Aarohi

2

Aarohi dropped Vani to her college on her two-wheeler and reached the school she was working in. She taught dance to elementary grade students. She loved kids and working with them was a stress buster for her.

Her best friend and colleague Avani also worked in the same school as a Science teacher. They were soul sisters but from different mothers. Avani's mother treated Aarohi as her own daughter and they often spent weekends staying over at each other's place.

"Vani's results are out?" asked Avani as they walked through the corridors of the convent school.

"Yes, It's a first class. But, you know mama nah?" Aarohi answered with a tight smile.

"Huh, she will never change. Ignore her just tell Vani I am waiting for the treat" she said with a smile.

"Yes, I will" answered Aarohi and entered her class.

Same day evening, Aarohi and Avani entered Avani's house and sat on the sofa in the living room. Avani's mom saw both the girls and came out with a smile.

"Arre, you girls have come. Good, I have just made some pakora's with tea. Come on let's eat."

Listening to which both girls jumped saying "Pakora's" and relished it with tea. Avani's mom was a wonderful cook whose motto in life was to always feed people, Avani's used to jokingly call her "Annapurna" the goddess of food.

They spent their time relaxing in the backyard of Avani's house as they had a small swing and benches placed there. They gossiped about the school and their mutual friends and it was time for Aarohi to return back to her own house.

Aarohi always felt relaxed after visiting Avani's house as somewhere deep in her heart she would picture and feel Avani's mom as her own. She had that aura which always pulled Aarohi towards her. She could discuss anything with aunty and she knew it would always be a balanced opinion.

Aarohi entered home and saw her papa and his old friend Vishwas uncle sitting in the living room along with his wife. She smiled and folded her hands greeting them "Namaste uncleji, auntyji"

"Arre beta, come" said her papa.

Aarohi went and sat next to her papa and he took her hand in his and turned towards Aarohi saying "Beta, Vishwas uncle has come with a proposal for you. 

His nephew lives in London who is a doctor and he lives with his mother, sister and grandmother. 

Vishwas was just telling us that his sister was looking for a suitable alliance for her son and he immediately thought of you." 

He looked at Aarohi and waited for a reaction and said "Would you like to meet him, beta? There will not be any pressure on you beta, only if you like we will go ahead" 

Aarohi looked at her papa blankly as she had never thought of marrying this young and that too out of country. She was speechless and later her mama entered the living room with a tray containing all kinds of sweets and offered their guests.

"Ofcourse, Aarohi will meet him. Right Aarohi? After all he is a doctor and that too in London." She smiled and Aarohi looked at her with sad eyes thinking how eager is she to throw her out of her own house.

"I want to hear from your mouth, Aarohi?" said her papa looking at Aarohi

"Whatever you say papa. I have no issues." Saying so she left from there and went straight to her room.

She had hundreds of thoughts running in her mind. It was all a shock as the realization that one day or the other she had to marry and leave this house. She looked at her childhood pictures collage which she had made specially for her room and smiled thinking where time flew. 

She remembered playing with her doll and getting her doll married to her prince charming and the way she used to sit on her papa's back and enjoy riding. She had tears in her eyes thinking about her childhood days and getting nostalgic when Vani entered the room with a bang.

"Di" she screamed

"Oh, Vani will you stop shouting" said Aarohi wiping her eyes and covering her ears with her hands.

"Di, I am so super-duper excited" she said sitting next to Aarohi on her bed.

"Why?" Aarohi asked suspiciously

"Don't tell me, you don't know" teased Vani

"No, I don't Vani. What happened?"

"Okay, so you don't know Vishwas uncleji has come with your proposal?" Vani asked with a smirk

"Yes, papa told me but"

"But my dear di, the thing you don't know is that they are coming tonight to see you." Vani said excitedly

"What?" Aarohi asked 

"Yes, I am so excited to meet my jiju finally. Imagine you getting married to your prince charming, wow" she said dreamily and Aarohi was getting nervous. 

She never thought it would be this fast. Just when her papa entered her room with a knock.

"Aarohi beta" he called and entered and sat on the chair opposite to Aarohi's bed. He looked at both his daughters affectionately and said "Where daughter's grow up. I wish I could hold back the time and keep them with me for life." He said with tears in his eyes.

Aarohi and Vani got up and hugged him and he took Aarohi's hand and made her sit back on her bed.

"Beta, they want to come tonight to meet us. Are you okay with it?"

"Papa I don't know. I have never thought about it." Aarohi said nervously

"Just meet him beta. But I assure you the final call is yours."

"Arre what final call is yours. Have you lost it at this age. He is a big shot doctor and you are asking your daughter. You should be telling her, infact,  ordering her to get married. I was never asked but told to marry you. I am telling you, you have spoilt her rotten." said Veena looking at her husband furiously.

"Get ready in the evening and wear a saree." Saying so she left the room. Vani and her papa looked at each other and hugged Aarohi and said together "Whatever you wear, you will look beautiful"