Vancouver, Canada

Anvita's POV

"Beta aaj to tu gayi, aj to pakka gayi."

(You are done today, for sure)

I blabbered while putting my top on, realising that I was getting late for my deliveries. I quickly gathered my hair and clutched them back before rushing towards the garage to pick up the painting that I was supposed to deliver today. I lifted this huge painting, secured in a cardboard box that just added extra weight to it, making it difficult for me to carry it all by myself. Somehow, I managed to bring it to the car, but not before glancing at myself in the mirror placed in the garage.

I reached my destination after driving for some time. Usually, Rehaan does all the deliveries, but since his exams are going on, he was busy studying. He told me that he has made many deliveries to this place before.

Lagta hai koi meri paintings ka chahne wala rehta hai yaha.

(Seems like an admirer of my paintings lives here.)

I struggled to take out the huge painting from the backseat of the car. It covered my entire upper body, and I couldn't see anything in front of me. I managed to bring it to the doorsteps of the house and placed it on the ground in front of me, holding it upright. I was trying to catch my breath after ringing the doorbell and lifted the painting again.

"Hi, who's there?" I heard a manly voice from behind the box that I was holding. I tilted my head to get the view of the person talking while struggling to keep a strong hold on the box.

"Hi...hi. I came here to drop the painting Ms. Ashima ordered...AAHHHH." The painting slipped from my hand but before it touched the ground, he swiftly moved towards me and held it, preventing it from falling.

Shukar hai bach gayi.

(Thank God its safe.)

My eyes travelled from the box to the unknown person in front of me. His hazel eyes with a hint of brown were looking straight into mine and I refused to move them away.

Kya haseen nazaara hai yaar.

(What a beautiful view my friend.)

We both were holding onto the painting while staring at each other and I didn't even realise that we were standing in such an awkward position until someone interrupted us.

"Hello beta, I ordered this painting. Come, bring it in. I've been waiting for it," the woman said with a warm smile.

"Uhnm...yeah, yes." I said breaking eye contact. I tried to take the painting out of his hold but felt a tug on it.

"Let me carry it. It's clearly heavy," he said with a firm tone and took the painting from my hold. He lifted the painting with such ease that I just stood there gawking at his flexed muscles.

"Come inside bacha" my gaze shifted to the lady.

"No aunty, thank you. I think I should leave. I have other deliveries to make today."

  "Usually, Rehaan does all the deliveries. He didn't come today?"

"Vo actually aunty his exams are going on so he's busy."

"Ohh I see. I usually make all the purchases online, so I only know Rehaan who comes to deliver my orders. You are?"

"I'm his older sister, Anvita."

"Are you Anvita Sahni? The one who makes all these paintings?"

"Ji aunty" I blushed a little hearing her words.

"Oh my god, now you must come inside and have a look at all the paintings I've put around the house made by you."

"It's okay aun--" and before I could say anything, she took my hand and pulled me inside.

I stepped inside and my jaw dropped looking at the white interior of the house that screamed royalty. I gasped out loud.

Oh bete ki, inka ghar to bada hi aalishaan hai.

(Oh my lord, their house is magnificent.)

"Aunty your house is really beautiful," I couldn't resist saying.

"I know it is, but your paintings make it even more beautiful."

"Aww aunty, thank you! That means a lot." I said and she smiled patting my back.

As we were talking, I saw the same person I met few moments ago descend down the stairs. He was about to leave when the lady in front of me said, "Adi, come here. Meet Anvita, the one who made all these paintings that I've put around the house."

He started walking towards us and stood in front of me.

"Hi, I'm Adhyay. Mom is obsessed with your paintings." He glanced at me with a soft smile and paused for a moment before saying, "Now I understand why these paintings are so beautiful looking at you."

Yo what did he say? Did I hear that right? Na jaan na pehchaan, seedha flirt? Maana ki mein sundar hu par itna direct kaun hota hai bhai? Vaise iss bechare ki bhi kya galti mein cheez hi aisi hu hehe.

(No introduction, no nothing, direct flirting? I get it that I'm pretty but who is ever this direct? Can't blame him though, I'm just something special.)

"Haina Adi, they are! The one that I ordered today is for your room."

"Thanks mom and thank you Ms. Anvita. I shall take your leave now. I'm running late for some work."

"Hope you like it. I shall leave too now. Thank you so much for your generosity aunty. People like you who appreciate my work make it so much more worth putting time and efforts into."

Adhyay's POV

I was sitting in the balcony with my laptop in my lap and sipping coffee. Sunday mornings is usually when I reply to all my work emails. I was busy typing on my laptop when I heard the doorbell.

"Mom, can you see who it is at the door?" I said out loud, hoping she would listen.

"Maa... Maa." I got no reply from her, so I got up and shuffled down the stairs while pulling the sleeves of my sweater up and moving towards the door.

I opened the door to find someone holding a huge cardboard that covered their entire upper body.

"Hi, who's there?"

The person peeped from behind the box, revealing their face. She attempted to smile while struggling with the box that she was carrying. Even with such a feeble smile, she radiated warmth. She kept blinking her eyes, but intermediately made eye contact to reveal her dark brown orbs. Her cheeks were puffing due to the weight of whatever she was holding.

"Hi...hi. I came here to drop the painting Ms. Ashima ordered...AAHHHH."

Before the box met the ground, I rushed towards her and held it from the other side.

A hint of redness appeared on her cheeks and some sweat beads formed on her forehead as she let out a sigh of relief.

"Hello beta, I ordered this painting. Come, bring it in. I've been waiting for it," I heard my mom's voice from behind.

"Uhnm...yeah, yes."

"Let me carry it. It's clearly heavy."

I don't how she's been carrying this around. Khud se badi to painitng uthai hui hai.

(The painting is bigger than herself.)

____________________

At night

~ I heard a knock at my door and looked up to find my mom standing by the entrance of my room.

"Come in maa, you don't have to knock."

She came and sat next to me on the couch as I was busy working on my laptop. She slowly started to move her hand in my hair, which made me look at her.

"What happened mom, aaj bada pyaar aa raha hai" I chuckled.

(What happened mom, I'm receiving so much love today)

"You put that painting up already?" she questioned, looking at the painting that I had put up on the wall in front of my bed. "Did you like it?"

"Yes, mom its nice. Is this what you came to ask?" I asked still staring at my laptop.

"Uhmm you liked the painting right?"

When she asked me again, I finally closed my laptop to look at her and analyze what the matter was.

"I told you na maa, yes I like it."

"And what about the person who made it?"

"What do you mean, maa?" I narrowed my eyebrows at her in confusion.

"What I mean to ask is how did you like Anvita?"

"Woah mother, slow down, today was the first time I saw her. I don't even know her. How can I tell? I don't even think you know her." I replied being shocked at her comment.

"I don't know, the way you were looking at her said something else. Beta maa hu mein teri, mere sahmne to tumhari ye acting chalegi nhi"

(I am you mother son; your acting won't work in front of me)

Shit

"Mom stop looking for a potential bahu in every girl you meet"

"Arey why not? Shaadi ki umar ho gyi hai tumhari. Buddhe ho ke shaadi karoge to bache bhi nhi hoge keh deti hu"

(Why not? You're at the age when you should get married. You won't be able to reproduce if you'll get married at late, I'm telling you.)

I sighed listening to her dramatic and unfiltered comment about my ability to produce kids. "Okay fine, I'll find someone and get married soon. Can I go back to finishing my work now?" I agreed as arguing with her would be pointless on this matter.

"Bhaiya...bhaiya" I heard Dhruv shouting and before I could process anything, he barged into the room and hugged me tightly.

"Oho what happened Dhruv? Get off me," I said pushing him away.

"Bhaiya meine suna hai aap mere liye bhabhi la rahe hai?"

(Brother, I heard that you're bringing sister-in-law for me?)

I glared at mom knowing very well that she has announced this to everyone by now.

"There's nothing like that Dhruv."

"But maa was saying that someone named Anvi--"

"Dhruv," I sighed, cutting him off. "I think we should all get some rest, its late. We can talk about this in the morning. Good night maa"

I waited for everyone to leave before taking a shower and changing into my night clothes. Unfolding the blanket, I sat in my bed against the headboard. My eyes fell onto this beautiful painting that adorned the wall of my bedroom that was empty a few moments ago. The intricate textures and subtle colours on the canvas were radiating a feeling of warmth, just like the warmth that I noticed on her face today. I did not understand art much, but I could tell by looking at this painting that it is made with great thought and precision. Her essence was apparent in her art.

How come I never noticed all those paintings around the house till now?

I began thinking about what mom had said earlier. I mean, I did not have anyone in my life anyways so there was no harm in giving it a shot. The worst she can say is no.