Avan's POV

So here I am sitting with my parents trying to convince them that I'm not going to marry Yashasvi. She's the granddaughter of my grandmother's cousin. She's educated and teaching that's why my parents are forcing me to marry her because I told them about my preference. But not her! She's a good girl but our vibes don't match. She's just not for me. They are trying to convince me by saying that "shadi ke baad sab accha lagne lagega" ( You'll like everything after marriage) but noo I don't feel like she's the one for me. I agree that I want an educated wife but it doesn't mean it's the only thing that matters! I want someone who feels home, just by seeing her, my heart say I need her in my life.

(Telephone rings)

I was the only one at home so I picked the call "Hello?" A female voice said
"Yes" I replied. A..am..am I talking to Avan ji? She asked. Yes, who am I talking to? I asked. I..I'm Ya..yashasvi.

Oh we were just talking about my alliance with her and she already called me. Is she desperate for this or what?

"Hello Yashasvi" I said
"Uh..um can I take few minutes of yours? I want to talk to you. It's important" she said in one go. I can hear her rapid inhale and exhale.

"Yes, say"

"Can you please reject me? I'm in love with someone else" she said. Quite straightforward.

"Do your parents know?" I asked

"No but I'm afraid to tell them"

"Do you think it is feasible for me to reject you? As my parents are also pressuring me to get married." I replied

"Please Avan ji, only you can do this because you know girl's opinion doesn't matter in our society" she said

That's what I want to change. I mumbled to myself

"Did you say something?"

"No..um..I'll see what I can do" I said

"Ok..thank you so much"

Dharini's POV

Today is saturday and a boy is coming to see me with his family. My masi brought the alliance. Currently my mother is draping my saree as I don't know how to wear it. Then I'm supposed to fry samosas which is already made by mumma, and bring that to living room where the boy and his family would be sitting in half hour. If you ask me about the boy, he's fair than me, not well built, also his lips are dark, he must be a smoker. How do I know? The vegetable seller that sell us vegetables, smokes everytime and his lips are very dark. There's only nervousness and not excitement because I was not ready for alliance this soon. To be honest, I didn't like him already. Let's see what happens.
The boy came with his family. I can hear from kitchen that his mother is praising him a lot. By a lot, I mean A LOT. I feel she's exaggerating. Which employee's ex boss would cry if he resigned and request him to stay because 'he is one of a kind' and 'the company needs him'

"Bring Rini" papa said to mumma.

Mumma came and took me to my room again for final touchup.
While coming out, my mumma whispered, don't look in their eyes directly, don't laugh, don't talk much and answer only what they ask.

"Ok mumma" I said.

I came in the living room and can feel all the eyes on me.

"Beti to badi pyari hai aapki" The lady who must be his mother said.
(Your daughter is very beautiful)

"She's beautiful but my golu is no less than her" another lady said. Now I'm sure this one is his mother.

I put the plate of snacks on table.

"You made this?" His mother asked

"Yes" I replied.

"What skills do you have?" Another lady asked

"I can paint, I can sew, I can cook" I replied

"Paint? Is that a skill?" The lady mocked

"Ji..she can paint beautiful sceneries and designs. That big peacock painting is made by her" my father intervened and pointed his finger towards south wall of our living room. He is protective for me.

"Oh" All she said.

"Let the boy and girl talk to each other" his father said.

"What's the need for it? They'll have lifetime to talk to each other" his mother said. I don't want to make any image in my mind for her incase she become my mother in law but she's just not stopping.

"Let them talk" the other lady suggested

"Ok" his mother said.

I don't want him to see my room so I took him on terrace. We sat on distance.
"Hi" he said

"Hello"

"So rini what are your plans for future?" he asked

Before I could reply, he said, "whatever they are, leave them because my mom wants you to stsy at home"

I didn't replied.

"By the way, you said you can cook, what can you cook?" He asked

What kind of questions is he asking? Is he a prospect of groom or mother in law?

"I can cook everything" I replied.

"You need to learn everything from my mom" he ordered

"But I know how to cook" I argued

"But I ONLY LIKE MY MOTHER'S COOKING! And obviously she can't keep cooking even after you come"

I didn't replied.

"Are you virgin?" He asked

Whatt? How can he ask such a cheap question? A stranger never touched me. My mouth is agape.

"What?" He mocked

"No man other than my father ever touched me"

"I like it. By the way I'm not! You know men have their needs"

Ewww. Please god save me.

"Let's go now" he said.

We went downstairs.

"So..Golu, did you like her?" His mother asked.

"She's not my type mom but I'm sure in your shadow, she'll learn" he said.

"So it's a yes?" The other lady excitedly asked

"Hm" golu replied.

"Daughter what's your decision?" My papa asked.

"Who takes a girl's opinion? If you finalize it, she'll have to obey" his mother mocked and passed a mean look to me.

"So let's come to the topic" the other woman said. I guess she's his masi.

"We are against dowry bhaisahab but you know if the bride comes empty handed, the relatives will question about our choice and think that you are so poor that you could not afford to give her few things." His mother said

I know where this is going.

"Gulshan wants a bike but our house is under construction so he is unable to buy one as all is money is being used for it. And if you give a bike, who will use it? Your son in law and he will take your daughter with him to market otherwise she'll have to walk whenever she'll go anywhere. Also, you know after marriage all the relatives come to see bride and ask what she brought with her, so we expect you to give her few necklaces, a bracelet and chain for golu and also 1 lakh cash. Don't think the cash is for me, it's only and only for your daughter's expenses." She reasoned.

I saw my father and he nodded to them. Dowry is very common practice in our village, sometimes they even torture their daughter in law to get it. I couldn't control myself and
there I said it...

But aunty this is dowry.

"Rini" mumma glared me and shaked her head for me to stop.

"Dekho to, kaise bado ke beech kud padi" his mother said

(See how she jumped between elders' conversation)

No aunty, I was just saying that you said you are against dowry but still asking for it. I don...

"Dharini" golu shouted

"Never argue with my mom, or you'll have to face consequences" he yelled. I can see his eyes almost popped out from anger and I want to know by consequences he means what?"

"Wha..what are the co..consequences?" I mustered up the courage to ask.

"I'll make sure that you don't get up from bed next morning" he said in anger but still smirking. Then he looked at my mumma, who seems terrified by his statement.

Tears welled up in my eyes, will he beat me and nobody in his family objects to what he's saying? I looked at my father. He looked at me and I can see his expression. He is seething with anger, his fist clenched.

He turned towards them and said.

"I'm sorry, I'm unable to move forward with this alliance. I never raised a voice on my daughter let alone my hand. And after knowing what gulshan meant by saying consequences, I can't marry my daughter with him." I knew it, my father loves me so too much to give me away like I'm some sort of a deal.

"Ab samjh aa raha hai ki itni sheh mili kahan se ise. Hume bhi koi shauk nahi aise ladki ko apne ghar lane ka"

(Now we know where she's getting support from. Even we don't want to bring such a girl to our house)

"Chal golu"

(Let's go golu)

"Her arrogance is like she's some sort of princesss an..." she said while going out of our house.

I turned to my father, hugged him, broke down and cried. He caressed my hair and said "I'm sorry beta, now I'll make sure to choose both my daughters' grooms wisely."

"Thankyou papa for saying no"

"Aise ghar me dene ke liye thodi tujhe bhangwan se mannatein le kar 8 saal baad paaya tha" mumma said while wiping her tears.

(We got you after 8 years after taking vows from God not to give you in such a house.)

I quickly hugged her as well, drishti too joined us.

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