"Baby, all you've been doing is working at your father's store and I don't see a line of boys willing to marry. Maybe Raja is the one for you."

✼

"Tum paas aaye yun muskuraye. Tum paas aaye, yun muskuraye. Tumne na jaane kya sapne dikhaye!"

"Oof duffer, you almost gave my a heart attack." Isha exclaimed dramatically clutching her heart.

Raja before her roll his eyes. He was used to Isha's antics and mischief. It was what he liked the most about her. She was always up bright and early with a smile on her face.

Yet, while Isha tolerated Raj, she was not particular fond of him. This was fueled by the knowledge that he had a crush on her.

"Shaadi ki bhat?" (marriage talks?) Isha raised her eyebrow, "whose duffer?"

"Who else? Ours?

Isha blinked and then she started to laugh, "That's a good one."

Raja looked at her as if she lost her mind, "My mother and I are coming to your house." He said seriously playing her hair.

At his serious tone, Isha stopped laughing and ran out of the store.

"Isha?!"

"Watch the store for me!" Isha yelled back. She could not believe that this was happening. Luckily for her, her father's store wasn't too far away from her house.

"Mama! Papa!" She yelled on top of her lungs. She was furious. How could her parents go behind her back and make such plans? She knew that she was of age but she was mostly disappointed that her family did not once mention that they were looking into suitors for her.

"Hain meri beti, (yes my daughter) I think that the whole neighborhood could hear you." Her mother replied back.

"The Duffer and his ma are coming here to ask you if I'm interested in marrying him. You and papa have to say no!"

Her mother was secretly amused by her daughter's antics. While she love Raj as a son, she could never get along with his mother. So for Isha to think that she would ever consider giving her away to Raja was ridiculous.

"Mom I promise I'll find a job but please mujhse shaadi na karna hai." (Please I don't want to get married.)

Before Isha's mother could voice her thoughts. Isha's sister walked into the house.

"Didi! (older sister) You have to tell mom to say no to duffer's proposal!" Isha exclaimed.

Her sister took one glance at her younger sister and shrugged, "maybe a shaadi is what you need to get serious in life."

"Baby, all you've been doing is working at your father's store and I don't see a line of boys willing to marry. Maybe Raja is the one for you." Her mother agreed.

Isha mouth was a gape. She couldn't believe that her family was ganging up against her.

Enraged, Isha stomped out to the garden to confront her father, the head of the household.

Behind her back her mother and sister winked at each other. They had been trying for a while now to get Isha to get a job instead of working for her father. She had graduated with an English degree and was still lacking motivation after being rejected several times.

Marriage just might be the right motivation for Isha.

"Papa! Papaaaa!!" Isha called out angrily.

"Beti I'm right here! You don't have to scream! Shant ho ja." ( calm down )

Isha took a deep breath, "Do you not love me anymore?"

"Kya?" Her father panicked, "What's wrong?"

"I don't want to get married!" She declared.

Her father nodded, "Okay toh shaadi nah karo." (okay so don't get married then.)

He then caught the eye of his wife and other daughter making wild gestures. Isha however was elated to have someone on her side.

"Ha! See Papa agrees with me." She turned to her mother and sister and playfully sick out her tongue before hugging her father, who was still clueless.

"Atleast Raja has a good job and is a well mannered boy." Her mother interrupted glaring down at her husband.

"Yes your mother is right beta. Raja has a good job and can take care of you." Her husband said finally understanding their gestures.

Isha felt like her world had stopped.

"Papa." Isha whispered, "Please I don't want this shaadi." Her family felt silent for a few seconds awaiting her father's comments.

"Okay you have get a good job, Isha." Her father said after finally understanding his wife's gestures.

"I'll get a job and show you. Otherwise meri naam Isha nahin hai." [Otherwise my name isn't Isha ] She crossed her arms and stumped out her family's garden, her eyes set on getting a job.

As soon as Isha was out of the earshot, her family quickly high fived each other. They didn't have any plans to married their baby, all they wanted was for her to get a job.

✧. *《 》* .✧

- 𝓙𝓮𝓷𝓷𝔂