Anahita's POV

"Amma mai jaa rhi hu!"

(I am leaving.)

I shout from the hall while running out of the house.

"Maa aaj shayad late ho jaaye. Dinner ke liye wait mat krna. Aur dhyan rakhna apna."

(I will be late today. Don't wait up for dinner. And take care.)

I said to mumma kissing her cheek and she smiled and nodded.

"Khaana time pr khaa lena."

(Eat on time.)

She calls from behind and I reply a quick 'ok' and run outside the house.

I take a rickshaw to the main road and from there I take the bus.

Let me introduce myself. My name is Anahita Chauhan. I live in Bikaner in Rajasthan. It was a small town in Rajasthan. Most of the people are here are still orthodox about not letting their daughters work and study. Thankfully, my family supports me in this.

They never stopped me from studying. In fact, they were the ones who wanted me to go for higher education.

I did my MBBS from one of Delhi's famous colleges. And now I am a junior cardiologist.

I reach the hospital where I work. I greet my mentor and he assigns me my tasks for the day.

I was in the canteen in the break time when I heard one of my fellow colleagues call me.

"Dr. Anahita!"

I turn back to see Dr. Harsh standing there with a smile. I smile back at him and he comes towards me.

"Hello!"

He said and I greeted him back.

"Umm-agar aap bura na maane toh kya mai kuch keh skta hu?"

(If you don't mind can I ask something?)

He asked nervously and I nodded frowning.

"Umm-wo-aap-mere saath-I mean-after our shift gets over, would you like to have coffee with me?"

He asked smiling sheepishly at the end and I looked at him shocked.

I don't know when I gave him the impression that I was interested in him, which I am not, but I have to clear it out.

I clear my throat and say.

"I am sorry Dr. Harsh lekin I cannot come. Aap jo soch rhe hai wo possible nhi hai."

(What you are thinking is not possible.)

His smile faltered a little but he said composing himself.

"Why?"

I take a deep breath and say.

"Because I am already engaged to someone."

"What?"

He asks shocked. I nod and show him the ring on my finger.

"But kab?"

(But when?)

"Ye toh mujhe bhi yaad nhi."

(Even I don't remember it.)

I mumble under my breath. 

"I am sorry what?"

"Umm-nothing. Some time back. Private ceremony thi."

(It was a private ceremony.)

I answered his question and he continued to look at me making me look away. This is so awkward.

He cleared his throat and said.

"Well, congratulations! And I am sorry. I had no idea about it."

He said feeling genuinely sorry. I smiled and shook my head.

You all must be thinking what is happening and when did I get engaged.

Well, I was engaged when I was just a few days old. Yup! I am betrothed to someone I have never seen or met. 

I mean who gets betrothed in this era but what can I do. 

Honestly speaking, my amma and maa talk so much about my fiance that I have come to develop a crush on him without even knowing how he looks.

Abhiraj's POV

I come out of the OT after 10 long hours of surgery. We saved the patient. I come out tired but with a wide smile.

I inform the family and the relief and happiness on their faces makes these 10 hours worth it.

I have always wanted to do something to help people. I love to see the happiness on their faces when they see their loved ones safe and breathing.

There have been times when we lose the patients but we have to be strong because if we break, we won't be able to save the others.

I go home wanting to just sleep for at least 10 hours now.

I reach home and straight away go to my room.

After having a shower, I slump on the bed and fall asleep immediately.

I woke up directly the next morning.

Freshening up, I went down and since I do not any surgeries for the day I can call in late.

I greet my mother, father and grandmother.

I sit beside dadi and she caresses my head.

"Bhut thaka hua aaya kal? Mila bhi nhi."

(You came home tired? Didn't even meet.)

She said and I smiled.

"Haan. 10 ghante ki surgery thi dadi. Bhut thak gaya tha."

(Yes. It was a 10 hour surgery. I was tired.)

She nodded and we began to wat our breakfast.

After breakfast, I sit with dadi in her room and talk to her about random things.

"Agar mai tujhse kuch maangu toh tu meri baat manega?"

(If I ask you something will you give mr?)

She asks suddenly and I nodded.

"Aap order do bas."

(You order.)

She smiled and held my hand in her wrinkled ones.

"Agar mai kahu ki teri ek mangetar hai aur mai chahti hu tu usse shaadi krle toh tu manega?"

(What if I tell you that you have a fiancee and I want you to marry her?)

My smile faltered. What? Fiance?

"Ye kya keh rhe ho?"

(What are you saying?)

I asked confused and she showed my the ring on my finger. The ring I have been wearing since I was 12. The ring she herself gave me and told me never to take it off.

"Tu 3 saal ka tha jab tere dadaji aur papa ko business mai bhut nuksaan huye. Tab tere dadaji ne apne bachpan ke dost se madad maangi aur uss ehsaan ke badle unki poti aur teri shaadi pakki hui thi."

(You were 3 when your grandfather and father faced some losses in business. Your grandfather asked his friend for help and yours and his granddaughter's marriage was finalised in favour of that.)

I looked at her shocked. What kind of a movie is this?

"Dadi ye sab movies mai hota hai reality mai nhi. Mai kisi aisi ladki se shaadi nhi kr rha jisse mai jaanta bhi nhi. Aur kisi gaao ki ladki se toh bilkul bhi nhi. I want an educated girl for myself."

(This happens in movies not in reality. I am not marrying a girl I don't even know. And now a village girl.)

I said dismissing the topic. I can't believe that I was betrothed. I mean who even does that in the 21st century.

She smiled sadly and said.

"Tere dadaji ne wada kia tha unse. Lekin ye teri zindagi hai. Mai tujhe majboor nhi kr skti. Mai unhe mana kr dungi."

(Your grandfather promised. But this is your life. I can't force you. I'll deny them.)

I groaned mentally. I know what she is doing. Emotional blackmail. 

"Dadi! Don't do this. Mai jaanta hu dadu ka naam lekar aap mujhe emotional blackmail krna chah rhe ho lekin mai uss gaao ki ladki se shaadi nhi krne wala."

(I know you are trying to emotional blackmail me but I am not marrying a village girl.)

"Ye kya gaao ki ladki gaao ki ladki laga rkha hai. Haan hai wo gaao se toh? Kya gaao ke log insaan nhi hote. Ye mat bhulo ki tumhare dadu dadi bhi kabhi gaao ke log hi hua krte the. Aaj tumhare paas kuch paise hai iska matlab ye nhi hai ki tum dusro ki chhota samjhoge. Agar nhi krni shaadi toh koi baat nhi. Mai bhi nhi chahti ki uss bachi ki zindagi tum jaise chhoti soch wale insaan ke saath guzre."

(What is this village girl. Yes she is from village so? Are village people not humans. Don't forget your grandparents lived in village. Today you have money doesn't mean you belittle other people. If you don't want to marry then fine. I also don't want that child to marry a person who has such cheap mentality.)
**************************************
Please do leave your comments.

Also, please vote for the story.����

Laters!!��❤