Guys, I am unable to proceed myself to publish the chapter twice a week. So, I have rescheduled my time to just upload a chapter once in a week.

Hope you will understand your author's state.

Let's proceed with the chapter now. Do let me know how did you liked it.

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Author's POV:

The next morning, the sun peeked out from the house curtains, bringing out light and warmth in their hearts, making everyone forget about previous night incidents and openly welcome the new day. Hiding her insecurities, Neha made sure to look normal and was having her breakfast—Kheema Paratha, one of her favourite dishes, which was undoubtedly made by Ruksana as an act of reducing her guilt.

"Assalamualaikum, Aunty, please serve me Paratha as well, yummmm. The aroma of kheema made me get up from sleep and come quickly here." Ayesha, who had just gotten up and brushed her teeth, came quickly to have the delicious Kheema paratha made by Ruksana Aunty.

"I am bringing the fresh paratha. Sit in the chair beside Neha." Ruksana started to make a fresh batch of parathas for both of her daughters.

Seeing Ayesha still in her night dress, Neha glanced at her watch and asked, "Don't you have an office to go to?"

"I have a train this evening to go to Vizag for an event," Ayesha nonchalantly told her, taking Kheema on her plate.

"Oh, when will you come back?" Neha asked about her schedule.

"The marriage is two days later, and then there is a gap for reception; I may return after a week," Ayesha replied.

"Ok, later, do you have any events to manage?" Neha enquired.

"Yeah, this month is full of marriages... Having no time to breathe for a day," Ayesha recalled her schedule and tiredly started to eat breakfast.

"Beta, Don't forget about the arrangements for Neha's marriage; you have to only plan it." Ruksana, who came to serve the hot paratha, reminded her of Neha's marriage as if the marriage had already been fixed.

As the blinds were opened last night, it is not a surprise that now the topic of Neha's marriage will be discussed openly, understanding the hidden meaning of Ruksana. Neha silently focused on her breakfast and left for the studio.

Neha's POV:

"Ma'am, are you alright?" Priya asked me, which made me turn towards her.

"Yes, why are you asking it?"

"Ma'am, since you came, you are just drawing patterns in your closed book with a closed pen," Priya told me strangely, which made me look down.  I was drawing with the closed pen on the closed book.

"Oh, I was thinking something," I told Priya, and I opened my book to concentrate on the designs, and I started to draw the silhouette of the female body.

"Ma'am, you told me to arrange a meeting with the architect and Saniya; it is scheduled today." Priya reminded me of today's meeting.

Sighing, "Priya, can you please arrange the meeting some other time? I can't attend today." I requested. I am still not quite over yesterday's incident, and I can not go to a meeting in this state of mind.

"It's ok, ma'am. It was not that important; you take rest." Understanding my state, Priya replied and turned towards her laptop to resume her work, and I have also tried to at least do my work.

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Ammy looked at the clock as I walked inside the house and said, "It is been very late. Come on, have dinner, and go to your room." It was about 9:30 p.m. when I arrived.

"There was much pending work, so it took time, and I had dinner already. I will just go and sleep, Allahafiz". Though I didn't have much work and I didn't finish today's schedule, I lied to her and went to the room.

As I came outside of the washroom after freshening up, Papa was sitting on the sofa in my room, and a plate of food was at the table. "Papa, I have eaten already", I lied again

"Even if I feed you, can you not eat again? During childhood, you used to come near me every time and used to tell me to feed you. Now you don't ask me at least  once," Papa emotionally blackmailed me, and I can't control myself. He knew I was lying but instead of arguing, he accepted my lie. My eyes started to well up with tears controlling those, I nodded my head and sat beside him to eat. 

Papa started to feed me like I used to eat from him in childhood—one bite of rice with curry, another bite of chicken piece. As he continued to feed me, it reminded me of those childhood days, I used to eat only with the hands of Papa, and if he used to not be there, I used to sit stubbornly without eating until he came and fed me. When Dadi would tease me, "There will not be anyone to feed you in your in-laws house," I would respond with pride, "I will take Papa with me."

"Remember how Dadi used to tease you when I used to feed you as a child?" Papa asked, and I nodded yes with a big smile on my face.I miss those childhood days alot, lot. Why do we have to become adults? Can't we just freeze the time and live in that moment.

"Now that you are all grown up, and will go to your in-laws house soon," Papa said with a sorrowful look in my direction. This caused my anxiety to explode, causing me to hiccup. Papa quickly grabbed the water bottle from the table and passed it to me so I could drink it.

As I came back to a normal state, Papa started to feed me again. "You know na Beta, till today I haven't done anything until you agree," Papa asked, forwarding a morsel of rice, I nodded my head and took the bite. "It will be done further in the same way, if you don't like it, we will not be proceeding,", Papa assured me, and he took a piece of chicken and forwarded it to feed me.

"What if I don't know what to do?" quickly chewing the piece of chicken, I asked the question that was buzzing around me. Looking at me, Papa fed me the last bite and got up to wash his hands, keeping the plate aside.

There were a lot of theories and fears surrounding me from the beginning, but I made the mistake of brushing them all aside and putting all of my trust in one person for my life, but it turned out one-sided. I know the marriage completes half of my deen, but what if this marriage does not work? What if we both come to the realisation that we are not meant to be together? More importantly, am I prepared to give someone space in my heart and replace my one sided love?

Papa returned from the washroom and again sat beside me on the sofa and placed  hand on my head, bringing me back from my web of thoughts. "Beta, I won't tell all those talks about marriage and all, I assume you are already aware of those, but let me share my personal experience with you," which caused me to face him.

"I was your age when my parents talked to me about a marriage proposal. I was preparing for the junior lecturer exam at the time, fully relying on your Dadu's income. Though I was working in a private institution but the payscale was very low. 

I was very nervous. How would I provide financial stability and safety to my family? What if I get distracted from my goal? What if we face financial problems in the future? What if she regrets marrying me? What if I can't give her proper time due to my career? What if I am unable to fulfill all of her expectations? What if my children can't afford the good life? All these what-ifs 's revolved in my head." 

"Then what did you do?", I couldn't stop myself from asking. With a smile, Papa turned to face me and tucked the hair strand that was on my face behind my ear.

"I provided all the possible reasons to deny or postpone the marriage topic but you know your Dadi right, how adamant she gets nothing worked in my favour".

"The day arrived when we were supposed to meet the prospective bride", papa smiled mischievously, " you know what, I dressed myself in the worst outfit to get rejected ",This widened my eyes, Papa doing all these mischievous things was hard to hear.

Seeing my shocked face, " you still don't know about my childhood days, Beta," ruffling my hair, Papa laughed at me.

"Then what happened at their house?" I straightened my dishevelled hair and told to proceed further.

"There is no other option, so I wrote down all of my weaknesses and insecurities in a letter and gave her complete authority to accept or reject me, saying, 'It is up to you if you still want to proceed with me or not'."

"Then", now I got curious to hear further

"Then what? We got married, and after a year you were born, which was like a lucky charm to me—I got selected as a junior lecturer in Dehradun, and after working there for 10 years, we came back to Hyderabad, and you know the next,"  Papa cheerfully concluded his story.

"Did Ammi not reject you? Did she not feel disheartened when you wrote the letter?"

"Hahaha, even I was shocked when she said 'yes' to the marriage, and as per my word, I agreed to the marriage; later, I didn't get a chance to meet her again. After our marriage, the very question I asked was the same as you asked.".

"What did Ammi say then?" I folded my legs and sat facing Papa

"She said she liked my honesty and openness. So, without thinking further, she agreed for my marriage. I sent the letter hoping for a rejection, but instead it made her like me more despite my messy outfit". Papa chuckled at the next sentence.

My mouth hung open wide, imagining all those scenarios Papa described, "I didn't want to tell you all these, but seeing you reminded me of my own situation, though the scenario is different."

"Just understand that, whatever the situation is communication is the key. You will get a chance to meet and talk with the person who comes to see you; I will personally make sure about it, but it is you who should be transparent and let forward your insecurities. And one more thing, Beta, even he would have his insecurities and weaknesses just like you. You should also listen to him and think further about whether you can accept it or not. After discussing, you both should decide whether to go with the relationship or not," Papa advised me in detail, which eased my insecurities.

"It's already late, in the morning you should go to work as well. I will leave, you go to sleep, and don't forget about what I told you."  Papa kissed me on the forehead, took the dried used plate, and left my room.

As Papa left, I got up from the  sofa and locked the room door. Taking my laptop, I sat on the bed to draft up all my insecurities about my personal life and moving further in my marriage. After speaking with Papa, I realised that carrying around my fears and insecurities would never allow me to go forward. Instead, I need to take responsibility for this baggage and approach the challenge head-on. That is the only way I will be able to let go of my fears and move on.

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