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Riya's Pov.

I wonder if best friends are supposed to be dramatic all the time or is it just mine? Because, ever since I told Purva about my decision to meet Aditya, she was over the moon.

Reason?

She was optimistic that if this whole thing progressed, we both would soon be residing in the same city.

So far, she has decided on my wedding trousseau, honeymoon location, wedding theme, dance performances, and whatnot.

Caught up in the exuberance of my meeting, she stated her desire to get me ready today. In her words, she had negligible trust in me and my makeup skills.

Soothing the flare of offense that seeped within me at her words, I reminded her of her current residence in Delhi and not Hoshiarpur. That dashed her back to her senses. What followed was an hour-long session of her cribbing over the fact that why she had to choose a husband from Delhi and not Hoshiarpur.

Welcome to Episode 91 of Typical Purva Things.

The trampoline of my thoughts slacked by the abrupt ringing of my phone. Fetching the same from the nightstand, I let a grin slip across my face witnessing her video call.

Think of the Devil.

"What the hell Rii!" Her eyes popped in horror as soon as she sighted me, "Why aren't you ready yet?" She gasped, clutching her heart. A bit overdramatic. I know. I know.

Rolling my eyes at her exaggerated response, I articulated, "I'm not really interested in spending too much time getting ready only to face your disapproval at the end."

She raised an eyebrow, clearly sensing my frustration. "What's got you in such a bad mood that you're taking it out on me?" She frowned, squinting her eyes.

Sighing, I admitted, "I'm just nervous, like butterflies-in-my-stomach nervous."

Her eyes softened at my distress, "Oh, Meri Rii Rii." She careened the phone closer as if trying to reach me through the same. Resting her back against the bedpost, she appeased, "Trust me, Aditya and his family, they are good people. I had a chance to meet them when we went to their house for dinner after our wedding." Her words eased my discomfort to some extent,

"And if after the meet, you're not convinced about him or his family, you always have the option to refuse." She consoled, blinking her eyes in assurance.

I hummed, still dazed in the quagmire of what-ifs.

Hurling the string of overwhelming thoughts out of my mind, I focussed on the task at hand and fetched all my Kurtis from my cupboard. Laying them on the bed one by one, I switched the camera and revealed all the dress options to her, "So Mrs. Singla, what do I have to do under your guidance before dolling myself up?"

Her stance straightened, sophistication filling her eyes as she responded, "Ms. Riya, let me see the dress options first. Only then I could shed light on what will suit you the best." Her hawk eyes observed the pieces, scrunching her face in disapproval at most of them, "Also, after Fashionista Purva decides what you need to wear, both, Mrs. Vaishally and I will be surveilling your makeup. Am I clear?"

"Yes ma'am." I saluted, suppressing my laughter.

The next two hours drifted smoothly with our endless chatters, unsophisticated laughter, and some spicy details marking their presence now and then.

After regarding and disregarding multiple dress options, we finally settled on a maroon keyhole, A-line Kurti, paired with a delicate belt at the center. To complete the ensemble, I chose a white chikankari palazzo, its intricate embroidery presenting an indo-wester touch to the whole look.

Overlooking all her protests, I opted for a minimalistic approach to my makeup with only black kohl and a nude-brown lip gloss applied over my face. Experiments with hairstyle had never been my cup of tea, hence I resorted to half-tie them as usual with a few tresses framing my face.

*************

I paced back and forth in sheer nervousness, my heart flip-flopping at the thought of endless possibilities. Aditya and his family will be reaching home anytime soon, each ticking second elevating my distress.

With both, my mind and feet exhausted, I strutted to the kitchen to divert my mind by assisting Maa and Bhabhi with the arrangements. Sensing my robotic stance and clammy hands, Bhabhi nudged me closer, pulling me outside the kitchen.

Overwhelmedness washed over me for reasons unknown. She cast a worried glance and whispered tenderly, "Everything will go well, Rii." She brushed the tendrils behind my ear, caressing my cheeks, "Let things move with the flow. Nervousness is not going to help you, hmm?"

"I am just scared of witnessing the past experiences again" I mumbled, exhaustively placing my head on her shoulders. She was quick to melt, encircling her arms around my back.

"Ohho, Paagal." She hit my head gingerly before kissing my temple, "Let me tell you a secret." She let out a frisky whisper and I raised my eyes to see her eyes glinting with mischief.

Scooting closer, I raised my brows inquisitively, "You know, when Ayaansh came to see me, he was far more nervous and anxious than I was." She giggled, angling her neck to check for any onlookers, "Your I-am-an-extrovert brother was lost like a kid in the first five minutes of our conversation." My jaw dropped in surprise because this revealation was the exact opposite of what Bhai told me.

Liar.

"Throughout the conversation, he kept on messing his hair and rubbing his palms." I could vividly imagine Bhai doing the same.

"Then?" A hushed giggle escaped my throat.

"Then what! Your super-brainy Bhabhi took advantage of his state and left no stone unturned in firing questions at him. You know by the end he was like, Any more questions?, No more questions?" She laughed freely, both mischief and pride glazing her orfices. Not only her aura but her laughter was contagious, leaving me in splits.

Sobering up, she murmured brazenly, "So, long story short, if you are nervous, then he'll be nervous too. You both are going to be in the same boat, Rii. So just be yourself, and ask everything you want to." She reasoned, "Moreover, you were pretty confident the past two times, is baar kya hua?"

Her words muted me. No rationale came out, and with nothing coherent to answer, I shrugged in response.

Maybe, it was the previous two experiences that made me apprehensive about going through this whole meeting process. I wasn't ready to face embarrassment yet another time for the clothes I wore, the hairstyle I made, the makeup I applied, the career I opted for, and the kind of expectations I had regarding my independence.

I was unprepared for every piece of unasked opinion that people bestow upon me assuming if it was right for them, it would be for me too.

The caravan of my thoughts was interrupted by Bhabhi's voice,

"Chal let me suggest you something." I was all ears, "If despite his nervousness, he tries to make you feel comfortable, and doesn't get irritated or offended by the number of questions you asked, then consider it as a positive sign?" I nodded thoughtfully, considering her advice.

"And if he doesn't?" I quizzed,

"Then either he is disinterested in the conversation or his thoughts don't align with yours."

"Kya baatein ho rahi hai yahaan?" My brother's curious voice sliced through the conversation, startling us.

"I guess I heard my name from Vaishally." My head jerked to the source of the voice, eyes widening at the sight of my brother leaning against the staircase.

Bhabhi stood up haphazardly, facing him, "Acha?" She feigned confusion, "Nahi to? You might have misheard it, Ansh." Bhabhi pulled up an innocent face, and raised her her brows at me "Haina, Rii?"

I acquiesced, "Haan bilkul. We didn't take your name at all. Your ears are ringing." Oblivion loomed over my face, my lips on the verge of spilling into a fit of laughter at Bhai's perplexed state.

Bhai gazed at Bhabhi with narrowed eyes, pure suspicion swirling in them. When Bhabhi winked at him, blowing a discreet kiss, he parted his lips in bashfulness, glaring at her in mortification before scurrying towards the opposite side.

Cute.

**********

The sound of the car's engine halted my movement in the kitchen. My hands trembled and so did the cutlery in my hand. Everyone rushed outside to welcome the Kansals while I waited inside, breathing in and out to calm my restlessness

Anticipation grew and my heart thudded frenziedly when commotion filled in and several footfalls entered the living room.

Soon, chatters reverberated, discussions loomed and customary tea and snacks were offered before I was summoned by Paa to come inside.

With labored breathing and unrushed steps, I stepped inside only to have my heart pop out at the sight of five new faces watching me.

Suppressing the nervousness, I greeted the elders and smiled at his siblings. Throughout, my eyes not for once matched his.

Perching next to Maa, I attempted to ignore a certain someone, who had been noticing me from his peripheral vision now and then. The same happened in his case when I tried to peer at him. He would deftly look away the moment I would try to peer at him through my eyelashes.

He is nervous. I laughed inwardly at the thought.

After some light discussions with only our families participating, we were asked to converse in private.

Standing up from my seat, I finally lifted my head for the first time in the past thirty minutes only to witness the same obsidian orbs glancing at me with a warm smile playing on his lips. I reciprocated the same, though I was confident that contrary to his smile, mine came out to be constipated.

We gazed at each other for a few seconds after which he gesticulated to lead the way. Nodding softly, I lead the way upstairs toward Bhai and Bhabhi's room where already two chairs were placed for us.

************

Aditya's Pov

Deep breaths, Adi.

I chanted like a mantra as I followed her upstairs.

After feigning ignorance for the past thirty minutes, the moment she raised her head to peer at me with her chocolate-brown almond eyes, I was certain that I was a goner now.

Infinite unfathomable emotions had begun to surge within my nerves ever since I first saw her entering the living room.

Rubbing her forearm with her palm in sheer nervousness, she led the way upstairs where already sitting arrangements were made for us.

As we entered the room, which I supposed was her Bhaiya and Bhabhi's, I motioned for her to take the seat before settling myself adjacent to her chair.

She wore maroon today, the color reminiscent of the deepest rubies. My lips curled tenderly, admiring the fact that she came in all her natural grace, barefaced, with no trace of makeup, and with each flaw visible.

I was tired of meeting women who met me under a thousand layers of products and powders. Not only did their faces seem stuffed but also their words when I conversed with them.

There is nothing called flawless skin and my heart swelled at the thought that she accepts the way she is, with all her flaws. It makes her, her. Real, Natural, and Unfiltered.

A lapse of awkward silence transpired propelling me to initiate the conversation.

"Hello." I smiled, directing my gaze towards her.

"Uh, Hi." She smiled, struggling to mask the anxiety in her voice.

"How are you?"

Damn. This is awkward.

"Fine and You?"

"Fine as well."

Silence again.

"So you are a college lecturer?" I stirred, struggling to recall all the questions that I prepared to ask her.

She nodded softly.

"Which classes do you teach?"

"Graduates. BCOM and BBA." Her response was instantaneous, hinting at her interest in the topic.

I smiled at the sudden shift in her demeanor, "You love teaching, isn't it?"

Her eyes gleamed in exuberance, "I do. Teaching has always been my passion."

"What about you?" She inquired.

"I am a software developer. I worked for two years in a firm and later decided to freelance. It has given me more freedom to work and creativity to exhibit. As teaching is your passion turned profession, coding is mine."

"That's great."

Quietude filled the room yet again and I could see her aimlessly staring at her lap, unconsciously fiddling with her ring finger.

Ab ise kya batau, if she is nervous, then I am super-super nervous. When nothing except awkwardness surfaced, I initiated,

"Uh, Riya?"

"Hmm?" She eyed me keenly, still fidgeting with her fingers.

"This alliance is for both of us, so let's just try and be comfortable with each other and ask anything we want to, without shying away. Hmm?"

She peered at me astounded, pondering over something. Blinking twice, she nodded in agreement.

Having nothing else to break through the monotone, I asked,

"So, where do you see yourself after five years?"

She jerked her head in bewilderment, frowning at me.

"Where are we at? An interview?" Her nose scrunched in disapproval.

Such a spontaneous-spitfire.

However, a second in and she realized the fiery response she just blurted, "Uh, uhm." She stuttered in mortification.

Unable to suppress the smile, I let loose my chuckles. She shut her eyes in embarrassment, a pop of redness bursting over the apple of her cheeks.

"It's okay." I pressed my lips to compose my smile, "I did ask a stupid question." I committed, scratching my neck.

She nodded in agreement only to induce another wave of smiles to pass through our lips.

Fortunately, by now, the initial discomfort and awkwardness had slacked, replaced by ease and comfort.

As our stance sobered, she peered at me cautiously before asking, "Any past relationships?"

Had she not asked me this, I still would have confided the same.

Nodding gingerly, I responded, "Yes, but nothing serious. Like a kind of relationship, you enter just for the sake of it after seeing your friends and peers getting into one. It was a moment of confession just out of overwhelmedness ." I rambled, my gaze settled on her,

"At times, you mistake a short-term attraction into something intense and thus get into a non-committed, non-serious relationship. This was what happened with her and me. I don't know if it is making sense to you or not, but I can assure you it was all in the past." Urgency filled my tone fearing her rejection based on what I just confessed.

"It does make sense." She blinked her eyes in affirmation, "As long as it's in the past, I have no concerns regarding this." She clarified, smiling courteously.

I reciprocated and thrummed my fingers apprehensively on my lap before asking the same, "Yours?"

Contemplation loomed over her face causing her fingers to interlace, fidgeting on her lap. Discerning her apprehension, I vociferated, "Take your time. I won't judge."

Her expressions hinted at both astonishment and relief at my words. She breathed heavily before enunciating, "Uh, My best friend Nitish and I decided to turn our years-long friendship into a relationship." She paused, probably to gauge my reaction. I nodded, encouraging her to continue.

"But after getting into one, we realized that we were better off as friends because we couldn't feel the commitment and devotion that people in a relationship should have. So we mutually decided to call it off after two years."

I hummed in agreement, relating to what she conveyed.

"It was all in the past too. No strings attached." Her mellifluous voice reached my ears.

My eyes found hers, the brown swirls brimmed with sincerity.

We smiled softly, probably to relieve the heaviness of our hearts after reminiscing our respective pasts.

Letting out a soft sigh, I interlinked my hands in my lap and peered at her. Taking a sip of water to clear my parched throat, I finally asked the question I had been waiting to ask for the past fifteen minutes,

"What are your expectations from your life partner?"

**************

Heya Dear Ones!

Ah, my loves finally met!😍

This was just the start, the next chapter is all about their conversation.

How was the chapter? Do comment on your views as it's the only motivation for me to keep writing.

Do you agree with the reason Aditya gave for his past relationships? Could you relate to it? I believe that sometimes people do enter into relationships just because they are so overwhelmed seeing the people around them getting into one. What are your thoughts on it?

Also, Do vote(Star icon⭐) and comment, as it will motivate me to write more.

Until Next Time

Lots of Love

R❤️