Vidhatri returned the smile, her eyes kind and gentle, "Namaste, beta. You can call me Dadi."
Vanya smiled a little.
"I've heard a lot about you from Rekha."
Rekha added, "Yes, Vanya. We were hoping to meet you today. How was your day?"
Vanya settled onto the couch beside her mother, trying to mask the unease she felt. "It was busy, Aunty."
"Do you want to drink water?" Prarthana asked.
"No, Mumma, sit down. I am fine," Vanya replied, trying to maintain her composure.
"By the way, have you met my grandson?" Vidhatri inquired, her eyes filled with curiosity and a hint of hope.
"Well, I..." Vanya smiled awkwardly, glancing between the ladies. Her mother raised her eyebrows, silently urging her to answer.
"Well, I met him. He is pretty good," Vanya lied, hoping to buy some time until she could get the full story from Saranya.
Prarthana's face softened with relief, "That's good to hear, beta."
Vidhatri's eyes sparkled with a mix of curiosity and expectation, "I'm glad to hear that, Vanya. Veer can be...difficult, but he's a good person at heart."
Vanya nodded, forcing a smile, "I'm sure he is, Au.. Dadi."
"What does Veer say? I mean about progressing your relationship and something like that?" Vidhatri inquired, her concern evident. She was well aware of Veer's nature and wanted to know if he had messed things up.
Vanya hesitated for a moment, searching for the right words. "Well, he seemed a bit hesitant, but I think that's understandable given the circumstances. It's not easy for anyone to jump into a serious conversation right away."
Vanya didn't even know what happened there. Had Saranya met him or not?
She didn't expect his grandmother to come here. Now it gets too troublesome. But she couldn't say she had sent her sister to meet her date. How embarrassing it would be for all three of them. But who is Veer? What's his nature? She didn't know anything. She didn't know how long this lie would work, as they would eventually know from Veer after getting home, but at least her mother wouldn't be embarrassed now.
Trying to maintain her composure, Vanya continued the conversation. "So, Dadi," she said, addressing Vidhatri, "could you tell us more about him? I'd love to know more about his interests and personality."
Vanya thought of learning about him so that she could continue with her lie at least for now.
Vidhatri smiled warmly. "Veer is a very dedicated and hardworking person. He's an accountancy professor and takes his job very seriously. He's a bit of an introvert, but once you get to know him, you'll find he's a kind and caring person."
Prarthana looked pleased. "That sounds wonderful. It's important to be serious about one's career, but also to have a good heart."
Rekha added, "Yes, Veer might seem a bit reserved at first, but he's a good man. He just needs someone who can understand him and bring out the best in him."
Vanya nodded, feeling a mix of curiosity and apprehension. "He sounds like a good
person. I'm looking forward to getting to know him better."
"Then how about we talk about marriage?" Vidhatri asked, while both mother and daughter glanced at each other.
Prarthana hesitated for a moment before responding, "I think it's a bit early to discuss marriage. They should get to know each other better first."
"Mom is right. I too need some time before making such a big decision of my life," Vanya said earnestly.
Vidhatri glanced at Rekha, her eyes softening with a mix of understanding and urgency. "I can understand you, beta. But look at me, I don't have much time to live. Who knows when will be my last day? Veer is my one and only grandson, and I really want to see him find happiness before I die. But I understand your need for time too. Take your time."
Prarthana nodded, her expression compassionate. "We appreciate your understanding, Vidhatri ji. It's important that both Vanya and Veer feel comfortable and ready for this step. Rushing into marriage wouldn't be fair to either of them."
Vanya smiled gratefully at her mother and then at Vidhatri. "Thank you for understanding. I promise I'll think about it seriously."
As the conversation moved on to lighter topics, Vanya couldn't help but feel the weight of the situation. She knew she needed to talk to Saranya and find out what had happened during the meeting with Veer.
☆☆
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