Jai sighed in frustration as he leaned back on his chair and plopped his feet over the table in front of him thinking about his upcoming marriage with that Vanilla girl. He tried to say no to the alliance but then his father had threatened to cut all ties with him even his mother sided with his father.

"Jai you never date, neither do you have a girlfriend. Why do you not wanna get married? Aren't you interested in girls?" his mother had asked making him go red in embarrassment.

"We are getting old and you aren't getting younger yourself. We want to see and play with our grandchildren before dying." His father added trying to emotionally blackmail him.

He was left with no choice but to give his consent for the alliance. Jai picked up the file that Viren had given him 2 days ago, it had all the information about Vennela. He opened the file and took out her photograph. She looked cute, beautiful even but that doesn't mean that he was head over heels in love with her.

He wasn't the one to be impressed by looks only. He was looking for someone whom he could share everything with, whom he could trust, someone like a best friend and love, well that was just a secondary issue.

He had agreed to meet her a month before the engagement so that they can spend time together and maybe he could convince her to reject the proposal.

  *********************************  

"It's all your fault!" Devyani smacked the back of her husband Amar's head as they heard another sound of something being thrown. This time it was something made of glass.

Amar rubbed his head and scowled at his wife, "What? How is it my fault?" another crash sound followed.

"Yes it is your fault indeed! You have spoilt her way too much that now she is out of control! And inspite of knowing your daughter's nature you arranged a marriage alliance for her without asking her." Devyani poked a finger harshly in his ribs.

"Ouch!" he yelped, "Crazy woman! It's your genes that she is so violent!" Amar rubbed the place where Devyani had poked him trying to soothe the ache. "And so what if I arranged this alliance? I am her father I have the right to do so. Moreover Raghuvir's are our family friends, I know all about the family and believe me that family is perfect for our Veenu." Just as he finished his sentence Amar felt a cushion hit the back of his head.

"Ah!" he massaged his head, "See she is just like you. Mother and daughter both alike and violent. I should sue you both for domestic violence!"

"Excuse me!" Amar heard his daughter's voice laced with anger and was greeted by another cushion this time right on his face, "It's me who should sue you for forcing me to get married to this Om Jai Jagdish!" Vennela cracked her knuckles in a threatening way.

"Jai, his name his Jai." Amar muttered. "Whatever!" he heard his daughter say.

Vennela sat on the couch beside her mother and said, "Why did you do this Dad? I am just 27 years old and right now I should be concentrating on my career and not thinking about getting married and playing house. What if he asks me to leave my job? I am not a housewife material Dad, I don't want to be a trophy wife. Arre I know nothing about this Jai of yours and you want me to marry him?!"

Amar rolled his eyes at his daughter who is quite a drama queen, "That's why they are coming a month before the engagement so you and Jai can meet and get to know each other."

"Excuse me?! Just a month? How can I find everything about him in just one month?! He may act all goody good in front of me and then who know after marriage he starts abusing me?!" Vennela's eyes widened at the thought.

"As if you will let that happen." Amar chuckled earning a glare from his wife and daughter. "Even if he tries to do that Veenu I am sure you will beat him black and blue instead. All those boxing and self defences classes that you took would help, won't they?" this time Devyani couldn't hide her smile as well.

"Veenu, Jai's father is my best friend. I have known him since he was in diapers, he will treat you as a daughter equivalent to how he treats his son. I didn't fix your marriage without thinking about anything. I met him while I was in London for business purposes and believe me when I say that Jai is the perfect guy for you."

Vennela leaned back on the couch and closed her eyes, "But Dad what if I don't like him?"

"Then we can cancel it all. I won't force you to marry a guy just because I like him but yes if everything goes fine that you will be engaged and get married as planned." Amar caressed Vennela's hair in a loving manner.

Vennela groaned and said, "Fine I will meet that guy."

*********************************

"Are you stupid?" Vennela threw a piece of bread at her best friend and colleague Abhinav Sharma who sat opposite to her.

Vennela took a bite of her sandwich and murmured, "I ain't stupid, it's just that I wasn't feeling good that day."

"And that made you act stupid?" Abhinav chuckled and ducked his head on the right time avoiding a piece of tomato that Vennela had thrown at him. "Seriously Veenu how did you manage to let that groom of yours know that you are an "under-graduate"" Abhinav asked air quoting his last words.

Vennela slapped her forehead lightly and replied, "You know Viren? Anju's husband?"

"Oh that London made? Yeah, Anju told me that she will be joining him a month later. What about him?" Abhinav asked.

"Viren is Jai's P.A. Jai asked him to gather all information about me, when Anju got to know about it then she told me and I asked her to add this piece of information that.." Vennela was about to continue but Abhinav interrupted her in mid.

"That you aren't India's youngest neurosurgeon but just an under-graduate who is ready to play house and have lots and lots of kids." Abhinav laughed, "How can you be so stupid? Didn't you think for once that Jai can clarify it with his parents?" he placed a hand over his mouth not wanting to spill the half eaten morsel.

Vennela smacked Abhinav on his head and said, "Stop reminding me about it." She grumbled and drank her lemonade in a go.

Abhinav shook his head as he smiled at his best friend. Vennela, Vennela Ramakrishnan, his best friend of 7 years was the youngest neurosurgeon in India. She's beautiful young lady with an exceptional brain and an incredible heart. Her parents have brought her up like a son and have spoiled her to the core but also instilled moral values and principles in her. Vennela can't be described, she can be only experienced.

"So tell me about this groom of yours." Abhinav sipped his orange juice.

Vennela made a face as she replied, "I myself don't know anything about him, I just have this picture of his that his mother emailed me. Seriously! Is this guy a businessman or some kind of secret undercover agent? I googl-ed him, looked up for any social media profile but nothing interesting came up."

"Oh you have his picture. Show." Abhinav raised his brows and smirked.

Vennela unlocked her cell phone and scrolled through her pictures and showed Abhinav the picture that she had of Jai, "Here, look."

Abhinav smiled, "I know it sounds weird but I must admit, he's one handsome hunk." Vennela giggled, "He looks fine but I am not the one to be impressed by looks. I am more concerned about what is inside than what is outside. What if he's just another good looking egoistic jerk?!"

"Veenu.." Abhinav placed his hand over hers, "I think you should meet, give him a chance. What if he is just the perfect guy for you?" Abhinav's question made her frown in contemplation; "What if he's the one?" she thought but soon brushed off the thought because she didn't want to marry as of now. She has a bright career ahead and she wanted to focus on it, she doesn't have the time to take care of a husband. Marriage means too much expectations and she didn't have the time to fulfil them.

"But I am not ready for this marriage Abhinav, not now."

"Vennu relax, just go with the flow. I am not asking you to marry this guy but hey you can give him a chance right? Meet him, get to know him and see where this goes. There is a possibility that you will get married to this guy and soon have his babies. Oh! Your babies will be so cute. I can bet on that!" Abhinav said dramatically making Vennela smack him once again. No way that was gonna happen.