AISE KAISE!!

10th October, 2015:

Dad is on leave and "beti ki shaadi karao" wave pressure is hitting high wavelengths.

The true Indian mom: Sab ko naa, sab ko naa!! Kab tak humare upar bojh bane rahoge? Shaadi toh karni hi padegi. Aaj shaam ko ladka aa raha hai dekhne, aap yeh sab natak karke humari izzat mat uchhalo. Phalane Phalane logo ne bhi shaadi nahin ki, dekhi hai unki haalat abhi? (Tears following the melodramatic convincing)

A true Indian dad: Beta, don't behave like that. You are educated and grown up. I expect you to handle things in a better way.

A true Indian daughter who feels marriage isn't her cup of tea: In logo ko time kaise mil jata hai aise ladkiyo ko dekhne ka? Aap logo ko bhi bada interest hai ladkiya dikhane ka. Jiska jo hona hai ho. I know what I want to do with my life. Aur yeh shaam ko jo aa rahe hai, aane do unko, batati hu. Idhar kya koi "antique shop" khulva rakhi hai ki log aaye aur antiques dekhe aur reviews deke nilami kare?

The whole argument is followed by rage in me. I sleep till the evening to give a diversion to the destructive mindset. Dad wakes me at 5:30pm, requests me to take a shower and dress up in something better. Angered, I wear the worst kurti from the wardrobe, take my own time to kill their time and walk downstairs with puffed eyes startling without kajal.

My mother is shocked to see me and inevitably sends me back to wear something better. So, here is the babe who pulls a roadster shirt and a jeans. She walks as if she is all set for a bike ride to Ladakh. As she walks downstairs again, a sudden demand to serve ice-cream to the guests hits her. Avoiding the confrontation, still angered, she walks in the living room and stares at the guy in the worst possible manner. Looking at dad staring around, she says a loud "Hello".

I don't remember much after, till my parents asked me to take the guy upstairs They expected us to talk. He got up, and I saw his white socks and offered him my brother's slippers so that he doesn't need to pull the shoes up. He gave a stern "NO". He wanted to walk just in his shoes. Walking on the stairs, I saw him hurrying up and in a nick, he was standing there waiting for me to come. I asked him to keep his shoes on and he again gave a huge "NO". He wanted to walk in those white socks. I walked him in my brother's room, offered him to take the bean bag and this was the final "NO" which I could have taken from anybody existent. The first thought that hit me was. "So much for denial, this man is going to say a NO to this marriage commitment".

Let me surprise you!

INCEPTION OF A RELATION: We sat in that room and felt obviously awkward. He certainly took the lead to make me comfortable and everything that followed seemed eternal. I was laughing my guts out after ages. He was looking at me with bliss. We talked and talked and talked and then we realised that he stays just five minutes away from my place, have a lot in common, the only friend I have in the city is his distant cousin and we are bound to be together as DESTINED. He was subtle, yet strong on impact. He was honest to the instincts. He was a man who was so optimistic and I didn't expect a human to have such an impact on my headstrong attitude. I was calm and happy, suddenly.

As we were about to leave the room, a genuine question that held me intact to him was, "Hey!!, are you going to say YES after you leave? Let me know so that I can handle things accordingly at my place." He paused, smiled, blushed and exclaimed with shrugged shoulders, "I DON'T KNOW". I tried covering up the awkwardness with, "Ohkay, you mean to say that you will think about it and let my parents know. Anyways, if marriage isn't on the cards, we can always be good friends". We walked the stairs together and they left soon after.

It wasn't impulsiveness but I missed him after he left. I wanted to talk more and amidst these thoughts I received a friend request on fb from him. Adding him back, I started talking about the coincident to his cousin. Simultaneously, he was talking about me to his cousin too. This is where the cupid struck stronger. I received a text from him that stated, "I want to answer the question you had asked me at your place. My answer is a YES because you are the first person with whom I can get along easily. I can leave it on time with you. Will you reciprocate in the same way?". I replied, "Absolutely, YES" without a second thought.

ALL THE LOVE STORIES HAVE A VILLAINOUS TWIST: We both were entwined for life and were waiting for a statement from my parents. After a lot of negativity from other corrupted people, biased reviews from the relatives and friends to folks, my parents were about to deny the proposal. Meanwhile, his relatives had a concern and he fought through. I had it strong in my mind that if I ever get hitched, it is just to him. This is where my younger sister started covering up and working towards the good implication in my life. The worst twist was when there came two other proposals and my parents were confused around. I took a familial stand on a positive note for a first time. We also involved the common friend-cousin's mother to help us in the ordeal. Rest is just crazy history of a week, till my family went to his place to accept the proposal. Sleepless nights, panic attacks, fear of losing someone you love, hopes, constraints, faith, care, love-it was a test of time and bonds.

IRONY AND HUMOUR: Married at heart and having accepted each other for a lifetime, we are going stronger with each morning that surpasses the surprises life has to give. After struggling through the acceptance of the "arranged marriage" proposal, we are stuck again with our wedding dates. Oh yes, we just thought that only love marriages are difficult.

BOND: He is the only man I know who would stand by me every way. He is the only man I know who loves me unconditionally. Sometimes, I wonder if I deserve such a man of good faith and there he comes holding my hand and proving my worth to him always. He believes in me and I just can't stop trusting him. Abhishikt, Aarohi has fallen for you.

Whatever people say or prejudice, love at first sight is easy to understand. It's when two people have been looking at each other for a lifetime that it becomes a miracle.

(The first time we met)