*Navya Pov*
“Hello?” Divya said, lifting the call.
“Divya! I am getting married.” I said, smiling at the thought.
“What? I am sorry here is some disturbance, so I think I heard you saying you are getting married. Now, tell me what it is?” she asked.
“I am really getting married.” I replied this time clearly.
“What? You can’t do that. That is unfair to our girl generation.” She shouted into the phone.
“What are you saying?” I asked her shocked.
“Before getting tied down you should have a boyfriend, or at least, you should have little heaps of proposals for you. So this is unfair Navya.” She replied explaining what she means.
“And also you are young, Navya. Marriage can’t be dealt at this age.” She added, but this time in a serious tone.
“If I make any mistakes, then he will be there and not to forget my parents along with his will also be there as it is an arranged marriage. It will be our parent's responsibility to make us go in a right path.” I said, remembering the words my Mom and Dad always tell us.
“This is 21st century, Navya. They have their lives and will not live just to protect your marriage. This is a life decision so think again for my sake at least.” She said in a calm tone.
“Hey! I already know perfectly well that one day my parents will select one perfect groom, and I will get married. Now that is happening so I am totally normal with it.” I said in confidence.
“How do you know that he is the perfect groom?” she asked after a few seconds.
“Because my whole family thinks that he is good for me, which directly makes him perfect groom.” I replied going near the window.
“Hmm, I think you just made your mind, so I will not say anything but there will be time for the wedding right, I will check up on him to see whether he is good or not.” She said sighing.
“Actually, I am going to get married in three days.” I mumbled because I am sure now she will give an even bigger class.
“What? And you are ok with that too.” She screeched.
“We are talking on the phone, Divya. You need not to scream like that.” I said, rubbing my ear.
“Well, I am trying to at least send these words into your brain, which looks like it just shut down its door.” she said in an angry tone.
I explained to her why we are getting married in three days and requested her to come to my house so that she will be present in the rituals if they are happening in the first place.
“Navya! Let’s go, we need to go to shopping.” Di said entering my room.
“Di! You know that I don’t love shopping right, so please you just do it for me.” I said pleading her.
“Navya! You are going to come and select your own attire for the wedding and also some other as you need for after your wedding.” Mom said from the door.
“Mom! I will not come and even if I do, you will get angry.” I said folding my hands.
“Of course I will get angry. Every time you just sit on the chair and looks around the shop. You look at each dress, which are in cupboards, but not take them out to see them clearly. When we ask you, did you like it? You just say ‘Yeah’.” She said shaking her head.
“If I like it, then I should say that only right Mom?” I asked her confused.
“Yeah! But not to each and every dress we show you.” she replied.
“What can I do? I hate shopping, and a thought doesn't even enter my mind to select something from the shop.” I said frowning.
“Mom! Leave her alone. I will shop the Sari's, she likes.” Di said saving me.
Mom finally left the room accepting it. I hugged Di saying, “Thank you so much, Di. You just saved me from that boring thing. I know you will always save me.”
She immediately stilled in my arms, and I left her asking, “What happened, Di?”
“Just remember that mistakes happen from time to time. And also remember that I am not a good sister.” Saying this she left the room.
Why did she just say that? I thought and sat down on my bed. Is she in some kind of problem? Maybe she is I need to go and talk to Jiju.
Knocking on their door, I entered when I heard him saying to ‘come in’. When I entered I saw that he is looking outside through the window in their room.
“Jiju! Are you ok?” I asked him frowning.
“Navvu! I am fine dear. Why are you asking me that?” he asked confused.
Then I told him what Di said before leaving, and he heard everything calmly. He smiled and asked me to sit in front if him.
“She told the truth, Navvu. Just remember that not everyone around you is good people. But you know what even any problem arises for the good people they will always fight the problem.” He said calmly.
“But I will not get any problem. You guys are there for me right and now another family will be there for me.” I said, assuring him.
“You are a very capable person Navvu and always remember that I will be there for you if you feel you need anyone to share your problems with. I know I will fail, and I may have already failed but I will be there for your protection.” He said smiling sadly.
I looked at him in a confused state for sometime and then, I got it. Why are they talking to me like this?
“Now I understood why Di and you are saying all this.” I said getting up.
“Why are we saying these then?” he asked not at all believing that I got it.
“These must be the talks, which will be given to each girl when she was about to be married. You guys are saying that you will be there for me even though you may not be every time. Something like this I guess. Isn’t it?” I asked him excited.
He sighed and said, “It is! Now please tell me, do you remember all the practice I gave you these two years.”
“Yeah! I remember everything, but now I don’t need it to protect myself right. I mean now my husband will be there for me to do that.” I said but a little confused why is he asking me that.
“Don’t forget the people who look like the safest may turn out to be the deadliest. So always practice and use it on anyone I mean anyone if you feel you are in danger.” He said in a serious tone.
“Do you know I am really jealous of your sister?” I asked him suddenly before I could stop myself.
He chuckled and said, "And I am jealous of your sister.”
I just smiled at him and left the room after talking with him for some more time. When I reached my room, I saw Divya entering my house.
“Until entering your house, I just had this wish that this is some prank even though I know you 're too innocent to do a prank like that. But after coming here I am sure you are going to get married.” She said smiling sadly.
“What do you mean?” I asked her confused.
“The decorations have started with your house from outside. Now, tell me about your groom.” Saying this she dragged me inside my room.
“He is actually Di’s best friend. I met him a few times before two years here and there. But these two years he just disappeared because of work I guess. Now he is going to be my husband. He looks handsome of course and he loves his Mom so much. The final and most important thing my family thinks he is a perfect match for me.” I said calmly.
“Looks like you already like him.” She said teasingly.
“Like him? I don’t know Divya. But I respect him, and I think he too respects me the way he talked to me. This is simple arranged marriage as I always thought it would be.” I said smiling.
“You just poured water on all my dreams. I considered you will finally open those wings of yours and fly. Then you will fall in love, which will be not supported by your parents. Because of that you will elope and do you know who will help you with that?” she asked, and I shook my head in shock hearing her dream.
“I will! So after that you always thank me for my help, and you will also name your children after me. In a short term, I would be their god mother, but because of you, I need to search for some other dream.” She said scowling at me.
“You got one this wrong.” I said, smiling at her.
“What?” she asked, frowning.
“You said my parents will not accept my choice right? But I know they will always accept mine and Di’s choice. They will respect ours.” I replied proudly.
“Please don’t start your prayer for your family. Now I just want to have some girl's night because I am going to miss you.” she said, and I hugged her immediately.
“I am also going to miss you but don’t worry. We will meet at our office right.” I said releasing her.
“Did you forget?” she asked me shocked.
“What?” I asked her confused.
“She despises the girls who get married. So your life will be hell if you continue working there. She just wants everyone to stay nuns just like her. But what she is hiding is she just got divorced before starting that company.” Divya said rolling her eyes.
“How do you know that?” I asked her shocked because I don’t know about this at all.
“Gossip dear! For which you don’t share your ear.” She replied and immediately looked at me with a wide grin.
“Hey, that line really got rhymes. I always know that I am a genius, but I don’t know that I am this much genius.” She said patting herself.
“Hey! How is your Uncle?” I asked her in a serious tone.
“He is fine. My sister is going to come to India along with her husband so that they can stay here with him for a few days.” she replied.
“What about your parents?” I asked her calmly.
“They must be fine too.” She replied shrugging.
“You could, you know to forgive them right.” I said nervously.
“Why should I? I mean they are just so cruel. They tortured my cousin and then they decided to get me married to my cousin’s boyfriend using emotional blackmail. He is a smart and good guy because of which they both are together otherwise I don’t know what would have happened.” She said shuddering.
“And, after that they tried some more relations without my consent. So I ran away and chose to stay with my Uncle. At the same time, he decided to sell his company in Delhi and start a small one here in Bhopal, which is his home town which he did.” She added, and I can see she is very disturbed.
“But you could have stayed with your cousin right.” I said holding her hand.
“Yeah! But I would have somewhere become a reason for their split, and I don’t want to disturb their lives. I am glad that I made this decision because of which I get to meet this amazing friend.” She said hugging me.
“I am also glad that you did because I get to meet this amazing friend too.” I said releasing her.
“Don’t you miss New York? I mean you stayed there for so many years.” I asked her.
“Yeah, sometimes, but only little things like my old friends and my cousin for sure. Now India became my home.” She replied honestly.
“Ok! Enough of these gossip girls. We need to plan the rituals.” Mom said entering the room along with Di.
They three sat and discussed what should conduct in which day and finalized everything. I sat in front of them and smiled because they all care for me so much and are stressing themselves just for me.
I am the luckiest person in the world…
*Suhas Pov*
“Don’t take her name in this house again.” Mom said looking away.
“Mom!” I said, holding her shoulders.
“Did you say Navya? Why are you marrying her?” she asked frowning.
“I just want to marry her.” I replied.
“What should I say, Suhas? You are not asking my permission, but you are just stating it. You know I hate that family. Because of them, you left your own house and me. You stayed in that unknown city and worked with no break. You didn’t even contact me all these two years.” She said shaking her head.
“I was selfish Mom. I thought if I talk to you, then I am sure I will ask you about her, so I didn’t do it. But I checked on you always whether you are fine or not.” I said feeling guilty.
"Moms doesn't need that from their children, Suhas. They want to know how their children are not in the reverse mode.” She said smiling sadly.
“I am sorry, Mom. But I am really going to get married to Navya in three days.” I said and waited for the effect.
“Three days? That’s too soon Suhas. Why are you doing this?” She asked looking at me in shock.
“I just want to Mom like I said. So you will give me your blessings right.” I asked her.
“My blessings will always be there with you, but I just hope you know what you are doing.” She replied rubbing her eyes to clear the tears.
I know exactly what I am doing Mom. These tears will turn into happy ones soon after knowing what punishment they are going to get over this.
“I love you Mom.” I said side hugging her.
She smiled and said, “I prepared Lunch for us. Let’s go and eat some.”
Three days will all it takes for my revenge to start.