26 years later

I was sleeping peacefully when I heard dad chanting prayer with mom's humming in background.

Not again!!

I covered my ears with pillow but I could still hear them in background, I know they are doing this just to wake me up.

Huffing I got up from bed and freshening up joined them in temple.

It was our ritual. Dad had a strange obsession of disturbing my dear God every morning and mom joined him gladly.

I stood beside them joining my hands ,my eyes fixed on prashad. Soon they finished their morning session and dad hugged me.

I was a typical daddy's girl And why not .

Mom gave me prashad and kissing my cheeks and made her way towards my idiot elder brother's room.

In terms of sleeping, he was a copy of mom. They both would sleep for hours and it takes alot of hard work for me and dad to wake them up.

Dad took me in a side hug and we made our way towards kitchen.

Today was mom's very important meeting and dad was very nervous and worried about it.

Strange no? But that's how it goes. I have seen my dad staying up late with mom whenever she works on some design and if I ever ask mom about her achievements. She will just give all credit to my dad. They were goals literally and it was hard to believe that they were once forced for this marriage.

That reminds me I am getting late for college.

"Ruhana" I heard mom calling me and i looked behind to see my dear brother aarav and mom standing there giving me a not so good look.

"You mixed mosquito replant in his perfume?" Mom asked me in a strict tone and I can hear dad giggling in background.

I can't help but hide my smile , as aarav smelled anything but good.

"Manik did you know about it?" Mom asked in a stern tone and I can see dad getting scared.

26 years of marriage and still my dad is scared of my mom and I have no idea how ,because my mom is soo cute and small and whenever she gets angry she looks more cute. But that doesn't stop all of us including aarav to get scared from her .

"Mee? No I mean how" dad stammered and I started laughing.

Moving towards mom i made the best puppy face ever which i knew will melt her. After all I got that face from both my mom dad.

She melted immediately.

"Will you repeat it again?" She asked cutely and I innocently shook my head.

In background I can see aarav shaking his head in disbelief since he just like dad never drags the issue. He was very calm and silent one just like my dad . Whereas just like my mom I have this strange obsession of playing pranks. I couldn't sleep peacefully if I don't pull a prank and according to dad, mom was the same but in her case it was cabir uncle and Abhi mamu who were the victims.

"Nandu you are getting late for office. Go get ready." Dad said from behind and we all looked at watch.

It was just 8 am and mom's meeting was at 11 . She had sufficient time but dad being dad was getting hyper.

Mom shook her head as she moved towards him and took his hands in her's.

Me and aarav looked at them in aww as like everytime dad blushed . It was one of the best thing about them, my mom can romance in front of us and dad would just blush and get more nervous.

And the way he blushes even after 26 years of marriage is another thing me and aarav couldn't figure out.

"Chl get ready I will drop you at the college." Bhai said from behind and we both went to our room before thier romance turns awkward for us.

___

I returned earlier as dad informed me he wants to plan a small party for mom's success. I can see alya taiji whom I call miss.Hottie owing to her perfect figure even after my cousins misha di and aarush. She was arranging dinner table.

Since mom and hottie works together, hottie handles all the outdoor work because of which I have spent all my childhood with nisha di and aarush. Aarush was of my age and my partner in crime . Whereas just like hottie misha di was a good girl who spends hours in front of mirror even after being so beautiful .

I joined misha di and hottie and we all arranged the table perfectly.

It was around 7 when buddy urf cabir uncle and navya mosi came. She was just like mom. She jumped seeing me and took me in a hug excitedly . Buddy laughed seeing her and hugged me too. Buddy was my favrioute .

Behind her was my cousin abeer.

"Namaste aunty" he said just to tease me and ruffling or I should say ruining my long silky hairs he went inside .

I gave him an irritated look and closing the door went in.

Mosi just like hottie instead of sitting or having something started helping dad. Whereas abeer , aarav and buddy the forever hungry people I have seen went inside kitchen.

I laughed at them as buddy was not allowing aarav and abeer to have cake but he himself was having ice cream.

I shook my head in disbelief as I joined misha di and we both started gossiping while doing our work.

Soon Abhi mamu and mukti bua came. Anish my another cousin and smallest of us all was late because of his tuitions. It was his 12th boards after all.

Bua took me in a hug and joined me and misha in her non stop talks.

She was wittiest and coolest of them all. She would always embarrass mom and dad by telling us stories which according to dad our innocent ears shouldn't have heard.

Soon it was time for mom to come so we switched off the lights and waited for her.

She opened the door and called out for dad since all lighted were closed.

"Manik? Ruhana ? Aarav?" She called and started moving towards switch board when we all screamed together 'surprise.' I can see mom's face covering with our favrioute smile and aarav switched on the lights and dad took mom in a tight hug.

Buddy and dhruv uncle hotted in background because of which dad broke the hug blushing again .

We all laughed as we congratulated mom together .

I can see mom's face glowing because of happiness and her eyes time to time looking at dad whose eyes were fixed on her.

I never missed the small eye conversation they always had . The love they had in between them was the same love I want for myself. Maybe that's why just like dad I could never get in any relationship and could only wait for this love to search me just like it searched mom and dad.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ruhana nandini malhotra

Aarav nandini malhotra

~He was calm in her chaos. She was like a breath of fresh air for him. Together they completed each other in a strangely imperfect but perfect way ~

___________

End of this arrange marriage saga.

Thanks for all the love you guys gave me❤

Will miss you all😭😭

Love you all

-Yours anshika