Victory of Connecting Hearts

Chapter 1

In the month of July entire city was burning in the scorching heat of the sun. People were roaming in the market wiping sweat beads from their faces from time to time while children constantly nagged their mothers to buy them ice cream and their mothers fulfilled their wish wholeheartedly.

Showroom and shop owners were busy attending customers who came there to shop. They were pestering all the customers to buy their product by providing various descriptions of it to allure them so that they won't step out of their shops without any purchase. It was one of their expertise which was the result of their years of experience and hard work.

Amidst all this, a girl was coming out of a stationary shop with three newly purchased books in her hands while waving at the shop owner with a gratitude smile who happened to be one among her family friends.

Keeping books inside the boot of her two-wheeler she took her multicolored Jaipuri cotton scarf out of it. She was draping it over her face to prevent tanning of her skin when her phone rang in her jean pocket.

Leaning a little towards the left while sitting on the seat of her two-wheeler she fished her phone out of the pocket then squinted her eyes in sunlight to get a clear view of the caller's id flashing on the screen.

Mummy

It showed.

She was expecting her mother to call her to give a reminder about the small function held at the house of one of their acquaintance. Though last night she had denied coming yet her mother had pestered her to come but when pestering didn't work her mother declared her in a strict motherly tone that she was coming, end of the conversation.

"Avni why aren't you here yet? You should have reached half an hour ago." Sheetal, her mother, chided as soon as her call was answered by her daughter.

"Mumma, I am leaving for home to get changed and will come thereafter." She said in an uninteresting tone.

"I told you to be quick but you never listen to me and always do what you want." Sheetal scolded her.

At that time Avni wished only if her mother's words could come true.

"Lecture was extended for few minutes and then I had to buy books. So I came to Rajesh uncle's shop and now I am leaving from here." She reasoned her delay because she knew there would be no outcome if she started to argue with her mother now.

"Come soon. There is still half an hour for the function to start." Sheetal told her. Indignation is clear in her voice due to her daughter's nonchalant behavior.

Avni thought of trying her luck once more. Maybe her mother would agree now as there was not much time had left. "Mumma is it really necessary for me to come. I mean what will I do? It's a ladies' function."

"Why are you so stubborn Avni?" Sheetal exclaimed in annoyance. "Don't forget you are nineteen and an adult woman. How will you get acquainted with our customs and rituals if you always keep denying attending functions." She schooled her daughter then declared, "You are coming. That's final."

Like every other Indian mother, Sheetal also wanted her daughter to know about their culture, their customs, and their rituals so that her daughter won't have to listen to her in-laws saying that her parents didn't teach her anything. She just wanted the best for her daughter.

Listening to her mother's ordeal, Avni was sure that she had acquired this trait of stubbornness from her mother. Sighing in defeat she left for her home.

__________

After half an hour, cladded in a three-piece dress of navy blue and cream color combination accompanied by loop earrings and a wristwatch Avni arrived at the house where the function was held. Fortunately, it was just two streets away from hers, so she managed to reach there on time.