Mansi was in her office when she recieved her mother's call.

She got up from her desk and went to the calling area.

"Haan mumma?"

(Yes mumma?)

"Ek biodata bheja hai. Ladka bhut achha hai. Family bhut reputed hai. Financial status bhi achha hai. Aur ladka dikhne mai bhi sundar hai."

(I have sent one biodata. The boy is very good. Family is very reputed. They are financially also stable. And the boy is good looking too.)

She said in one go and Mansi sighed.

"Mumma-"

"Beta ek baar dekh toh le. Bina dekhe hi har rishta mana kr deti hai. Mai kabhi kuch nhi bolti lekin ye rishta sachme bhut achha hai. Mere kehne se ek baar mil le."

(Atleast see once. You deny every alliance without seeing. I never say anything but this one is really good. Meet him once on my insistance.)

She closed her eyes and massaged her temple.

"Agar aapko aur papa ko achha lag rha hai toh phir thik hai. Bula lo. Lekin mai abhi kuch final nhi kr rhi. Milne ke baad dekhenge."

(If you and papa find it good them alright. Call them. But I am not finalising anything. Will see after meeting.)

She said with finality and her mother said excitedly.

"Thik hai koi baat nhi. Bas ek mil le. Baaki ka phir dekhenge."

(Alright no issues. Just meet him. Then we'll see.)

She said and started rambling on about what all she needs to prepare for the upcoming meeting.

"Mumma!"

"Haan?"

(Yes?)

"Ghar aake baat kre. Kaam hai mujhe abhi."

(Shall we talk after returning. I have work.)

"Arre haan haan. Sorry. Bhul gyi thi."

(Oh yes yes. I forgot.)

Her mother said sheepishly and Mansi smiled a little. Her mother was crazy.

She sat on her seat and sighed.

She didn't want to get married right now but her parents thought that it was the right age. Moreover her father's health didn't help her situation.

He wanted to marry her off before something serious happens to him.

She reached home and saw her mother excitedly talking to her father about what all she was going to do when the guests arrive.

It was the first relation to which Mansi had finally given consent and so she was very happy.

Mansi wanted to talk to them but seeing her happiness she thought against it.

She thought about talking later and they had their dinner.

After dinner as usual she went to her parents'room. It was their routine.

Every night she used to spend time with her parents and they would talk about the whole day.

"Mansi beta no pressure lekin iss rishto ke ek baar seriously thought dena. Iss Sunday ko aa rhe hai wo log. Achhe se mil ke tassali krke hi apna jawab dena."

(No pressure but give this alliance a serious thought. They are coming this Sunday. Meet him and be satisfied before giving your answer.)

Her father said and Mansi went deep in thought.

"Kya hua gudiya?"

(What happened princess?)

He asked she didn't reply.

"Kya mai aap logo ko burden lagne lagi hu papa?"

(Am I becoming a burden on you papa?)

She asked and her father pulled her into his arms. She snuggled against his warmth.

"Bhala koi beti apni baap ke liye bojh ho skti hai? Lekin meri ab tabiyat sahi nhi rehti beta. Kuch nhi pata bhagwaan kab mujhe apne paas bula le-"

(Can any daughter ever be a burden to her father? But I am not well now. We never know when God calls me -)

"Papa!"

She cut him off feeling emotional thinking about it and he smiled and caressed her head.

"Death is an inevitable truth beta. Ek din toh sabko jaana hai. Lekin mai chahta hu ki marne se pehle apni iklauti gudiya ka ghar baste dekh lu. Usse uske ghar mai khush dekh lu. Kya mera ye chahna galat hai?"

(One day everyone has to leave. But I want to see my only daughter settled before my death. See her happy in her house. Is it wrong for me to wish?)

She whined in his embrace and he hugged her tighter.

"Lekin mujhe aap dono ko chhod kr nhi jaana. Mere peechhe se kaun dekhega aap dono ko?"

(But I don't want to leave you. Who will look after you after me?)

She expressed her fear and her mother smiled.

"Arre pagli! Hum akele thodi hai. Ek dusre ke liye hum kaafi hai."

(Oyee stupid girl! We are not alone. We are enough for each other.)

"Lekin phir bhi mumma-"

(But still mumma-)

She started saying but her father spoke up.

"Agar sirf yahi kaaran hai toh phir iski chinta tu mat kr. Teri mummy sahi keh rhi hai. Hum kaafi hai ek dusre ke liye. Lekin agar kuch aur baat hai toh hume bta? Kuch hai?"

(If only this is the reason then don't worry. Your mother is right. We are enough for each other. But if there is something else then tell us. Is there?)

He asked and she shook her head. Her parents were her only concern.

"Nhi papa lekin-"

(No papa but-)

"Beta. Abhi ki umar bilkul thik hai. Isse jyada wait kro toh achhe rishte nhi milte. Aur phir aajkal ke bachhon ko lagta hai shaadi na bhi ho toh chalega. Lekin aage jaake bhut problem aati hai. Akele life spend krna mushkil ho jaayega. Aaj tu hamari wajah se shaadi nhi kregi. Kl ko hum nhi rhe phir tu bhi toh akeli ho jaayegi na."

(The age is perfect right now. If we wait anymore there are no good alliances. The kids nowadays think that it is fine even if we don't get married. But later in life it becomes problematic. Spending life alone becomes difficult. You won't marry because of us. When we are not there in future you will be left all alone.)

Her mother explained and she again started thinking.

"Thik hai lekin mai abhi kuch final nhi krungi. Pehle ladke se mil lu phir baat krenge."

(Ok but I won't final anything. First let me meet the boy and then we'll talk.)

She said after some time and her parents smiled and nodded. They then talked about their days and other things in general.

After talking to them she went to her room and laid on her bed.

She opened her mother's chat and downloaded the biodata.

Vansh Gupta.

She read the name and his details. He was a well educated man and belonged to a good family too.

All in all he seemed nice.

She didn't open his picture. She wanted to see him face to face.

What if she likes the picture and he is not so good looking in real life. Or what if she doesn't like it and he is much better in real.

She didn't want to create and impression based on a picture.

Days passed by and Sunday came quicker than Mansi had imagined and wanted.

She was nervous. This was the first time she was going to see someone as her potential husband.

She didn't know what to do or what to talk.

She was in the kitchen with her mother helping her prepare the snacks and tea when they heard the doorbell ring.

Her mother rushed out to open the door and Mansi's palms started getting sweaty due to nervousness.

After some time her mother came in the kitchen with a wide smile and asked her to bring the tea and snacks outside.

Mansi nodded and carried the tray outside. She looked around and saw an elderly couple sitting with a young man of about her age.

And another young couple sitting on another sofa.

She looked at the other man and frowned. Why did it seem like she has seen him somewhere? She thought looking at him.
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