ARJUN's POV :

The trip was amazing and as well as hell tiring. I have returned from Ladakh this morning. As soon as I parked my bike maa came and hugged me.

"Arjun....why don't you lift my calls? Do you know how worried we were? Dare you to go for another trip I'll break your legs...!" Maa was scolding me non stop, not even giving me time to breath. But papa came as saviour.

Papa asked me,"how was the trip?" I replied,"the trip was amazing papa....! I would like to go with you."

"Ha is umr mein toh Mandir jaana chahiye...... pahaadiyon pe nahi" ,maa said. papa started saying I am still young and things to annoy maa.

"Arju go and take some rest and I'll send breakfast to your room",maa said and I went to my room. After that papa went to his chess club and maa went to college.

Bhai and bhabhi live separately because of convience to their work place.The day went like that me resting whole day.

As it is evening, papa picked up maa from college and they both came home. With our chit chat we had our snacks and tea.

I feel very blessed to have such supportive and understanding parents. Papa and maa met at workshop conducted in maa's University. They got to know eachother and fell in love. After, papa getting job they convinced their parents and got married, now here they're happy and content with their life.

When Adi Bhai failed in his first attempt of his entrance exam, they supported Bhai and made him understand that failures are important to enjoy sucess.

Even though out of blue I selected automobile engineering, they never judged our choices. Even, Ashi also equally treated with us. Never they showed difference among three of us.

Ok wait.....! Shit I forgot that yesterday was Ashi's marriage anniversary. Now she gonna eat me alive for forgetting it. Yeah Ashi got married last year itself. I should call her and pacify her.

"Hello Ashi....! I am sorry. Be lated happy marriage anniversary...!" I said as soon as she lifted the call."Oh who are you sir? You are the most busiest person. Even to remember your only sister....! Then how can you remember a day related to her....?" Ashi said with sarcasm dripping from her words

Now I understand she is hurt. "Ashi.....maaf karna yaar...! Main Ladakh Gaya aur waha signals nahi hai." I said ."pakka main compensate karunga"

"Ok then Hermes bag is enough" Ashi said."ok tomorrow it'll be.By the way how is Dhruv." I asked."He is fine, just like you very busy......why God all busy people are in my life." She said dramatically. I chuckled, said bye. We like to spoil her very much. She is jaan of our house.

Now I should meet my idiot friends. Karan , Gaurav, Farhan. These are my stupid shadows whom I met at school in class 11. Our start was bit bad . We all met through a fight. Our class boys and their class were fighting due to the position of sports leader in school. But after that fight we went to same University and used to practice football all together.

We even didn't realise when we became this important to one another. We all know almost each other's every shit and most of them were done together.

I called Karan and told him to inform others to come to our usual spot ,that is football practice court. Since college days it is our hangout spot.

I can message them in our WhatsApp group but they will beat the shit out of me if they know I came. They all came and I just entered last. Immediately Farhan came and punched me in my stomach. Due to the effect of punch I stumbled but Farhan hugged me immediately.

"Saala kutta kamina kaha chala Gaya re", Farhan cursed."Yeah he got new friends to hangout and even to go on trips" Gaurav said ."Guys calm down let him breath ." Karan said in my support.

"Saala hum kyun calm hona....woh kamina tujhe batake gaye haina , isliye tu use defend Kara Raha ho " Farhan scolded Karan.

"Guys I am sorry, I won't repeat it.....maaf karna." I said. They gave me enough asshole look. Gaurav got beers and all started to drink.

"Shit...! Day after tomorrow is Virat's wedding." All of sudden Karan said. "Yeah if we don't go.... we're done with that idiot." Farhan said."He invited 15 days before itself." Gaurav said.

Virat is our friend from college. He was our senior but too close to us. Now I remember he sent invitation card through post and called me and warned me to don't forget to attend.

"Yes guys now I remember he called me a week back." I said." Tujhe toh hum log hi yaad nahi rehte, woh kaise yaad rahega.....!" Farhan said sarcastically.

"Ok then tomorrow we are going to Pune "Karan said. Even though I am tired,but this wedding is important to attend. We decided to go in my car.

Everything is decided and we parted our ways . I returned to home and had dinner with maa,papa.

They both were hesitating to say something to me. They were signalling to each other to start. I cleared my throat and asked them to say.

"Maa ,papa you have right to say anything to me " I said, with that maa started " Arjun now you are 26 and your bua is asking your papa for rishta.... thinking to getting Ananya and you married."

"What do you think about this rishta Arjun?",papa asked. I felt strange and uncomfortable with the sudden marriage proposal. I don't like my bua because she is just money hunger. So she is trying to fix this rishta with us.

"Arjun where were you lost? Say something ",maa said. Without any hesitation I said " I am not ready for marriage right now, so don't look for rishta and say to bua that I don't want to get married to Ananya. When I am ready I'll say "

With that I got up from my seat and moved towards my room. Maa was shouting that I am so rude to say like that.

May be I sound rude but I don't want to get bound to someone who is completely a stranger to me and sharing life with them is not my cup of tea. I want to know my partner before marriage.

But deep down I am just waiting for that one innocent girl who is trying to save a lost puppy in middle of busy road without caring about herself..... I fell for that innocent dark black orbs which can melt anyone...... yeah my innocent lost puppy.......

______________________________

Manvika's Pov :

Uff finally we both reached home and I am relieved from this silence between us. I entered in and Bhai went to get my luggage.

I was looking around for papa but maa came and patted my head and told me "your papa is not at home. Go freshen up and come for dinner." With disappointed face I just nodded and went to my room.

On my way to room bhabhi came and hugged me. Asked about my wellbeing."Anvi how are you?" "I am good bhabi !",I replied in short and went away to my room.

My phone popped with Neha's message whether I have reached or not. She is truly a sweetheart who cares about me.

From

Nehu :

"Anvi hv u reached home?"

Me:

Yeah....bub I hv reached safely.

Nehu:

Enjoy wedding, don't be moody.....!😏

Me:

Mmmk..... I'll try.😑

As soon as I entered my room peace engulfed me. It is the only place where no matter how you feel,get up, dress up,show up and no one is going to judge you.

My room is my comfort place where I don't need to act, I don't to force myself to talk with people, adjust with people. My mirror never laugh at my insecurities.... instead it encourages me to smile. My pillow absorbs my pain in the form of tears. My blanket protects me from outside world. So my room no less than heaven.

I took a long , soothing, relaxing bath and changed into comfy pjs and t-shirt. I took good look around my room. Things were in their place and here comes my favourite part of my room, plants.They are well maintained even in my absence. I know, it is papa who watered these plants. When I am going to college I gave this responsibility to papa.

I was relaxing by laying on my bed ,after a long time. Suddenly someone knocked on my door."come in",I said. By looking at the person entered in,my eyes shone. It is papa. Immediately I got up and hugged him. He secured me in his arms,my safe place.

"Papa why didn't you came to pick me at bus station?", I started with my questions."Meri pari ,main aane keliye taiyar tha lekin beech mein jaruri kaam agayi, isliye mein nahi aa paya."papa gave his reasons. I started my rambling, by saying every little thing that happened in past three months to papa.

He, with utmost concentration listened to me. We both went to dinner. Papa was feeding me."woh choti bachi nahi hai, woh kud kaa legi aap kaa lijiye."maa said.Her sharp words pierced me. Without any tantrums I took my plate and started eating. Papa glared at maa, but it didn't affect her.

Silently I completed my dinner and I was about to go to my room but bhabhi stopped me"Anvi tomorrow we are going for shopping, for pallavi's wedding ", bhabhi said. Without any interest I just nodded to her.

I came back to my room but maa words were still bothering me. Since my childhood she differentiated between Bhai and me. She kept limits in everything by saying I am a girl. Never she cared about my feelings.May be this difference made me to even distance bhai.

Yes Bhai and I won't talk properly.To be honest it's me who won't talk with Bhai. Somewhere I feel I was neglected by maa. But papa is not like maa. He gave me all his attention and importance. Never neglected me. Supported every decision I took.

May be these all things made me like this,who never wanted to share my thoughts. I have habit of reading books.Ikigai is the book I am currently reading.After reading few pages I slept.

I have habit of waking up early in the morning. I woke up at 6 am. Completed my morning routine. Did some yoga and took bath. I performed puja.

After that all ,I am preparing coffee for myself as it is must for me.Maa came at the same time. There was awkward silence between us. I tried to break it by asking "will you have coffee?".

"Yeah prepare a cup for me",maa said and I made her one cup as well. I helped her in preparing breakfast. I called papa for breakfast, maa called Bhai as bhabhi is present in kitchen itself.

We all settled in our seats and started to have our breakfast."mmm I took a day off today as we can go for shopping.",bhabi said."ok after breakfast we will go ",maa replied."then take driver with you,I have to go to office",Bhai informed us.

After breakfast we all three got ready. I wore chinkaari top and wide leg pants with jhumka's and braided my hair in fishtail style , with small bindi.

We started....maa , bhabhi preferred regular shops from where they usually shop. They both started selecting their sarees and dresses from recent collections. But I ,who is not interested in all these stood aside.

I have one problem that, if my papa is not the one who is paying bills then I don't shop anything from others money.I know the money maa is having is also Papa's money but it's hers. So I don't want to shop with her money.

As I was standing aside bhabhi asked"Anvi why are you standing silently? Come on look for dresses that you like......" "bhabhi I have dresses that I didn't even wore once , so I'll manage with them",I replied her.

"Don't make us look like we don't treat you well Anvi...! Come look for dresses." Maa warned me. That got on my nerves and I went out of the shop and waited for them at car.

They came out after good 3 hours of shopping. Maa was glaring at me but I was unbothered. We reached home at 5 pm in evening. I straight went to my room and freshen up due all sweat and uneasiness.

I came down and prepared tea for everyone and after that I and bhabhi prepared dinner. Maa is not talking with me. Papa understood by looking at my face. He didn't say anything.

After dinner I went to my room, after some time maa came in with some bags. I was confused by looking at bags.

"Wear these dresses for wedding",maa said. I protested with her that"I have enough dress. I don't want these....!". "Anvi don't make me angry, just listen to me and take these dresses",maa said and went out of room.

At that moment I felt to break something to control my emotions but cannot do anything. Why...? Why she have to control me everytime? Why don't she understand me?

With these thoughts.... I don't know when I slept.