The days had drifted by rather smoothly, much to my relief. Thank God there hadn’t been many encounters with Abhiman. Our few interactions had been limited to brief exchanges—us wishing him a pleasant morning or afternoon, and him responding with a silent nod before disappearing into his own world again. A week had passed like that, and while a part of me was grateful for the distance, I couldn’t shake the feeling of unresolved tension that lingered in the air like an unwritten note.

Today I was heading to college for some work , and as I walked through the campus,  I made my way through the familiar pathways. That’s when I spotted her—Sarah, , standing at the entrance and scanning the crowd. She spotted me almost instantly, a broad grin lighting up her face.

“Prajakta dii!” she called, bounding over with the kind of enthusiasm that only the young and carefree possess.

“Hey, Sarah!” I greeted, with a smile .

As we chatted, I was grateful she skirted around the topic of her brother. We chatted about college, life, and everything in between. I was relieved that she didn't mention the proposal.

“Hey, I was thinking,” Sarah’s voice broke through my thoughts, “why don’t we make a plan again? You know, like a girls’ day out? We could go shopping, grab some coffee, and maybe catch a movie! It would be fun!”

Her enthusiasm sparked a flicker of excitement in me, but i hesitated. “Let’s see…” I replied, hoping to buy time, but she wasn’t having it.

“No excuses this weekend! We are going!” she declared, her eyes sparkling with a mix of determination and joy.

"Okay okay "

,"Yay! I'll pick you up at 10 am on Saturday. Be ready!"

“Oh, and by the way, it’s my birthday next week! You have to come.. I really want you to come!”

My heart sank a little at the mention of it. I hadn’t exactly been looking forward to an event that would undoubtedly turn awkward  .

“Oh, umm… I’m not sure,”“I might have some work to do. Let’s see how it goes?”

“Oh come on, Prajakta dii!” she insisted, a pout forming on her lips.

I had no idea how to navigate this, and it was difficult to say no to her. The last thing I wanted was to hurt her feelings or seem like I was avoiding her.

With my resolve softly crumbling under her enthusiasm, I smiled, though apprehension lingered. “Okay, I’ll think about it,” I said, using my usual escape route.

“Yay! I’ll hold you to that!” she cheered, her bright eyes sparkling with joy.

_____

The rest of the week flew by in a blur. Office, study, home - my routine remained unchanged.

The weekend was finally here.

As I settled into my routine, my mind wandered to weekend's plans with Sarah. Shopping, café hopping, and a movie - it sounded like a  exhausting, day.

Saturday morning dawned,as I sat curled up on the couch, scrolling mindlessly through my Instagram feed, I heard the familiar sound of my phone buzzing beside me . It was Sarah..As I waited for Sarah to arrive, I stared out of the window, my reflection smeared like watercolors against the glass. I wasn't particularly fond of shopping; in fact, I found little joy in rummaging through racks when I could be curled up with a book. I had half a mind to ask her to drop me home first, but I knew how that would go.  it was her birthday shopping day and I simply had to accompany her.— and after sometime I heard the doorbell ring right on time. Sarah.

"Good morning, Prajakta dii!"You look lovely!" Sarah exclaimed  holding a bright smile

I returned her greeting, still shaking off the sleep."Hey! Ready for our girls' date?Can't wait for today's shopping spree! 🛍️"

I just shake my head smiling

"Let's get going!" Sarah exclaimed, dragging me out the door.

Title: Coffee, Shopping, and an Unexpected Proposal

On our way to the mall, we chatted about trivial things—upcoming movies, , and gossip about social media . But beneath her chirpy comments, I could sense Sarah’s excitement for her birthday, which felt just around the corner.

The mall was buzzing with energy. We weaved in and out of various stores, laden with a mélange of colors and styles. I still wasn’t a fan of shopping, but Sarah’s excitement made it infectious.

“Help me pick out something cute!” Sarah exclaimed as we entered a store, her hands roaming over the dresses on display.

I stood beside her, picking a black dress that seemed like it was spun from clouds. “How about this one? The color would complement you perfectly.”

“Oh yes! But, wait, what about this?” She held up a pink dress, and she choose both ...

Then asked me to help her find accessories .

After hours spent checking dresses, shoes, and a gleeful detour for coffee, we left the mall feeling giggly and slightly lighter in our wallets.

As we walked towards her car,

I told her “Can you drop me at my place first? I should get back soon too.”

Sarah turned to me with an innocent smile, “Noooo,” she insisted, pulling a cute puppy face. “Mom said you should come over. It’s her order!”

Just as I opened my mouth to object, she dialled a number and gave me her phone to speak.It was Auntie . My heart sank. I glanced at Sarah, who grinned, li

“Hello, dear!” Auntie chirped.  You must visit us afterward; no excuses...

I hesitated. “Um, Auntie…”

“Oh, don’t be silly! You need to come. It’s time you met with me and Uncle. She said

The mere thought made my heart race nervously.. “God, this will be embarrassing,” I muttered under my breath,

When we reached her house, the cheerful chime of their doorbell felt like the cue to a dramatic play. As I stepped inside, Auntie Khurana greeted me with her trademark warmth. “Prajakta, dear! It’s been ages! Come, "   she beamed, pulling me into a brief embrace that felt cozy. leads me to the living room

“Hi, Aunty,” I said, trying to mask the nervousness in my voice. Mr. Khurana, with his strong aura, stood nearby with a gentle smile. At first glance, he seemed a bit intimidating, but I quickly realized he was just a soft-hearted dad.

“So, how was shopping?” Uncle Khurana asked casually, as I sank into one of their plush sofas, trying to look relaxed.

“Exhausting,” I chuckled. “But fun.”sarahh Said quickly

“And did Sarah find a dress?” Auntie interjected, taking a seat next to me.

“Oh yes! She’s definitely going to look stunning.”

“It’s a good thing you’re around, Prajakta!” Auntie exclaimed. “You know, we’re always happy to see you here.”

An awkward pause lingered for a moment before Auntie leaned in slightly, “Speaking of happiness… about that proposal for Abhiman…”

I shifted in my seat, a mix of unease washing over me.There it was—the  question. My stomach sank. Why now?

Trying to maintain my composure, I responded,

Her response came with a reassuring smile. "We’ve liked you since the first time we met. You two would make a lovely pair."

I felt the heat rise to my cheeks. "Aunty___ I ...i ."idk what to say

"I completely understand, my dear. We respect your decision.its just we thought you’d be a perfect match for our Abhiman. You know how parents are;!"

I inhaled deeply, relieved to see she understood my hesitance. I passed a smiled at her

"Of course! Your happiness is what matters the most, my dear. You don't have to feel pressured. But," and she leaned in a bit closer, "

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,

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and I was grateful when they quickly changed the topic to the birthday preparations for Sarah. The rest of the evening unfolded with laughter, light-hearted teasing, and stories about Sarah as a kid that made me laugh so hard, I nearly cried.

As I finally left the Kuranas’ home that evening,

At the end of the evening, as I made my way home,

___________

4 days latter

Here's Prajakta's POV:

Mom, Dad, and I were in living room  the doorbell rang.

I opened the door to find Aunty and sarah

"Aunty! Sarah!" I exclaimed.

They entered, greeting Mom and Dad warmly.

Aunty smiled. "We've come to invite you all to Sarah's birthday party ."

And added, "We'd love to have you join us."

Mom and Dad exchanged glances

Aunty's eyes sparkled firmly. "No excuses, please. We'd love to have you."

After talking for sometime They left...

Abhimaan's been busy with work, and so have I. Our office has been chaotic.

Thank God we haven't crossed paths much. I'm grateful to God for that.

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Dad called Mrs. Khurana, apologizing for the last-minute change. He explained he had urgent work and couldn't attendbirthday party, but I would still go.

Mrs. Khurana sent their driver to pick me up. The luxurious car arrived promptly at 7 pm.

As we reached the Khurana's mansion, I felt awestruck. The decorations screamed opulence, and the crowd intimidated me.

Reporters flashed cameras, and I felt like an outsider. Everyone seems rich . the lavish surroundings made me feel inferior. These people were from a different world

I searched for Sarah, feeling alone and out of place amidst the sea of unfamiliar faces.

I searched for Sarah, feeling alone and out of place.Then, I spotted her – beaming in her stunning dress. I wished her a happy birthday again and handed her the gift.

"Happy birthday, Sarah!" I exclaimed, handing her the gift.

Sarah hugged me tight. "Thank you, Prajakta! I'm so happy you came."

Her warmth eased my nervousness.

We chatted, and I relaxed,

But the lavish surroundings still made me feel inferior.

These people were from a different world.

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.hussss!!!

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