Like a Phoenix from the Ashes

Chapter 2

Aanya’s Point of View

Yesterday Lakshmi aunty and Manu uncle visited us. It was me who actually invited them to our place, as tomorrow we will be meeting Shubham and his family. I will be lying if I said I was not at all nervous. I was meeting the guy, who may or may not be my future husband, tomorrow.

Every girl will have a dream about how her husband should be and how her married life should be. Even I also had the same dreams like every other girl. The main idea here was to see whether the guy that I’m meeting today will be exactly the guy that I have been looking for, or will disappoint me. All we have to do is to wait and see.

Lakshmi aunty was like my second mother, as my mother was not alive. We chatted about some social things during dinner on Saturday, which was the day that they visited us. I was feeling really nervous and I wanted her to be with me, when I will be sitting in front of the family that may or may not become my in-laws. I was all set for the meet tomorrow. I had specially prepared a maroon salwar to wear for the occasion. I thought about going with light makeover as I’m not a person who loves extreme level of creams and powder options on her face.

Me and Lakshmi aunty got up at around 7.30 in the morning and completed with our morning washroom procedures. I then went to have my coffee and breakfast and got up to get ready.

“Aanya, have you prepared the dress that you will be wearing today?” asked Lakshmi aunty.

“Yes aunty, I’m all set. I have kept my dress separately yesterday only. I need to iron it once and everything will be done”, I replied.

“Okay then, Arun, ask them at what time will they be starting from there, and also let them know that the cafe is nearby to our place”, she reminded him.

“Yes aunty, we just need 10 to 15 minutes to reach there. So I guess we will be reaching before them”, Arun replied.

“Come Aanya, let us get ready. Help me with wearing my saree, as it’s quite difficult to make the plaits stay in the place, especially with this saree”, by saying so aunty took me to our room with her for getting ready. She even helped me with my makeover and hairstyle, when I was done with ironing and wearing my salwar.

It was decided that we will be meeting the guests at around 10.30 or 11 in the nearby café, and we all left the house at around 10.15. Arun was constantly in contact with Shubham and they communicated regarding the arrival of the other party.

“Hello Shubham, where have you reached?” asked Arun.

“Hello Arun, we will be reaching there within 10 minutes. I have ladies with me and it took them forever to get ready” said Shubham chuckling.

“Great then, we will also be starting now” and with that Arun cut the call and asked us to get into the car.

We all reached the decided location and started waiting for Shubham’s party. Arun got the call and he went to get them inside the café. My heart started beating faster as he entered the café. There he was, in his black blazer and a white button down, in simple black jeans. He was entirely different from the photos that I had actually seen of him in the social media site. He was manlier than his photos and looked more mature. He was accompanied by his mother, Lakshmi aunt’s friend and few members of his family.

Lakshmi aunty started chatting with her friend Kamala aunt and Arun started conversing with Shubham and his family. I just saw him once and couldn’t look another time. The conversation started smooth and everyone started introducing themselves to one another. After conversing for about an hour or so, everyone suddenly turned towards him and me and started giving a smirk. It was when I understood that they are suggesting us both to speak with one another privately. As per everyone’s suggestion, we stood up and left for a stroll around the café.

Conversation between him and me went smoothly and he started telling me about himself.

“I don’t like to speak to anyone when in angry" he said to me.

I replied with a simple “Hmm”.

“I don’t like to roam around much and would prefer staying at home during weekends than going for outings” he said then.

“Oh okay, I sometimes prefer going out to escape from the daily routine and have some fun”. I told him and this time it was his turn to reply with an “Hmm”.

He then continued, “I normally try to keep it to myself most of the times. After my father died, I kind of became the man in my family. My mother relies on me too much as she has reached the second innings of her life” and with that he chuckled.

“Oh okay”, I also chuckled with him.

The conversation went on for around 45 minutes and it became time for us to move towards the room where the relatives of both the parties were staying in the cafe. Slowly, we started moving towards the room and I felt like the conversation would have never ended and I would get more time to spend with him. Based on this conclusion, I thought that he is the one and would love to proceed further regarding the alliance, meaning it was almost OKAY from my side.

Once we entered the room, every eye turned towards us with the obvious question, whether it is a “Yes” from both the sides or not. As we went and sat in our respective places, food was served and everyone started digging in. As everyone finished with their food, there came the crucial stage of all this idea of meeting, whether we both like each other or do we need some time to think it over.

Some suggested Arun to speak privately with me so that I can convey my opinion regarding the alliance and Shubham.

“What did you think about Shubham?” Arun asked me as we went outside the cafe.

“I think he is quite a guy and I like him” was my answer and Arun gave me a wide smile.

We both went inside and Arun conveyed my message to Shubham’s family. Everyone became quite happy and started discussing about the wedding plans, and engagement party before that. I once glanced at Shubham and thought that my life is settled and he will be the guy who would surely fulfil all my desires and will also be everything that I am looking for in my husband.

Aanya actually wanted a guy who would be taller than her or at the least let her hear his heartbeat, every time she hugged him. She would like a guy who would actually plan surprises for her, would never let her feel like she did a bad choice by choosing him, would always love and cherish her, would never leave her side and would stand with her against the world. However, little did she know that the guy that she chose was entirely different, and even opposite of what she was looking for in her husband.

Once everything was discussed and decisions were made regarding the wedding arrangements, both the families went our ways. Arun started calling every near and dear ones to let them know about the confirmation of the relationship for me. I was still in the dilemma regarding whether I took the decision too early. However, it was made and I thought that I should stand firm with my decision at that time.