“Adhvay, jaldi aao beta, hume thodi der mein pahunchna hain unke ghar!”

(Adhvay, come quickly, we need to be at their house soon!)

“Maa, bas do minute, main aaraha hoon,” Adhvay replied from the garden.

(Maa, just two minutes, I’m coming.)

He called the private investigator again. “Dammit Bakshi, pick up the phone!” When it simply kept ringing again, Adhvay cut the call with an angry sigh and headed back inside, joining his parents.

“Finally, aa gaya tum! Abhi bhi call lena zaroori tha kya? Aaj chhuti liya na, toh thodi der phone ko bhi chhodo. Warna humesha kaam karta rahega tu.”

(Finally, you came! Did you need to pick up the call now? You took a leave today, leave your phone alone for a bit, too. Otherwise, you’ll always be working.)

“Maa…main-”

(Maa…I-)

“Chalo, chhodo. Ab der ho raha hain, hume chalna hain. Chaliye donon.”

(Come, leave it. It’s getting late, we should leave. Let’s go, both of you.)

Adhvay’s mother hurried them out into the SUV, a Mahendra of course, and they were on their way. Adhvay’s dad cleared his throat, intending to mess with his son a little. “Beta, tumne ladki ke photo aur details dekha?”

(Beta, did you look at the girl’s photo and details?)

“Adhvay, Papa kuch pooch rahe hain tumse!” Adhvay was lost in his own world, still irritated that Bakshi wasn’t responding.

(Adhvay, Papa is asking you something!)

“Sorry, Papa, mera dhyan nahi tha. But no, I didn’t look at her photo or details.”

(Sorry, Papa, I wasn’t paying attention.)

“Arey! Par hume laga tum toh details dekh kar hi haan keh diya. Issiliye toh hum unke ghar jaa rahe hain, warna hume woh ladki kuch zyaada khaas nahi lagi.”

(Arey! But we thought you’d looked at the details and said yes. That’s why we’re going to their house, otherwise we didn’t think the girl was that special.)

“What? Papa, aap mujhse pooch lete? Agar aapko pasand nahi hain, toh kyun jaa rahe hain hum? Unko call karke cancel kariye, hum wapas chalthe hain.”

(What? Papa, you could have asked me? If you didn’t like her, then why are we going there? Pleace call them and cancel, we’ll go back home.)

“Arey nahi, agar last minute mein cancel kiya, toh accha nahi lagega. Aur phir humara kya naam rahega?”

(Arey no, if we cancel last minute, then it won’t look good. Then what reputation will we have?)

“But Papa, it’s better than giving them false hopes and then rejecting them after.” His parents burst out laughing.

“Arey buddhu, hume ladki bohot acchi lagi, warna toh main tumhe uski details deti hi nahi,” his mom clarified.

(Arey stupid, we liked the girl a lot, otherwise we wouldn’t have even shown you her details.)

“Haan beta, main bas mazaak kar raha tha tumhare saath. Ab gaadi aaram se chalao, kyunki hum wapas nahi jaane wale hain.”

(Yes beta, I was just messing around with you. Now drive the car slowly, because we aren’t going back.)

The few hopes Adhvay had, deflated. Hell, was it so hard to find one girl in this city? If Bakshi found her by now, then he wouldn’t even have to go through this pretense of seeing a girl. Like he had just said to his father, he felt bad enough already since he knew he would reject every girl until he found her. It was simply a futile exercise for everyone.

If only bhai agreed to get married, then I wouldn’t be pushed into getting married. I could wait until I finally found her. No, I can’t blame him. If only I could take a stand like bhai had. But how could I make my mother live in the hope of finding a girl whom I knew nothing about, not even her name?

____

“Avantika, baccha, tum aur Riddhi jaldi neeche aao, woh log aate hi honge.”

(Avantika, you and Riddhi come down quickly, they should be arriving soon.)

“Haan, Mumma! Bas ek minute, aarahe hain.”

(Yes, Mumma! Just a minute, we’re coming.)

Avantika pinned her younger sister’s dupatta and lightly adjusted the strands of hair around her face. “Hogaya, ab tum ready ho.”

(Done, now you’re ready.)

“Thanks, didi. Lekin aap meri madat kyun kar rahe hain? Aapko apne aap par zyaada dhyan dena chahiye. Woh mujhe thodi na dekhne aa rahe hain, aap ko dekhne aa rahe hain.”

(Thanks, didi. But why are you helping me? You should be focusing on yourself. They’re coming to see me, they’re coming to see you.)

“Haan, lekin iska matlab yeh nahi hain ki tum taiyyaar hi na ho, aur main bas wahi kar rahi jo main har roz karti hoon, hain na?”

(Yes, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get dressed up at all, and I’m just doing what I do every day, right?)

Riddhi giggled, “Haan!”

(Yes!)

“Ab batao, main kaisi lag rahi hoon?” She struck a dramatic pose in front of the mirror.

(Now tell me, how am I looking?)

“Bohot pyaari, didi!” Avantika’s face turned serious.

(Very cute, didi!)

“Sirf pyaari? Lekin main toh patakha lagne ko try kar rahi thi. Kapde badalna hain?”

(Just cute? But I was trying to look like a firecracker. Should I change?)

“Nahi, didi! Aap bohot pyaari patakha lag rahe hain.” Avantika laughed at her sister and tapped her lightly on the head.

(No, didi! You’re looking like a very cute firecracker.)

“Buddhu! Chal neeche.”

(Stupid! Let’s go down.)

Both sisters were wearing anarkalis- Riddhi in a pastel chikankari set, and Avantika in a heavier, Kashmiri-embroidered set. “Avi, zara chai chadana. Aapke Papa se kuch baat karni hain, abhi aayi.”

(Avi, start making the chai. I need to talk to your Papa, I’ll be right back.)

“Theek hain, Maa.”

(Ok, Maa)

“Didi, main plate par snacks ready rakh doon?”

(Didi, should I set out the snacks on the plate?)

“Main wahi bolne wali thi.” As Avantika started making the chai, she also added another pot with milk on the stove, just in case they preferred coffee over chai.

(I was just about to tell you to do that.)

“Didi, Swati ka phone hain.” It must have been important since she knew why Avantika was on leave today.

(Didi, Swati’s calling.)

“Hello. Haan Swati, batao.” She tucked the phone between her ear and shoulder and spoke while keeping an eye on the chai.

(Hello. Yes, Swati, tell me.)

She was just ending the call as Riddhi walked out of the kitchen with the tray of chai, coffee, and snacks. Their parents didn’t want their children to be in the kitchen when their guests came; that wasn’t the impression they wanted to make, especially as they never raised their daughters as if their place was in the kitchen.

But Avantika had to sort out this issue. Riddhi had stayed with her until then, not wanting to be without her sister in front of their guests, but she was forced to go out with the tray. Just a few moments later, Avantika cut the call and followed her sister into the living room. Smiling to herself at the expected scene, she stepped forward and greeted their guests.

______

“What the hell, Bakshi? I’ve been calling you since yesterday and you pick up my phone now?”

“I apologize, sir. Lekin woh ladki hume itna ghuma diya, aur hum bewakoofon ki tarah uski baaton mein aa gaye.”

(I apologize, sir. But that girl ran us in circles, and like fools, we followed her.)

“Kaun ladki? Jiske baare mein pata karna tha?”

(Which girl? The one you’re supposed to find out about?)

“Nahi sir, woh…”

(No, sir, actually…)

“Look Bakshi, I don’t care about any other girl. Just tell me, did you find out about my girl?”

“Yes, sir. I’ve sent you all her details. Her name…”

“It’s fine. I’ll take a look myself. And Bakshi, thank you, man. I’m sorry if I spoke too harshly.”

“Apology accepted, sir,” Bakshi replied smartly. Adhvay chuckled. “Bastard.”

“Absolutely, sir,” with that, Bakshi cut the call. “Always has to have the last word, doesn’t he?” Adhvay muttered to himself. The notification of Bakshi’s email on his phone had him nervous, but uncontrollably excited, like a kid before he gets on a roller coaster.

Inside the Vermas’ home, Adhvay’s mother, Madhuri, was getting extremely irritated at her son. Couldn’t he stay off his phone for just one hour? “I am very sorry, Namrata ji. Humara beta aaye hain, lekin ek zaroori call aaya tha, toh baahar reh gaya.”

(I am very sorry, Namrata ji. Our son came, but there was an important call, so he stayed outside.)

“Arey, koi nahi Madhuri ji, baat karne dijiye usse. Bohot bade business sambhalte hain aapke bete, toh kaam toh hoga na.”

(Arey, no problem, Madhuri ji, let him handle the call. He manages a great business, so he’s obviously going to have work.)

“Waise bhi, usne bola ki bas do minute ka kaam hain, aur paanch minute hogaya. Mein usse bula lati hoon.” Madhuri excused herself and stepped out to drag her son inside.

(Anyways, he said he’d be back in two minutes, and now it’s been five. Let me go call him.)

“Adhvay, are you serious right now?”

“Maa, let me just check this one thing…”

“Nothing doing! Phone pocket mein rakh aur mere saath aa andar. Is this how you behave as someone’s guest?” As he followed her inside, she gave him the stink eye.

(Nothing doing! Put your phone in your pocket and come inside…)

“Yeh mat socho ki yahi baat khatam ho gayi. Tumhe toh main baad mein niptalungi.” Adhvay’s spine stiffened a little. ‘God, please save me from my mother’s wrath.’

(Don’t think this subject is done here. I’ll deal with you later.)

“Adhvay, beta! Aaye, baithiye. Kaise hain aap?”

(Adhvay, beta! Come, please sit. How are you?)

“Main thik hoon, aunty, uncle. Aap kaise hain?”

(I’m fine, aunty, uncle. How are you?)

“Hume kya? Hum bohot mazee se hain, beta!”

(We’re doing great, beta!)

“Acha yeh bataiye, aap chai lenge ya coffee?”

(Acha, would you like chai or coffee?)

“Chai, aunty, lekin aap kyun zyaada kaam…”

(Chai, aunty, but I don’t want to bother you…)

“Arey nahi, beta! Itna toh hum kar sakte hain. Waise chai peene ka waqt toh ho hi gaya hain.”

(Arey no, beta! It’s no bother. Anyways, it’s about time for chai anyways.)

“Agar aisa hain, toh thik hain,” Madhuri smiled.

(If that’s the case, then alright.)

“Darasal, humare beti ko bhi ek call aaya, aur baat karte karte waha reh gayi. Main usse bulati hoon, aur chai coffee bhi lati hoon. Tab tak, aap sab baat kariye.”

(Actually, our daughter’s also on call. I’ll go call her and bring the chai and coffee as well. Until then, you all can chat.)

Namrata smiled sheepishly and left to bring her daughters. Avantika signaled for just one extra minute, and Namrata frowned, but agreed, asking Riddhi to help her carry the trays with snacks and drinks.

Adhvay was feeling restless, so he stood and looked around at the decorations. His mother wasn’t going to let him off the hook here, so the faster he could get this meeting over with, the faster he could finally find out about his angel.

Riddhi set down the tray, and along with her father, began handing out the plates with snacks and drinks. She walked over to the man who was standing with his back turned to her, looking at her and didi’s awards displayed on the wall.

“Ji, aapka chai.” Adhvay turned around, and he couldn’t believe his eyes. Was he becoming delusional in his impatience to know about his angel? Or was she truly standing in front of his eyes?

(Ji, you’re chai.)

A small breath left Riddhi’s mouth as her eyes met those of the man in front of her. This was the man she couldn’t get out of her thoughts. The plate slipped from her slack fingers when Adhvay jerked out of his trance and placed his hand under hers, stabilizing the plate.

“Riddhi beta, aaram se. Tum dono theek hain? Kuch gira nahi?”

(Riddhi beta, careful. Are you both ok? Nothing fell?)

“Nahi Mumma, hum theek hain.”

(No Mumma, we’re fine.)

God, how he had been dying to hear that voice again. She had only said ‘sorry’ to him that day, but that one word kept replaying in his mind, making him wonder how sweet it would be to listen to that voice for the rest of his life.

**A/N: Please like, comment, show support, and constructive criticism!!!