with happiness.

As Sunita saw Eshaan walk Ishika out that evening, she felt a sense of deep peace.

A few weeks passed. Ishika and Eshaan were walking near her colony when the first drop fell. Within minutes, it was raining heavily.

By the time they reached her front door, they were both soaking wet, shivering due to the cold and laughing silently at their conditions.

The door was opened by her father, Rajesh. She had told him about Eshaan but telling was different than showing.

Rajes looked at the two of them, his face had a stern yet concerned expression. 

He looked at his daughter, drenched and shivering and then his eyes landed on Eshaan.

"Andar aao jaldi! Bheek gye ho dono bilkul. Aao aao jaldi! Thand lag jaayegi warna."

(Come inside fast! You both are completely drenched. Come on fast! You’ll get sick.)

Ishika turned to Eshaan, her teeth clattering due to the cold.

"Ye mere papa hai."

(This is my father.)

He felt small under Rajesh's intense gaze. Eshaan joined his hands in a namaste and bent down to touch his feet. 

Rajesh didn't say much after returning his greeting. He handed Eshaan a fresh, dry tshirt and pajamas that belonged to Ishika's brother and pointed towards the bathroom.

"Pehle kapde badal lo. Beemar pad jaaoge."

(Change your clothes first. You’ll get sick.)

Half an hour later, all of them were in living room, with Ishika and Eshaan, each holding their cups of hot tea, with a plate of freshly fried pakoras in front of them.

Ishika sat on the sofa, watching the two most important men in her life. The silence between her father and Ishaan wasn't uncomfortable, but it was thick with observation.

Rajesh was watching the way Eshaan carried himself, his actions and the way he looked at Ishika.

Eshaan noticed a shelf full of books behind Rajesh. His surprised eyes met Rajesh's and he signed.

That's a huge collection, sir. You read books?

Rajesh looked at Eshaan and a small, almost invisible smile formed on his lips.

"Yes. I do. Tumhe bhi shauk hai?"

(You also have an interest?)

Eshaan nodded enthusiastically. His hands moved again rapidly as he signed.

Mere dadaji mujhe sunate the kahaniya. And since then, I've loved reading.

(My grandfather used to read me stories.)

Rajesh looked at Ishika. He saw her watching them with wide, hopeful eyes. He saw the way she leaned towards Eshaan, her face glowing in a way he'd never seen before.

He realised then, that for years, when he had been trying to protect her from the world, this man in front of her provided her what she needed the most. Companionship.

He cleared his throat, the hardness in his eyes finally melting. He reached out and patted Eshaan's knee. A soft gesture of acceptance.

"Chai chandi ho rhi hai beta."

(The tea is getting cold.)

Rajesh didn't need to hear Eshaan's thoughts to know his character. He saw it in the way he helped Kavita clear the plates from the table without being asked. 

He saw it in the way his eyes never left Ishika, as if making sure she was fine even in her own home.

"Achha ladka hai."

(He is a good man.)

Rajesh whispered to Kavita when Eshaan and Ishika were busy looking at one of the old albums.

Kavita smiled and wiped a stray tear that escaped her husband's eyes.

"Maine kaha tha aapse. Hamari beti bhut samajhdaar hai. Apni zindagi jeena jaanti hai. Dekhiye! Usne apni zindagi chun li."

(I told you. Our daughter is very smart. She knows how to live her life. See! She chose her life.)

Eshaan left that night, knowing that he was one step closer to winning her father's acceptance for his daughter completely and Ishika fell asleep with the realisation of her feelings for Eshaan.