My arranged wedding

Shalini's POV

These past weeks have been all about the new proposal. It's not my first or second but I hope it will be my last.

With my past lurking behind, it's impossible for this proposal to go on as planned. I don't want to be the reason Asha may not get married and I don't want to be a burden to my parents.

I wish grandma were here, I miss her so much, she would have loved to meet Vedant and every other so-called groom before him.

Although he hasn't said anything to me yet, Vedant seems very different from the other guys I've met but I can't be certain that this alliance will work out.

After all, none of them ever do

***

Ruchi gives the house keys to their house keeper, Jamuni who is to oversee the house in their absence. Indira and Shagird arrive with their bags to accompany the Rajputs.

Vedant approaches his mum and asks "How sure are you about this marriage mum?"

"Don't act like your father now, it's almost time to leave." she says not looking at him.

"Answer me mum." He insists with a straight face.

"I am your mum and I will only pick the best for you, Shalini is a nice girl and it has to work out, I've waited for years now and I've watched you wasting time with Rachna..." She said her name with pure disgust "It can't afford to repeat itself Vedant."

"Leave Rachna out of this." he increases his tone.

"Is there something you are hiding from me?"

"No mum but..."

"But not a single word from you, don't try to ruin this wedding for yourself and all of us ." Ruchi interrupts.

Shagird arrives in time to stop their already heated argument.
"It's time to go aunt, uncle is calling all of us."

"Tell your friend to come out quickly, there's no time to waste." She leaves the boys to answer her husband while they share silent conversations.

Shagird was in different to the alliance, he however knew Ruchi won't do anything without thinking over it. While he didn't want his friend to marry without love, he also didn't want him to be with someone like Rachna.

If Ruchi said the girl was good then she was more than good.

***

Ria arrives first with her husband Surjeet and son Shekhar in their wrangler unlimited polar jeep, their luggage followed right behind them. Tanya and Aniket welcome them by the door and send  Chetan, one of the house helps to take their things upstairs to their allocated rooms.

"Look at Shekhar, he's grown so muscular since the last time I met him." Tanya compliments the young man who stood behind his father.

"Thank you aunt and you look prettier since the last time I saw you." he laughs nervously, he was known in their family to be the most goofy person.

"Don't flatter me Shekhar, how are you? I see you didn't drive today?"

"I'm fine, I didn't feel like driving today that's why but how are you doing?" Shekhar drove a fiat 500c that was given to him by his dad once he turned 19. He was always quite impressive since he started driving at 17 years of age.

"I'm doing good, bless you dear."

Asha runs down and greets her uncle and aunt. Shekhar asks after looking around for his older cousin "Where is Shalini? I don't see her around here."