"Kichu,this is serious. There is something brewing within the family for past few months and by now everyone is well cognizant of the fact including you. So without any foreword, coming to the point. We decided to give your hand in marriage to an elegant boy. His name is Adam. He is from north India and working as a pilot at Florenza airlines, a reputed domestic airways. He is earning a good amoûnt.We want to know your mind about this proposal. (what is your opinion?)" Periyappa paused and drew in a deep breath ,with a queasy stance, while looking from his side to side eyeing his thampis ( young brothers)

My big uncle took the initiative to burst the disastrous explosive which was mounting up in our family in the form of this secret but not so secret.

I knew this was coming, like hiroshima and nagasakhi, in my life someday or the other, crumbling and piling up my life into ruckus.

Well ,so my fate is sealed? I sighed, my mind was crowded and overloaded with so many emotions that which emotion excelled the most was kinda difficult a task to fathom.

I looked down suddenly interested on the nail art my toes had . In a dazed wool gathering manner I wiggled my toes to see the occasional sparkling exuded from the polish, when I did so.

I felt a hand wrap around my shoulder soothingly which I managed to realize as Lina's. I watched her with my big sad brownish eyes. She patted my cheek assuringly and nodded at me.

I am now seated on a couch in the middle of the living area. Three pairs of eyes staring down at me with their experienced and penetrating look. By doing so they were trying to fish out the darkest and deepest desires, which they think or imagine , I had hidden buried within me.

"Pearl we are waiting to hear from you.silence wont do. We should know clearly. Likewise we will proceed with things. " chithappa said sternly with an airforce commander air, shirking me out of my hazed thoughts.I shot up my head to see a rather disgruntled looking chithappa.

Breath chithappa! Like this you will burst!

My prankster fairy proded my ribs with her insane thoughts.I tried real hard not to laugh. I pressed my lips together.

But to think that, as always they took the privilege of having an upper hand over this matter too, my heart stoops down to my stomach.

To make things even worse I am just seventeen. To shout out aloud I am at the pink of my teens. Can't anyone see that?

I decided to pluck on some courage to voice my thoughts. Silence really won't do. I rose my eyelids and put a straight and courageous demeanor in my attitude before speaking up.I squared up my slouched shoulder.

"Chithappa if I am not mistaken I am still underage for such things. I am only seventeen and you are demanding me to get married to some random guy even before I come off age, that too ,a north Indian pilot.He is an officer chithappa and I am not even a UG holder. I am just too small for him. According to Indian constitution It is a crime chithappa. You know better" I said quietly while praying to god to help me out of this mess.

"Don't you worry child about that thing. In two months you will be eighteen and it will pass for everything. He is a nice and responsible guy. Fit for you and for our family as well.Though from the north he is not at all biased . Moreover he loves to embrace every culture and he is kinda a great fan of south Indian tradition and culture. You wont find such a gem of a lad like him at this age. . When you find snatch him with all might. If I had a daughter I would have given her hand to him ." chithappa said beaming.

Now too it is not that late,if you ask me. There is still space for a girl child . My prankster fairy chimed again clapping her hands joyously.

"I don't want this ,chithappa. I am at the brink of my teens and to think that. Maintaining a whole household with an insane husband is not some sick joke, I witness that predicament on a daily basis with my parents. I don't want that fate for myself that too this early chithappa.If he likes south Indian girls. Ask him to marry some other girl ,chithappa. I can't just take it just like that. This is my time to enjoy life to its full blend of colours. And you are asking me to lock myself up in some kitchen, for ,good lord only knows, how long." I choked out everything that was gnawing my mind all these days along with my exam jitters.

My dad and my uncles stared at me like I am some banshee who was on her screaming frenzy . I gave my world class puppy dog look.

" ( Sweetie please listen to us. He is a wonderful guy. He will never let you down. He will treat you like a queen. If not you then no one is the stance he took for the marriage and we are so overwhelmed by this sweet and genuine gesture.) chithi came as a back up support for my big uncles and a plan B.

Periyamma glared at me viciously demanding me to keep my petty mouth shut with her body language. I gulped nervously while lina ran her hand along my fore arm in order to keep my nerve at check.I drew in a deep breath before letting my mind out.

"Chithi you guys are not getting it. He may be great . I respect that but this is not the time for me or him to be together. Also I am not at all comfortable with the ways of north Indian life style. I am finding it difficult to swallow the fact. If he is providentially meant for me. We will meet come what may. But not like this.I cant spend the rest of my life cooking rotis and dal (north indian food) for a glutton of a husband 24/7. I am better than that. " I asserted my point trying to push my lucky buzzer.

I found my parents and elders at a loss. Because I was never a verbose kinda person before my parents or elders. I obeyed and accepted everything they just threw in my direction without questioning. But this I cant let happen.

As they showed the courtesy to ask me I should show my responsibility towards me. Early marriage or even marriage is banned for me or not at all in my agenda.That too with an officer! no way!

Chithappa stiffened a bit at this candid statement from my side. He shifted uncomfortably on his seat.

Periyappa pinned him down with his glare.

Yup ! Periyappa is the strictest person after periyamma in our family.one good glare of my periyappa is enough to make anyone petrified.

"kichu, marriage is not all about cooking ,washing and cleaning. yeah ( yeah that too is present there. But in a right and fruitful sense marriage is like the union of two hearts. Leave it you will never understand ) Chithi said sighing. Sarah snickered a bit.

" yeah that is the point . I will never understand all this .) only stuff I understand is jathis and ragas. Also pressure points and how to hold my sword and finish off the assassin in front of me" I said with my chin raised.Through my peripheral vision I saw my dad glaring at me with a determined look on his face whilst inhaling deeply.

"Pearl you asked for this. It is quite embarrassing for us to say something like this to you. It is entirely Adam's story to say. But the way you defend your point makes me say this child" periyappa paused for a moment and looked at everyone assembled in the room.

Everyone nodded the approval. I wondered What made that jerk come to the decision of marrying this small thing like me.Whatever it is he will have his fill if he ever dares to tie knots with me. He doesn't know what I am capable of.

I fidgeted with my golden chain while narrowing my eyes lost in my thoughts.

"...Adam ardently loves you. He wants to be with you for the rest of his life. He saw some pics and videos of yours from your cousins and lost his heart upon you. He is adamant at the point that if there is something called marriage in his life it will be with you. He will be coming soon expectantly to see you my child" periyappa blurted out all this like he is letting out something which he has learnt byheart.

My mouth fell open and my jaw literally got hit on the floor.

what kind of a jerk is Adam to fall for some random pics and videos.

I scoffed at the word love. Why ? Me? What is there to fall this hard for me. I am just a kid and he is an officer that too working in a reputed company.Why such a person will choose someone like me for his partner?

I turned to see Sarah smirking. She nudged me playfully.I snorted. she will never change. Always the hopeless romantic

"Love?? What does that mean chithappa. You wont allow such jerks now what happened to you all?" I asked not being able to put my fingers upon what is actually happening around me.

"Language Pearl!" Dad's irate voice made me flinch,my innards got a violent rippling therapy.

Sarah enveloped her arm around me and squeezed my arm in soothing assurance.

" Now Listen and stop being this loquacious. We were just letting you know what is actually happening. Adam likes you and you will be his wife. It is final. Prepare for facing the inevitable. He will be coming to see you soon. We don't want any fault or misbehaving from your part. Accept as fate comes to you. Just learn to take life as it comes. And off late you are too wild for us to handle. I came to know about the stunt you pulled up in a mall in chennai. " I heard my dad's stern and dejected voice. He with his glare cut my tongue and voice.

I blinked and swallowed the large lump which had started to mount up inside.

God from where to where things are moving. One moment they say that jerk will be coming to see me and the next moment they warn me to be prepared to be that fool's wife just because I saved a few lives from a perilous disaster. But wait, how my dad came to know about this. This was supposed to be a secret.

" I am your dad pearl. and like no secrets remain secrets with a girl like you. no incidents will remain buried with a journalist like me. Forgot I am an ex-journalist by profession. I have a knack to dig out the deeply buried secrets. So don't put your head inside an oven thinking that how I came to know this" My dad said with a triumphant smirk on his face.

I flitted my gaze gaze towards mom who held a sparkling in her teal eyes by viewing my dad. I saw her blushing beet red and through my peripheral vision I saw my dad winking at my mom. I dunno what happened to my once disciplined family to act this reckless.

"Dad you should be proud of your daughter. I tried to save and saved so many lives that day. Instead of appreciating me for my bravery you are literally ambushing me to an early marriage. How can you do this to me dad? What about my life and my career?You are simply trying to push me out of your life with some non sensical reasons" I whacked out my words with much difficulty and pain.

" That is entirely your problem to deal with Pearl. Just behave when he and his family come. His family is so important to both chithappa and Periyappa. So don't make our head hung down in shame with your impudent aggressive behaviour.He thinks that you are a typical south Indian girl with shyness and obedience as your ornament of being. Don't make him think otherwise " My dad said impertinently wounding my already hurt soul.

How could dad stay this oblivious of my feelings and my wishes.I never thought my loving dad will turn against me like this. I tried real hard to assimilate things as they are. When realization hit hard on my dull brain. I flinched a bit.

" Don't panic kichu. He and his family are good. You know he is so cute with dimples"Sarah said dreamily .

I stared at her in dismay. Can't she behave like a grown up for once. I huffed painfully while massaging my temple.

I looked at Ahaan who by now shook his head covering his face with his palm in embarrassment.

Sarah is a dimple freak. The foremost thing she notes on a person's features is dimples. I sighed bitterly. So this points towards only one fact that she should have seen him by now. And this surprised and disappointed me at the same time.

" You saw him?" I asked a bit aghast .Sarah seemed to be biting her tongue for the foolishness of letting out her mind to me.

It is okay I know nothing remains clentched within your big mouth. Just blurt out the remaining fact as well. Did you see that graveyard loon?") I demanded while grimacing a bit.

Fool of a girl, can't you just keep your impudent thoughts to yourself. never dare to call him this and that without any respect. You should respect him)" Sarah said in a patronizing tone while slapping my hand slightly.

I quirked up my eyebrow mockingly.

( huh! that joker demands respect eh? Not only respect I will teach him what life is in a real and wonderful sense. And in return he will flee from this place and he will never dare to think of marriage after that. Let him come, I am waiting. He doesn't know who this pearl is ) I lashed out not being able to bottle up my rage.

" ( For that only he is coming , to know you more close. Likewise you dunno anything about him as well) so don't think of any jerkish ideas darling. He is more experienced and craftier than you arè from what I got to know."Sarah said nudging my ribs playfully. I bit my inner cheek not knowing what to make out of all this I get to know about this demon of a suitor. I clenched my jaw and balled my fists.

I should be the one to see him and decide whether he is good or bad. But by the look of it all the people know him except me.Even my pet cat should have seen him and meowed her opinion.

No way I can let this happen. If he loves me it is entirely his stupid foolish problem. I cant stake my life for his love for me.

I never demanded him to love me. Why god??Why me? When I mustered enough courage to voice my thoughts I heard someone clearing his throat breaking my train of thoughts. I snapped my head to my side to see. Edin standing holding his bag on his shoulder with a small smile. I furrowed my brows in confusion.

"Uncle it is time for me to leave" I heard Edin's voice . I instinctively looked at my watch. It is only 9.30 pm.

"Kanna why leave .( why leaving this early?) You told you will leave before sunrise." Periyappa asked puzzled.

"Uncle, Ben and Dave are accompanying me. So traveling that early wont be good for either of us. If we start now then we can travel by turn and at intervals also Alvin and Steeve will join us on the way. Safrin suggested this idea. I too felt it is quite a brilliant idea" Edin said while walking towards the living area. He glanced at me and smiled sympathetically at me.

So everyone knew it. Only me the late comer.

I forced a smile and laced my fingers and sat looking down.

"Everything ready Ed, Give that luggage, will keep it inside the car" Ben said while taking the bag in his hand and other luggage.