She was furious. Because nineteen was not the age to get engaged. Yet there she was, waiting for whoever guy and his family coming to see her. Rishika couldn't help the uneasiness she was feeling.

“I don't want to get married. ” She mumbled while sitting beside her brother Arjun.

“Then say no later. It's not like you are directly sitting on the mandap tomorrow. ” Said her brother whom she loved to call Kameena.

She rolled her eyes at him, “You can't understand my situation. You are not a girl, that's why.”

“Whatever.” He waved off his hand.

“I'll pray to God you go to hell after death.” She told him angrily.

As soon as she uttered those words, they heard some commotion happening outside.

“Oh, looks like your death has arrived.” Arjun smirked and went to meet her death, I mean, the Agarwal family.

Rishika took a deep breath and looked at her reflection in the mirror. She was wearing an organza suit in a beautiful shade of lavender. She couldn't help the cute frown on her face as she entered the living area where her death, oops, Agarwal family was sitting with her family.

Everyone had sweet smiles on their faces. There was an evident awkwardness in the air. She greeted the guests. Her eyes zoomed on the only young man sitting among the set of strangers wearing a black Kurta. Devansh Agarwal.

“Oh, he is so handsome!” She thought to herself.

His eyes were the first thing she noticed. They were slightly widened as he looked at her. Long moments later, both of them realized they were staring at each other way too long and averted their eyes.

She served everyone tea she had prepared in a sour mood. Some time later, their families sent them to talk in private. Rishika showed him the way to the backyard. And very awkwardly they sat down on the swing. She didn't know how to start a conversation. She had never interacted with any male other than her father and brother. It was super awkward for her.

But thankfully he decided to strike a conversation.

“Umm... Rishika...”

She felt an electric current passing through her entire body hearing her name from his lips.

“You should relax. ” He continued, “Just look at me. I'm not a bad looking person...”

Being handsome was a different thing. But being so confident about being handsome was another level of self-confidence. She found it quite hilarious.

“When did I say you aren't handsome?”

That made him smile, “You know, you can say no if you feel uncomfortable. ”

Rishika looked up at him in surprise, “How do you know I want to say no?”

“Do I really look so bad that you'll reject me?” Devansh asked with a fake frown. She didn't reply and kept blushing. Dev understood she will just keep blushing so he tried diverting the topic.

“If you say yes, you'll have to do trekking with me.”

Rishika's eyes widened in surprise, “You like traveling?” She had forgotten her nervousness by then.

Devansh smiled, “Yeah, let me show you a picture.” He pulled out his phone and showed her a few pictures of him clicked in Manali. Rishika immediately melted. He looked so hot in those pictures wearing black glasses and trekking bag and his feet buried in snow.

They just kept talking and realized that they were poles apart when it comes to taste. He liked traveling, she didn't. She liked trying new food, he didn't. He liked partying, she didn't. Yet their differences seemed so interesting to them that they didn't realise and an hour passed just like that. He teased her, “By the way, you must have prepared the tea in a very angry mood, it was very bitter.”

But before she could give him a fitting reply, they were called in.

When they entered the living area, the awkwardness present between them had almost faded. They were asked by the elders about their decision.

Dev immediately said a yes. But Rishika asked for two-three days.

✿ ✿ ✿

When Devansh and his family left, Rishika's mother and Chachi made her sit with them. They tried assuring her that Devansh belongs to a good family. That he will keep her happy. That he was concerned about her and had asked to not marry her so soon.

But the person who really convinced her to say yes was her brother Arjun. That night both the siblings were sitting in his room. He had prepared a chart describing pros and cons of marrying Devansh Agarwal. With a ruler in his hand, Arjun discussed the goods and bads of almost twenty-four year old Devansh.

“Pros number one. He is handsome.” said Arjun, “Yeah, not as handsome as me. But still handsome.”

“Actually he is more handsome than you.” Rishika commented, making him glare at her.

“Cons number one. He is talkative. Once he starts talking there's no end to it. He keeps talking and talking and talking and talking-” Rishika put an end to his talking, “Pros number two please.”

He took a breath and continued, “Yeah, pros number two. He is caring. Yeah, not as caring as me. But still caring.”

“Pulling hair doesn't come under caring.” She taunted him.

Arjun glared at her again but continued, “Cons number two. He doesn't explore food.”

Rishika pouted, “Haw, I pity his tastebuds.”

“Pros number three. He is already concerned about you.” He smiled.

“Yeah.” She smiled as well.

“Moving forward. Cons number three. He likes traveling.” He sighed.

“Yeah, but I like staying in. How about I make excuses of headache, back pain in the future?” She asked excitedly.

“My dear sister, women have brains bigger than men's. But that doesn't mean men are idiots. He will figure it out eventually.”

“Oh, just let it go. What next?”

“Pros number four. He knows cooking and other household chores. ”

“Wow! I got another reason to fake headaches and back pain.”

Arjun had a taunt on his tongue but continued, “Cons number four. He smokes.” He sighed dramatically.

“Hain! Why all good looking guys have bad habits?”

“Well, I don't have any bad habit.” He smirked.

“But you aren't good looking. Next.”

Arjun took in a deep breath to control the urge to pull her hair and continued, “Pros number five. HE HAS A DOG!” He exclaimed.

“Yippee!”

“Now, cons number five. He lives in a joint family. ”

“That's sheer horror. I don't want my life to turn into a Saas Bahu drama.” She said dramatically.

“But he has a clean background. Now, tell me. What do you think your answer should be?”

Rishika thought for a while, “I think...” She trailed off.

“You think?” He asked curiously.

“I think I should go to my room and sleep. Good night.” She yawned and exited his room, leaving him in suspense.

“Hmm, marriage is even more complex than choosing between gulab jamun and ras malai. Oh, I forgot to attack the leftover sweets.” And he ran to the kitchen.