๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ญ๐จ๐จ๐ซ - Chapter 5: Chapter 5
You are reading ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ญ๐จ๐จ๐ซ, Chapter 5: Chapter 5. Read more chapters of ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ญ๐จ๐จ๐ซ.
Akshara:
I stepped into home, the familiar warmth and scent of freshly brewed chai greeting me after a long day at the cafe, I had bought some brownies for dessert as Anika wanted some. But something was different. The soft murmur of voices filled the air, and as I walked further into the living room, I noticed guests seated on the couches, sipping tea. Maa and Papa were sitting with them, engaged in casual conversation. I quickly glanced at the people, recognizing none of them immediately.
My eyes flickered to Meera bhabhi, standing at the corner with her ever-present, welcoming smile. I gave her a questioning look, silently asking who the guests were.
Bhabhi, understanding the unspoken question, gave her a quick nod and said softly, "Akshara, go freshen up. Youโve had a long day. Weโll talk after."
Though I was curious, but I was too exhausted to argue. "Alright," I said, a sigh escaping my lips. I stole one more glance at the guests, my gaze briefly landing on a young man sitting among them, who is looking at me only before heading upstairs.
Once in my room, I leaned against the door and let out another deep breath. My day had been long, starting early at the cafe with usual rush of customers and a busy afternoon. All I wanted now was to relax, but with guests in the house, there was no choice but to prepare myself for a formal evening. I quickly freshened up, choosing a simple yellow kurta set that was comfortable yet presentable for the unexpected company downstairs.
As I was finishing up, when bhabhi my entered her room.
"Do you know who they are?" bhabhi asked, her voice light but carrying an undertone of excitement.
I turned to face her, eyebrows raised. "No... should I?"
Bhabhi smiled, walking further into the room before sitting on the edge of the bed. "Thatโs Shubmanโs family. You know, the proposal Mom told you about."
My eyes widened in shock. "What? Thatโs them? And no one thought to tell me they were coming today?"
Bhabhi gave me a sympathetic smile. "You had to leave early for the cafe this morning, and yesterday you were so tired you went to bed early. We tried to tell you, but there wasnโt really a good moment."
I let out an exasperated sigh and rubbed my temples. "Great. Just great."
I wasnโt prepared for thisโnot mentally, not emotionally. I'd spent the past few days wrapped up in work, not even having the time to process the idea of meeting a potential match for marriage. And now, they were here, in our living room, expecting me to act composed and friendly after an exhausting day.
"Thereโs no use stressing over it now," bhabhi said gently. "They seem like a nice family, and youโll have time to talk with Shubman."
I rolled my eyes at that. "Yeah, because thatโs exactly what I need right nowโawkward conversation with a stranger about our potential marriage."
Bhabhi laughed softly. "It wonโt be that bad. Just be yourself."
I sighed again, knowing there was no escaping this. "Alright, letโs get this over with."
With a final glance in the mirror, I followed bhabhi back downstairs. The conversation in the living room paused as I walked in, and I felt all eyes turning to me. Maa smiled warmly and gestured for me to come closer.
โAkshara, come meet our guests.โ maaโs tone was encouraging but had that unmistakable edge of expectation.
I straightened myself and moved forward, a polite smile fixed on my face. Maa introduced the guests one by one.
โThis is Keart Gill, her daughter Shahneel, her husband Lakhwinder, and their son, Shubman.โ
As maa spoke, my eyes flickered to each person, finally landing on Keart aunty whom I had greeted once, on that perticular evening before I got to know about the proposal for the alliance. Than to that young man, he was tall, with a quiet yet confident air about him. There was something familiar about his face, but I couldnโt quite place where I had seen him before. I stared at him for a moment longer than necessary, my mind racing to figure it out. Had we met before? No, that couldnโt be it. Maybe I had just seen him somewhere in passing.
Shubman gave me a small nod, a polite smile tugging at his lips, but there was a distance in his eyes, almost as if he, too, was weighing the situation in his mind.
After the introductions, they all sat down, engaging in light conversation. I stayed quiet, my thoughts still lingering on how this whole situation had caught me off guard. I listened to mas and Keart aunty talk about their friendship, exchanging old memories and pleasantries, while my mind wandered. Every now and then, I glanced at Shubman, who was also quiet, mostly listening to his mother and maa's talk.
After what felt like an eternity, Keart aunty finally said, โWhy donโt Akshara and Shubman have a little time to talk alone?โ
My heart sank at the suggestion, but I knew it was inevitable. Mas nodded in agreement, giving me a subtle look that said, be polite, be friendly.
โOf course,โ I said, rising to my feet. โShall we?โ I asked Shubman, motioning toward the door that led to the garden.
Shubman nodded and stood up, following me without a word. The tension between us was palpable as we walked outside. The garden was quiet, with a cool breeze rustling the leaves of the trees. I led the way, stopping near a small stone bench where he sat down. Neither of us spoke at first, the silence hanging heavily in the air.
I was not sure how to start the conversation, and judging by Shubmanโs demeanor, he wasnโt either. I glanced at him from the corner of my eye. He seemed deep in thought, his gaze fixed on the garden as if it held the answers to whatever questions were running through his mind.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Shubman broke the silence.
โSoโฆ do you cook?โ he asked, his voice low but steady.
I blinked, caught off guard by the question. I turned to look at him, my eyebrows raised. "Do Iโฆ cook?"
Shubman nodded, as if trying to clarify. "Yeah, I mean, with the cafe and all. I thought maybe youโre the one who cooks."
I couldnโt help the small laugh that escaped me, note the sarcasm. I rolled my eyes slightly, fighting the irritation bubbling up inside me out of all questions he had to ask me if I am a cook. "No, I donโt cook. I bake. And I donโt just work at the cafeโI own it."
Shubmanโs eyebrows lifted in surprise. "You own it?"
"Yes," I replied, my tone sharper than I intended. "Iโve had it for a few years now. We specialize in baked goodsโcakes, pastries, things like that. Iโm not just a cook."
There was a beat of silence before Shubman nodded slowly. "Thatโsโฆ impressive."
I crossed my arms, feeling a mix of frustration and amusement. "Thanks."
I wasnโt sure what I had been expecting from this conversation, but it certainly wasnโt being asked if I cook. It was clear Shubman didnโt know much about me or my work, and that irked me more than it should have.
We stayed in silence again, the tension still thick between us. I stared out at the garden, trying to collect my thoughts. I knew this meeting was important to both our families, but it felt so forced, so awkward. Neither of us seemed particularly interested in getting to know the each other, and yet here we are, expected to talk about our futures together.
After a while, Shubman spoke again. โIโm sorry if that came off wrong. I didnโt mean to offend you.โ
I softened slightly, realizing I had been a bit too defensive. "Itโs fine. I guess weโre both in an awkward situation here."
Shubman nodded. "Yeah. Itโsโฆ a lot to take in."
I glanced at him, sensing the same hesitation I felt. Maybe we are both just two people trying to navigate something neither of us had asked for.
โI suppose we should at least get to know each other, right?โ I said, offering a small smile.
Shubman returned the smile, though it didnโt quite reach his eyes. "Yeah, I guess thatโs the point of all this."
We continued talking, though the conversation was stilted and formal. Neither of us seemed willing to open up fully, and the weight of expectation hanged over us like a cloud. But despite the awkwardness, I found myself curious about Shubman. There was something guarded about him, something that made me wonder what he was really thinking.
As we walked back into the house, I walked to kitchen as my tummy is craving for the snacks, which are placed on the table.
Taking one my favourite chocolate brownie, I tasted it with closed eyes. Opening my eyes, I directly saw Shubman from kitchen, which shocked me is he was already looking at my direction but suddenly diverted his eyes as I catch him. Shrugging my thoughts I again started to enjoy my chocolate brownie while preparing my coffee.
Bhabhi walked inside kitchen, "kuch hua baat" she asked standing beside me where I was leaning on kitchen island. "Huh!" I looked at her coming out of my thoughts. "Kuch baat hua, 15 minute Tak bahar the tum log" she said. Washing my hand I took cup and powered the coffee in it. "No" I said taking the sip from the cup.
"Toh 15 minute kya kar rahe te tum log" bhabhi whisper yelled. "We just stood there in awkward silence, than he asked about my profession, than we came back" I said everything truthfully. She was shocked, I can easily say that. "Vaise bhabhi, is he-" before I complete mom called bhabhi.
We both walked out and saw everyone were about leave. With small smile I waved at them while mumbled bye's. As they left I again walked to dinning table and sat there, resting my head on the table. Bhabhi walked and stood beside me and patting my head she asked,"What happened?"
"I don't know"
"What's your decision?"
"I don't know"
"You like him" I looked at her saw her looking at front.
"I don't know"
"You don't like him?"
"I don't know anything bhabhi, I want peace" I said her face expression suddenly turned into shock.
"Woh actually my phone" I heard the same deep soothing voice. I know who is it but I didn't dare to look up at him. "Ohh take this Shubham bhaiya" I heard Anika's voice. I closed my eyes as I don't want to face him.
Few minutes after I didn't heard him I looked back and "he went while ago" bhabhi said and mom laughed with her and my cheeks turned red in embarrassment
I knew that this was only the beginning. Whether or not anything would come of this meeting was still uncertain, but one thing was clearโthis was going to be far more complicated than I had anticipated.
I stepped into home, the familiar warmth and scent of freshly brewed chai greeting me after a long day at the cafe, I had bought some brownies for dessert as Anika wanted some. But something was different. The soft murmur of voices filled the air, and as I walked further into the living room, I noticed guests seated on the couches, sipping tea. Maa and Papa were sitting with them, engaged in casual conversation. I quickly glanced at the people, recognizing none of them immediately.
My eyes flickered to Meera bhabhi, standing at the corner with her ever-present, welcoming smile. I gave her a questioning look, silently asking who the guests were.
Bhabhi, understanding the unspoken question, gave her a quick nod and said softly, "Akshara, go freshen up. Youโve had a long day. Weโll talk after."
Though I was curious, but I was too exhausted to argue. "Alright," I said, a sigh escaping my lips. I stole one more glance at the guests, my gaze briefly landing on a young man sitting among them, who is looking at me only before heading upstairs.
Once in my room, I leaned against the door and let out another deep breath. My day had been long, starting early at the cafe with usual rush of customers and a busy afternoon. All I wanted now was to relax, but with guests in the house, there was no choice but to prepare myself for a formal evening. I quickly freshened up, choosing a simple yellow kurta set that was comfortable yet presentable for the unexpected company downstairs.
As I was finishing up, when bhabhi my entered her room.
"Do you know who they are?" bhabhi asked, her voice light but carrying an undertone of excitement.
I turned to face her, eyebrows raised. "No... should I?"
Bhabhi smiled, walking further into the room before sitting on the edge of the bed. "Thatโs Shubmanโs family. You know, the proposal Mom told you about."
My eyes widened in shock. "What? Thatโs them? And no one thought to tell me they were coming today?"
Bhabhi gave me a sympathetic smile. "You had to leave early for the cafe this morning, and yesterday you were so tired you went to bed early. We tried to tell you, but there wasnโt really a good moment."
I let out an exasperated sigh and rubbed my temples. "Great. Just great."
I wasnโt prepared for thisโnot mentally, not emotionally. I'd spent the past few days wrapped up in work, not even having the time to process the idea of meeting a potential match for marriage. And now, they were here, in our living room, expecting me to act composed and friendly after an exhausting day.
"Thereโs no use stressing over it now," bhabhi said gently. "They seem like a nice family, and youโll have time to talk with Shubman."
I rolled my eyes at that. "Yeah, because thatโs exactly what I need right nowโawkward conversation with a stranger about our potential marriage."
Bhabhi laughed softly. "It wonโt be that bad. Just be yourself."
I sighed again, knowing there was no escaping this. "Alright, letโs get this over with."
With a final glance in the mirror, I followed bhabhi back downstairs. The conversation in the living room paused as I walked in, and I felt all eyes turning to me. Maa smiled warmly and gestured for me to come closer.
โAkshara, come meet our guests.โ maaโs tone was encouraging but had that unmistakable edge of expectation.
I straightened myself and moved forward, a polite smile fixed on my face. Maa introduced the guests one by one.
โThis is Keart Gill, her daughter Shahneel, her husband Lakhwinder, and their son, Shubman.โ
As maa spoke, my eyes flickered to each person, finally landing on Keart aunty whom I had greeted once, on that perticular evening before I got to know about the proposal for the alliance. Than to that young man, he was tall, with a quiet yet confident air about him. There was something familiar about his face, but I couldnโt quite place where I had seen him before. I stared at him for a moment longer than necessary, my mind racing to figure it out. Had we met before? No, that couldnโt be it. Maybe I had just seen him somewhere in passing.
Shubman gave me a small nod, a polite smile tugging at his lips, but there was a distance in his eyes, almost as if he, too, was weighing the situation in his mind.
After the introductions, they all sat down, engaging in light conversation. I stayed quiet, my thoughts still lingering on how this whole situation had caught me off guard. I listened to mas and Keart aunty talk about their friendship, exchanging old memories and pleasantries, while my mind wandered. Every now and then, I glanced at Shubman, who was also quiet, mostly listening to his mother and maa's talk.
After what felt like an eternity, Keart aunty finally said, โWhy donโt Akshara and Shubman have a little time to talk alone?โ
My heart sank at the suggestion, but I knew it was inevitable. Mas nodded in agreement, giving me a subtle look that said, be polite, be friendly.
โOf course,โ I said, rising to my feet. โShall we?โ I asked Shubman, motioning toward the door that led to the garden.
Shubman nodded and stood up, following me without a word. The tension between us was palpable as we walked outside. The garden was quiet, with a cool breeze rustling the leaves of the trees. I led the way, stopping near a small stone bench where he sat down. Neither of us spoke at first, the silence hanging heavily in the air.
I was not sure how to start the conversation, and judging by Shubmanโs demeanor, he wasnโt either. I glanced at him from the corner of my eye. He seemed deep in thought, his gaze fixed on the garden as if it held the answers to whatever questions were running through his mind.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Shubman broke the silence.
โSoโฆ do you cook?โ he asked, his voice low but steady.
I blinked, caught off guard by the question. I turned to look at him, my eyebrows raised. "Do Iโฆ cook?"
Shubman nodded, as if trying to clarify. "Yeah, I mean, with the cafe and all. I thought maybe youโre the one who cooks."
I couldnโt help the small laugh that escaped me, note the sarcasm. I rolled my eyes slightly, fighting the irritation bubbling up inside me out of all questions he had to ask me if I am a cook. "No, I donโt cook. I bake. And I donโt just work at the cafeโI own it."
Shubmanโs eyebrows lifted in surprise. "You own it?"
"Yes," I replied, my tone sharper than I intended. "Iโve had it for a few years now. We specialize in baked goodsโcakes, pastries, things like that. Iโm not just a cook."
There was a beat of silence before Shubman nodded slowly. "Thatโsโฆ impressive."
I crossed my arms, feeling a mix of frustration and amusement. "Thanks."
I wasnโt sure what I had been expecting from this conversation, but it certainly wasnโt being asked if I cook. It was clear Shubman didnโt know much about me or my work, and that irked me more than it should have.
We stayed in silence again, the tension still thick between us. I stared out at the garden, trying to collect my thoughts. I knew this meeting was important to both our families, but it felt so forced, so awkward. Neither of us seemed particularly interested in getting to know the each other, and yet here we are, expected to talk about our futures together.
After a while, Shubman spoke again. โIโm sorry if that came off wrong. I didnโt mean to offend you.โ
I softened slightly, realizing I had been a bit too defensive. "Itโs fine. I guess weโre both in an awkward situation here."
Shubman nodded. "Yeah. Itโsโฆ a lot to take in."
I glanced at him, sensing the same hesitation I felt. Maybe we are both just two people trying to navigate something neither of us had asked for.
โI suppose we should at least get to know each other, right?โ I said, offering a small smile.
Shubman returned the smile, though it didnโt quite reach his eyes. "Yeah, I guess thatโs the point of all this."
We continued talking, though the conversation was stilted and formal. Neither of us seemed willing to open up fully, and the weight of expectation hanged over us like a cloud. But despite the awkwardness, I found myself curious about Shubman. There was something guarded about him, something that made me wonder what he was really thinking.
As we walked back into the house, I walked to kitchen as my tummy is craving for the snacks, which are placed on the table.
Taking one my favourite chocolate brownie, I tasted it with closed eyes. Opening my eyes, I directly saw Shubman from kitchen, which shocked me is he was already looking at my direction but suddenly diverted his eyes as I catch him. Shrugging my thoughts I again started to enjoy my chocolate brownie while preparing my coffee.
Bhabhi walked inside kitchen, "kuch hua baat" she asked standing beside me where I was leaning on kitchen island. "Huh!" I looked at her coming out of my thoughts. "Kuch baat hua, 15 minute Tak bahar the tum log" she said. Washing my hand I took cup and powered the coffee in it. "No" I said taking the sip from the cup.
"Toh 15 minute kya kar rahe te tum log" bhabhi whisper yelled. "We just stood there in awkward silence, than he asked about my profession, than we came back" I said everything truthfully. She was shocked, I can easily say that. "Vaise bhabhi, is he-" before I complete mom called bhabhi.
We both walked out and saw everyone were about leave. With small smile I waved at them while mumbled bye's. As they left I again walked to dinning table and sat there, resting my head on the table. Bhabhi walked and stood beside me and patting my head she asked,"What happened?"
"I don't know"
"What's your decision?"
"I don't know"
"You like him" I looked at her saw her looking at front.
"I don't know"
"You don't like him?"
"I don't know anything bhabhi, I want peace" I said her face expression suddenly turned into shock.
"Woh actually my phone" I heard the same deep soothing voice. I know who is it but I didn't dare to look up at him. "Ohh take this Shubham bhaiya" I heard Anika's voice. I closed my eyes as I don't want to face him.
Few minutes after I didn't heard him I looked back and "he went while ago" bhabhi said and mom laughed with her and my cheeks turned red in embarrassment
I knew that this was only the beginning. Whether or not anything would come of this meeting was still uncertain, but one thing was clearโthis was going to be far more complicated than I had anticipated.
End of ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ญ๐จ๐จ๐ซ Chapter 5. Continue reading Chapter 6 or return to ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐ข๐ญ๐จ๐จ๐ซ book page.