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|A series of unsaid promises are the building blocks of their union|

by medicallymessedup

•present•

Why are meeting the prospective bride and groom setups so traditionally weird and definitely awkward? The girl's family invites the latter over and takes care of all the arrangements regardless of the final decision happening. The extravaganza efforts displayed in the form of new crockery which was untouched for years, the newly-bought cushion covers, shining dining cloth showcasing the fear behind lacking a perfection in the girl or her background.

Why can't such meetings could be as real as one stays in their daily life? And how considerably legit it was deciding the future of individuals over a handful of samosas and cups of hot tea? Who did even issue this deranged regime?

[Samosas - A fried South Asian pastry with a savoury filling, including ingredients such as spiced potatoes, onions, and peas. Samosas are often accompanied by chutney and steaming tea, and are a popular entrée, appetizer, or snack in the Indian cuisine.]

Ruchi pondered the same while pacing to and fro inside her room as the guests or the prospective groom's clan have arrived already and looking ahead to summon her.

She was undeniably anxious. Considerably, anxious was a small word because the adrenaline and cortisol were hiking in her body and overall she felt like a ticking bomb.

Ruchi wasn't in a position to decline for her father's sake but to give it a severe thought it was a matter of her lifetime. She might not love the stranger guy initially but she still had a hope for a stable and lasting relationship unlike like what had drowned the ship in her parents' debatable marriage.

Archie, her Aunt's daughter, helped her to get ready for the day since Ruchi had a poor taste of presentation as per Sushma. Ruchi wore a bottle green silk saree with a contrast red zari border highlighting the faint rose blush on her cheeks and paired the saree with a matching red blouse. A simple gold chain, hoop earrings and plain bangles. Archie left her hair open setting them up in long waves and completed her look with a red bindi.

"Let's go Baby Di, they've arrived." Archie spoke excitedly. She was her Aunt's second-born after Prashant, who was older than Ruchi yet respected her enough to not call her by name. She was a sweet girl unlike her mother, who despised her niece.

[Di - Elder sister]

"Brother-in-law seems smart!" Archie giggled in Ruchi's ears making her smile at her antics even though she herself was heck of nervous. "And Di, he's handsome too, resembling Jeet from Jab We Met!!" She described excitedly, "Di, jaise Jeet, Geet ki har baat manta tha wese hi yeh phir aapki bhi saare batenge sunenge."

["Then sister, he's going to listen to you just like Jeet did for his Geet."]

Ruchi took a deep breath realizing she lacked words for him to listen and silently followed her cousin downstairs.

'God! Maybe all goes well. I don't want to spoil anything that may upset Papa.' She prayed.

Finally, it was time to make a sophisticated appearance now.

Ruchi entered the living room with the typical arrangement of such types of meetings in India, that is, with a tray full of refreshments and tea. She was looking at the floor while walking, no eye-contact were a symbol of well-mannered girls as ordered by Sushma along with equally measured steps that were the parameters for choosing the right kinda bride.

All the members of that boy's family were watching her moves intently, especially the boy himself who was fascinated just by her photograph circulated by their families.

"Sit, dear." The boy's mother spoke after she kept the huge tray on the center table. Ruchi greeted the people with a small "Namaste!" And sat near the lady on the sofa with the awkwardness crawling up her knees. She trained her eyes down sensing her Aunt was already glaring at her as if she did something wrong in the protocol.

[Namaste - An Indian word used for formal greeting]

"I must say, your daughter is gracefully beautiful, Mr. Sunil. My son fell in love with her from the time he saw her photograph which you sent to us." The mother of the boy spoke proudly looking at her successful son with admiration.

The word "love" got Ruchi's attention, she immediately looked upwards and saw that a very sharp & beautiful pair of honey-brown eyes were staring right at her. The eyes belonged to the person who came here for her hand for this marriage. Needless to say, he was handsome, like very handsome just like Archie narrated to her.

But, something awful churned inside her and reminded her of a certain pair of coal black eyes glittering with mischief and a swirl of deep down unrecognizable emotions which effectively made her uneasy and on the toes from this far away.

Why was she wandering to the unsettling destination?

Why now?

Ruchi looked down immediately when she heard chuckles and whistles around her. His family was teasing him as well as her now. "They were so much lost in each other's eyes." His mother commented and he blushed at that while Ruchi still tried to process up the information about the guy who was already in love with her.

How can somebody love someone so urgently?

'Didn't you too?' A voice inside demanded.

'No!' The heart whispered, unable to withstand the challenge laid by her conscience.

As of now, Ruchi's prospective bridegroom came by the name Aakash Cheema, a non-residential Indian currently located in Canada. He worked as a news editor for a reputable American national channel that was a 'great catch' as quoted by Sushma who got her links stronger for this alliance offered by a distant friend. He belonged to the same community as theirs and was deemed to be financially good. If everything went well, the Cheema family was looking forward to making her as their daughter-in-law by the end of this year.

"Well, now I think they should just talk in private as we've no questions for Ruchi, we already liked her. Aakash, take your soon-to-be-bride to the garden. You don't have any problem with that, right?" Aakash's mother spoke a little authoritatively. Why would she not, after all, she was the Boss Lady here.

"Baby, take Aakash to the garden." Mamta smiled and she nodded obediently.

Ruchi stood up waiting for Aakash to come with her as they walked to the small area behind their house which was filled with greenery, as she had a huge passion for nature and gardening followed by her brother ofcourse. Tempting against the urge to pluck flowers was her way to give back and connect with nature.

Ruchi gestured to Aakash to sit on the chair and then she too sat on another.

"Umm. So you are Ruchi. I've heard a lot about you from my mother." Aakash spoke with a confident tone while all he just got a small nod from her.

"You are so shy." He commented with a small chuckle.

"I wanted to ask a question. Can I?" Ruchi gathered all her courage to say it all this while. She uttered while keeping an eye-contact with Aakash.

"Yeah, sure. Go ahead." Aakash encouraged her to ask him.

"Why do you want to marry me? You could get anyone you want for yourself. I'm just an average and your preferences must not be ending just with me. Also, you've lived out of India and there must be some of your peculiar interests for such a matter. Then why will you lo-" She corrected, "You like me? Are you somehow forced?" She asked him with a constant eye-contact.

He looked at her amused as she sounded so genuine about her queries.

"You are much more than I assumed when I saw you inside." He smiled at her, confusing her all the way more.

"I'm sorry I didn't get you Aakash-" Ruchi apologized embarrassingly, still vague at what he meant.

"No need for that." He spoke calmly.

"My mother likes to exaggerate things before clearing its real notion." He informed her, "And back to your question, I do really like you!"

"Huh.."

"Since I saw you in the photos I don't know how but I felt enchanted by you. Yes, my preferences were not limited to you but it changed and now I am proudly into you. You could find yourself average but for me you are the Cinderella, I could try the glass shoe in every girl to find you." Aakash whispered with so much adoration in his eyes as he held her palms in his.

Meanwhile Ruchi just stared at him. It felt so phantasmagorical. It was the first time a boy was so near to her and his promising words were convincingly bewitching.

"Uhh.." She turned pink in embarrassment and Aakash chuckled at that. Moving away from his romantic confession, Ruchi didn't have a good or positive answer for him. As she never had to come across such deltoid situations.

"I don't need an answer, Ruchi! These are my feelings for you but if you like anyone we can leave it here." He reasoned.

"Do you?"

She shook her head in a no as there was no meaning to tell him or anyone about her stupid crush on a guy who does not even know to care about her existence.

"So shall I take that as a yes Miss. Batra?" He asked hopeful as ever and she responded with a meek yes to him.

"So that's final." He said excitedly and happiness seeping from his gestures. "Now if you want we can play the questionnaire game. Ladies first." He got up and settled on the chair which was nearest to Ruchi much to her surprise.

Soon, their question-answer session began. One questioned, and the other answered.

Ruchi happened to plainly like him. Aakash sincerely was a sweet and jovial person to interact with. Added, he was confident about his answers and she liked his company. She didn't doubt his intentions of liking her anymore when she talked to him more. He was a nice person, he liked her too, he was a well-settled guy just like her family wanted, he had a great genuine personality, so with what reason could anyone reject him?

Weren't these the certified aspects of judging a guy for marriage?

She decided that she'd give this alliance a chance, maybe this is for her own good planned by the almighty.

She slightly smiled looking at him after the questionnaire was over.

Maybe he liked her enough to spend a lifetime with her. But she needed some time. Some time to think about all these things and sort out some critical things with her heart and make peace with the mind.

"So my soon-to-be bride, is it a "yes" from your side?"

"I liked spending time with you Aakash, but I just want some more time to get to know you better." She couldn't stop herself from saying all this after seeing the disappointed face of Aakash. "It's all so new for me that I don't know how to deal with it-"

"Hey, that's a great achievement for me. I'm happy that at least you enjoyed my presence. Don't worry, there's no such hurry for the marriage." Aakash spoke happily, satisfied with her answer.

"Let's go." He said and then they entered back inside the house.

"See, they came." His mother announced joyously after she saw them coming from the main door.

"So, what did you two decide?"

Everyone present in the room was eagerly waiting for their answer. Ruchi's family looked at their daughter to know about her decision and her father certainly had a 'there's no right reason to 'say-no-to-him' face.'

And Ruchi sincerely obliged the unsaid words. She lowered her eyes that had a bit of moisture building up-She could do this, she convinced herself. This is the least she could do to make him happy.

"We've decided that we will first get to know each other and then we can proceed with the marriage after sometime." Aakash spoke in an active tone.

"Well done, my son. You both have all the rights to get to know each other better." Aakash's father spoke augustly.

"So it means it is a "yes", right?" Sushma, Ruchi's Aunt asked skeptically as if she just wanted to get rid of her and truly in a way she was on it.

"Yes Aunty, it's a yes. But we just want some time to get to know each other and I'm sure you're willing enough to grant us with that." Aakash spoke a little harshly as he could see the unfair and underfeeding look the middle-aged lady passed towards Ruchi.

"You're okay with this, Baby?" Sujal asked softly, caressing her forehead comfortingly along with Mamta who asked Ruchi to let her decision out.

Ruchi nodded her meekly, making the faces smile around.

"Okay okay, time for some celebration. I'll bring the sweets then." Mamta voiced out happily as everyone congratulated each other.

After they all were done with the formalities, Aakash went near Ruchi who was standing a little away from all of them watching her family enjoy the onset of festivities with her affirmation.

She got startled all of a sudden when she was asked for her number in front of everyone by Aakash who didn't find it offensive.

"Kartik will give you the number soon, Aakash. She's a bit shy, you know! Girls in our family are modest, son. And she avoids chatting." Before she could have answered her Aunt chided and Ruchi fell quiet in an instant. Aakash already had sensed a distaste over her Aunt's behavior which could be easily smelled from distance.

"Bye, Ruchi and take care." Aakash whispered to her with a sweet smile adorning his face and his family drove away from their house.

Ruchi smiled lightly, a genuinely compassion-filled smile. Maybe it was finally the start of something good in her life, which wasn't a call for disappointment for anyone.

Lots of Love,

ANKITA