Pari dressed in a simple anarkali and left her house. She was barely on talking terms with anyone in the family, so she didn't think it was necessary to inform anyone about where she is going.

She went to a restaurant and sat at the table, waiting for someone. Just when she felt no hopes about the person showing up, she saw him coming.

It was the MBA guy.

He smiled and sat infront of her.

"I am sorry. I didn't think you would come after what happened." Pari said.

"To be honest, I didn't want to. But since you are paying for this meal, I showed up." He joked.

"Ofcourse! I will pay, after the last time. I am very sorry about it." Pari said a bit embarassed.

"No, no! How will I let you pay? I was just joking. Tell me, how are you?" The MBA guy asked.

Pari chatted with the MBA guy and apologised to him multiple times, making him feel embarassed. As they continued to talk, it was Salem who barged in the restaurant with Wajid and Tiger following him.

Salem was furious. He caught hold of Pari's hand and made her stand.

"What...what are you doing? Leave my hand." She said.

He glared at her and then looked at the boy she was sitting with.

"Come with me." He gritted the words through his teeth and pulled her with him.

"Stop! You can't take her like this." The MBA guy protested and tried to stop them when Wajid put a hand on his shoulder and stopped him.

Salem glared at him and pointed a finger at him, signing him to not interfere between him and Pari.

"Wajid. Take care of this one." Salem ordered.

"No! Salem, you can't do this, you have to...." He didn't let her complete and dragged her with him outside the restaurant and threw her in the car.

He got in the driver's seat and started the car. Pari was scared, she could see he was angry and didn't want to get into an accident due to his reckless nature.

"Salem, stop the car and let me go." Pari yelled but it fell on his deaf ears.

He drove faster and it scared her more.

"Salem! Salem! Listen to me. He is not interested in marrying me or anyone else. He wants to find another job and settle abroad but his family doesn't know it yet. That's what got us talking when we met for the first time. After the day Wajid misbehaved with me, I felt the need to call him and say sorry. I don't like him, neither does he like me. Let alone marry me. Salem, stop the car. Please. Please. Please." Pari screamed at the top of her voice, pleading to him helplessly to stop the car.

He only stopped the car 10 minutes later and pulled up near Pari's home.
Once the car stopped and Pari's heartrate came to normal, she hit him on his shoulders repeatedly.

"You could have killed us!" She screamed.

"Pari, listen to me. Whether he wants to marry you or not, I shouldn't find you with another man like this. You'll be sorry the next time I find you with a guy on a 'date'. Make no mistakes, love for I do not tolerate them." Salem said dangerously in a low voice.

"Go to hell!" Pari screeched and was about to get down when he pulled her hand and stopped her from getting down.

"Sure, love. We can go together." Salem smirked. The next second, his smirk dropped and he said,"You are meeting my family tonight, behave well." He left her hand and let her go.

"I will behave well. But you won't do anything to him." She said referring to the MBA guy. Because of her, he was humiliated two times. She liked talking to him because he told her all about settling abroad which she knew nothing about. She had so many questions about various things and he answered them all patiently. She even told him of the kiss scandal and he advised her that whoever she would marry, she should tell the truth, despite what her family says.

"Go home, Pari. I will see what needs to be done." Salem said, ready to drive away.

**

Salem had sent a car to pick their family up, despite her father's refusal. Initially, her dad wanted Salem's family to come to their home but Salem insisted that they should meet his family at their place.

It was Pari, her parents and her aunt who were going to Salem's home. Pari wanted to take Priya along for moral support but they were barely talking to each other, so Pari didn't ask Priya.

Everyone had given instructions to Pari to behave well with Salem's family. Pari rolled her eyes at that, as if she doesn't know to behave. Why would she behave badly with them? They have done nothing to her to behave badly with them. Why did her parents think she was an evil person?, she questioned herself.

As the car took them to the posh lanes of the town, she realized that he comes from a rich household. The five storey buildings in the lane had the old architecture with trees surrounding them. The car stopped at his building and her breath was uneven. It was her first time meeting a boy's parents.

As she pressed the fifth floor and the lift took them up, she tried calming herself down. She only felt this anxious on her first day of college. She always felt anxious when she knew the eyes were on her and would judge her.

Her father pressed the doorbell to his house which has a wooden nameplate "Ahmed House". The door opened and a man in a Butler's uniform welcomed them inside.

She saw an older couple getting up from the couch with smiles on their face.

"Welcome Sharma Sahab." (Welcome Mr.Sharma)  The older man came forward and did a namaste while the older lady joined him, "Hello, Please come and have a seat."

The man was thin with the fairest looking skin she had seen. The older lady was more on the healthy side and wore an oval rimmed spectacles, who had a wide and kind smile on her face.

They were Salem's parents.

It was a big big living room. It was the size of her living room and kitchen combined. The Sharma's took a seat on one couch while Salem's dad sat on the single sofa and Pari & Salem's mother on one couch.

"I hope the traffic was not troublesome." Mr. Ahmed said and asked them quickly of what they would like to have. Her family denied having anything.

"No! No more no. You are in our household. You have to take something. I have told them of Chai (Tea) and biscuits and cookies but would you like some pakoras or samosa? Or anything else?" His mother insisted so much that they settled for samosas. Once the Samosas and other snacks came in, the butler served the Sharma's but Pari denied eating it.

"Beta, you don't like Samosas?" His mother asked.

"No, I do like them." Pari answered softly.

"Then take Samosas. You are not eating anything!" Salem's mom offered and served it to her.

Mr. Ahmed coughed and looked at Pari's dad. "Sharma Sahab, I am sorry for Salem's action. I am a father of a girl myself. I know the hurt he caused you. We are truly sorry to you and your family." Mr. Ahmed apologised on behalf of Salem.

"Yes, and Salem told us how much he likes Pari. It is only right that we take this ahead." Mrs. Ahmed continued, hinting at the marriage. 

It shocked Pari how humble his parents were. There words didn't come off as arrogant. They were wealthy and had no need to do this for her and her family but here they are, apologizing for their son's actions.

Pari's parents looked at each other. The hesitation was clear on their face. Mr. Ahmed was a businessman. He was experienced enough to read people's faces. He told Mr. Sharma to say what is it.

Mr. Sharma spoke of the religious difference and now, the class difference. How would Pari be able adjust to this?

Mr. Ahmed just smiled and calmly answered, "Jaha Dil milte hai, vaha ye sab bohot Chhota hota hai." (These things barely matter when the hearts unite)

"Par ye kehne se baat chhoti nahi ho jati, Ahmed Sahab" (This doesn't make the issues smaller, Mr.Ahmed)

"I agree. But Jenny, my wife and I have religious differences. We have an understanding over our faith. We wouldn't say we are a religious family. But I believe in my faith and she believes in her. Our children respect it as well. Neither am I of a conservative thinking, nor are any of my children. I have grown up in this city and you know, the person who grows up here loves every festival equally."

"And regarding the class difference. You won't believe but we have seen extreme difficult times and so has Salem. He was a kid but he remembers those days. He understands money & class is fickle. And out of all my children, I know he is the last one to care of money." Mrs. Ahmed said.

"I understand that it will take some time for us to build the trust. But Salem really likes her. He has never mentioned a girl before to me." Mr. Ahmed said.

More discussions later, a teenage girl emerged from inside and said, "Sorry, mom and dad but I wasn't able to wait any longer to see her. Hi Pari." The thin girl with braces and straight hair stood infront of her with her hand out for Pari to shake.

Pari shook it with a light smile on her face. "I am Aamna. I know you are Pari and you truly look beautiful like one."

"Aamna beta, sit here and don't trouble her." Jenny silenced her daughter with a glare.

"Aamna is Salem's sister." Jenny introduced her to the Sharma's who greeted her with a smile.

"And his most favorite sibling." Aamna added. Pari could tell she was the youngest due to her naughtiness. It reminded her of Kabeer but even he is quiet infront of guests.

"Actually, I am his favourite." A young man joined the conversation who had resemblance to Jenny.

How many siblings Salem has? Pari wondered.

This young man was Asif, Salem's younger brother. While Salem resembled his father a bit, Asif looked exactly like Jenny.

Asif did a namaste to Pari's parents and her aunt and said hi to Pari.

"I had asked these two to be inside. Sorry for the disturbance." Jenny apologised.

"No no, they didn't disturb us. They are adorable." Pari's aunt said. "But where is Salem?" Her aunt asked.

"He has gone for some urgent work. He would be back any minute now." His mother answered.

Pari came to know Asif was three years younger to Salem and Aamna was six years younger and the baby of the house.

Some minutes later, the bell rang and in entered Salem. He greeted his parents and the Sharma's.

Mr. Ahmed asked Pari's parents to ask him any question they'd like. In an arranged marriage set up, the groom's parents would ask the bride some questions and vice versa to decide if the bride or the groom is suitable for their son or daughter.

Salem answered all of their questions diligently and then asked permission to speak to Pari alone.

Mr. & Mrs. Sharma gave him the permission and he took her to the balcony.

Pari's eyes opened wide looking at the view. The city view was clear from here and they could even see the sea!

She didn't know Salem was so so rich to live in such a fancy and enormous place.

"Red suits you. I wanted to see my dulhan (bride) in private."  He spoke.

"I am not your bride yet." She said sternly.

"Soon, my Jaan." He replied. He loved answering her back and getting on her nerves. Her irritated look makes him smile more.

"What did you do to him?" Salem's teasing smile dropped when she asked him about the guy.

"Look, Pari. I am in a great mood. Let's not talk about another guy, okay?" Salem said.

"But you can -" She tried to argue when he cut her off.

"Not a word more about another guy." He repeated his words and the deadly silence settled between them.

____

1st april 2024

Please vote guys!!