I'm Right Here

Chapter 1 - "I'm up here"

"He's arriving in just 5 minutes!" Shruthi exclaimed, her laughter tinkling like wind chimes. "Your dreamboat!" she teased, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

Asfia's heart raced with a mix of nervousness and excitement. Real relationships were uncharted territory for her, having only known the companionship of imaginary boyfriends inspired by the romance novels and cheesy Bollywood movies she adored. She would defend Karan Johar to her grave. She had recently graduated from Dental College, always aware that the next step in her life was likely marriage.

"Soooooo pretty," Shruthi complimented, admiring her handiwork after applying eyeliner and mascara. She ventured, "Maybe some falsies too?" with hopeful eyes.

Asfia playfully rolled her eyes before delivering a resounding "no!"

Shruthi, her childhood best friend and trusted roommate in Mangalore, never missed a chance to doll her up, and Asfia welcomed it wholeheartedly.

Amidst their giggles, the doorbell rang, and Asfia's excitement peaked. "He's here!" she exclaimed with a giddy bounce.

Shruthi playfully corrected her, "You mean, 'they' are here," and chuckled at her friend's expense.

"Frootie," Asfia said, using her endearing nickname for Shruthi, "when I say 'he,' I mean 'he.'" She winked, and the two friends dissolved into contagious laughter, their hearts aflutter with anticipation.

"Alright, Asfia, you've got to dial it down and act like a normal person," Shruthi advised with a playful seriousness. "Let your crazy out in small, controlled bursts."

Asfia nodded in agreement, squinting playfully and sticking her tongue out in jest.

A sudden knock interrupted their conversation, and it was Asfia's mother at the door. "Asfia! Why are you still here? You're supposed to be downstairs in the kitchen!"

"What?" Asfia exclaimed, bewildered. "Why should I be in the kitchen?"

Her mother rolled her eyes, clearly exasperated. "To serve tea to the guests."

"But I don't even know how to make tea!" Panic struck Asfia as she realized they hadn't prepared for this part of the meeting. She had been so preoccupied selecting her dress and stalking her potential groom online that she hadn't considered what she'd do during the pennukaanal ceremony, where the bride meets the groom's family.

"Just listen and come down right now!" Her mother's tone left no room for argument as she hurried off to attend to the arriving guests.

Asfia rushed downstairs, her excitement turning into nervous energy. In her haste, she stumbled on the hem of her long Anarkali dress, tumbling down the last step with a resounding thud. Every pair of eyes in the room turned toward her, and her cheeks flushed crimson with embarrassment. "Might as well head back to the room." She thought.

"Are you okay, sweetheart?" Her mother asked, rushing to her side.

"I'm fine," she mumbled, brushing off the dust and standing up. But when her eyes met the gaze of the young man in front of her, a shiver ran down her spine.

He was undeniably attractive. Her eyes involuntarily wandered to his lips, traced the line of his neatly trimmed beard, and lingered on his strong jawline. Dressed in formal attire, he had the first two buttons of his shirt open, drawing her attention to his well-built chest.

"Ahem," her mother cleared her throat, snapping her out of her impromptu appraisal.

Asfia felt her face burn with embarrassment. She had openly checked him out, right in front of her parents and his. What had she been thinking? Her excitement had quickly given way to nervousness, and she swallowed hard.