Weekend Begins
Cora and Aaron travel together but separate once they reach their city, heading to their respective homes.
As soon as Cora enters her house, she calls out, "Mumma! Look, I'm home!" Her mother, overjoyed, rushes to her and embraces her. "Go freshen up, dear," she says warmly. Cora nods and heads to her room. After freshening up, she returns to find her mother waiting with a plate of food. Smiling, her mother feeds her with her own hands, just like old times.
Meanwhile, Aaron reaches his home, freshens up, and eats his meal. Without wasting a moment, he picks up his phone and calls Cora. The two talk for hours, their laughter and voices filling the silence of the night.
Just then, Cora's mother calls out, "Who are you talking to, dear?"
"Shakura, Mumma," Cora quickly replies.
Her mother chuckles. "Alright, sweetheart, it's late. You've traveled a long way—you must be exhausted. Go to sleep; you can talk tomorrow."
"Okay, Mumma," Cora says with a soft sigh. Then, whispering into the phone, she tells Aaron, "Listen, Doctor Ji, I'm going to sleep now."
Aaron, in his deep voice, replies, "Good night."
With that, they both drift into sleep.
---
The Next Morning
Cora wakes up early and meets her father. The family gathers around the dining table for breakfast. Her elder brother is there too, teasing her like always.
But just as they begin eating, her father suddenly announces, "Cora has reached the right age for marriage. We should start looking for a groom for her."
Cora lowers her gaze, her heart sinking.
Her brother immediately notices her reaction and speaks up. "Papa, what's the rush? She just got home yesterday."
But her father is firm. "I don't want to hear anything else. From today onwards, I will start looking for a suitable boy for her."
No one dares to argue further. Cora, feeling lost and overwhelmed, excuses herself and rushes to her room. With trembling hands, she dials Aaron's number.
The moment he picks up, he senses something is wrong. "Cora? Why do you sound so upset?"
"Aaron…" Her voice quivers. "Papa has decided to start looking for a groom for me. I don't know what to do. I'm scared…"
Aaron's voice turns serious. "Cora, don't worry. I'm here. I'll talk to my parents today itself. We'll come to your house with a marriage proposal. Trust me."
---
Aaron's House
Aaron walks into the dining room, where his parents are having breakfast. Taking a deep breath, he says, "Mumma, Papa, I need to talk to you about something important."
His parents exchange glances and nod. "Go on, son."
Aaron clears his throat. "I want to get married."
His mother's face lights up. "That's wonderful news! Your father and I were just saying that we should start looking for a bride for you."
The excitement in their voices makes Aaron nervous. He swallows hard before speaking again. "Mumma… Papa… I've already chosen someone. I want to marry her."
His mother's smile falters. "She's from our caste, right?"
Aaron hesitates for a moment, then shakes his head. "No, Mumma… she isn't."
His mother's expression hardens. "Aaron, you know how our society works. If you marry outside our caste, it will bring shame to our family."
Aaron's voice is firm. "Mumma, I've loved her for ten years. Do you know how long I've waited for her? Since our 10th grade. We never even spoke back then, but I admired her from a distance. And when we finally reconnected after years of searching, I almost lost her again—because of misunderstandings, because she thought I liked someone else. But in the end, love won, and she chose me."
Aaron looks straight into his parents' eyes. "Mumma, Papa, we didn't just return home this time. We came with a plan—to ask for your blessings, to take the first step toward our future together."
His father listens carefully before finally speaking. "Son, if this is what your heart wants, then I won't stand in your way. I promise, I will arrange your marriage."
Aaron's eyes widen. "Really, Papa?"
His father nods. "Tell me, where does she live?"
"In this city, Papa."
His father places a reassuring hand on Aaron's shoulder. "Then don't worry. Wait for one day. Tomorrow, we will go to her house and talk to her family."
Overwhelmed with emotion, Aaron falls to his knees, holding his parents' hands. "Thank you, Mumma, Papa! I never thought you'd agree so quickly… This means everything to me."
His father chuckles. "You're a good son, Aaron. You've always been respectful and responsible. It's our duty to support your happiness."
Aaron nods, his heart swelling with gratitude. "Hmm…"
---
Later, Aaron rushes to his room and eagerly calls Cora. But to his surprise, she doesn't pick up. He frowns, staring at the phone.
"Maybe she's busy… I'll call her later," he thinks to himself.
---
At Cora's House
Cora feels restless. The weight of her father's decision presses heavily on her. Her elder brother, sensing her distress, turns to his wife and murmurs, "I think Cora has someone in her heart."
His wife nods. "I think so too. But even if Mumma agrees, will Papa ever accept it?"