"MUMMA! You should not speak nonsense!"
"I am not joking! YOU ARE GETTING MARRIED, SOMYA! Do you get it? I am not asking for your opinion. You have two options either get married or see your mother die," Mrs. Sharma stated rudely and left her room in anger.
Somya's eyes got flooded with tears. She can't do this. But she knows that her mom isn't going to let her off this time without marriage. She knew her mom best, and at this time, her mother is angry enough to do something crazy to herself.
She wept while hugging herself. She can't be someone's wife without letting him know everything about her. And if she told him everything about her, then there's no way he will let her be his wife.
A part of her doesn't want to destroy someone's future by dying after marriage. Another part of her wants to be happy with her husband and have kids like any other girl. She wants very badly to fall in love with someone, but her fate doesn't allow her to do so.
After crying for some time, Somya gets up from her bed. Today destiny gave her a chance to achieve what is forbidden for her. She decided to play a gamble this time. She will let destiny have its way. If it's fated to be with Ansh, then she will eventually end up marrying him. So she will do what her mother asked her.
In the living room of Somya's house
The guests were already downstairs. Ansh, his parents, and Somya's parents were talking happily. They were two families united after a long time, so they have many things to talk about.
"Where is our daughter Somya?" asked Mrs. Dixit, Ansh's mother.
"She must be coming in a few minutes. Let me go and fetch her. She must be nervous," responded Mrs. Sharma apologetically and walked towards Somya's room.
"Somu, are you ready?" Mrs. Sharma knocks on her door.
Her room's gates open and Somya came out. Wrapped in a blue saree* with hair tied in a bun, she was really looking beautiful.
"My daughter looks best," Mrs. Sharma praised her happily.
"Let's go, mom," Somya said and starting walking towards the living room.
"There comes our future daughter-in-law," said Mrs. Dixit cheerfully.
Somya's heart skipped a beat after hearing the word 'daughter-in-law.' It looks like everything had already been decided. This marriage is going to happen anyway. Her protests are going to be of no use. 'Then let's enjoy it!' she tried to cheer herself up by thinking this.
After hours of talking, both the family decided to have an engagement after one month and marriage in six months.
Ansh was sitting in front of her, in his tuxedo, looking handsome as always. The entire time he was sneaking glances at her while talking to her father. Somya's heart was beating so loudly that she can hear it clearly. She and Ansh know each other for quite some time, but it's the first time she had seen him looking at her with something else in his eyes. These thoughts are new, scary, and different for her. She got goosebumps just by the idea of getting married.
After Dixit Family left, there were so many preparations to do that everyone instantly gets to work, except Somya. She was sitting quietly on her balcony with Rocky in her arms, thinking about her coming future. Somya wants to embrace this new excitement, which was bubbling inside her. But she feels guilty for not telling her future family the truth about her illness. To forget her guilt, she decides to sleep. 'Yeap, sleep is the best medicine, so let's sleep!' she thought and went to sleep.
Varun had a hard day today. Due to skipping work on Saturday, he had double work to do. He totally forgets about his neighbor Hooligan.
At night he finally remembered her and went to check on her from the balcony. There he saw her sleeping on a chair with her dog in her lap. He decides to disturb her sleep. She had troubled him many times, so getting back on her should be his right.
So, Varun calls her. After a few rings, the call got picked.
"Huh?" a sleepy bunny replied.
"What's up, Miss Bunny?"
"Nothing, just getting married," she replied in a dull voice.
"Huh? Get up, sleepyhead."
"Yeap, I am up. But still, I am down," she purred like a cat.
"Did you eat something bad, Hooligan?"
"You wish!" she replied angrily. She was already unhappy, but now after getting a nap, she is feeling even more pissed.
"I am getting married," she declared, more like telling herself.
Varun got startled by her words.
"Are you serious?"
"101 percent!"
"Congrats."
"Thank you."
Both went silent. Varun doesn't know what to say next. It was always her duty to carry the conversation. But today, she was lost somewhere.
"Are you not happy about it?" he suddenly asked.
"Should I be?" she throws his question back.
"A normal girl should be, don't know about yours," he tried to joke with her.
"Haa...then I am happy," she said dryly. But then her mood changed,
"You're right. It's a happy matter. I am going to be happy from now on. Thank you for the enlightenment."
"So, who is he?"
"A family friend's son."
"When?"
"Engagement next month, marriage after six months," she said sulkily.
"Am I not invited?"
"Ahh..." Somya felt a pang in her heart by his words. She doesn't know why but her heart skipped a beat.
~Sometimes two people have to fall apart,
to realize how much they need to fall back together~