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Nandani's pov.

After cleaning the shiv mandir near the ghat, me and Rukhsat sit over the steps. Me and Rukhsat every two days a week help cleaning this mandir and the Dargah. The evening sun is the king of the sky now. The birds are flying back their way to home in clusters. The big banyan tree, is under the spell of beautiful birds. The aroma of the roasting peanuts has captured the air.

Banaras has tremendous amount of mandirs. Every day hundreds of people come here. They come, pray wish and go away with faith in their eyes. A faith that tells, that there is someone somewhere, who will help them, irrespective of all the boundaries.

I visit here whenever I get time. I love being here. It's so peaceful. Even in the midst of the people, bells of the temple, yet it's peaceful.

"The... matrimonial website.... hmmm...." Rukhsat said in slow pace, extending each word, giving good amount of time analysing each word. When ever you are in a situation your best friend automatically turns out to be an expert advisor. They don't need to make any effort, they just need to happen to be in your life from the time you used to pin your handkerchiefs on your uniform and hang your bottles in your neck, that's it, and the rest is inbuilt.

"Yaar kya sahi banda aata hai na us add me..." Rukhsat said with that typical tone in her voice.

Rolling my eyes I said, "Rukhsat he is only available for ads not for wedding."

"But what if you find a man like him... handsome, rich..!" Rukhsat turned towards me.

"Handsome? Rich? These kind of men nowadays are only available on tinder!" I corrected.

"Ooh, how do you know so much about tinder, han?"

"Topic ... Mudda... Rukhsat.. please focus.." I said thinking about it was useless coming to her.

"Chill.. you are overthinking. It's not like they are getting you married tomorrow girl." She said making a point. I loved how she could take things so casually, yet right.

I looked back to the beautiful scenario in front of us. The sky had turned completely orange now and the reflection was so beautiful in the water, that any painter would love to canvas the beauty. Drawing is an art. I always wanted to be a painter.

Well okay, not always, but yes, at some point of my life I did wanted to.

I glanced at the time, it was time for the evening prayer, "let's go rukhu, once it's aarti time, there'll be rush." I said and we stood up for our way back home.
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"Yatri gan krupiya dhayn den, gadi number 1400563, varanasi ki traf jane vali barkakana - varanasi passenger kuchi samay me platform kramank 2 par aa rahi hai."

All the people sitting on the station, stood up, just after the announcement was made on the Mughalsarai station. The ones who were already standing were now a bit more cautious. Most of them were the regular office people and some students.

As soon as the train hauled all rushed in. I didn't wanted to take a seat so I stood by the door. Once every one was settled down the rush was comparatively less.

I work in as an associate software engineer in Trigent software, in Mughalsarai. I travel through train everyday. There's a thing about trains I love. You only get it If you travel more often via trains.

The train moved with a push and a long and loud whistle. Slowly and steadily the train gained acceleration. The cold wind gushed in door making the wisps of my hair fly. I watch out and see the passing roads, traffic, rail crossings, trees, and keep oscillating with the train. Standing there, on the door, it gave a window to my thoughts.

One month passed since the ladka dhundo thing. I thought that this fiasco will wind up in a day or two. But ever since then my mom is all ninja about it. She seriously made my profile on the site, and not just that my bua also is also in a supporting actor female role. I don't understand these parents, until I was in college, study , study, study. And then the day your college ends, if you are a boy- job job job and if you are a girl- marry marry marry.

Since last two week there is all khusur-pusur going on between my mummy and papa, regarding some Delhi family. They aren't telling me yet but with their poor conversation skill, they fail miserably. And this one taking two long weeks makes me stressed out already.

I look into the ladies compartment I am standing in. There are girls, ladies, some with their kids, some of young, some old. Some known faces like not literally but you see them more often when you up down, while some unknown. I don't understand how women in trains share the one hour bonding. They don't even meet every day but this one hour from Mughalsarai to varanasi, they have their own ladies time. It's interesting listening to them sometimes.

"Are I have to go home and cook. The vegetables these days are costlier than gold." The lady in the white and blue floral salwar kammez said.

"Yes, look now, the other day when I went to buy bheendi , 40₹/kg." The lady in crisp sari said.

"Yes, and my mother in law says, kya bahu roz roz aloo khilati hai.... and I am like, mummyji ek din market ja k toh dekho.."

"Ek din mene shivani k papa ko bola k jao sabzi leke aao, and he got potatoes equally to hand grenade. " and this one made me laugh too.

I looked back outside and thought, would my life be like this too? Running between everyone, for everyone? I would have to leave my house for someone whom I don't know. I'll have to leave my parents who took care of me all these years. Made me capable of doing everything on my own and I would have to leave them for some one who has done nothing for me until now, take care of his parents who didn't even know that I existed until few days back. Why?

And they say men and women are equal. Wow!

My grudges increased even more than they were. I left a deep sigh and looked out again.

As soon as I reached home a mouth watering aroma of frying gulab jamun filled my nose. I took a deeb breath, and my eyes rolled close in pleasure of smell. My mouth was already watering.

I quickly rushed into the kitchen keeping my bag and dupatta on the dining table.

"Rukhsat?" I exclaimed as soon my eyes fell on her. "Aree wah! Mummy you are making gulab jamun and the too in pure ghee? Who's coming?"

"You fresh' n up first, I'll tell you then." She said smiling her 220 volt smile.

"Noo, tell me na. Tell me now! Who's coming?"

"Special guests.." she said and I noticed Rukhsat was not even looking my way. God is this bad news already?

"Mom. What special guests?" I asked in a firm tone.

"Aree Nandu.... you are back?" A voice came from outside the kitchen.

"Buu... bua? What is bua doing here?" God this is turning pathetic now. But Deep down I am praying that these gulab jamuns are for bua. But bua has always been an uninvited guest for mom. She never was a special guest.

"What am I doing here? How come I not come when there are people coming to see my Nandu?" She said in a sugar coated tone pulling my cheeks. God hell, i am not 5. You don't do that to me.

"Mom....." I called her for an obvious explanation.

"Nandani, I was going to tell you." And that was not an explanation I expected.

"Nandani, a family like theirs, is really hard to find these days. You are very lucky." My bua said with a appreciating smile.

Why doesn't shhave marry them, if she likes them soooo much. I opened my mouth to say something but, I knew it was useless. So, I closed it and shook my head negatively. "Forget it..." I said and went to my room giving a deadly glare to Rukhsat, who was still busy with the bloody gulab jamuns.

Cursing everyone in the house I sat back on my bed,hell frustrated. My mom is crazy. And with bua along, the combination is terrific. My bua, her name is saroj. She is my father's elder sister. She stays in Ayodhya. Yes majority of my family stays in all sacred places. She is a complete orthodox. Getting the girls of the family married is her sole purpose of her living.

I was frustratingly turning pages of the very thick coding book. It's a frustration buster. More than studying it, I have used it as a stress reliever. If I would have used it the other way I would definitely would have topped the university. But yea I was definitely in top 10.

But that was not a point.

"Knock-knock!" And Rukhsat came in with a cup of coffee in her hand. She walked to me handed me the cup.

"Why didn't you get Biscuits?" I moaned sadly.

"Just drink it quietly or else your bua will again give you a lecture on how much should a girl eat. God she is a number. I have been listening to her since 2 hours." Rukhsat said shaking her head in despair.

"You deserve it! You were the one bloody frying those gulab jamuns." I kicked her lightly.

"How do I say no?" She kicked back.

"And yes stop being a crybaby. They are just coming to see you. They are not getting you married. So chill!" Rukhsat said.

"Yes, the last time you said this that they'll forget, and here I am, after one month. Seeing this guy I don't know. Esa na ho that I am getting married next month!" I said glaring at her.

"Chill. Say that you didn't like the boy!" She said shrugging her shoulders. It's was so easy for her to shrug her shoulders. It was me, who was in mess.

Rukhsat went away in a while. And it was time for dinner. I went downstairs and saw my mom and bua were already arranging the table. My dad was too back from work. He came to me and took me in a side hug. "How was work beta?" He asked me. I didn't wanted to answer but I did, "good!"

We all sat on the dining table and started to dine. "Nandani wear something good tomorrow okay. Neelema give her a good sari." My bua said.

"I am not wearing a sari." I said sharply. If they didn't care about me, I didn't care about being respectful.

"Nandani." My mom said in her anger mommy tone giving me a mommy glare too.

I went back to eating my dinner. I went to the fridge and got two gulab jamuns for me in a bowl.

"Nandani, those are for the guests beta..." my bua said worrying about the food crisis that would lead tomorrow. Wow and there goes adjustment number 1.

"Wow. I am not even married and these people have already claims over my food. And bua, these are only two. There is no drought happening if I have two." I said.

"Didi, let her have. Don't stress her already." My dad said calmly.

"They are so humble people Neeraj. Raj ji was so polite, and Kavita ji also, she was talking so nicely today. Such good people...." my bua said and it caught my attention.

"Today? They were here today?" I asked almost shocked.

"Yes, I told you na they were soo good..."

"Mummy why didn't you tell me that?" I asked cutting my bua in between.

"You didn't tell her?" My father was also shocked a bit.

"Yes she didn't, because until now she didn't even tell me that they were coming tomorrow to see me." I said because I definitely knew my dad would be knowing this too.

"That's because I knew you would freak out." My mom explained.

"Well, guess what, I am mummy." I said and stood up with a bang. I took my plate and not to forget the freakin gulab jamuns too and went to my room. I can have a fight but I can't miss food. This is the reason my parents never take me seriously, because they know my main khana nai khaungi vali dhamki never works.

I was in my room. I had my food and was lying down in a blanket, crying. How could they do this to me. I am their only child. How could they want me to go. I sobbed more.

I felt the room open. But I didn't peek out. I knew who it was.

"Go talk to her." My papa whispered.

"No, she'll get more angry. You go. Apki bat sunti hai." My mom said.

I felt both of them walk to the bed. And settle down beside me. One to each side.

"Nandu.... beta..." my dad said lovingly patting my head. I sniffed to making a noise to make my presence audible.

"Nandani look here. Talk to us beta. Why are you so paranoid about getting married. If you wouldn't talk to us how could we know?" He said again.

"Neelema, tell her." My dad asking my mom to take an initiative.

"What do I say, She never listens to me." My mom complained. And it was a lie. I do listen to her her, I just don't act according to her.

"That's because you didn't tell her. Why didn't you tell her? It is your job to make her understand." My dad said and I quickly looked out of the blanket.

"No, papa it's not just her job. It's your responsibility too. Just because she is a mother she has to do this? If she didn't, you too didn't. You could have come to me, talked to me. But no because I am a girl, automatically your duties shift?" I debated even in the sobbing state.

"Oh god! Neelema such a feminist daughter we have gave birth to ..." my father said shaking his head and all three of us chuckled.

"Nandani, I am sorry. I thought you would freak out and see you did. So I thought that we would meet them first, see if there is scope, then make the kids meet. And today when the meeting went well they suggested to see you too." My mom said.

"And we did not expect that they would suggest so early. They have come all the way from Delhi. They are going to stay in a hotel for tonight. And their son is coming tomorrow from Mumbai. We couldn't even deny." My said and it made me feel a valid point too.

"And even then if you fell you are not ready. I will ask them not to come. I'll tell them my daughter is not ready..." my father was cut in between by my mom.

"Are ap ye kya bol rahe ho...." my mom's tone totally didn't approve my dad's thought, because she knew me, i was unpredictable to her.

"Neelema. Our daughter has never said no to anything we told her. If she doesn't want for once, she has all the right to. Nobody will force her into anything." My dad said in a firm tone, that nobody dares to surpass.

"Do you want me to do that?" My dad asked me.

I know my dad would tell them not to come of I said no. But accept it or not. It would be really embarrassing to my dad. I never did anything thing that would let them down. And it was just meeting the family. At the end it's me who is going to decide. Just one meeting won't do any harm.

I slightly nodded my head in a no.

"Hayy!! My baby!'" My mom purred pulling me in a hug.

"Haayy!! My baby " my dad to pounced in the hug emphasising on the word 'my'. And I very well knew who this my was.

"Issshh.." my mom said blushing a little,"kya ap bhi.." making me laugh. My mom never calls my dad by his name.

"Neelema..." my dad called my mom and they both had an eye talk and my mom nodded and my father went out.

My mom took a A4 size brown envelope and showed it to me. Keeping it on the night stand. "Dekh lena... if you want to." My mom said and she too went out taking the plate and bowl together with her closing the door behind.

I looked at the packet and thought weather to open it or not? I some how took it. But even by holding it in my hand I was blushing. God! It's just a packed.

May be it was because I had never been with anybody all my life. I was in a girls school and even in college there was no chance. 'Cause we live in Banaras, and Banaras is not Delhi, people talk here about every one, from Raju k samosas to sharma ji beti ka chakkar with a bike wala.

I fumbling the leaf of the envelope was having a hard time deciding to open it or not. I opened it and slightly pulling it out slowly, little by little. After some 5 cms of blank page there was something written on it.

Name: Manik Malhotra.

I left the page and it quickly fell back into the envelope. My heart was pounding in my chest. It was so not me. Just so not me. I kept it back. But the content smile didn't leave my face. Stop it Nandani, may be you might not even see him after tomorrow. A piece of me scolded myself. And tried to sleep trying hard to control not look further in the envelope.
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Manik's pov.

After a long waiting and tiring session in the high court I came back home. Delhi. I was in Delhi for the count session which i was a part of Mumbai investigation. And now that I was in Delhi since yesterday, my mom didn't make it the sole purpose I was here.

She being serious on the getting me married stuff, left with dad to Banaras today to meet some girl today. Why the hell is my mom gone all crazy about this. And she called me in the evening saying that tomorrow I too had to come to Banaras. What the fuck. I don't want to go anywhere. Can't I stay home just for a day and have it to myself. Fucking hell , I already don't het holidays and there is always someone to destroy it.

After good 10 minutes of bell ringing, I opened the door with the spare keys. Younger brothers are useless. I went in and saw all the led lights of the house were on. The hall , the kitchen, the bathroom, the stairs. Every corner of the house was illuminated like it was Diwali. Loud ear pounding music came from upstairs. If my mom would have seen the house in this condition, she would have ripped each and every hair out of Cabir's head.

Cabir is my younger brother. I went up and peeked into his room to find the speakers on full volume, and earphones in his ears and he was swaying around in his red superman boxers and a loose over loose white t shirt. No wonder my parents don't leave him alone.

I went in his room and switched off the speakers and went near him and pulled the headphones too. "What is the point of playing music so loud when you already have your headphones?" I asked waving them in air.

"Babaaa!!!" His baba literally sound 'bawaaa' every time.

"Kab aye Mumbai se?" He asked smiled goffyly.

This boy is ridiculous. "Last night Cabir. We met in the morning today... on breakfast!!" I tried making him remember.

"Oooh did we? Must be the hangover!!!" He said pointing his head and I mentally saluted my mom.

"Go down and switch off the lights." I said and turned to leave into my room.

"I am scared yar bawa, you know na... and headphones yar..." he was screaming at my back.

"Those are mine. In case you hungover forgot that too.." I said waving them in air and went to my room.

Stripping out naked I had a longer than usual bath to relax my self. Wrapping a towel around my waist I came into my room and switched on the AC.

I was taking out my night clothes my phone rang. It was dad. Mom deliberately does this. She knows I won't show tantrums in front of dad so she is making him call. I shook my head and picked up the call.

"Hello.." my dad said.

"Hey dad"

"You are coming tomorrow right? Did you book the tickets?"

"No, I will now. Ammm... dad..." i was unsure weather to ask him or not.

"Yes say.."

"Dad, do I really need to be there?" I asked trying to make him feel I am not interested.

"Of course, I would love to marry again but your mother won't allow me." He said and laughed. It's been a time my dad is trying to have a light headed conversation with me.

"Shut up... and give it to me." I heard my mom in background.

"Hello , beta, listed, book two tickets, bring Cabir also along with you. I don't trust him alone at house. And yes, wears that blue shirt I ironed and kept. I have already packed the bag and kept in your cubbord. " my mom said.

"Yes mom.." I said plainly.

"And have your food and have a safe journey. I'll call you in the morning. Nandani must be waiting......" and she literally sang the last line making me roll my eyes, but did make me a little smile. But I shooed it away quickly and disconnected the call.

Nandani i again though.... then I went down changing into night clothes. To have some human dinner with my inhuman brother.

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P.S; they are gonna meet in the next one !! Stay tuned!!