when Varun's family pressurized him to marry, he made a condition to which Ananya was emotionally blackmail by her family to fulfill that condition.
will they fall for each other and get married???
or someone break them apart?????
so let's see what...
Ananya was settling comfortably into Varun’s family home, growing more attached to each of them each day. They welcomed her with open hearts, and for the first time, she felt like she could just be.
No pressures, no constant watchful eyes—only warmth and laughter around her. Kiyansh’s innocent antics, Shweta’s friendly guidance, and even Varun’s teasing remarks filled her days with an unexpected joy.
She felt like she was part of something genuine, and it was blissfully different from anything she'd known before.
But one morning, her phone buzzed with a familiar number. She hesitated, feeling a flicker of unease before finally answering.
“Ananya, beta! How are you?” her mother’s voice sounded cheerful, but there was a tension beneath it.
“I’m doing well, Ma,” she replied, hoping to keep things brief.
“Good, good. Your father and I, along with your uncle and cousins, are planning to come and stay for a week. We want to see how you’re adjusting with Varun’s family.”
Her heart sank. She wanted to say something, to protest, but she knew better. Her family was strict, accustomed to having things go their way.
She could already imagine the questions, the judgments, the endless ‘suggestions’ on how she should behave, dress, and interact with Varun's family.
“Oh, that’s… great, Ma,” she replied, trying to keep the disappointment out of her voice.
“Make sure everything is in place before we arrive,” her mother continued, a hint of sternness entering her tone.
“You know how important it is to represent our family well.”
“Yes, Ma,” Ananya murmured, her chest tightening.
The call ended, and she stood there for a moment, feeling the familiar weight of expectation pressing down on her.
Lost in thought, she didn’t notice Varun enter the room until he spoke.
“Everything okay?” he asked, concern evident in his gaze.
She looked at him, wondering how to explain. “My family’s coming to stay for a week,”
she finally said, trying to keep her tone light. “They want to see how I’m doing here.”
Varun nodded, understanding flashing across his face. “You don’t sound thrilled about it,” he observed.
Ananya let out a sigh, hesitating before opening up. “It’s just… they’re very particular. They have expectations—how I should act, how I should live. It’s not like here,”
she admitted, glancing at him. “Here, I feel… free.”
Varun’s gaze softened, and for a moment, he looked at her with something close to empathy. “Well, maybe you don’t have to do this alone,” he said quietly.
“We’ll be here, too. My family has your back, just like they would for me. You’re part of us now.”
His words stirred something warm in her, easing the tension she felt. She managed a small smile. “Thank you, Varun. That… that means a lot.”
The first time she hesitantly asked Nitika aunty if there was anything specific she should wear or do, Nitika aunty had simply laughed and said, “Ananya, dear, this is your home now. You wear whatever makes you comfortable. We want you to feel like yourself here.”
Those words had settled into her heart, allowing her to embrace her true self for the first time. She had been wearing loose shirts, comfortable jeans, and casual dresses around the house, feeling free from the traditional expectations her own family often placed on her.
She even tried on a few of Shweta’s kaftans, which were a little too big on her but incredibly comfortable.
But as the day of her family’s arrival approached, she couldn’t shake the growing sense of nervousness.
She knew they’d expect her to dress “properly” and present herself in a way that represented her family’s values and traditions.
Wanting to avoid any scrutiny or lectures, she chose a beautiful but modest salwar kameez, something she knew her mother would approve of.
When she came downstairs that morning, wearing the soft lavender outfit, she noticed Varun glancing at her with a raised eyebrow.
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Ananya's outfit
“What?” she asked, self-conscious under his gaze.
“You just look… different,” he said, smirking. “This isn’t the Ananya who was doing yoga in sweatpants and singing to herself in the kitchen yesterday.”
Ananya flushed, slightly embarrassed. “My family’s coming, remember? They’re… particular about things. It’s just easier this way.”
Varun nodded, but his eyes held a hint of amusement. “Just know, you don’t have to change yourself here, no matter who’s visiting,” he said, his voice lowering a little.
“You’re part of our family too. And besides,” he added with a wink, “I kind of like the version of you who wears whatever she wants.”
His words sent a surge of warmth through her, and she couldn’t help but smile. Maybe she didn’t have to conform entirely. She could be herself, even if it was just in small ways.
But when her family finally arrived, all her instincts to please them kicked back in. She greeted her parents and cousins politely, adjusting her dupatta carefully, trying her best to embody the obedient, composed daughter they expected.
She noticed her mother’s approving nod as she glanced over Ananya’s attire.
The day went by in a blur of formality, family introductions, and careful conversations. But every now and then, she’d catch Varun watching her from across the room, giving her a reassuring look that seemed to say, Remember who you are. In those moments, she felt her nerves calm and her spirit lift.
She found small ways to stay true to herself. She swapped out the heavy traditional earrings her mother insisted on for simpler ones, wore a pair of comfortable sandals under her long skirts, and, most importantly, reminded herself that she was surrounded by people who genuinely accepted her..
