'Badi Mumma, please, I am not ready..'Abhira said, with anger and frustration..
Swarna Goenka, her Badi Mumma, stepped closer and gently placed a hand on Abhira's shoulder, ' Please, dear, try to understand. We are saying this because we want the best for you...'
Abhira sighed deeply, 'But I'm too young for marriage, Badi Mumma. I'm only twenty..'
'Abhira, we're not forcing you to marry tomorrow..We just want you to meet this guy... Once you meet him, families will meet, a lot will happen, this things take time beta..' Swarna said to put some sense on her head but as a result she huffed in anger..'Naira got married when she was nineteen and she had a happy marriage...' Swarna added..
'But that was a different time, Badi Mumma...'
'Didnt you just attend two of your friends wedding last month..They are also your aged' Surekha Abhira's choti nanu said with a confused look..
Abhira shook her head, 'I'm not sure about arranged marriages...'
'I've heard stories about Akshara and Naitik ji..They had an arranged marriage and people still talk about how loving and supportive they were towards each other..' Swarna replied with a smile..
'You are not going to take no for an answer, are you??' She said gritting her teeth..
'Hmmm..Me and your B Nanu thinks this is a very good alliance.. He is lawyer, from a well known family,plus his mother was Akshara's best friend.. what can be better than this, you tell me??' Swarna said..
Hearing her late mother's name Abhira was quite for a moment then in a slightly broken voice she asked, 'Do you both think I'm a burden on you? Is that why you want me to get married?..'
Manish who was silently hearing everything till now, felt his heart sink, he went near her and said in an emotional voice, 'Abhira!! What are you saying beta? you will never be a burden on us. We love you and Roohi like our own daughters.. We just want to see you both settled and happy before we're gone..'He coughed, trying to hold back his tears..
Seeing Manish's condition, Abhira felt a wave of guilt and sadness.. She remembered how Manish and Swarna had given her and Roohi unconditional love after their parents' demise.. They had always treated them as their own daughters, trying to fulfill all their wishes and needs with utmost care and love..Abhira thought about all the sacrifices Manish and Swarna had made for them, they hided their pain for hers and Rohi's sake..They were always there, supporting and loving them..
Abhira realized that meeting the guy they had chosen was a small thing compared to everything Manish and Swarna had done for her... She thought to herself, 'Maybe I should give it a shot. There is no harm in meeting him. If this makes my family happy, then I should do it. They have done so much for me; it's time I do something for them..'
Abhira took a deep breath and looked at Manish and Swarna. 'Alright, I'll meet the guy. If it makes you happy, I'll give it a try..'
Manish and Swarna smiled with relief. Swarna hugged Abhira tightly, 'Thank you, dear.. I will pray that you never ever regret this decision..'
Once Manish, Swarna and Surekha left, Roohi entered the room, 'Abhira, please don't be upset.. B Nanu and Badi Mumma only want what's best for us..'
Abhira looked at Roohi and gave a fake smile, 'You know, Roohi, you're older than me... Why don't you marry him?..'
Roohi twisted her lips and said, 'You know I have a boyfriend, Otherwise, I would have..Plus he is Akshara maashi's friend's son, they sent the alliance for you not for me..'
'Alright, I'll meet the guy.. But only because I trust all of you and know you want the best for me..' Abhira wiped her tears and managed a small smile. ' Let's see how it goes..'
