"Dad, What are you talking about?",Ekantha asked her father in confusion.

" We are looking matches for you dear, tomorrow evening there is a prospective groom coming to see. Be ready Ekantha",he said leaving Ekantha and the whole family in a shock.

Ketan Acharya, was always a person who would never take wrong decisions. Everything in his life goes in a planned way. Kanyaka and Ekantha are his only family who he talks to.

"But Ketan, she has an interview tomorrow. We all know right she is looking for a job since long. So... Now... This is not the time for her to get married I guess Ketan",Kanyaka was totally taken aback with her husband's sudden decision. She knew how this is going to hit Ekantha.

This new piece of information made the atmosphere more tensed.

"Kanyaka, the groom family will be here at around 6pm. Make all the necessary arrangements. We will talk about other things after tomorrow. I am sure it's a good choice for Ekantha",he said and walked away from there with hands in his pockets.

" Maa, I just- I need sometime please ma", Ekantha literally broke down into tears. Anika tried to calm her down by patting her gently.

"Ekantha, calm down please! We know this is going to be tough but just meet that boy and talk with him, you can straight away reject him", Anika tried to calm her down.

"No Anika, I know dad wont stop with this. He would keep on bringing proposals and I must select them at any cost. Maybe Dad feels I am a burden and getting me married is the best way to get rid of burden after all I am not having any job also, I am just eating like a pig and doing no work at home also",she cried more hugging Anika.

Kanyaka couldn't see her in tears and went back to the kitchen, she didn't know whom to convince her husband or her child. The situation was completely clueless and the worst part was Ekantha was blaming herself for it and she couldn't say anything.

Anika and Dikshit went back to home after that, Ekantha was in her room thinking deeply about the sudden news. It totally disturbed her mood and she had to give an interview the next day.

If she gets a job will her to be husband allow her to? Will he just tell it on her face that she should stop everything and stay at home doing the house hold chores? Will he force her to have children and give him physical pleasure every single day? Will her in laws be way too strict with her? Would she be able to adjust there leaving her parents? Who would take care of her parents after her? What if they scold her for not able to keep up the reputation of their family? What if the boy is completely opposite to me and hate her for being this nerdy and is forced by his parents to marry her? What if he is a pervert?

So many thoughts were roaming in her brain and she held her head not able to take too many thoughts at a time,she felt her head spinning and dozed off on the bed for really long time till she realized it was her mother knocking the door and calling her for dinner as she did not eat anything since afternoon except her breakfast. She washed her face quickly and came out in her tees and pj. She sat on the couch in front of the television.

"Ekantha, dear the interview tomorrow",her mother wasn't able to complete the sentence.

"Don't worry ma, if you don't want me to go I won't but at least let me give a try",she said holding her tears which were threatening to fall down.

"No dear, did you prepare for it?",she asked composing herself. All the time Ketan Acharya was having his dinner listening to the conversation.

"Yes, I did mom! I was preparing since the day I applied so no problem. I am done, I will go and set things for my interview",she said and left to her room. The food was untouched and Kanyaka was getting worried.

"Ketan, Look at her she didn't eat anything since afternoon. In this rate she will fall sick very soon. Let's postpone to some other day Ketan, give her sometime so that she won't take any wrong decision in rush",Kanyaka tried to convince him as her first step.

"Kanyaka, I am not asking her to get married tomorrow am I? The people will just come and see her that is all. Everything will go in a slow pace and I won't compromise with anything because Ekantha is my one and only daughter. How did you think I would force her into a forced wedding? The boy is a good person in career and at heart also, you will see about it tomorrow and then I guess you will understand why I didn't want to miss a gem in person",he said and completed his dinner. Kanyaka just kept mum and cleaned the dishes and went to sleep not before checking on her daughter.

The next morning came sooner than expected, Ekantha was ready in her formals in a black pant and white shirt with her resume in her hand all set to her interview.

"Ma, I am off to interview. While coming, I will come with Anika and select my outfit whichever you want just like you are choosing the groom now",she said sighing sadly.

Her mother felt a pang in her heart and she could clearly feel the pain that her daughter was going through,she just kept quiet and continued her work. Ekantha had to go to an interview in a front office executive [ more like adminstration work] in a school.

She drove to Vivekananda Public School premises on her scooty which was gifted to her by her father after she completed her +2. She parked her scooty and went into the school. It was a good campus, with large ground and a stage straight opposite to the entrance. She looked out for some guidance in the campus and as if God heard her prayers the peon was roaming here and there.

"Excuse me ! I am here for the interview of Front office executive, Could you please help me where to report?",she asked him.

"Number 2, What's your name mam?",he asked.

"Ekantha! Ekantha Acharya",she replied and he directed her towards the Principal's cabin.

"Mam,please have your seat. I will come back once the morning assembly is done. If you want you can join too",he said and rushed from there.

Soon all the children were ready for the morning assembly and it took around half an hour, it gave her back her school memories. They were not so great memories but she felt dejavu. The assembly meet was wrapped up and then the Principal walked in to her cabin. Ekantha had one more candidate sitting beside her, but she didn't take the opportunity to talk with her.

"Miss. Anna Vincent, please go in",the peon said and Ekantha watched her going into the cabin. She looked more like her age person but her face conveyed many feelings and emotions which were not outspoken.

She sat there staring at the plants which she was addicted to always. It had been more than half an hour and now this was scaring her. She had many thoughts slowly entering her brain, What if she isn't selected? What if she won't get an opportunity like this again? Many What ifs popped in her brain. Disturbing all her what if's she heard a voice.

"Miss. Ekantha Acharya, please go in",the peon said and she came back into the world. She got up from her place and walked in towards the Principal's cabin.

"May I come in mam?",she asked and the woman in the seat nodded.

"Please have your seat",saying so she looked at Ekantha and she remembered some familiarity within her.

"Have we met somewhere dear?",the principal asked leaving Ekantha clueless.

"Wait, are you that same girl who studied in Warangal VidyaNiketan School?",she asked and Ekanatha nodded.

"Oh my god! Do you remember Vennela?",she asked and the memory struck her brain. Vennela was her good friend and after she moved to Hyderabad after her grade 8 she lost contact with her.

"Yes Aunty, how can I forget her? How are you? How come you are here?",she asked in surprise.

"I was appointed here an year back dear, I am good. Vennela will jump around if she finds out that I met you here. Lets start with the interview now, we should never mix professional and personal life right?",she asked and Ekantha nodded.

After like half an hour, the interview was completed. "That was mind blowing Ekantha! You are selected not because you are Vennela's friend but I liked your answers. You can join from next week. Congratulations and All the best dear",she said and smiled.

"Thank you so much mam! Please tell Vennela that I asked for her and we could meet soon",she chirped.

"You can visit us this evening dear, we can have a good chat after long time. I am sure there would be lots of things for you to discuss",she said and Ekantha lost all the colours in her face. She had that match seeing thing in the evening.

"Aunty! Can I visit tomorrow? Today my parents arranged match seeing thing [ pelli choopulu ] for me",she said awkwardly. She was insecure now that she had to reject her offer.

"Wow! Thats great dear! No problem we can meet tomorrow nothing to worry. Once again Congratulation dear. You can leave now. We will meet tomorrow",she said and Ekantha left the school.

She had mixed feelings, she was happy that she got her first job and she won't be a burden anymore. Of course she is 22 now and she wanted to live her life for at least 2-3 years, before getting into lifetime commitment. But then this match making things were taking a toll on her mental health, her phone rang while she was driving and she stopped the bike in a side and answered the call.

"Leave me and go. I will come by walk okay mam?",Anika shouted in the call.

"Ayyo, sorry Ani! I was lost in some thoughts. Wait I am coming",Ekantha was scolding herself mentally.

"Where will you come?",she asked.

"Don't come! Come to the cafe near your home. Dikshit and me are already there",she said and Ekantha hmmed.

She drove towards the cafe to find them waving at her like small kids.

"Come sit mam. What happened with the interview? You got it right?",Anika asked and she nodded.

"Seriously??? Yaaayyyyyy! Wuhuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!",Anika and Dikshit did a happy dance.

"Guys let's go home! There are things to sort out",Ekantha said sighing.

"Not so soon mam. I informed aunty, we are going to have lunch and then go home. You got it?",Anika ordered her.

"Ani, please!",she tried to convince her.

"What please? Do you want to take sick leave even before you get into the job?",Anika asked and Ekantha nodded as no. Having no other option they went to a restaurant and completed their lunch. Ekantha and Anika went to home on her scooty while Dikshit went to his friend's house as he had some work.

"Ekantha, kanna[dear] how was the interview?",her mom asked as soon as she entered the home.

" I got the job ma, I have to go from next week",she replied in a routine tone.

"Muruga! That's an amazing news! Go and get ready dear. There is still some time, you can rest too",her mom spoke out and she nodded.

Ekantha freshened up and wore a saree which was not too classy nor too modern, she got ready and took a power nap in her room. Though sleep was far away from her, she dozed off as she was tired.

"Ekantha, we need to go downstairs. Get up baby",Anika nudged her and she set her saree pleats and her hair properly having one last look in the mirror she went out. She didn't want her mother to take taunts just because she didn't get
ready.

To be continued..

Here we go with the new character Vennela : She is childhood friend of Ekantha and the rest we will know as story proceeds.

The next chapter would be their meet. Stay tuned and dont forget to drop your views in comment section also please do vote if you like it.

Would be back with an update soon.
Take care, Keep Smiling.

Your Author

Sakshi Devi