𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐚 𝐅𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐫 - Chapter 3: Chapter 3

Akshara POV:
I walked through the front door of my family’s home, my body pleasantly tired from the day spent at cafe. The smell of maa's cooking instantly filled my senses as I stepped inside, the warmth of home washing over me. I could hear laughter coming from the living room, the familiar voices of my family, who always managed to lift my mood no matter how exhausted I am.
“Kya baat hai, sab log aaj kaafi khush lag rahe hain,” I said playfully, walking toward the living room where everyone is gathered, except Bhai.
Anika, immediately turned around with a bright smile, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Didi, tum aa gayi! We were just about to eat without you.”
I raised an eyebrow, amused. “Oh, really? I guess I should’ve stayed longer at the cafe then.”
“Don’t you dare!” Anika stuck out her tongue, earning a soft laugh from Bhai, who just walked down.
Maa is sitting in her favorite armchair, waved at me. “Aaja, beta. You’ve had a long day. Go freshen up quickly, dinner will be ready soon.”
I smiled before nodded. “I’ll be right back.”
Heading upstairs to my room, I couldn’t help but feel the familiar comfort of being home after a busy day at work. I quickly showered, changing into a soft kurti and leggings, and tied my damp hair back in a loose braid. As I made my way back downstairs, I overheard maa talking on the phone in the living room.
“Of course, it’s been so long. We need to meet up soon, Keart,” maa’s voice was animated, full of affection.
I paused for a moment at the top of the stairs, catching sight of maa in conversation. She seemed to be video chatting with someone—an middle aged woman, I can see the warmth in maa’s expression and figured it must be someone important.
Without thinking much of it, I descended the staircase, entering the living room where maa is sitting. I glanced at the phone screen, noting the smiling woman who waved at me through camera.
“Hi, Aunty!” I waved at the camera with a smile, greeting the older woman without realizing who she was.
The woman on the other end of the call smiled back warmly. “Hello, beta. You must be Akshara?”
I nodded. “Yes, that’s me. It’s nice to meet you.”
Maa smiled fondly at our interaction, placing her hand gently on my shoulder. “This is one of my oldest and dearest friends. We’ve known each other for years.”
My interest piqued, but before I could ask more, papa called out from the dining room. “Dinner’s ready!”
“Let’s not keep everyone waiting,” maa said, closing the video chat with a final goodbye to her friend. “We’ll talk more later, Keart”
I followed maa to the dining room, where the table was already set. Papa was pouring water into glasses while Anika and Bhai were busying themselves with arranging the plates. The air was filled with the aroma of freshly cooked dal, sabzi, and chapati, tummy full dinner is waiting.
As soon as we all sat down, Anika nudged me playfully. “You took so long to come down! I was about to eat your portion.”
“Keep dreaming, Anika,” I teased back, reaching for a piece of chapati. “You couldn’t finish my portion even if you tried.”
Anika huffed dramatically, making a face. “Oh, please. I could easily eat twice as much as you.”
Bhai always the peacemaker between us, shook his head with a smile. “Anika, don’t start again. Akshara is older, and she’s had a long day. Let her eat in peace.”
I gave bhai an appreciative smile, though my smirk was clearly aimed at Anika. “See? Even Bhaiya agrees.”
Anika rolled her eyes, folding her arms in mock defeat. “I’m not arguing. I’m just saying, you older siblings always get the special treatment.”
Papa chuckled softly, amused by the her banter. “No special treatment here, Anika. Everyone gets their fair share.”
Dinner proceeded in the usual, comfortable way—filled with light conversations and teasing remarks. I more relaxed, enjoying the familiar rhythm of my family. The food, as always, was delicious, and I found myself savoring every bite.
Just as we were finishing up, maa cleared her throat, drawing everyone’s attention. There was a glint in her eyes, the kind that made my curiosity spike.
“I have something important to discuss with all of you,” maa began, her voice steady but filled with excitement. “I received a proposal today.”
I raised an eyebrow, my fork paused mid-air. “A proposal? For what?”
Maa smiled, clearly enjoying the suspense. “A marriage proposal.”
Anika gasped dramatically, her eyes wide with excitement. “Wait, Maa, don’t tell me you’re getting remarried!” She burst into a fit of giggles, earning a fond eye roll from papa.
Maa shook her head with an amused smile. “No, Anika. The proposal is not for me.”
My heart skipped a beat as realization dawned. I slowly put down my fork, my gaze fixed on maa. “Then…who is it for?”
Maa's smile grew wider, and she glanced meaningfully at me. “It’s for you, beta.”
The dining room fell silent for a moment, the weight of the words sinking in. I blinked, my thoughts racing. A marriage proposal? For me?
Anika, always quick to react, let out a delighted squeal. “Akshara didi, you’ve got a proposal! How exciting!”
I, however, wasn’t sure how to feel. “Maa, are you serious?”
Maa nodded, her expression softening. “Yes, beta. It’s from my best friend. We’ve known each other for years, and she believes that her son would be a perfect match for you.”
My mind whirled as I tried to process this information. Maa's best friend? Her son? Who could it be?
“Wait, wait,” I said, raising my hand to stop the flow of information. “Who’s the guy? You didn’t tell me anything about him.”
Maa smiled mischievously. “I haven’t revealed the name yet. Let’s not rush things.”
I groaned, like seriously. “Maa, come on. You can’t just drop a bomb like that and not tell me who it is.”
Papa chuckled from his seat. “Let your mother have her fun, beta. She’s been waiting for the right moment to tell you.”
I shot him a playful glare. “You’re in on this too, Papa?”
He shrugged, smiling. “I’m just here for the food.”
Anika, on the other hand, couldn’t contain her excitement. “This is so exciting! Didi, imagine, you’re going to get married soon. I can’t wait to see what he looks like. Maybe he’s super handsome and rich!”
I laughed, shaking my head at Anika’s wild imagination. “Calm down, Anika. We don’t even know who he is yet.”
But despite her teasing, a part of me couldn’t help but feel a flutter of anticipation in my chest. I had never seriously considered marriage before, not like this. But now, with maa’s best friend involved and a mysterious proposal on the table, the thought seemed to weigh on me more than I had expected.
Maa watched me carefully, her gaze warm and understanding. “Beta, I’m not rushing you into anything. We can take this one step at a time. But I want you to think about it. This proposal is from a family we trust, and I believe it’s worth considering.”
I nodded slowly, my mind still trying to wrap around the idea. “I’ll think about it, Maa.”
And as they cleared the dining table and continued their light-hearted banter, I couldn’t help but wonder who this mystery man was. Maa’s best friend’s son. Someone I had no idea about but was now being considered as my potential future.
For now, all I could do was wait and see what the next steps would be—and whether this unexpected proposal would lead me down a path I never imagined.