Locked down in lockdown

1- The proposal

Vaani's dad called her to the living room, wanting to talk about the proposal he just got from one of his relatives for her. Vaani on the other hand was unsure of this whole ordeal. Marriage to her was a scary subject. Not everyone around her had a happy or good marriage. Not even her parents had that great of a marriage. It was just means to an end. 

Walking to the living room swiftly she stood silently fidgeting in front of her father waiting for him to talk.

"Someone just sent me a biodata of this boy. He is from a wealthy family but he is just 10 years older than you." Her dad informed, showing her the photo of the boy he just received.

"Then I don't want you to pursue this. This is too much of an age gap for me, why should I marry someone this old?" She rejected the proposal when she heard about the age gap. She was not being haughty but she did not want to marry with such an age gap either.

 Even if she agreed to get married, she did not want to spend her life with someone where there was a difference of a whole decade. Mindsets tend not to match in these cases. Never. And especially in the cases of Indian men.

"You keep rejecting every guy without giving it a proper thought. You are already 25. For how long are you going to keep doing this. There is not a big line for you. Just let them come and see you." Hurt by his father's taunt, she goes back to her room and continues to work. 

She was working from home due to the pandemic.

"THEN TELL THEM TO CHECK THE KUNDLI FIRST AND THEN COME IF THEY WANT TO " Vaani shouted from the room.

Every time her father indirectly reminded her about the 'so-called Dosha' she had in her Kundli. It was not like it was her choice. She did not choose it. But now, she has listened to everyone rejecting her because of it, due to some roadside unqualified Pandit's pointing finger at her Kundli. It was either the Kundli or where she was from. 

People from South Karnataka hesitated to marry off their child in North Karnataka side. It was also true for the ones getting married. Their reason was, they do not want to travel soo far. 

Vaani's father was a loving dad but he was strict and believed in the old unorthodox things. Her mom on the bright side was cool compared to him.

Vaani didn't have any demands or expectations of her own, just that the boy should be a little bit taller than her, no matter what skin color he has. He should be with the level of her family so she could work, if he is wealthy enough, maybe then she would think about quitting her job. 

A few weeks went by and the day come when the boy's family arrived to see her. She was not still very happy with this so, she told her mom that she was not going to apply for a day off just for this meeting. Her mom agreed as she knew that her daughter was stubborn and there was no use in arguing with her.

She got ready, wearing the first saree she could get her hands on,  combed her hair, and clipped them back properly. All-ready, she did not sit silently and wait for the guests, instead, she went back to her work. She did not wait for them like all others, to come as compared to everyone else present in the house, who were waiting eagerly for their arrival. 

Her cousins and some of their children were spying from the room, wanting to catch the glimpse of the man. She however was not interested much but she was still getting nervous.

After some time of the elders talking amongst themselves, her mom called her out but feeling all kind of strange she couldn't stop herself from laughing. Her cousins were not making it easier as well.

"Vaani, come out." Her mom called again,

As Vaani stepped outside the room she was asked to sit in front of them. This was nerve-wracking for her. Sitting in front of total strangers gauging her. It was just like an interview.