Chapter 1

A man knocked on the door and entered the room after hearing a yes from inside.

"Sir , the malhotra's group that were to come in the afternoon today for the meeting have arrived now and are requesting to meet you " the man said after standing infront of a huge table .

The man sitting on the chair at the other side of the table in a room of which every corner looked systematic and classic ,looked up at him with his piercing gaze . " tell them I am busy " "but Sir.."

"Mayank , for how many years you have been working for me ?"

"5 years Sir " Mayank replied confused by the sudden enquiry.

" So you should have known to send them back ...I don't entertain such people who doesn't value my time ." He said in his usual rough voice while going back to signing the documents on table.

"Sir they were apologising again again after I said you can't meet them . They said their flight was delayed and then to reach here in Delhi traffic...it took them this time "

" I don't care ...but if there is any gap in my schedule after 2 days adjust theirs , if not count this out and mail me today's report file " He replied still signing the papers .

"Ok Sir " Mayank nodded and left .

The phone kept on the table rang with 'maa' written over the screen and he sighed looking at it but swiped to take the call .

"Kahan h tu Anand .... kab aayega Ghar sab intezar kar rahe h beta tumhara " Yashoda said as soon the phone was picked .

"Aaa raha hu maa ... 1 ghante mein aa jaunga " Anand replied while arranging all the papers on the table .

"thik h jaldi aa " she replied and cut the call .

Anand sighed again while letting his head rest on the back of the chair and closing his eye.

His parents wanted him to marry and he was not against it but he wanted to wait for few more years . He was not in a relationship and was okay with the arrange marriage setup but after knowing the person to spend his life with.

Today his parents have invited his sister and her in laws for the same purpose. They told him it was a simple get together but he knew better.

He got up , wore his jacket and left for his home .

Rana's House was located in the elite area of Delhi in very large space with garden area in front and a backyard .

Inside they all were sitting in living room chatting little aadya was in her nani's lap . Shristi's mother in law Sudha was discussing something with Yashoda and Shristi's father in law Prakash was sitting with Digvijay simply talking about random things. Shristi and Abhishek were sitting beside them talking. Ananya Abhishek's younger sister was also there sitting quietly using her phone .

" Aaj toh free drama hone wala h yahan " Abhishek said in low voice to shristi .

"chup karo tum , tumhe bas drama chahiye...mere bhaiya tumhare jaise nhi h " shristi hissed at him.

" haan wo toh h ..mere jaisa toh koi bhi nhi h " he shot back and Shristi just rolled her eyes at him .

In midst of their bickering shristi noticed Anand entering the house in his usual stoic manner which goes well with his sculpted face .

" Lo aa gaye bhaiya " shristi said which gained everyone's attention and saw Anand coming .

"Namaste Aunty..Uncle " He greeted shristi's in laws .

"Namaste beta" Prakash replied and Sudha gently asked " kaise ho beta " .

"Thik hu aunty"

"Anand jao beta fresh ho jao ...tab tak mein khana lagati hu sab ke liye " Yashoda said giving aadya to Sudha while getting up .

Anand passed by his sister while tapping her head softly and climbed stairs to go into his room on the first floor. Shristi simply smiled at his gesture.

Everyone was sitting at the dining table when Anand came and sat beside Abhishek...they started eating when Abhishek whispered " bhai ab tere aazadi ke din jaldi hi khatm hone wale h " to which Anand glared at him and continued to eat . Dinner was filled with little chats and laughter.

After their dinner everyone sat in living room ...Anand took aadya in his arms carefully from shristi and kissed on her forehead softly .

'meri gudiya' he murmured softly to her and sat on the sofa with her in his lap while aadya was quietly sitting , her little hands fisting his shirt in tight grip. Others smiled seeing that and then looked at each other to start with the main talk .

"Anand, hume tumhare liye ek ladki pasand aayi hai jise Abhishek ke chacha ji jante h ...bahot achha parivar h ...aur ladki bhi bahot achhi h . Wo log kal kisi kaam se delhi aane wale h toh humne socha unse kal mil le aur agar tujhe pasand aayi toh baat aage badhayenge" Yashoda said to her son simply like it was everyday talk , actually it was in a way .

Anand stared at her for few seconds then looked at others waiting for his reply .

" Maa meri kal meetings h aur achanak se main sab cancel nhi kar skta" .

" Anand wo log dur se aa rahe h aur parso subah 10 baje ki flight h unki varanasi ke liye " his father said seriously.

" kal main nhi aa skta dad " Anand said equally serious while getting up and giving aadya to shristi and left to his room .

Digvijay was going to stop him but Yashoda told him not to .

"main shanti se samajhaungi usse toh samajh jayega abhi usse thoda aaram karne dijiye " Yashoda said

" kabhi toh ye ladka sahi se maan jaye " Digvijay uttered disappointed. He really liked the family.

" Bhaiya maan jayenge papa , ab achanak se aaplog unhe ye sab bolenge toh woh aise hi react karenge na " shristi said defending her brother.

"Bhaiya ki chamchi " Abhishek uttered to himself but Ananya and Shristi heard him . Shristi pinched him while ananya just giggled watching them .

" Thik h Yashoda ji ab hum bhi chalte h warna aur late ho jayega " Sudha said ready to leave as they were in the same city.

" Arre aise kaise aaj ruk jaiye kal chale jayega " Yashoda ji insisted but at last they were ready to leave ...shristi hugged her parents and went upstair to meet her brother.

She entered Anand's room to see him working on his laptop.

" Bhaiya main jaa rahi hoon " she said and hugged him. He hugged her back patting her head .

" khayal rakhna apna aur aadya ka " he said to her in soft voice .

" haan aur aap bhi apna khayal rakhna aur jaldi se bhabhi lana " she smiled while he smacked her head "

" agar bhai behen ka milan ho gaya ho toh chale " Abhishek quipped out of no where coming inside the room .

Abhishek also hugged Anand and said " phir milenge sale sahab apke shaadi mein " he winked and left with shristi while laughing.

Anand shook his head at them and again got back to his work .

His room was spacious with a large bed with side table a lamp on it , a vanity desk , walking closet and a balcony with two chairs and a small round table .

After almost 1 hour he got up from sitting for a long time and went to balcony while stretching his body .

His mother entered the room after some time with a glass of milk and saw him standing in the balcony.

"Anand " she voiced him while walking towards balcony and gave him the glass of milk .

" maa maine kitni baar kaha h main doodh nhi pita ... coffee chahiye thi mujhe " Anand said irritated. " din bhar toh tu coffee hi pita h bahar.. abhi doodh hi milega usse neend bhi achhi aayegi "

He sighed seeing the milk glass but drank it because he didn't wanted to argue with his mother.

Yashoda took the glass back but didn't leave so Anand asked her " kya hua maa."

" kya hoga ...tune toh mana kar diya kal milne se ab sochna padega na unhe kya bolungi main " she said imitating to be sad .

" samajh gaya mein aap kya karne ki koshish kar rahi h par main nhi aa skta kal " he said not giving up to her .

" tu samajhta kyu nhi ...wo bahot achhi bachhi h aur tere layak bhi ...jis tarah se Abhishek ki chachi ji uski tarif kar rahi thi .. aaj kal ke jamane mein waisi ladki milna muskil h "

" Ek baar Milne mein kya harz h .. tu itna nhi kar skta mere liye " Yashoda said trying to make him agree again .

Anand almost smiled at his mother.. but then for tomorrow he can't make it there." Maa main kal toh nhi aaunga par dad ne kaha tha ki wo log parso 10 baje niklenge toh humlog parso subah 8 baje mil skte h ." Anand said putting another option.

Yashoda ji thought for some time and said " haan aise kar skte h par mujhe unse bhi puchna padega."

" thik h main dekhti hoon aur tu ab soja raat bhar jagte mat rehna " she said patting his cheek lovingly and left from there .

Anand shook his head in amusement and again looked toward to the sky thinking to himself.

His life till now was work... coming home .. sleeping and again work , somehow it has become a comforting routine for him but change was inevitable and if he was to go through this wedding...his life will be completely different , new responsibilities, expectations and shared space . He had some past relationships during college but never a serious one and after that when he was invested in building his own company...all those things were never his concern . But it's not like he isn't ready for it ...he is a man and he have needs too which he have controlled all these years and in today's world it isn't easy to find a man like him too .

Now he has to see ,how things would go to take a new turn in his life, nonetheless he was ready to meet the girl who has already impressed his family before even meeting them .