An Arranged Marriage Like This

|Eight|~

So sorry for being a ghost!

"Bas yahi baat thi jiske wajah se humara mood kharab tha. I literally had no mood to go there, Anubhav.", Haseena answered him. The phone was kept on speaker and she was getting ready to meet his uncle and aunt with her family.

She was a little nervous to meet them as he told her that they possess orthodox thinking.

"I feel it sometimes ki humse hi friendships manage nahi hote. It was a big day for her but I could not make it", she was upset.

He sighed. "It's fine Haseena. Dost hai na samjh jayenge. She knows you are not a party and social gathering person", he try to explain to her.

She puts Kohl in her eyes and glides her lips under the lipbrush. The light makeup compliments her bright red anarkali suit with motif embroidery.

"Haseena", her Ammi calls. They were late on their way.

"Thank you", she says to him taking her mobile phone in her hand. He smiles. He knew she was dressing the other side and the new realationship excites him to see her.

"Bye" he says. He had discovered by this time that in these few days, he has started to feel an attraction to her beauty.

This side, she breathed out to calm her anxiety. Dealing with such relatives always feels a stress point to her. She has seen her mother struggle with it.

*******

The initial conversation between the two families went well. They were happy to know that she earns pretty well. But things changed as Preeti told his uncle and aunt about her solo travel hobby, a thing even her parents dislike.

To change the whole tempo of discussion, Anubhav's Mom called for snacks.

As she began to pick a bite from snacks his aunt asked,"beta tumne navratri ke vrat nahi rakhe?"
Salma got nervous. She had always requested to follow this but Haseena never belived in keeping fasts. Much to it, she worked day long and needed to keep herself full and hydrated.

"Suniye ji", Sumedha called out her husband Ankit. "Bolo", he whispered. "Ye baat jaldi khtam karwaiye. Dekhiye bachi pareshan ho rahi hai" "hmm. Karte hai khuch"

Before Haseena could come up with her reply, Preeti jumped. She knew one thing that his aunt and uncle very religious. Adding to the problem was Haseena's parent inter- religious marriage which they already disliked.

"Maine bhi pucha tha Haseena se kal. Woh tabiyat khuch kharab chal rahi thi Haseena ki, isliye doctor ne mana kiya tha", she covered up well. Haseena plainly looked at Anubhav, who looked at her with soft, appologising eyes.

The couple felt the eyes of them as the elders began to converse with themselves.

"Haseena"

"Hmm"

"Aapko kabhi humare liye fast rakhne ki zarurat nahi. I know you don't believe in all this and neither do I". She again hummed. He felt she must be hurt with his sister's interuption. It was better to make things clear than letting fake expectations.

"Agar aap bhookhi rahengi toh humme bhi rehna padega...aur ye bahout mushkil hai", he made a cutely weird face which caused her to chuckle.

The elders looked at them causing them to become concious. Both got induldged in eating, avoiding their eyes.

Mahesh and Salma smiled seeing her happy with him. They feel content praying atleast she gets a right partner for her.

___________

"Haash", she relaxes herself and sits on the edge of his bed. He chuckled but stopped as passed an irritated glare.

"Haan. Haan. Aapko toh kya. Sawal jawab karte hue humari halat kharab hogayi". Haseena complained angrily about her aunt and uncle's behaviour.

"Sorry ji", he says cutely which makes her smile. "Ab aap Aram se yaha baithiye" Anubhav said and he too sat next to her.

"Waise humme ek bat phuchni hai aapse..."
"hmm"
He felt nervous. "Woh us din aap naraz thi na humse?"

"Bhul jaiye Anubhav use...woh humara immediate reaction tha. Bass"

"Are. Puri baat toh suniye"

"Hmm"

He rolled his eyes at the times she has hummed in response today.

"Aapne kaha tha hum jo aapko first rose denge woh aap sambhal ke rakhengi. Toh rakhe ya..."

When she turned to look him, he turned his face in front.

"Rose nahi roses the. Pura bouquet kis diary me samayega?" He frowned at her reply. She shook her head. Even he had an old-shool romance side.

"Ek rose rakha hai apne paas. Or humesha rakhenge" For a moment she got lost in his eyes.

Due to parents he hadn't complimented how beautiful she looked in ethnics. "You look beautiful in traditionals"

"Thank You"

"Waise ye jo old school romance hai na woh sachme hopeless hi hota hai. Bas relationship ke honeymoon phase tak rehta hai phir hurt karti hai aisi expectations."

"Kamaal hai aap bhi. Confuse kardeti hai humme"

"Pasand hai humme old school romance, bahout hi hopeless romantic. Lekin aapse ye expectations nahi rakhte ki aap humare liye pura karo"

"Aap bahout calculative hai Haseena" He sighed. "Sab yahi kehte hai, I think whether a thing would hurt me or not. Humara simple logic hai ye. Khuch aisa karna hi kyu jis se baad me dukh ho"

Instead of answering her, he slowly closed the gap between their hands. His heart raced when he did what he thought.

He slowly leaned on her shoulder and rested his head. All this while she was gazing him. Her heart running out of control. She didn't knew he will have such an effect on her.

He wanted to proceed a little more but stopped thinking about her comfort.
"Maana humme fancy dates pasand hai, lekin hume bhi acha lageg ki aap aur hum barish ke din kisi chai ki tapri pe jaaye or phir der raat tak Marine drive pe baithe"

She was nervous even to look below at him. He immediately got back and hugged her.

"Take your time Haseena, believing in things you love in love Haseena. Not everyone hurts and leaves"

She reciprocated but his grip tightened all of a sudden remembering his last breakup.

Hello, Everyone.
Thanks for all the love to this story.
Do leave a comment on the story progression. Will come back soon this time✨