Present

Saanvi's POV

Walking in to the kapoor house, I noticed it was beautifully decorated for the anniversary celebrations. There were waiters roaming around with snacks, some guests were already here and were talking with each other. It had been very long since we celebrated anything as a family, so this feeling being dressed up again felt kind of foreign to me.

"Ramesh Bhai and Bhabhi welcome welcome" we saw Raj uncle come towards us with a big smile on his face and he greeted us all. "Namaste uncle" I side hugged him in return. He replied by putting a fatherly hand on my head.

"Aur beta Kaise ho aap, how is work?(how are you child?)"

"I am good uncle, work is good. Recently our team landed a big project with a national company from the south and they have hired us to design their new condo builds in Bangalore so I am really looking forward to that" i said proudly, feeling really happy that our hard work had paid off and we had got that project.

"That's great beta." For a second he looked at my parents, as if asking for some sort of reassurance and once my nodded slightly, enough that no one could have noticed, he gestured "Here, come I want you to meet some one very special to me come.."

He led us towards the other end of the hall where his wife was standing with a middle aged couple.

"Hello aunty, happy anniversary" Surbhi and I wished mrs.kapoor aunty (Raj uncle's wife) and she hugged me back in return.

Raj kapoor uncle pushed me towards the middle aged couple and said "Tripti and Bhai sahab, meet our lovely beti, Saanvi" he nudged me a little "Beta this is my sister, Tripti and her husband Rahul Shekhawat" I folded my hands and greeted them cordially.

Shekhawat? my brain thought suspiciously. But there are so many shekhawats in the world, they don't have to be related to my boss.

Okay something was definitely suspicious because my parents and Kapoor's left me along with Tripti aunty and Rahul uncle. Not that i minded being in their company, I mean they were really nice and welcoming. Within the next hour, I really got to observe them closely. Rahul uncle was such a charming personality. Just as soon as the DJ started, he turned towards his wife and smirked

"Oh meri heeriye, dance kare gi mere naal??" (Oh my darling, will you dance with me) he put forward his hand toward Tripti aunty and she suddenly blushed noticing that I was still there and tried to smack his hand away. But he was taking none of it.

I smiled looking at their antics. "Puttar Ji, let me take your aunty for a nice dance, she is being persistent" Rahul uncle smiled at me and made his way to the dance floor with his lady love by his side.

The party was in full swing, some people were eating and some were dancing , and then there were others like who were just standing awkwardly staring at the rest. I looked around to search for my family. They were sitting on a table with the Kapoor's. I picked up my fared skirt and started to make my way towards them.

And suddenly I almost tripped at my dupatta and almost fell, But a pair of strong arms grabbed my waist to prevent my fall.

I looked up and my breath hitched.... There is NO WAY .... No way Mr.Shaurya Shekhawat was in this party. Was i day dreaming ?? Oh god... yes maybe I was.

But when the arms around my waist suddenly pulled me up to the standing position with a jerk and I noticed his face turn his usual stern bossy expression, I was brought back to reality.

He looked directly into my eyes "Ms.Jha?? What are you doing here??"

"Sir, actually ... woh ..." i was stammering again.

"Look they have found each other" I turned my head around at the voice of Tripti aunty who was making her way towards us with my parents and the Kapoor's in tow.

As soon as she came closer, I felt the Shaurya Sir's composure change suddenly and he smiled. Yup that's right, my boss - smiled!! Like nobody in the office would believe if I told them that he smiles!

He bent down to touch Tripti aunty's feel and then hugged her tightly "mom" his lips formed the word and my brain was shocked.

"Saanvi beta, this is my son , Shaurya" Tripti aunty said, as if I needed more confirmation of the fact that he is her son. "And Shaurya this is Saanvi and her family"

He looked at me equally surprised as I was, but he gave a small smile to me and my sister Surbhi. He then bent down to touch my parent's feet and that made me feel happy. Very few in my generation still follow our traditions and culture these days. And Shaurya sir is such a big personality; he is rich, successful and at this moment I could see that he is humble too. As he conversed with my dad, I could see a different side to him. His face did not have that I am the boss look.

Soon the cake cutting time came and after that we all headed home.

————
At Jha House

"Saanvi .... Saanvi come outside beta" I heard my mom call me out. "Mom Coming"

I saw my parents sitting at the dining table with my sister, waiting for me eagerly. I raised my eyebrows asking my sister what's going on but she just smirked and turned her head.

"Yes mom what happened, why are you all not sleeping, it is getting late" I sat down at the chair opposite them.

My mom shared an eye contact with my dad and my dad spoke up "Saanvi, we were going to tell you all this tomorrow but after the party we could not wait." For a second he looked like was at a loss of words "beta, we think it is a good time to get you married"

"Married ??? Dad what are you saying?"

"Saanvi ..." my mom interrupted "saanvi , your dad is correct. We want to see you married, you are 25 now, finally with a stable job, so we think marriage should not be postponed till late. Infact , there is a guy we like...."

I stopped my mom " mom no no no no no ... this is not happening, we are not having this talk please... lets go to sleep" and I got up from my chair only to be stopped my a strong hand holding mine.

"Saanvi, we are not saying that you have to get married now. We are just saying that the Rishta came to us. And we like it. And we just want you to be open to the idea of marriage, just meet the guy, talk to him, get to know him and if you both are okay with it then we will go ahead otherwise not, okay??" My mom looked at me hopefully.

"Mom my last experience did not go well as you know!! I am not reluctant to the idea of marriage, I reluctant to the idea of guys not being honest and supporting. when Ajay left me just because we had lost all our money , I had lost faith" i looked down trying to hide the hurt in my eyes

"Beta Ajay was the worst decision we could have made for you. Just knowing that you guys were friends since college and liked each other, we got you both engaged. We never researched about his family background or relatives. But we will never make that mistake with you both never again." My dad spoke with full determination in this voice "With this guy's family, we have very close and strong relations. We have met his parents many time and they are very mature family. They know all about our family's history and financial situation and to them it does not matter. They want you for your values not for the money."

They don't care about the money!!!????

Mom hugged me "just meet him and get to know him. If you are not comfortable with this proposal, we will not force you beta, I promise you. You are our world, you stay with us as long as you want and take whatever decision you want we are always with you, we are your family"

Hearing them I could not say no, their loving words, their eyes filled with confidence were giving me encouragement to venture into new phase and see what happens. I don't know If I will be able to love again , but there can be other things holding a marriage right ?!

I reciprocated my mom's hug and nodded at her, she understood and smiled.

"Di.. you actually know the guy and already met his family" my sister finally decided to open her kitten mouth and started teasing me with weird facial expressions.

"What ??" I looked at her confusingly. I know these people? Who were they??

"Yes Saanvi, you met them today at the party" my dad smiled as well.

I met them ???? At the .. party ??? Who did I meet at the party whose son was my age..........

I looked up with horror stricken face and my jaw dropped as the realization hit me, there was only one guy I met at today's party... oh god

I felt my sister close my mouth " Dii.. mosquito will enter ur mouth.. hahah ... and yes don't be shocked because you are thinking right "

"The boys name is ..... Shaurya .. Shaurya Shekhawat" my mom completed my sister's sentence. And I could feel my jaw drop down again!

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Hello readers

Please let me know what you think