Sanjana's P.O.V.

Sighing heavily, I tapped my feet and waited. Damn these interviews! I have recently finished my double degree in law and now I waited for the most elite law firm of India to interview me.

I took two degrees, first specialising in criminal law and next taking up marital law. My reason was because crime scenes fascinated me, and I hated men. Not as a whole but those silly percentage of men who were abusers, rapists, manipulators. And I felt like slapping every person who told me "not all men", I mean, if I hear a rape news, or a marital abuse news everyday, how would I know which man to trust and which to not trust.

My double degree was the reason not many people wanted to hire me, they considered me stupid for wasting my years. If this firm wouldn't accept me, I don't care, I'll start a new law firm of my own!

"Miss Sanjana," the lady called for me. She was an elderly lady who was the only one who seemed human to me in this waiting room. The others were just robots practicing to give out their robotic, well revised answers, not that I would blame them, this is after all a very high profile firm and of course everyone would try their best to get selected here.

"Good luck," she said and opened the door for me. I took two deep breaths and entered the room to find a man sitting there with a smile on his face.

Fear started to claw me as I sat on the chair. Albeit the fact that this man had the smile that you would generally classify as "soft and kind" and the one that would make you feel the safest, he was still a man and with a past like mine, you could hardly blame me for my skepticism of men.

No, I cannot have a panic attack right now!

"Good morning Ms. Sanjana," he said, his tone soft.

"G-good morning," I stammered and he smiled more.

"Don't be scared, I'm not gonna bite you, this is just a friendly conversation okay?"

"Yeah,"

"Well, I'm Sunil, the Co-CEO, the other CEO, my brother is not here, but hey I'm anyways the friendly one so, tell me about yourself, why you want to choose this job?"

"Nice to meet you sir, I'm sure you might have read my résumé and seen that I hold two degrees in law, marital law and criminal law, the other law firms are dickhe--" I stopped immediately, my hands turning clammy at my clumsiness. Fuck, I knew I would get in trouble and just what I feared had happened, I'd used a curse word out loud.

To my surprise, Mr. Sunil laughed.

"Maybe he's laughing at the fact that you're not going to be appointed here now! Well done Sanjana, you never fail to amuse me," my conscience chided in and I scowled.

"Do continue madam, and do not censor the words, I really love it when people are themselves," he said, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he grinned.

"So the other l-law firms are not so good and they don't want someone who supposedly wasted her time getting two degrees,"

"Why criminal and marital law?"

"Since I was a child, solving crime fascinated me, I really loved doing all the thinking and analysing and everything and marital law because to this day, in India there are many women who suffer from domestic abuse, mental abuse, marital rape and what not,"

He seemed impressed, then we talked on for some more time on the law and the job and everything before the interview got over.

"You are the only candidate that has impressed me today, looking forward to working with you Ms. Sanjana,"

Does that mean I am hired?

Do I get to work here then?

"We'll call you to let you know whether you are hired or not and when to start working," he said and I left the room.

Just then my phone rang and I grit my teeth before answering the call.

"Can't stay away from me can you?"

"Of course not di! And guess what? There is a marriage proposal for you!" Sonia squealed in my ears and I stopped, waiting for the elevator and then hung up on her before entering the empty elevator.

I felt tears prick my eyes but I controlled myself.

Why wouldn't they fucking understand me?!

°

As I entered my house, I stared at my dear family sitting on the sofa, grinning ear to ear as they waited for me.

"I swear to god! You guys don't fucking understand me! Why wouldn't you listen to me?!"

"Why don't you want me to have grandchildren?!" Mom asked and I rolled my eyes.

"You have Sonia right?! Get her married and she'll get you grandchildren!" I grumbled and slumped on the sofa next to my dad. He wrapped his arm around me and I sat there as Sonia gaped at mom. Dad was the only man whose touch wouldn't send me into a panic attack.

"Beta, you're elder to her by 10 months, you'll get married first, otherwise what will the society say?" Dad said as he turned to face me.

"Society? The hypocritical society that gives no fucks to you because you are a parent of two daughters! You care about that?!" Sonia asked as she glared at dad.

"Sonu--"

"I'm not marrying anyone, you know the reason yet you wouldn't understand me," I said and tears pricked my eyes once again.

"Hush Sanju, we understand you okay? But this guy is really good, trust me once, I promise that you will not regret it," dad said and tried convincing me with his puppy dog eyes, he always knows the way to my heart is his puppy dog eyes.

"Dad!" I whined.

"Just meet him, they'll come tomorrow, him and his family, I promise to not let you down at all," dad said and I couldn't help but give in.

"Okay fine,"

"Thank you so much, and you know you are our princesses, we would never let anything happen to you," mom said as she and Sonia came closer and we went in for a group hug.

"Freshen up Sanju, I'll serve dinner," mom said and I quickly freshened up, changing into my dad's shirt and my pyjama shorts before walking downstairs. Mom had aligned a big plate on the floor and we all sat surrounding the plate, eating together and laughing now and then at some joke dad cracked.

Nobody could ever love my family as much as I did, I don't know what I'd do without them, I love them to be core. I don't think anyone will ever own my heart as much as my parents and Sonu does.

As we were done, I helped dad wash the vessel while mom and Sonia gushed about Rohan, the guy they have chosen for me.

°

The next day I woke up at 2p.m. and sighed heavily as I found Sonia peaking now and then from her book.

"What Sonia?" I asked as I sat up.

"Nightmare,"

"It's an everyday routine Sonu, you don't need to come here everyday in my room just to see me tremble in the bed,"

"You ungrateful bitch, I come here to get you out of that feeling, I come here because--"

"You feel guilty for leaving me alone that day,"I completed the sentence for her and she sulked, tears welling in her eyes. I knew I was being extra harsh with her today and I wanted to apologies because it had nothing to do with her an everything to do with the marriage proposal.

"You're an asshole!" She mumbled before slamming the book on the bed and leaving the room as she slammed the door shut behind her.

"Tell me something I don't know," I whispered back and got up from the bed before quickly taking a shower and getting ready to meet the Bedi family.

°

Sonia walked in 2 hours later, because she knew I was hopeless while getting ready and knew I would need her help.

"I'm sorry," I murmured as I looked at her.

"I know you are, Sanju,"

"I didn't mean to lash out on you like that," I whispered as I stared at her through the mirror.

"I know, but I'm still pissed at you,"

"I know but that didn't stop you from coming to my room to help me so you should know how grateful I am for a sister like you,"

°

I went downstairs to hear the laughter of my mother and I walked inside the living room to find three pair of unfamiliar eyes staring at me. Two in awe and the other just blankly.

"Mr. And Mrs. Bedi, meet my daughter Sanjana," dad said and I took their blessing before my dad ushered me down to sit on the sofa where the stranger named Rohan sat.

"You are so beautiful," Mrs. Bedi said in her Irish-English accent. Mom had told me that Mrs. Bedi was Irish but fell in love with Mr. Bedi.

"T-thank you," I said.

I zoned out of their conversation and stared blankly at my mom and dad who continued to mod their heads and smile and laugh occasionally.

"I think we should let the children have a private moment, don't you think?" Mom suggested and my eyes widened as everyone including Rohan said yes. Sonia stared at my frantic expression and offered a small smile and a nod as if to say that everything will be just fine.

"Sanju, lead him to the backyard, will you?" Dad said and I nodded my head before walking ahead and Rohan followed me.

Once we were outside, I didn't turn around and I heard him sigh.

"Hi I'm Rohan,"

"I already know that," I bit out.

"Woah calm down tigress,"

I turned around and took a better look. He was handsome, he wore a white shirt that hugged his figure. I'm sure Sonia told him to wear a white shirt because she knew I loved men in white shirt.

"Take a picture dear Sanjana,"

"Take a knife in the gut dear Rohan," I sneered.

"Are you okay with this marriage proposal?"

"Why? Even if I wasn't, I'm sure you'll do something to marry me,"

"My dear tigress, you have a sharp tongue and are too quick to judge me, but I assure you, if you say no, I will agree and do nothing, if you don't want this meeting to move forward say no and I'll leave with my parents,"

I just scoffed. Look at this man, acting all calm and soft, I'm sure he's just an asshole.

"I don't want to marry,"

"Okay," he said and he turned around and started leaving.

"But I would do anything to make my parents happy,"

He stopped dead in his tracks and turned around, his eyes burning with rage.

"Even if it meant that they married you off to a drug addict?"

"Are you a drug addict?"

"You're lucky your parents are amazing Ms. Sanjana, many daughters are married to criminals, those daughters who would do anything for their parents' happiness," he said.

"And tell me, are you happy with this arrangement or not? It doesn't matter if I am happy or not," he asked.

"I---"

"Hi jiju," Sonia walked in at the right time.

"Not your jiju yet Sonia," he said and smiled at her.

"Time is up, we need to have dinner, I'm very hungry for the noodles mom made so please can we go?"

"Of course Sonia," he said with a smile and left but not before giving me an undescribable look.

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