AVANTHI
✨

2 years later...

'But why should I wear a saree dad? This is too much. It's Pattu's grandparents 70th wedding anniversary. I mean I don't understand the logic. My salwar kameez was also very pretty!!!' I argued when dad said

'Ava...you know Pattu's grandparents. They are a little too traditional. And what's the big deal. You look so beautiful in that saree.' dad said while Pranay hid his face behind the glasses and giggled. This fellow has been giggling a lot since yesterday.

'I will start the car, you guys come soon and Ava...double check the gas and windows okay?' dad warned and I nodded while Pranay was still laughing. I slapped the back of his head when he cried out an 'Owwww' while I grabbed his earlobe and asked 'Why are you laughing so much? I've been noticing every time dad says about my saree you laugh. What is the matter?' I asked when he smiled and said 'What do I know...I'm innocent.' I twisted his ear when he screamed 'Ahhhhhhh I heard dad speak to Rudra Bhavaji about your wedding Ahhhhhhhh' and I froze. Taking it as a chance Pranay ran outside the house.

Dad is planning to get me married??? To whom?

✨

'Damodar Anna(brother) has an elder brother who lived in America. He is no more but he has two wonderful children. His wife had seen your picture on Sanskriti's phone and asked for your hand for their elder son.' and I was shocked.

I was mighty pissed with Sannu. Just because she's closest to me, she can't do this with me. I was now regretting taking a transfer to Mangalore. Mumbai was far away from home but at least I would have been away from this cage called marriage.

'Dad I'm just 23' I argued when dad raised an eyebrow saying 'Ava...I'm not asking you to say yes instantly baby. All I'm saying is, just meet the family. See if you like the boy. I haven't met the boy either. Think of it like a MasterChef audition. Like the meal, say yes if not...'Aap Mumbai nahi aa sakte he!!! ' (you are rejected) he said while Pranay and I burst out laughing. But I still had a weird fear lurking in my chest. Nayaks are big shots. I somehow was extremely conscious about this.

We reached the venue where the function was organised. We were welcomed by Pattu's and Sannu's parents. Dad hugged them when Paro aunty complimented me for the saree. I blushed and thanked her. Dad got along the elders when I started looking around for the crowd when suddenly I felt a tight hug from behind and a loud 'boo' in my ears. I rolled my eyes and turned around. As expected it was Sanskriti.

'Finalllyy you are here!!! Ahaaa someone's looking beautiful! Looks like you are all set to impress your would be mom in law han?' she teased me when I hit her and she covered herself holding my hands saying

'My god...Look at her...how dare you hit your elder sister han?'

'You are just a few months elder than me drama girl!!!' to which she chuckled saying 'Whatever!!! I'm still elder to you...so...you know respect!!!' she said flaunting herself and I stomped upon her feet while she cried in pain and I started running away, she followed me.

I crashed into Mukta Vanni spoiling her saree 'Devaaaaaaa...Bawalat Mulgiiii!!! (Oh god...you crazy girl)' she yelled when I held my ears saying 'Sorry Vanni...your stupid co sister was teasing me!!!' I complained to which she asked 'Which one...the confused one or the one who confuses the world?' she asked and I bit my lower lip in confusion.

'Doka Satkavu naka (Don't make me loose my temper) she threatened me when I heard Pattu who was chewing an chocolate dipped in mango chutney. I watched her in horror when Mukta Vanni just gave me a very casual look saying 'Relax!!! This is still normal!!! Trust me we have seen worse!!!' Mukta Vanni said while Sanskriti whispered in my ears saying 'Atleast it's safe until she's not cooking it herself!!!' she whispered and I agreed. If there's a worse cook on this planet earth other than my sister Prakruthi who considered herself a Michelin star chef by cooking maggii in various forms, my cousin Pattu was worse. She had the talent to destroy a kitchen by just boiling water.

But suddenly Sanskriti looked at Mukta Vanni's saree saying 'Omg what happened to your saree Vanni?' and I held my ears asking her a sorry she smiled and said 'Dont worry...I will change into something else. Relax!!! But I need someone to replace me with this till then!!!' saying she handed over the welcome drinks to Sanskriti but she already had the flower and vermillion duty being a married woman, so I volunteered and took the tray from Vanni volunteering to do it. She smiled and left to the changing room.

I looked at Sannu who told me to just go upstairs on the stage. Rest places the caterers would be distributing. I nodded and went upstairs. I handed over the drinks to everyone when Gauri aunty who was Pattu and Sannu's mom in law spoke to me. I greeted her and she complimented me. Along with her was another lady who smiled looking at me. I didn't know who she was but I smiled back at her. She held me by my chin and said 'Perfect' and I didn't understand what she meant.

After handing over drinks to everyone I stepped downstairs when Sannu held my hand and asked 'So how did you like your would be mom in law?' she asked and I was confused. That's when she told me that the lady next to her mother in law was Sharada Nayak....Late Mr Krishnakant Nayak's wife and her father in law's brother's wife who had asked for my hand for her elder son and I gulped nervously. I noticed she kept looking at me all the while from the stage.

The function continued while suddenly I noticed a familiar face walking towards the stage. I blinked continuously trying to look at him. He directly walked towards Mrs Nayak and spoke something in her ears. I still couldn't see his face properly. Was he her son? If so did I know him?

Suddenly I saw Rudra Bhavaji and Shivansh Bhavaji along with him. They spoke something and slowly walked towards the side of the stage and slowly brought the tower cake to the stage when Omkar Anna burst the paper crackers and everyone started clapping. Thats when I saw his face clearly and my memory was refreshed.

Neil...Neil is Mrs Nayak's son? Does that mean dad wants me to meet him in prospects of marriage?

And just when my lips were parted and I was staring at him, his bluish green eyes fell on me and his smile disappeared. He was shocked seeing me here. But the next minute he tore the gaze and looked elsewhere.

Oh my god...It's Neil...Shit...it's Neil!!!

✨

I was trying to hide myself from coming face to face with that man. I decided to quickly have my meal, wish the old couple and escape from the function as soon as possible. So I decided to join the biggest foodie in the house other than Pattu. Omkar Anna. But today instead of eating, he was busy serving everyone being the host.

Although I loved Mangalorean cuisine, I was regretting my decision of joining Omkar Anna because looks like he thinks Pattu's cousins are all like Pattu's. He wouldn't let me finish my first Paratha when he would serve me another. My plate was always full and now I was finding ways to somehow finish my meal because I wanted to escape. I was busy stuffing biryani in my mouth when I heard a voice saying 'Anna...sorry they only opened vanilla and strawberry flavours, I got you a slab ea-' and he froze. I felt like the biryani was stuck in my throat. My hands are dirty with biryani and raita and my mouth stuffed with morsels of it making me look like a baby panda right now. Shit!!!

When Omkar Anna asked him to hand over the plate to me but instead of giving it to me, he kept it on the side table and left. He did not smile back. He did not even wish me a hello. He still remembers it. Wow!!! You are doomed Avanthi. Shit!!!

✨

'She is my elder daughter Avanthi' dad introduced me to the lady. And I hesitantly smiled when I could feel her son's piercing gaze upon me from a distance. I gulped nervously.

'She is beautiful. Much more than the pictures I must say!! I heard she's an independent working woman?' she asked when dad smiled saying 'Yes!!! She just got promoted to the position of a senior associate. But she is now looking into the private sector. She has a couple of offers already. She will soon decide upon it!' dad said and she smiled and nodded.

'Would you quit your job after marriage if I ask you to Charda(child)' she asked leaving me shocked. She raised an eyebrow asking me again when I cleared my throat saying 'Working and earning my own bread gives me confidence. It makes me happy aunty. I would never quit my job if anyone would ask me to. I believe God has given all of us equal amount of talent in different fields. It's only for us to identify ours. I love commerce. I love business and marketing. It's my passion. I would quit it only if I dislike it someday, I would never quit it for someone else. I like being independent. It gives me confidence' I said when she smirked saying

'At times to run a home, one of them have to sacrifice!!!' she said while I smiled saying 'Not necessary aunty. If both husband and wife join hands and take equal responsibility and divide duties, no one would need to sacrifice. Rather both can have their own skies to touch and fly unstoppably!!!' I said confidently while she looked deep into my eyes and smiled brightly saying

'No wonder I judged her right. She's so perfect. You know what Charda(child)...Till date every time I asked every girl this question, they only bobbed their heads like dolls saying yes to anything I asked. You are the first one who answered your heart out. Bravely!!!

This is exactly what I answered my father in law when he asked me to quit my banking job. You are just my shadow and just perfect for my son!!!' she said and suddenly my eyes met the blueish green eyes behind her who kept stealing glances at me every now and then. Every time he saw me my heart started beating loudly.

Neil and Me??? Like really??? I don't know why I wasn't so hesitant about the proposal after all. Seems like an old crush was now going to be my life partner. It felt like one of those Wattpad novels had come true. I blushed.

'I can't wait to see my son's reaction. He'll be so happy!!!' she said and I smiled telling to myself 'He already knows aunty!!!' but suddenly she said

'My Kedar is so lucky. He will be here in next three weeks and we can-' she went on talking but the name Kedar kept hammering in my ears. My head snapped in her direction and then went on to meet his cat eyes who met mine and closed his eyes and looked elsewhere.

Suddenly Sharada aunty called him. He slowly walked towards us as she introduced me to him saying 'Neil...meet your would be Vanni... Avanthi Kamath... Avanthi...if everything goes fine...this is going to be your brother in law. My Kedar's younger brother...Neil Nayak!!!'

My eyes met his eyes and I don't know why I felt everything so gloomy. It's not like I was in a relationship with him, it's not like this was all in the plan, it was accidental that I met him such a long time but the feeling of being his sister in law was somehow not so easy to digest.

I somehow couldn't swallow this fact.