It was Sunday Morning. A couple of around 25 was sitting on a bench, side hugging each other. The girl's head was on the boy's chest while the boy had protectively wrapped his hand around her shoulder. There was a peaceful silence.

Boy: Apurva, have you talked about us to your parents?

Appu: No. My parents will never allow our marriage, Shashank. I'm scared to lose you.

Shashank: Don't say like that, Appu. They will agree for your happiness. दुनिया के कौनसे माँ-बाप को अपने बच्चों की ख़ुशी नहीं चाहिए होती? They will agree.

[Translation: Which parent in the world don't want the happiness of their children?]

Appu: OH! That means you told about us to your parents, and they are willing to make me their daughter-in-law, right? That's why you could say like this.

Shashank: No Appu, I didn't tell my parents.

Appu: See, you also didn't tell your parents and giving me fake hopes. You know what, you are Khadoos (quarrelsome or cantankerous).

Shashank: Mai Khadus? To tum Shishta (cordial).

Appu: खडूस, हम क्यों झगड़ रहे है ? आई, बाबा को कैसे मनाना है वो सोचें ?

[Translation: Khadus, why are we fighting? Let's think about how to convince Aai, Baba?]

Sm (shouts loudly): Apurva

Appu (in pure shock): Baba?

Adi: हे काय चाललंय तुझं ? घरी चाल, मग बघतो तुला आणि तू (pointing Shashank), हिच्यापासून लांब राहायचं .

[Translation: What's up with you? You go home, then I will see you. And you (pointing Shashank), stay away from her.]

Appu: बाबा, ऐका माझं...

[Translation: Dad, listen to me...]

Appu tried to tell her father, but he didn't listen and dragged her home by her hand. As they reached home, Aditya left Appu's hand and slapped her hard. She was glancing him with teary eyes. Akshara came that time.

Aksh: आलात तुम्ही? अपूर्वा, तू का रडतीयेस? अहो, तुम्ही हिला थोबाडीत मारलं? काय विचारतीये मी?

[Translation: You came. Apurva, why are you crying? Why you slapped her? What am I asking?

Adi: तुमच्या मुलीलाचं विचारा. लाज नाही वाटली, त्या निगमच्या मुलाला मिठ्या मारायला ? ह्यासाठी तुला आम्ही तुझा स्वतंत्र दिलेलं का? तू आम्हाला निराश केलंयस , अपूर्वा. लाज वाटते तुला आमची मुलगी म्हणताना. तू पाटील आहेस हे विसरू नकोस. आत्ताच्या आत्ता तुमच्या दोघांची हि थेर थांबली पाहिजेत.

[Translation: Ask your daughter only. Didn't you feel ashamed to hug that Nigam's son? Did we give you your freedom for this? You let me down, Apurva. I feel shame to call you my daughter. Don't forget that you are Patil. I'm telling, both of you should stop this ther right now.]

Appu: Baba, I love him. I want to marry him.

Adi (emotionless): हे शक्य नाही. विसरून जा त्याला. तू एका मराठी मुलाशीच लग्न करशील ना कि त्या निगमशी.

[Translation: This is not possible. Forget him. You will marry a Marathi boy and not that Nigam.]

Appu: आई, तू तरी समजाव बाबांना. माझा शशांकवर खूप प्रेम आहे. त्याचा पण माझ्यावर खूप प्रेम आहे. Please आई...

[Translation: Mom, at least you convince Dad. I love Shashank so much. He too loves me a lot. Please mom...]

Aksh: मला तुझ्या बाबांचा निर्णय मान्य आहे. विसर त्या स्वातीच्या मुलाला. तुझं लग्न आम्ही संग्राम केळकरशी आधीच ठरवलेलं आहे.

[Translation: I agree with your father's decision. Forget that Swati's son. We have already arranged your marriage with Sangram Kelkar.]

Appu: पण मला शशांक आवडतो.

[Translation: But I love Shashank.]

Aditya and Akshara left from there glaring Appu. Appu ran to her room and cried her heart out. She called Shashank and told everything. Shashank was shocked.

Appu: You only tell me, what should I do? I love you, Khadus and will marry you only. I will die if I marry someone else. I can't live without you, Khadus. I'll die with you.

Shashank: Appu, please don't speak of dying. You also very well know that I can't live without you. If something happens to you, I'll die that instant only. Appu, I have a plan by which we will get our love. By that plan there's no need to marry someone else.

Appu: What plan, Khadus?

Shashank: ......

That's it for today.

651 words.

Hope you loved 1st chapter.

Meet you all soon.

Your Writer, Shreya