Our Arranged Marriage

IX.

"Ahmm.. Darasal, Abhimanyu ji. Aapse kuch baat karni thi hume." Lakhwinder cleared his throat as he began to state.

"Ji ji. Bilkul." Abhimanyu said.

"Please, don't mind but, we really like your daughter." Lakhwinder said.

"And.. we further want to take our friendship to a relation. More like a family. Wouldn't be beating around bushes but, Shubman k liye hume Vaishnavi pasand aayi h. Toh, agar aapko aitraaz na ho toh... " Keart said.

"Ji? Kya baatein kar rahe h aap log. Matlab, hum kese-" He fumbled with words. "I even liked Shubman a lot. But, meri beti bahat hi naazuk h, ekdum ek komal phool k tarah. It's absolutely a blessing that you liked my Vaishnavi for Shubman, but-"

"Hum samajhte h. Media aur public. Aapka yeh soch bilkul jaiz h. Bilkul sahi h. Aur aapko yeh bhi lagta h ki log aapki bachi ko bohot kuch sunayenge jese ki paison k liye shaadi kiya h usna etc etc. Par yeh aapko, humko, vaishnavi ko, shubman ko aur sabse jaroori, waheguru ji ko pataa h ki Vaishnavi bhi kama leti h utni jitni chahiye ek zindagi jeene k liye." Lakhwinder said.

"Hum aapki beti ko ek kharoch bhi nhi pahanchwayenge. Pari h woh bilkul. Ek Apsara. Apni beti k tarah rakhenge usse." Keart said.

"Jaroor." Lakhwinder smiled.

Abhimanyu thought for a moment. "Mujhe yeh rishta manzoor h." He smiled. "But I think, we should ask the kids even." He said in a serious tone.

"Of course." Lakhwinder said nodding. "Par, naam surprise rakhte h."

"Thik h." Abhimanyu said nodding. "Phir. Aap aaiye kal humare ghar ko. Bachey bhi mil lenge baatein kar lenge." Abhimanyu said while the couple smiled and nodded. Abhimanyu left after a while.

--

At Night.

"Shahneel. Beta, kuch baat karni thi terese." Keart said to Shahneel who was working on her assignment.

"Mumma, nhi yaar. Shaadi k baare m nhi please." She whined.

"Shaadi k baare m hi h. Par not yours." She said while Shahneel made a confusing face. "It's about Shubman."

"Kya? Shubman? Apna Shub? Kyu?" She was astonished.

"You know your Dadi ofcourse na. She wants everyone to get married once they're settled in their career. Tu badi h Shub se, par teri abhi bhi padhai chal rhi h, isiliye she isn't telling you anything. But look at Shubman, he has already got the position, the settlement. Ab, she is after Shubman's marriage." Keart explained.

"Hmm. Par Shubman ko pucha?"

"Abhi tak toh nahi bataya usse." Shahneel nodded. "Umm.. uske life m, is there anyone?" Keart tensed as it hit her.

"I don't know. And I don't think so, else he would have said me. But, agar h toh mujhe nhi pataa." Shahneel said. "Mumma. Don't tell me you have found a girl for him." Shahneel asked being shocked to which Keart nodded. "Mumma. Ab kya hoga if he has one in his life?"

"I don't know. Wahi toh galti hogayi." Keart shut her eyes off tightly. "Thik h. m shubman se baat karke aati hu." She said.

Shubman was in his room, probably doing nothing but playing pubG. He did sometimes curse Hardik for making him freaking addicted to pubG. He heard a knock on the door. He paused his game and went to opened the door.
"Maa?" He asked as he saw Keart, Shahneel behind her. "Didi?" They got in.

"Kuch baat karni h terese." Keart said. "Zaroori." She added as she saw he was on call with Hardik.

"Bhaiya, aapko baad m call karta hu. Aap aur Yuzi bhaiya khelo." He said and disconnected the call.