Garima had raised two daughter and felt helpless to get them married to the right man ,she wished her eldest didn't have to go through such heart break and she wished her youngest would believe they are people out there who would choose her without her wealth.

       Their daughter were jaded by their experience and as a mother she couldn't help them , being poor had never bothered her much ,Khushi had been the intelligent one that she got into college with full scholarship and spent most of her time working in their shop with her father while Payal shared their burden by working  part time to teach  younger kids .

        She had been blessed with a good husband and lovely daughters that she didn't contemplate how one event could topple up their dreams , when the offer came with no demands for  dowry , she had been happy for her daughter .

           Garima and her husband had saved everything they can for the wedding and they did their best to for their eldest but the groom family greed was after her youngest wealth .

          It was that day she saw her daughters giving up on marriage and while both of them go along with her wishes ,there heart was no longer in it which broke Garima heart every single day .  

             Her marriage with her husband happened due to circumstances, she was his neighbour who looked after Payal when he went to work as she worked from work as a tailor so that she can be around to take care of Khushi who was just two year old . 

         
         When there had been few unsavory rumours about them ,he offered for marriage and she didn't see a reason not to accept after he promised to raise Khushi as his own and till now she never once doubted his devotion . 

          
             They made the mutual decision not to have more kids ,and had been happy with each other . She wanted her daughters to find a good man like their father but apparently fate hadn't been kind to them .

         She usually doesn't spend time wallowing in the past but today she was alone in home that she can't help it ,Payal went back to work as if another failed meeting with prospective groom were a regular occurrence, her sister in law went to visit a friend while her husband and Khushi went to shop as usual.

       Garima couldn't help wonder if her youngest would remain single handedly devoted to the shop , she used to tag along with her father until she became fascinated with the shop that Garima can't change her mind from her choose destination even after she grew up ,while Garima wanted her daughters to get married and settled ,her youngest would be dreaming off opening a bakery with her father .

                And it was why she was alone when the Raizadas came for a visit with  a shocking proposal of their own that left her speechless. 

                    *****************

     Manorama didn't like her mother in law chosen bride one bit , she is yet to see her for that matter but she didn't think Arnav beta and the girl from this house will suit at all .

     " Date ..With a stranger " the shock in the face of her mother was enough to tell Manorama that her daughter wouldn't suit her nephew but she never could convince her mother in law . 

       " Well , Garimaji my brother would like to meet her in person first just for dinner . It very common among youngster nowadays ,I can assure it is because he is bit shy around others " her niece lied smoothly as if Arnav beta would be shy to talk his mind ,his famous what the is enough to convey his feeling and she didn't think the girl will last a minute in his presence.

          " I have to talk to my husband and his sister first then I will let you know " She answered back and even her mother in law couldn't convince her ,it was a relief to Manorama until her eyes landed on the family picture and she saw the familiar face of the rich girl who didn't want her money

          " Is this Payal ?" She asked Garimaji as she pointed towards the picture and was surprised to learn it was her youngest daughter and that was the moment Manorama had stumbled upon a matchmaking plan of her own .

            " Hello ,hi bye bye She is very pretty ,Payal sister and you  see I have a son of my own ,Arnav beta cousin . Akash Raizada .

         How about we make it a double date, so that you won't have to worry about sending your daughter alone. And if everything worked out well we can have two wedding and your daughters living together for the rest of their life " Manorama spoke up surprising her mother in law and niece but she has no intention of letting them know about her ulterior motive .

               " Are you sure Manorama " her mother in law asked her eyes lingered over in an attempt to find her sudden change of heart but she remained calm enough to fool them for now . If only she could make sure Shyam keep it a secret .

For now she will let them meet,  once Khushi sees her son ,she will fall in love with him and then no one will be able to blame Manorama little scheme because who on their right mind wouldn't love her sweet son .

            ***********************

    
Two days later

             "   Khushi let go back home " Payal spoke up but her sister was determined to have her way ,she wasn't happy to learn their father had already agreed for the date not because she was nervous but because she quite didn't believe the offer .

               "Come on di ,are you saying you believe them . That one look at you devyaniji was determined to marry you to her grandson and one look at my picture her daughter in law wants me to marry his son . Something is wrong with the offer and I intend to find it out before the date. " Khushi answered back as she marched into the building .  

                 As expected they couldn't get past the security without appointment and instead of leaving her sister sneaked inside leaving her worried and concerned as she waited outside the building in fear for her safety. 

                   She was too nervous to walk on a straight line that she crashed into someone and was shocked to see that their collision had resulted in him soaking his shirt with hot coffee .

                  " I am so so sorry ,does it hurt " Payal blurted out to see the dark stain in the white shirt and expected him to rage at her instead he confused her by his kindness .

                  " It just a shirt and fortunately I went for cold coffee today ,so relax accidents like this happen " he answered back with a smile and she liked how he was quick to forgive her until she heard someone else call him  .

                " Sir ,the show is about to start . " a man in suit called him out as the stranger rushed past her into the building ,the very same building her sister was trapped inside .

                  " They can come late after all it his company " the man in suit spoke to someone in the phone and Payal was stunned to realize it must be one of the cousin . She felt close to panic to realize that he would remember her in their date this Friday and wondered how to explain to him about her presence outside his building

                She hoped he would be understanding just like how he had been when she collided with him earlier.

               **********************

          Meanawhile Khushi had successfully managed to enter the top floor where the office of the Raizada were located , no matter how much kind they had been according to her mother she didn't trust them .

         It may be due to the fact her birth parents were from different social status which had been the reason her paternal grandparents only acknowledged her after their death .

         Khushi had heard about the Raizadas and it was the reason she was concerned , the Raizada have their shares in almost all developing sectors and they could have their share of eligible brides in line at the mere hint of possibility yet they choose her family .

           
         " Are you lost , come it getting late " a voice called out to her as she was dragged to another room filled with models of all kind , a dress was thrust into her hand with the instruction to  change quick, she didn't know how she ended up getting caught in that room but it felt like among the chaos no one was willing to listen to her side of the story .

           Under ten minutes she was dressed up and pushed into a dark room and she saw a several  faces staring at her , " Don't just stand there walk " . a voice whispered from her behind as Khushi Kumari Gupta walked just to escape from the madness .

             She felt the stares of people around her and would have fainted if she knew the room was filled with around 100 people including the Raizada cousins, and by the time the show ended Khushi was glad to escape along the corridors .

              Only to stop short when she overheard a someone shouting ,her curiosity got the better of her as she peaked inside the room to find a man back ,from her place she could only see his back and notice his coat  but she heard his voice loud and clear .

              " Who is the girl that crashed the walk , find her soon and let me know who paid her ,I need to now who dared to do this they need to learn Arnav Singh Raizada will not let such an act slide past for any reason " he was shouting and she realized not only the familiar name but the girl in question was her and so she hastened her escape through fire exit until she reached the parking garage

           She wished she could have seen his face ,while  Arnav Singh Raizada is a well known name there hadn't been a single picture of him online much to her dismay and he got not social media accounts as well 

        So it was by chance she was the familiar coat walking past her,  and she was quick to hide behind a car in an attempt to not gain his attention but this time she had been able to see his face finally .

     As she made her way outside she breathed a sigh of relief when she got to  reunite herself with her sister .

    "Are you fine Khushi " her sister asked her and khushi didn't want to overly concern her sister ,so didn't tell her about what transpired in the building but what she knew those two won't suit ,a man who shouts like that to his employees isn't going to marry her sweet sister.

      She will go to the blind date and make sure it was the last time Arnav Singh Raizada comes anywhere near her sister .

P.S :" That it for now . Let me know your thoughts and Feedbacks . Hit the votes if you liked it "

Juanita Reid