How to Woo Your Bride

1| The News

Note:

Chapters 1,2, and 3 will be in first person. After that, the chapters will be in third person.

I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.

-Thomas A. Edison

Chapter One: The News

Riya's POV

   "RIYA!"

   I looked up from my knees, startled. It was my mom. I didn't want her to see me crying.

   "Coming mom," I hollered as I got up from my bed. I went to the restroom attached to my bedroom and splashed water on my face. Squirting a little face wash, I massaged my face and rinsed the gel off. It took less than a few seconds to find an unused towel, and as I was wiping the last droplets off, I heard my mother call out again.

   I ran down the stairs as quickly as I could manage. There she was, sitting on the sofa, like a royal queen.

   "What's up, mom," I huffed, placing my hands on my bent knees, panting.

   "I've looked at a couple of alliances and found one that's extremely good. Judging by your gloominess the past three weeks, I take it that you've broken up with your boyfriend. Good for you, Riya. Now don't get angry, but the guy's family is coming next week, and I expect you to be ready by then."

   "Mother," I gasped, looking at her in shock. "I told you I needed time," I said, quite annoyed. I should be mad, but my mother has always warned me before. I braced myself for words she was going to repeat for the hundredth time.

   "I told you, Riya, that I wasn't going to tolerate any of this nonsense. I did say that I would accept him wholeheartedly if he fit all the conditions. He fit only one."

   I groaned. Aakash was fortunately, the same religion as me. But there was one slight problem.

   Caste.

   I thought it wouldn't matter that much. After all, when you are in the same religion, how much difference will there be between the castes? Not very much. But apparently, that minute difference was a deal breaker to my mother.

   It was upsetting that I had no one to back me up on my case. My mom had my dad wrapped around her little pinky. Obviously, my younger brother would have no say. And my grandparents? They were a totally different story on the whole. 

   On other aspects of parenting, I couldn't have asked for better parents. I had so much of freedom that girls from usual conservative families didn't have. I wouldn't have been allowed to talk to any guy, go out with my friends on a regular basis, and worst of all? I would have been married and have two kids already.

   I shuddered to even think about that. I was only twenty-four. I have so much more to experience in this life than to give everything all up for my future husband and children.   

   I'm a little more than average looking girl, and I'm short and proud. Aakash used to say I was the perfect height for him. Stop thinking about what he used to say, I scolded myself. He's no longer in your life.

   I felt my eyes starting to sting. "Mama, if you have nothing else to say, may I leave?"

   My mother looked annoyed. Ha, I thought. She hates being called mama for some reason. I still loved my mother to bits, but sometimes, I couldn't resist annoying her. You might think I'm being a bit too calm after a break-up, but trust me, I've been cooped up in my room, bawling my eyes out, and checking my phone every minute to see if he had emailed.