Chasing dreams, finding love

Chapter 5: The proposal parade

Authors pov:

The next day, Sofi sat in her room, scrolling through Instagram and finding the right novel to read or procrastinate. But then thought why not read the novel her friends gifted her so has she was fully engrossed in her novel.

"Sofi!" her mom exclaimed with the enthusiasm of someone who had just won the lottery.

"What?" Sofi replied, barely looking up.

Her mom replied excitedly. " We found a boy for you!"

Sofi froze. "A boy? For what? To fix the sink? I'm pretty sure we need a plumber, not a-"

"To marry you!" her mom cut in, grinning like she'd just announced a flash sale.

Sofi blinked. Then blinked again. "I thought you guys finally stopped with this arranged marriage thing."

Her dad appeared at the door, arms crossed, clearly in on the scheme. "Stopped? Us? No, beta. We were just taking a strategic break. But now we've found the perfect guy."

"Oh great," Sofi muttered, dropping her phone on the desk. "What's his superpower? Breathing?"

"Sofi!" her mom scolded, though her lips twitched like she was trying not to laugh. "He's nice, educated, good-looking, and from a very respectable family."

"And probably as exciting as plain toast," Sofi mumbled under her breath.

"What was that?" her dad asked suspiciously.

"Nothing. So, uh, what's the plan here? Do I just hand over my resume and portfolio or something?"

Her mom ignored the sarcasm. "They're coming over this evening to meet us. Go get ready. You're old now."

Sofi gasped, clutching her heart like she'd been shot. "Old?! Excuse me, I'm in my prime! I'm like a ripe avocado-perfect for a limited time and then gone forever. Don't waste me on random strangers!"

Her dad rolled his eyes. "Sofi, just meet him. What's the worst that could happen?"

Sofi narrowed her eyes. "The worst? I end up married to a guy who thinks the Mona Lisa is a pizza topping."

"Beta, please," her mom begged. "Just try. If you don't like him, we won't force you."

"Fine," Sofi sighed dramatically. "But if he starts talking about cryptocurrency, I'm leaving."

"Deal," her mom said, already ushering her toward her wardrobe. "Now go. And wear something nice. Not one of those paint-stained hoodies!"

"Great, so I'm being judged on my looks and personality."

Her dad laughed despite himself. "You'll survive."

Sofi groaned as she shuffled toward her closet, muttering, "I better. Or I'm haunting both of you for eternity."

------

At Janiya's place

Janiya sat in her room, deeply engrossed in her latest masterpiece. A half-finished canvas stared back at her, vibrant with colors, while her paint-stained fingers moved like magic. She is painting after a year.

Her mom burst into the room without knocking, as always. "Janiya! Stop whatever you're doing and get ready!"

Janiya didn't even glance up. "Unless we're about to meet Picasso himself, I'm busy."

Her mom sighed dramatically, as if she were starring in a soap opera. "We're going to meet your dad's friend's family! They're waiting!"

Still painting, Janiya replied, "Great, have fun. Tell them I said hi and that I'm... allergic to people."

Her mom crossed her arms, unimpressed. "Janiya, I'm not asking. I'm telling. Get dressed."

Janiya groaned, finally looking up. "Mom, I'm creating. You don't just interrupt the next Da Vinci in the middle of their process."

"Da Vinci didn't live in my house rent-free," her mom shot back.

"Wow, way to support my dreams," Janiya muttered, going back to her canvas.

Her dad appeared at the door, looking equally exasperated. "Janiya, this isn't up for debate. We're meeting them in an hour. They have a son your age-"

Janiya cut him off, horrified. "Oh, no. No, no, no. You're not setting me up with some random guy. This is not one of those Bollywood situations where we lock eyes and fireworks go off. I'm not the heroine, Dad. I'm the comic relief!"

Her dad pinched the bridge of his nose. "Nobody's setting you up. Just... socialize a little, okay?."

Janiya replied looking up at her dad "socializing leads to small talk. Small talk leads to questions like, 'What do you do?and all types of personal questions."

Her mom groaned. "Janiya, just get ready."

Janiya whined. "But i don't want to go"

Her dad raised an eyebrow. "We'll think you're grounded if you don't get moving."

Janiya threw her head back dramatically. "Ugh, fine! But if this turns into a matchmaking ambush, I'm bringing a palette knife as a weapon."

Her mom smiled sweetly. "Good. At least you'll bring something."

Janiya stormed to her closet, muttering, "This is it. I wanna go back to UK At least it was peaceful leaving there."

Her dad called out after her, "Don't take forever, Janiya!"

"Okay" Janiya rolled her eyes and went to get ready.

Chapter asthetic
Sofi reading a novel.

Janiya painting.

Authors note:
Hello everyone!!
How was the chapter?
Do follow me on my Instagram for more updates
Insta id: author.rel