By end of that summer, Ditiya suddenly wanted to be able to have a committed relationship. So she started dating a mid thirty year's old man Christian Masen. For a while, it had seemed promising. As a divorced man, he was an amazing father. Christian was protective and caring toward his young girl. Ditiya had only met his daughter Chloe only once. Young girls like a live concert, and so Ditiya thought it might be nice to take Chloe to see The Magic Gang. Unfortunately, the idea of the live concert hadn't gone well. Chloe had always hated music with a funky beat or anything by the magic gang, and Christian had seemed to want Ditiya to deal with the girl.

Ditiya had tried but Chloe didn't know her and she didn't know Chloe and the entire day had become strained and uncomfortable. Ditiya had tried-unsuccessfully-to make the night as much fun as possible.

Shortly thereafter. Christian called to tell her their relationship wasn't "working" for him. He had made a point of letting her know he was interested in finding someone more 'suitable' for his daughter because he didn't feel she would make a good mother. His words had stung.

Ditiya hadn't argued with him. Really. How could she? Her one experience with Chloe had been a disaster.

Dating Christian Masen had been enjoyable enough, but there had never been much chemistry between them. So not seeing him was not a huge loss. She categorized it as more of a disappointment. A letdown. His parting words, however, had left her with doubts that she never could be a good mother and regrets that she could not be good enough for anyone.

After that, she again ends up having dosages of some physical relationship and didn't look for emotional relationships.

Ditiya dated two men in later three months. One was married and went out with her twice, but he dropped her when his wife threatened him with divorce, he was the one who seemed most interested in Ditiya. Others one, she dropped him as soon as she found out he had a child. Although she was interested in him, she was scared of another rejection from a kid; especially to a teenage boy Again, Ditiya was feeling depressed and out-of-control because she couldn't keep a boyfriend.

Then on the morning of her 28th birthday, Ditiya woke up to an early morning phone call from her parents. "Hap... .py, happy birth... .day to you! Your mother loves you..." Ditiya laughed as her mother continued to sing her own little birthday song in wavering voice from the phone.

"Well. it's your birthdays, and it's not a usual one. Now that you're getting older, we need to help you plan for the future. I think you should take a look at the email I have sent you yesterday" Ditiya's father, Mr. Virk's voice came through the phone's speaker sounding serious as well as commanding.

Ditiya immediately looked on her phone and clicked on the envelope icon, opened her mail. She really wasn't surprised to see her father's email, as this was becoming routine. An actual list—of potential husbands. Her typical father and she knew that they wanted her to marry. Perhaps at twenty-eight, she was someone else's property and a debt on her own parents

"What is this for?" She asked, her voice sounds irritated and impatient.

"I think you know what it's for, dear," her mother said, and this time her voice sounded firm and patient, but not pretended cheerful anymore, "It's time you... you don't do any well-constructed job and nothing, no direction in your life."

"What your ma saying is that you're at the age where you should be thinking of settling down with some well-balanced man, we should be clear to you, you're way past that age. This is something we would hope you should think of by yourself."

"But... but I don't want to get married not yet," Ditiya said, she shook her head in disagreement, or maybe denial. Marriage was something that she had never considered to be for herself. She didn't really know what love was. She was only used to having to accept loss or cheats and deal with the grief associated with it.

Ditiya loved her mother and father. They raised her with very much love, they were the reason she is the way she is today. They thought her to be carefree and careful at the same time.

But she was deathly afraid that anyone she loved or cared about would abandon her. She never liked the institution of marriage after she saw her elder sister's struggle to be a good wife and how she fell apart every moment after the marriage was over.

"I can understand that, Ditz, but we don't always have a choice in life. You're at the age now where finding a suitable husband will determine the quality of your days to come. Don't you want to start a family and have your own house?" Her father sounded genuinely concerned and possibly a little sad when he asked.

She took a deep breath and tried to think of something to reply, she had never hoped her parents would bring out the topic on her birthday.

"I have you both and Di... I don't think a husband is an important thing I need,"

"Unfortunately, that is not the truth," Mr. Virk said, sighing loudly. "I had a feeling that you wouldn't be too welcoming of the idea, but some things are beyond our control betaji. You need to accept the responsibilities that come with age. Every girl will have to get married and go somewhere else." As he said, heavy breaths rushed out of his lungs as if he had just finished a race.

"Twenty-eight is well past the age for you to be thinking of marriage. And your sister her own family."

Ditiya opened her mouth but stopped herself just in time, he mother had taught her to hold her tongue when she wanted to make her point and to think first before she spoke. She had been about to point out she didn't even have a young man in her mind. "I know that I need to think about my future, papaji but marrying me off to some man won't make my life good. I want to be free to explore my own options and do as I see fit. I thought that was what adults do." Her tone, even though she had controlled it, quickly mused her father.

She could hear her father take a deep sighing. "Listen, I know that seems like it came out of nowhere, but check the list of boys, they all are well established. I know you will like someone or other. Your sister was married at a younger age and so she was uninformed about it. But you are not that young anymore so I want you to be married as soon as possible."

Her birthday was officially ruined now—as she known it would be—and without saying anything else on the matter. She hung up the phone.

........

Empty. That's how Ditiya felt after continuous interactions with her "potential husbands". Drained out all her strength.

Ditiya pulled out from the onramp and back onto the highway. She took a deep breath, then another and kept to the far right lane-the slow—while she regrouped

Ditiya quickly practiced her smile and spoke her mantra out loud, "I'm a strong, capable and independent woman."

Her hands still shook, but slowly her pulse rate muted to normal. She resisted the urge to press the accelerator to the floor, anxious to get to the party where familiar faces and welcoming smiles would be the perfect antidote to the battering her self-esteem had taken.

Thirty minutes later she turned onto the non-exit road where her sister and her husband Arjun, were having a party to celebrate the move to their new home and also the birth of their daughter Viva. She pulled her car as close to the house as she could. She removed her trench coat, threw it in the back seat of her car and strode the short distance to the house, past all the vehicles on the street.

WELCOME.

A pair of baboons in gold color bearing a white banner emblazoned with hot pink letters was stretched above the doorway of the two-story Georgian Colonial house nestled between two other homes on the quiet street. Balloons were also tied to the mailbox marked "Malhotras" waved in a gentle brew and made it easy for guests to find the location of the party.

Inside the house was as busy as an ants' nest with people milling around carrying drinks and plates piled high with food. Several smiled politely at her, and she smiled back but didn't recognize any faces.

In the living room, gift baskets and boxes wrapped in bright-colored ribbons and pastel paper covered the middle of the floor. Embarrassed she had only bought a set of Gilded Rim Stemless Glass. And that was her sister's party, glanced around to make sure no one saw her dumped it on the pile. She had been so busy juggling around her office and meetings, Skype, chats with 'potential husbands' that she hadn't had had time to shop for a housewarming present. But it was inside family right? Di and Arjun Bhai would understand.

At the back of the house. she entered the large kitchen with its oak cabinets and marble countertops. More people hovered in there and food covered almost every visible surface. The tempting aroma of grilled chicken. Aloo paratha, paneer makhani and a host at other food items teased her appetite and made her salivate.

"Hey. You made it!" Arjun walked up holding her seven months old daughter.

Happy to see a familiar face. Ditiya smiled in relief at her brother—in—law. Her gaze took in the little girl sucking her thumb; head nestled against her father's neck. She kissed Viva, her niece on the cheek and gave her brother-in-law a one—arm hug.

"This is quite a spread," Ditiya remarked, looking around.

Arjun nodded. "We gave up on the idea of finger food and figured we would like to feed everyone a real meal."

"This is more than real food. It's a banquet."

She took a quick peek under covered containers and found chicken prepared at least three ways, naan, rice, in different types of casseroles."

......

Ditiya licked a little frosting off her long fingers with chipped nail polish, took two dainty bites when she heard the buzz of joyous greetings in the living room. Her first assumption was it must be Arjun's boss but then Aditi started talking with so much adoration in her voice, and Ditiya knew she didn't do that for just anyone. She suddenly felt chilled. Goosebumps coated her skin; she put the unfinished cake back on the plate, straining to hear through the muffled chatter. At that moment she was praying that this wouldn't happen but then, Arjun's yelling and Ditiya caught a very distinct, "Dhruv!" and her stomach drops to her toes.

Ditiya was not sure what she should be doing. Should she just ignore him? He probably wouldn't approach her anyway. Or she should greet him casually, very ordinarily as if they weren't ignoring meeting for two years. She decided to stay in the kitchen and put the remaining cupcake in her mouth.

She finished the cake while thinking about what would happen if Shreya has come with him. And when Dhruv entered with balancing Viva on his hip. Ditiya felt faint.

Initially, Ditiya felt happy not to see Shreya with Dhruv, but then she felt guilty for her thoughts.

The whole world seemed to have gone silent as they stared at each other. They couldn't tear his eyes away from each other until Aditi took Viva back into her arms from Dhruv. Ditiya at that very moment realized that she has a smile on her face, probably had been since Dhruv walked in, and then Dhruv smiling back. He looked different than two years back she saw, him last, the thick black mustache and beard made him look more mature and virile, reminding Ditiya that everything changed.

Ditiya was so happy to see him that she could not even be angry that he has ignored some of her emails.

And then Dhruv realized Aditi was asking him something. "Why didn't you bring Shreya over for the housewarming, Dhruv?" Aditi asked curiously.

"She was so sorry for not coming, not keeping well these days," Dhruv said, making excuses for his wife's absence from the family party.

"Oh come here and give me a hug, brother! It's so good to see you." Dhruv did as he was bidden, taking his elder brother gently in his arms. Arjun cupped Dhruv's face tightly in his palms for a moment looking up and down. Then smiled.

"Hi, Bhaiya." Dhruv smiled, and then turned back to Ditiya, nodding his head in proper greeting. "Hi, Ditiya."

"Hey Dhruv," she said, not allowing Dhruv the chance to blink as she rushed forward, wrapping her long arms around Dhruv.

At first, Dhruv didn't move, he was stunned, and then he slowly reached up and slowly touched her back He still could not bring himself to really hug her. Arjun appeared even more confused than what Dhruv was feeling at that moment. He looked between them like he might say something, but then he just handed Dhruv a glass of lassi silently. He thanked his brother.

"How is New York treating you?" Dhruv asked.

"Ditiya got back from Japan six months ago," Aditi informed Dhruv behalf of her sister.

Ditiya shrugged. "Not for me."

Dhruv nodded, fingers rung tight around his glass of Lassi. Aditi looked between them with furrowed eyebrows, confused.

There was an awkward silence in the room. Until the while, Dhruv decided to say something, anything. "Well, okay. Uh, I think we should play some games, we all cousins and friends are here" He began to awkwardly inch towards the door, looking at them expectantly.

Aditi looked at Ditiya, who shrugged, a small smile on her lips. "Lead the way, Dhruv," Aditi said, and for some stupid reason, Arjun giggled.