𝐃𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐘𝐀𝐀𝐍𝐍

6. Nayi Shuruaat

The atmosphere in the Kapoor mansion was different after the revelation. A tense cloud seemed to hover over Naina and Anika as they processed the weight of what had just been laid out before them. Both sisters knew their lives were about to take a dramatic turn, but neither was ready to face it yet.

Naina sat in her office the next morning, trying to focus on work, but her mind was elsewhere. Her thoughts constantly drifted to Aarav Malhotra-the man she had never met but was now expected to marry. What was he like? All she knew was his reputation: calm, composed, and successful. Everything she herself was in business, but could she picture him as a life partner?

She clenched her fists, the stress building inside her. Her short temper was something she always struggled with, and now, it was getting harder to keep her cool. The thought of her father making this monumental decision without asking her first only fueled her frustration. She picked up her pen and slammed it back down on the desk.

"Kya ho raha hai mujhe?" she muttered to herself, trying to shake off the negative emotions.

Just then, her phone buzzed. It was a text from Anika.

Anika:
Didi, chalo chai peene chalein? Mujhe lagta hai hum dono ko thoda chill karne ki zarurat hai. I need to talk to you about something.

Naina sighed and typed back.

Naina:
Theek hai, milte hain 15 minute mein.

She grabbed her bag and left the office, determined to take a break and clear her head.

Meanwhile, Anika had spent the entire morning in her art studio, trying to find some solace in her painting. But the words of her father kept replaying in her mind. The idea of marrying Neel Malhotra seemed so surreal. She barely knew him, apart from the few snippets of information she had overheard. Neel was carefree, funny, and loved to annoy his elder brother, Aarav. He was everything Anika enjoyed in a person-someone who didn't take life too seriously. But could she imagine being his wife?

As she stared at her unfinished painting, her phone beeped, signaling Naina's response. Anika quickly packed up her things, grabbed her sketchbook, and headed toward their favorite chai spot, hoping to make sense of her own jumbled thoughts.

__________________________________________

At the chai café...

Naina and Anika sat across from each other at their regular table, the familiar aroma of masala chai filling the air. The clinking of cups and chatter of other customers buzzed in the background, but neither sister spoke for a few minutes, both lost in their own thoughts.

Finally, Anika broke the silence. "Didi... tumhe kya lagta hai? I mean, papa ne jo bola tha..."

Naina sighed, taking a sip of her chai. "Mujhe ab tak yakeen nahi ho raha hai. How can he decide this for us? Shaadi koi chhoti baat nahi hoti, and we don't even know them!"

"Haan, par... Neel seems nice," Anika said, hesitantly. "I mean, from what I've heard about him, he's carefree and funny, you know? Mera type lagta hai..."

Naina raised an eyebrow. "Anika, tum hamesha har cheez ko itna light kaise le leti ho?"

"Mujhe lagta hai ki life ko thoda chill rakhna chahiye, Didi," Anika shrugged, her usual playful smile returning. "Neel ke baare mein toh abhi tak mujhe zyada kuch pata nahi hai, par I'm trying to be positive. Shaayad sab kuch theek ho jaaye..."