Anushka hated when her mami visited their home. Reason?

"Arre Anushka beta! Wo pack try nhi kia tune? Color mai koi farak nhi lag rha."

(Did you try that pack? There is no difference in your color.)

This! Her mami was obsessed with making her fair. She did not want to be. She loved her skin.

She placed her tea with an exasperated sigh and smiled too sweetly at her.

"Ji nhi mamiji. Aur agar aapko mere color se itni problem hai toh aap bhut shauk se yaha aana band kr skti hai. Hum bura nhi maanenge."

(No mamiji. And if you have so much problem from my color you can very happily stop coming here. We won't feel bad.)

Her mami looked visibly embarrassed but who was she kidding. The lady was an epitome of dheetpana (shamelessness).

"Mai toh tere bhale ke liye keh rhi thi. Nhi matlab shaadi wagerah mai bhut problem aayegi."

(I was saying for your benefit. There will a lot of problem for marriage.)

She said taking a sip of her tea and this irked Anushka to no limits.

"Agar gora hone se shaadi aasani se ho jaati na toh aapka ye gora chitta chuhe jaisa dikhne wala beta abhi tak do bachhon ka baap hota mamiji."

(If after being fair marriage would he easy then your fair and rat like son would be the father of two kids by now.)

The lady looked taken aback and looked here and there.

"Excuse me!"

The gora chitta beta spoke up with an offended expression and Anushka smiled.

"Not excused! Aapse baat nhi kr rhi mai."

(I am not talking to you.)

"Mere baare mai kr rhi ho."

(You are talking about me.)

"Whatever!"

She rolled her eyes. Her mamiji spoke up defending him.

"Aisa nhi hai. Bacha hai wo abhi. Humne shaadi ka kuch socha hi nhi."

(Its not like that. He is a kid right now. We have not thought about his marriage.)

Ofcourse she'd say this to save her reputation now. Kid? That man was 31 years old.

But he did not have any features or anything just white color.

When the guests left Anushka was keeping the dishes in the sink when her mother came.

"Mami naaraz ho gyi hongi. Anil ke baare mai nhi bolna chahiye tha."

(Mami got upset. You shouldn't have spoke about Anil.)

She said although she had an amusing smile on her face.

"Come on mumma. She is unbearable. Jab dekho mere peechhe padi rehti hai. There is nothing wrong with my color. Aur agar gora hona hi sab kuch hota toh hamare Srinath ji shyam rang ke nhi hote."

(She is always after me. If being fair was everything then our Srinath ji wouldn't have being dark skinned.)

Her mother smiled and nodded. She kissed her head and left the kitchen.

Her parents have always taught her ro stand up for herself. They were the ones who made her comfortable in her skin and told her that being dusky is not bad.

But some people just don't understand.

It was almost a month later when her father return home and told them that his childhood friend was coming for dinner.

He was so excited to meet him after so long.

Anushka was helping her mother prepare dinner when the bell rang.

"Aap jaao baitho. Mai dekh lungi."

(You go sit. I'll see.)

She said and her mother nodded wiping her hands and went out.

Anushka could hear happy voices from outside. Her father sounded so happy. She smiled involuntarily.

She switched off the gas on which the cooker was kept and took the tray with water glasses out.

She saw an elderly couple sitting there. All the four were laughing with each other.

The lady saw Anushka and smiled wide.

"Ye hamari Anu hai?"

(She is our Anu?)

She asked her mother who nodded looking at Anushka. She felt a little nervous because everyone's attention was on her.

"Arre waah bhabhiji! Kitni sundar ho gyi hai hamari Anu!"

(Wow! She has grown so beautiful!)

She said and Anushka smiled. She put the tray down and greeted the two. She went back to the kitchen and switched off the gas. The vegetables were cooked.

"Tu bhi baith jaa beta. Baad mai ho jaayega kaam."

(You also sit. Work could be done later.)

The lady said and Anushka took her seat beside her mother.

"Kya krti hai beta? As in profession?"

(What do you do?)

She asked and Anushka smiled.

"CA hu aunty."

(I'm a CA.)

"Arre bhai! Meri toh maths aur accounts bhut hi weak hai toh mujhe toh Maths se jude saare log bade superior lagte hai. Very good bete."

(Wow! My maths and accounts are very weak so people connected with Maths are very superior for me. Very good.)

She said and everyone laughed. Even Anushka did. She liked the lady.

"Mihir kya kr rha hai aaj kal bhabhi?"

(What is Mihir doing nowadays?)

Her mother asked. She assumed that Mihir must be the lady's son.

"Usse dukan mai toh shuru se hi interest nhi tha. Saaf bol diya tha usne ki mujhe khudse kuch krna hai. Toh bhai humne bhi support kia. SEBI mai assistant manager hai wo."

(He never had interest in the shop. He had clearly said he wants to do something on his own. We also supported. He is the assistant manager in SEBI.)

Anushka was impressed. She had always found the world of shares very fascinating.

"Toh phir Bombay hi rehta hoga?"

(He would be in Bombay then?)

This time it was her father.

"Haan bhaisahab. Kaafi saal ho gaye ab toh. Wahi hai. Chhutiyon mai aa jaata hai."

(Yes. Its been quite a few years. He is there. Comes home in vacations.)

"Sahi hai bhai. Bache settle hone chahiye. Jaha marzi rahe khush rhe bas."

(Its good brother. Kids should settle. Wherever they stay they should be happy.)

Her father's friend spoke and everyone smiled. The discussion continued from one topic to another. The couple left shortly after having dinner.

She too retired to her room and opened her laptop. She started doing her work when her mother came in with oil bottle. Anushka smiled and sat in front of her and her mother started massaging her hair with oil.

"Mumma ek baat sach sach batana. Kya sach mai mere color ki wajah se shaadi mai dikkat ho rhi hai?"

(Tell me one thing truthfully. Is my color being an hindrance in marriage?)

She asked making her mother stop.

"Ye achanak ye kaise sochne lag gyi tu?"

(Why are you suddenly thinking such?)

"Pta nhi. Its been more than an year aap logo ne mujhse puchha tha about marriage aur maine haan kri thi. Lekin ab tak ek bhi rishta nhi aaya hai."

(I don't know. Its been more than an year you guys asked my consent and I said yes. But there is no alliance till date.)

She said slumping against her mother.

"Chal pagal. Aisa nhi hai. Humne hi haan nhi kri kisi ko. Tere liye koi aisa ladka dekhenge jo tujhe pyaar se rakh ske. Agar uske khayalat hi achhe nhi hai toh hum haan kaise kr de. Hamari beti mai koi kami nhi hai. Samjh gyi meri jaan."

(Stupid girl. There is nothing like that. We never said yes to anyone. We want a man who could keep you with love. If his thoughts are not good how could we say that yes. There is nothing less in our daughter. Got it.)

She said kissing her forehead and Anushka smiled.

"I love you."

She said hugging her and her mother caressed her hair and continued the massage. Anushka did her work and then laid down letting the exhaustion of the day take over her. It was few days after that day when her parents told her that there was a good alliance for her.
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