That late afternoon, the atmosphere in the living room was harmonious. The two families sat facing each other. They were profusely trying to please one another. Shreya sat to the side silently. Every now and then, she looked at the guy's face.

After some time, they finally started talking about him and her. She listened keenly.

His name was Lakshya. He was working in the software field. He was a fun loving person, his mother claimed.

Then her father told them how obedient and well mannered she was. She frowned, feeling slightly guilty.

Although she was not a troublemaker, she was none of those. She showed some resistance every now and then. In each of those instances, her father called her rebellious and that she had to learn a lot to fit in with the people around her. Or, life would be difficult and it would teach her the lesson she deserved.

For a moment, she turned her head to look at him. Although she did not agree with him, she was a defiant woman according to him. What he was doing now was lying, especially since he always claimed to be the most truthful person unlike her mother and herself.

It definitely made her feel guilty, just like in every other of these meetings.

She hoped her hair would tell the real story. After all, she did not want to be a liar like her father or make an innocent guy expect something else.

After some time, the potential couple was asked to speak in private and Lalitha led the two into the guest room.

They occupied the 2 one person sofas.

Shreya smiled at Lakshya, planning to subtly extract some answers to assess and score him.

However, when Lakshya caught her eyes, he looked elsewhere with a little frown.

She sighed softly to herself. He was handsome.

"Do you have any hobbies?" she asked, smiling a little less.

Lakshya whipped his head and looked back at her. All he felt was a crisis. He was too young for this. His 25th birthday was still a week away. None of his friends were even remotely thinking of marriage.

He should not be dealing with this matchmaking either. He had a girlfriend. His family was okay with her too. But there was one catch. They wanted him to marry soon.

They had a very genuine yet silly reason for it too. His father got married at 34, which his grandfather was mad about. To this day, his dad was still trying to make him talk to him. So now, to reconcile with his grandfather, his father sweet talked him into marrying in the next half year.

As he listened to his father's speech, filial affection coursed through his veins. He went straight to Moksha and proposed marriage.

He was still sorry to her about the way he acted. He should have left the topic when she laughed it off thinking it was just a joke.

But he pressed on. He could not forget her face at that time. She looked so unsure. He knew she was not ready. She was fresh out of college and had just completed her probation.

He cleared off his thoughts and cheered himself up. He had a dinner date with Moksha later in the evening. He was just going to get through this meeting and be done.

"Hobbies, you asked, right? Strum the guitar, or hit the road," he said to Shreya.

Shreya nodded and went silent.

She then started fiddling her fingers. Lakshya had a feeling the next thing they would talk about would be something serious.

"I don't want to get married."

He held her eyes when she looked up.

Shreya waited for him to continue with a soft smile, keeping up the docile persona her father created all throughout the discussion before.

Just now, Lakshya's voice tingled her ear. He had a deep voice that did not quite match his youthful look. Shreya thought how she could have forgotten to have a score for voice.

But soon she sighed at her situation when he did not continue to explain more. She smiled and said, "You must be in an awkward situation."

"You don't like my hair, right? Or this. Tell your parents." He pulled the sleeve of his shirt and revealed a third eye tattooed on his forearm.

He sounded aggrieved and Shreya almost agreed to do him this small favour. She could not bear his voice in such a helpless tone.

"That reason will definitely not be enough... Moreover," she said, "You look great. That is cool too."

He paused to look at her for a minute. That was when Shreya feared he must have seen through her father's lies. She wanted him to know her true self, but what she feared was her father's reaction if he got to know of her 'bad' behaviour.

Lakshya, on the other hand, did not seem to mind the discrepancy. He said, "Really? But I don't think we suit each other. I am not traditional like you guys."

She nodded with uncertainty.

"I like more open minded people."

Shreya did not understand what made him think she was not open minded.

Unconsciously and feeling a little self aware, she touched her hair. She was not close minded. She asked her mother to get a divorce every once in a while. Heck, she even fantasised killing her father at one point.

"I'm sorry if I spoiled your mood..." Lakshya's voice softened. He could see that Shreya was trying to give him a chance to change his answer. He also noticed her worry.

Shreya pulled her hand back and leaned on the sofa. "Why did you even come?" She was tired of pretending all day anyway. Since it did not feel right to try and ask any questions in her list at that moment, that was all she had to say to the guy in front. After all, he clearly did not want to be married.

Lakshya was taken aback slightly. He knew she was sullen but he did not know when she became irritated.

He gave her a helpless smile, one given when asking for free shelter.

"I don't want to fight with my parents, you see. I want them to think I am serious."

"Very noble."

Lakshya's lips parted. But he quickly said, "Come on! Let's just talk for another fifteen minutes and go out."

"Talk about what?"

"Just like in general..." he gave her the same helpless smile, lest she chase him away.

Shreya stayed silent.

She did not like any of the guys she had met previously. This time she thought she was lucky.

But her chance at leaving this place behind was taken away just like that. She already had a large number of grievances against this world, starting with the kind of parents she got. Now another one was added to the list.

Lakshya softly asked, "What are your hobbies?"

"I... just relax in my free time and try to think of good things." She folded her hands on her chest.

He nodded slowly. Her response felt off. It made him feel stuffy.

Next, it was all silent for a minute.

"So... Do you have anyone special? A boyfriend?"

"I would have eloped a long time ago if that was the case."

"You're quite sarcastic when you're mad." After saying that, Lakshya finally felt more comfortable.

"Why do you not want to get married?"

"I'm 24. Who gets married at 24?"

"When do you want to get married?"

He laughed and said with a smirk, "Why? You want to wait?"

"No."

Lakshya rolled his eyes at her in his head. People who can't take a joke are the worst kind of people. "I don't know. I didn't think about it."

Someone walked in and knocked on the door for their attention. Shreya put her hands to her sides and straightened her back.

It was his elder sister, Lata.

"What are you two talking about? Mind if I join?"

She took the liberty to sit on the bed, facing the two.

Shreya did not like her. There was a reason they went into another room. What were they going to talk about with this woman invading all their privacy? She acted like a true groom's side member, throwing her weight around. She had that same feeling when they were talking in the hall before.

She smiled at the lady, but remained silent.

"Why is your hair so short? One of my friends' hair was stuck in the table fan and she had to cut it. She had such long hair, she cries about it even now, after so many years."

Your friend must be an idiot, Shreya said to herself. At this point she should not care about these people. But she did not want things to get loud. "I've kept it like this since college."

"He likes long hair. Moreover, you'll look odd and not like a part of the family with such a hairstyle."

Shreya sighed. He has a mane on his head. Since when did this lion fit in their family, she thought. His father had neat short hair. His mother and the true-groom's-side sister had long hair. So where did he fit in with his hair that was 2 inches longer than her own?

Shreya smiled and said nothing.

"Is it time to leave?" Lakshya said. His sister was too much.

He looked at Shreya. She was giving an innocent and harmless smile, completely different from how she had looked at him before his sister came. He had to appreciate her control. Had it been him in her place, had someone said something about his hair or his appearance, he'd have broken their nose already.

"Don't mind her," he said, much to his sister's dismay.

She quickly shook her head and smiled.

She stood up. "We are not leaving yet. But come out soon."

The two were left alone again.

∼•∽

Right after Lata left, Lakshya said to Shreya, "We'll go out in about fifteen minutes. Do you want to hear a joke?"

"Sure." Shreya said. It seemed that was all they could do to pass the time now.

The next few minutes, he told her a few jokes.

Shreya identified more than half of them and sourced them to certain stand-up comedies or internet memes.

Every time he ended one, he waited for her to laugh.

Some were not that funny. She simply nodded. But she had to add a 'hahaha' to her response.

"My friends laugh until they fall to the floor," he said, dissatisfied and disappointed with her reaction.

"You tell me a joke," he said to her.

Shreya took her time.

She wanted to find a perfect joke to tell him. In the end she could not remember even one. "I don't remember any."

He tilted his head to her. "You are no fun at all."

After a couple more minutes of silence, he said, "Let's go see what they are talking about us."

Shreya suddenly laughed and laughed hard at that. She clamped her palm to her mouth so that the whole house would not hear her. Tears started forming. She was not sure if they were purely because she was trying to control her laughter or because of pure happiness.

"Are you okay?" Lakshya asked with some confusion. He was concerned. Her mood changed too suddenly.

She nodded.

"I see. None of my jokes got this much reaction but I did." His hand motioned from his head to down.

She removed her hand and she smiled ear to ear. Her face had not stretched like that in years. It was slightly painful. She could feel her face turn red too.

"Maybe all your jokes were accumulating somewhere to make me laugh like this." She continued to laugh, balling her fists and controlling her volume.

Lakshya slowed down. He had to.

She looked beautiful with that wide smile, like a fully bloomed flower.

The more he looked, the more he wanted to look.

As his gaze locked her eyes, Shreya also slowed down. She had to.

It was hard not to look into his eyes. She felt lost and found at the same time.

They slowly became mindful, both at the same time. Awkward and embarrassed, they shuffled to leave the room looking everywhere else.

∼•∽

That night, after dinner, Shekhar asked Shreya what her opinions were.

"Today's was better," she answered. She did not think much. She was in an exceptionally good mood that day and she spoke the first thought in her mind.

"He is not. He is too young."

She nodded.

"And what do you think?" He sneered at Lalitha.

"Lakshya is good," she said. She knew how her children were raised. If she achieved anything in her life, it was failing them as their mother. As long as she did not find anything concerning, she would also try to give them what they wanted.

"Huh!" Shekhar laughed full of sarcasm.

"That one has just started his career. He does not even earn half as Prakash's son!"

Prakash's son, if Shreya remembered correctly, had a negative score.

"He is not even educated as much as her! Don't you say you care for her? Then where is that care? Shouldn't you be thinking more seriously about this matter?" He shouted.

Lalitha stayed silent.

Shreekant's plate was empty without anyone noticing. He stood up and sighed about an upcoming exam and went into his room. He had to ace his entrance and get out. The sooner the better.

There had been many times he wanted to beat up his father into pulp. But his treatment towards him was much better. He was not as controlling when it came to him. Moreover, people come with different mentalities. He was still their father, and he loved and respected him.

"Eat some more!" Lalitha said behind the boy.

"Doesn't he know how much he has to eat? Stop acting smart and diverting the topic! I asked you something! Answer me!"

Lalitha stayed silent. Every word she spoke was going to be wrong. She needed too many years to learn that, far too many.

"Do I look jobless to you? Do you think I have so much time? Don't you have the common sense to answer the person in front?"

"Such pride won't take you anywhere. What are you so proud about?"

Shreya's eyes were already red.

She did not want to look at her father. She knew what face he would have: a taunting smirk and hatred.

Despite her best efforts to keep calm and continue eating, her father caught her.

"Why are you so sad?" He was not scolding her, after all.

She knew he was frowning.

She took in a deep breath taking care that the movement of her chest was not noticeable. Then, finally, she said, "Then why did you agree to meet them? You must have already known about his work and all."

"Oh?" He raised his brows. "So now you're blaming me? Did your mother teach you that?"

She stayed silent.

After he shouted some more about his misfortune of having such a family, he stopped.

Minutes later, he continued.

"Prakash's son is a proper man. I know their lifestyle. They are a proper family."

"He is six years older than me!"

"What's the problem? Do you want to marry a man six years younger instead? People will laugh!"

Shreya did not speak anymore.

"Why do you not like him?"

She was bound to give an answer. But not an answer from her heart. She did not like him because he was similar to her father in many ways.

"I like Lakshya more."

"How well your mom raised you! He looks rowdy."

He rambled on with no sign of stopping.

Shreya chugged down the cold food on her plate. When Shekhar stopped, she quickly excused herself.

If this chance was missed, the next would be at least an hour later. Because she was going to hear an earful if she walked out while he spoke.

∼•∽

Once in her room, she opened her book. She had changed some parameters that evening. The change further reduced the score of the man her father liked.

Lakshya had a full score on everything. After all, they hadn't spoken about anything regarding married life. She had no reason to cut any points.

It was only then that she remembered how the guy did not even want to get married.

She threw the book aside. This time, her chest rose and fell rapidly as she cried without a sound, except for her laboured breath.

She had nothing much to do for the day. Not wanting to think too much, she tried to empty her mind.

But an idle mind is a devil's workshop. She remembered how her brother walked out at the dinner. Some people were simply lucky. She shook her head to clear that thought. She should be happy for him.

As she scrolled her Instagram, watching small animals to take her mind off, she noticed a follow request.

Upon opening, she frowned. It was from Lakshya. There was even a chat request. When she opened it, there was a #meirl meme about how Asian parents bug their children to get married but the genZ is never ready.

Then came another one. This one was a reel of people embarrassing themselves.

What should she make of this?

Then came another one. This time it was a reel of animals embarrassing themselves.

'Stop spamming me,' she sent him after accepting the request.

'What do you want?' she added.

'Hi. Had your dinner?'

Shreya was close to hitting her phone on the wall. She only had half her dinner. She was still dejected, not that she was hungry.

'What do you want?'

On the other hand, Lakshya did not know why she sounded so rude. This lady had serious mood swings.

'Nothing.'

With that, he stopped.

His face became pleasant thinking back to their laughter. It was such a pure memory. He decided to send his message again. She sounded mad but who was he to be intimidated?

'Had your dinner?'

She saw the text but did not reply. He was slightly disappointed.

All he wanted to do was thank her for not pushing him out of the room and make a scene when he told her he did not want to get married. But then again, he did not want to sound like he was indebted to her. He wanted his thanks to be a casual mention in the conversation.

When he had seen the meme about marriage, he had wanted to share it in his friends' group. In fact, he had even typed five crying faces to go along with it. But he did not click send.

His friends were already making fun of him as is. He was sure he was going to be the first to get married in the group.

He could have sent it to Moksha. But, while he could cry about anything in front of her, this topic was off limits. His thoughts flew to her. They were supposed to go out that evening, but some relatives showed up at her place uninformed.

Coming back to the lit screen of his phone, he decided to send it to Shreya and slip in his thanks in the process. It was easy to find her account.

But who knew she was actually so rude?

A text came in from her. 'Yeah. You?'

'I should eat.'

It was silent again.

When he saw that she had seen the message but did not reply, he wrinkled his nose and continued on to his night. Let his thankfulness get lost in the woods!

∼•∽

A/N:

Posting this chapter from the Andamans. I'm gonna go scuba diving soon and I'm getting some thoughts... But since I've come so long, I want to give this life one last chance. But really, if you are suicidal, find a therapist. It's really helpful. For now, mine suggested that I take a break from everything, move out, don't stress about studying and just do what I like for sometime. Writing is definitely going to be one of them, if I can fight the drowse of my meds.

You have all been really great people, friends and of course readers. My antidepressant dose was increased. I just.. I don't know, I needed to write this out to someone. If this is a little too much to take and I'm sorry for the burden. I could talk to my irl friends but some stigma will always be there, so just felt like letting you all know. I love you all.

Disclaimer still applies. This story implies no one, myself included. While I might use my own experience as a reference, a lot of what you will see moving forwards will be based on research, just like with TTHT.