“ Arrey hamare yaha Lal jhoda pehnte hai "

The discussion about what to wear on the wedding was going on its full zeal. Anaswara shook her head at the old ladies who were making a scene.

“ Anu why are you silent ? Select the one you like ."

“ Seriously mom, you guys have shook the whole floor by taking out all the dresses. "

The mother daughter duo's talk was an alien language for the other two ladies.

“ Aunty ji aap chahe jo bhi dress select kare "

Anaswara said to her future mother in law and Keshaki bua replied in return “ koi zaroorat nahi phir bologi shaadi main man pasand kapde bhi nahi diladi”

She could say nothing in return and the whole floor stilled for a second. 

“ Koi baat nahi , Anu tu yehi reh hum dekhte hai  kapde ."

Chuckling awkwardly Mrs Janaki Agnihotri tried to change the topic .

Anaswara stood aside uninterested,  her certain bitter memories surging in.

“ zaroor meri khayalo main nahi khoyi hai "

Rudra brought her back from her reverie and she turned her head to see Rudra giving her a smirk .

She raised her eyebrows at him with a frown.

“ why are you not choosing the dress?"

“ why should I ? "

“ oh toh you're thinking ki jab ' shaadi meri pasand ki nahi toh phir shaadi ka jhoda kyu meri pasand hona chahiye ' yehi na ?"

“ If you know then why this marriage Rudra"

“ I love you "

She stilled at his confession, his eyes sparkling with love , she blinked her eyes wanting to know if it's a dream.

“ arre yeh pehenke dekho”

The three ladies turned to Anaswara, they saw the to be couples were busy lost in each other's eyes.

Dharani and Keshaki looked at each other embarrassed,  even they don't know why. Meanwhile,  Mrs Janaki Agnihotri deciphered her daughter's expression and her mind said “ kuch toh ghadbad hai”.

Anaswara broke the eye contact to look at the old ladies giving them glares,she bowed her head embarrassed.

“ Maa,Bua leli kapde ."

“ Haan tu yaha kya kar rha "

Smiling sheepishly he went to the other side.

A certain someone was calculating certain points since the time they reached home. Mrs Janaki Agnihotri knocked on her daughter's room .

“ come in Mumma "

“ You slept ? "

“ haan”

Anaswara who was awake and was writing something gave her mom a stinky eye.

“ baat karna tha tumse , kar sakti hoon na "

“ aapko koi rok sakta hai , bolein aap”

“ dekh Anu , mujhe pata hai tumhe ye shaadi manjoor nahi hai and yet again we're forcing you "

Anaswara crossed her hands on her chest and looked at her mom

“ Anu , woh ladka tumse pyaar karta hai aur tujhe bhi woh pasand hai. Now don't argue , Maa hoon pata chalta hai ."

They both smiled .

“ ab dekh tumhe lagega ki you're ruining his life , aisa nahi haina ki you didn't tell him anything "

“ mumma , I,  uh …. "

“ kya main apni beti ko nahi janti , not everything but I know you told him the necessary phir bhi he wants to marry you , toh jagah do naye pyaar ko rishte ko, maana aasan nahi hai , lekin zindagi baar baar mauka nahi deti na "

When her daughter remained silent, she knew that her words made an impact. 

“ tujhe lage yeh jabardasti ka rishta hai ya na , main nahi chahti thi ki kabhi meri beti life main akeli ho, Kal ko kya hoga pata nahi magar tumhare Dad and me we'll depart with a happy smile knowing my daughter have someone to lean on . "

“ main rone wali nahi hoon ”

“ Anu….."

“ Mumma , shaadi ko ek mahina aur hai and it's not tomorrow "

“ Haan toh yeh sab main phirse uss din bolungi shaadi ki ek din pehle "

What are you doing Rudra? I find myself falling for you.  Kya ho tum ?

Rudra smiled again thinking about certain someone in black flowing dress,  the same dress which she worn on the other day when they met.

Looking at the phone's display showing Anaswara's contact , he smiled again wholeheartedly. 

Just a month , that's it. He felt like the time is passing like a tortoise. 

“ lene kab jaa rha hai Rudra "

“ Nikal rha hoon abhi "

Four days to the wedding and his sister has only reached now with her family . Rudra with his cousin was supposed to pick them up from the airport. 

The wedding is to be held in their hometown Bhimbhali like the groom's family wanted.

“ haldi ,mehendi ek din hai , sangeet phir shaadi"

“ Haan toh I know right "

Radhika said and Rudra mockingly said
" Haan zaroor”

Mumbling nalayak , she ordered her kids to take seats in the car.

“ Honey , there's no network. "

Radhika's husband Jagan said worked up. For someone who had lived all these years abroad found everything weird.

“ honey , it'll get better in few minutes "

The long 3 hours journey from Mumbai to Bhimbhali exhausted the hell out of Radhika's husband and kids .

“ Haye meri bachi , kitni nazook ho gayi hai"

The kids were frightened by the love showered upon them nonetheless they stood silently watching everything.

“ Maa ko Anaswara pasand nahi hain ?"

When Radhika sat on the bed of her brother who seemed disinterested to stay on the bed nodded.

“ tujhe  pasand hai woh?"

“ pyaar karta hoon "

“ woh toh jaldi huyi”

“ toh saal lagana tha ?"

“ tu bilkul bhi nahi badla "

Sharing few more pleasantries,she scurred out of the room hearing her husband swear loudly.

The kids didn't understand Hindi , that was a task for the older Malhotra's and Keshaki bua .

“ Aram karle Rudra , so jaa "

Rudra was overwhelmed and he had no solution for that.

The night was still young, two souls were sleepless.

Author's note :

😁😁😁😁