Nalani couldn't stop smiling, looking at the ring on her finger. There's a glittery feeling in her heart as she thinks about Hridyanshu and the night. There were announcements as she waited for her flight. 

"Is that your proposal ring?" Nalani turned in her seat to look at the older woman, looking at her ring finger. Nalani gave a smile and nodded her head. "Yes."

"My granddaughter got married last Saturday. We are coming from her wedding." 

"Congratulations." The older woman smiled. "Congratulations. The ring looks beautiful." Nalani looked back at her ring. "Yes." 

"My name is Aubree." The woman now placed her bag on the floor. "I'm Nalani." Aubree gave a nod and looked around. "Are you travelling to Thailand?" 

"No, I'm going to India. The waiting area near the gate is full." Aubree chuckled. "Is that 133 gate?" Nalani nodded. "I have seen people sitting on the floor for a while now. It's jam-packed." 

"I was born in Ireland, but now I'm settled in Thailand." 

"That's interesting. What made you shift there?" A spark twinkled in Aubree's eyes. Nalani concluded that Aubree liked the question. They spent the next two hours talking about Aubree's travel stories and how she had to settle down in Thailand. The place she loves the most in the world. 

*

Nalani breathed in the morning air as she landed in India. She has already booked an Uber and is waiting for it. She would've taken public transport if not for the luggage she was carrying. It took her another ten minutes before she got settled in the car.

She could only think of how her parents would react when she told them Hridyanshu had proposed to her. When she spoke with her Amma, she was with Hridyanshu. Her Amma was surprised that Hridyanshu flew there to spend time with her. They have figured out that things are smooth between them. 

She relaxed in her seat and watched the airport traffic. It took them ten minutes to cross the traffic. Reunions were happening, and people were leaving the country. Families stand at the departures, watching their family members leave. 

Some were crying, some were recording, some were sipping their hot beverages, and some seemed lost. Nalani couldn't help but wonder what her future would be if she hadn't returned home after finishing her master's abroad. 

*

When she reached home, her Achaan and Amma were waiting at the gate. Her Achaan helped her remove luggage from the car. "Awe, I missed you," Nalani hugged her Amma. 

"I missed you too, darling,"  Dyuthi said, kissing Nalani's forehead. Dev paid the cab driver while the duo spoke in the background. 

"I missed you so much, Achaan." Nalani hugged as Dev chuckled. "I missed you too. . ." 

"Come on, let's go inside." Dyuthi's gaze went to the new ring on Nalani's hand, but she didn't ask her. They walked into the house, and Nalani observed that they had added new plants. "You two added new plants?"

"Yes, we got nothing to do on weekends. So, we decided to do the gardening." Nalani placed the luggage near the staircase. "I'm making your favourite breakfast. Go up and freshen up." Nalani nodded.

"I will be back in twenty and filter coffee, please." Dyuthi laughed and nodded her head. "Do we have anything other than Bru packets in our kitchen?" Dev joked. Nalani looked at them in horror. "I left three bottles of filter coffee powder. Don't tell me you two have finished it."

"Don't listen to your Achaan. There's a bottle left." Nalani shook her head before picking up the main backpack. "See you two." Once Nalani left, Dyuthi looked at Dev. "Have you observed something?" 

"Observe what?" Dyuthi groaned. "She's wearing a ring!" Dev's brows frowned in confusion. "So? She could've bought it from a store in Canada." 

Dyuthi gave him a blank look. She clicked her tongue, shaking her head. "Hridyanshu asked us for her hand. Before that, he was in Canada for Nalani."

"So?" Dyuthi groaned. "I'm saying he might have proposed to her because he landed in Hyderabad right after meeting with Nalani. He met us and asked her hand at the wedding." Dev thought about it. "Okay, your assumptions might be true, but let's wait for Nalani. If he proposed to her, she would be telling us."  

"Okay." 

Nalani chuckled as she heard Hridyanshu's voice. "Okay, I will be telling them. I'm sure they would be surprised." Hridyanshu huffed. "When I asked your hand in marriage. Your father coughed on the coffee he was drinking. They gave me an answer, saying they will have a word with you before giving me an answer." 

Nalani laughed and walked over to the bathroom to get the bath ready for her. "You don't worry, you will be getting their call by today."

"Hmm."

"Are you nervous?" She heard him shuffle around. "I― I'm. . ."

"You don't have to be nervous. Even if the answer is late, it's no problem." Hridyanshu snorted. "No problem? My Mum wants to know if I proposed to you or not. They are even planning the engagement."

Nalani stopped going through her wardrobe. "They are planning for the engagement?" 

"Yeah. . . My mum couldn't wait to make you her daughter-in-law." Nalani chuckled. "Well, aren't you eager to make me your wife?" Nalani asked.

A smile graced Hridyanshu's face as he heard the words through his phone. "Well. . . Someone from my family has to have patience. And―"

"And?" Nalani leaned her head against the cupboard, waiting for him to finish the sentence. "I already called you as my wife in my mind and dreams. You became my wife the moment you wore that ring."

"Oh really?"

"Yes, ma'am." Nalani's cheeks warmed as she heard the words and his gentle voice. "Then why are you a thousand kilometres away from your wife?" 

"Ugh― It was a hard decision, but she needs to see her parents. If I let my mind take control, I would've attached myself to her hip and never left her." 

"You would do that?" Hridyanshu hummed in response. "If I don't. . .  My sister would secretly marry you and tie herself to your hip." Nalani laughed out loud. "Actually, she was planning to do this for a while. Our marriage would be the perfect chance for her to kidnap you."

"Woah." Hridyanshu chuckled. "She doesn't have to kidnap me." 

"Oh? So you would leave with her willingly?" Nalani chucked and nodded her head. Then released, he couldn't see her. "Yeah."

Hridyanshu huffed. "Then I will hire someone to kidnap her." Nalani couldn't stop laughing, and Hridyanshu joined her. "We will find someone for her who would attach himself to her." Hridyanshu hummed. "That sounds like a perfect plan." 

"My hot water is ready. Let me freshen up and have a conversation with my parents." 

"When will you be calling me back?" 

"Hmm. . . My parents will give you a callback." Hridyanshu groaned, and Nalani laughed. "You know, I suddenly started fearing your dad. I always talked easily with Dev Uncle, but looking into his eyes and asking for your hand is scary."

"He is hurt that you rejected me when I asked you to marry me. You cannot reject his darling daughter."

"Haha. . . His darling daughter wasn't darling to me." 

"Oh."

"Yeah." 

*

Nalani brushed her wet locks, looking at her reflection. She held the hair clutch in hand and used her fingers to comb the hair. It would take her hours if she wanted to comb her hair. Taking a glance― she left her room.

She could hear the news playing on the television—a pressure cooker going off in the kitchen. "Are you making lunch as well?" she asked, descending the stairs. 

When she reached the bottom step, Dyuthi exited the kitchen, "Yes, I'm putting pappu for lunch." Nalani gave a nod. "Okay."

"Have you guys had breakfast?" she asked, walking into the kitchen. "Your Achaan set up the table."

"Oh." Nalani left the kitchen and took her seat at the dining table. It's a four-chair dining table that fits the space near the kitchen. "We were waiting for you. Though we had our chai." 

"Okay." They took their seats and helped each other fill their plates. Nalani loves crispy vada and hot sambar. "Awe, I really missed  your cooking." Dyuthi smiled, handing her the sambar bowl. "I will get your filter coffee. I made it," Dev said, getting up from the chair. 

"I will get it," Nalani said, but Dev patted her shoulder. Telling her to take her step and that he would take care of it. 

"Thank you, Achaan." They ate their breakfast, and Nalani shared about her flight experience. Dyuthi's gaze went to the ring. She waited for Nalani to break the ice regarding the ring. Once the breakfast was done, they got settled in the living room before the smart television. 

"I have some news to share." Dyuthi and Dev looked at Nalani. "News?" Nalani gave a nod and took a deep breath before smiling at them. 

"Hridyanshu proposed, and I said yes." Dyuthi beamed and yelped in happiness. While Dev took time to process what Nalani had said. Dyuthi got off the sofa and hugged Nalani in happiness. 

"Does that mean you are going to get married to him?" Dev asked. Nalnai and Dyuthi looked at Dev and rolled their eyes. "Ofcourse she is going to marry him. Isn't that why he proposed, Dev?" Dyuthi asked. 

"Yes, Achaan. Hridyanshu is going to marry me. After proposing to me, he flew to Hyderabad to ask you two permission to marry me."

"Doesn't he hate you?" Nalani chuckled. "No, he doesn't hate me." Dev crossed his arms. "Are you sure about him? You never liked him, and you might dislike him later and have fights with him." 

"Okay, I'm not going to dislike him. But, surely I'm gonna fight with him, and I'm not going to give a guarantee about it. But— I love him, and even if we fight, we are going to sort it out."

Dev nodded. "You are sure about it?"

"1000%"