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"I can't believe I'm doing this again. Meeting another guy just for the sake of an arranged marriage."

Her brown eyed best friend let out a chuckle, leaning back in his chair.

Saanjh and Rishi sat at their favorite corner table at Tapri, sipping on steaming cups of masala chai. One of the happening places in Jaipur, it was their solace. They both would meet here once in a week.

"I always asked you to find a guy on your own. This wouldn't have happened then," He took a sip of his chai. "School mein, college mein, even London mein. Tu ek Gora Pakoda bhi nahi pata paai." (You couldn't even find a white guy.)

She scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Itna aasan hai na? Ped par milte hai ache ladke?" (Oh sure, it's that easy? Good guys just grow on trees?)

He shook his head, a smirk playing on his lips. "You'll never find good boys. All you have to do is fall in love with a bad boy and turn him good."

Oh Heavenly Gods, for sure!

She gave him a pointed look. "Oh, I tried once. Ended up—you know where."

Rishi sighed, nodding in agreement. "Ugh, Mohit was a chutiya anyway, never could be changed. And Ansh—"

She glared at him, asking him to stop.

But he knew he had to put some senses in her.

"Teri matti mari gai thi, jo usse mili." (Were you out of your mind when you met him?)

She threw her hair clip at him playfully, and he laughed, catching it mid-air.

"Look, all I'm saying is—maybe this time, it turns out just all right?" he assured her, his tone softening.

She sighed deeply, her shoulders slumping. "I don't have many lives, Rishi. Made one mistake, can't afford another."

"Areeyy, Tu Mittal hai yaar. You can afford all the mistakes in the world." He winked. "Oh, why don't you make one mistake with that hazel-eyed club wala guy?"

Ishani and Pallavi could not keep their mouths shut, they had to narrate the whole scene to Rishi, dramatically - with every expression of the guy.

Her heart fluttered at the mention of the guy. Memories of his intense gaze and mischievous smile flashed in her mind.

"He is too good to be true." she declared, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Best na, sounds just like your fictional male characters." He laughed. "Tereko toh chahiye hi hai na, woh Aaron Warner and Christian Harper?"(Anyway you want those Aaron Warner and Christian Harper types, right?)

She groaned, how well he knew her. She wished Ishani and Pallavi were there; they would've taken her side. Rishi, sometimes, chose to be brutally honest and drop truth bombs on Saanjh.

She took a thoughtful sip of her chai, letting Rishi's words linger in her mind.

Rishi leaned forward, breaking her reverie. "You know, Saanjh, sometimes good things come when you least expect them. Maybe he is that unexpected good thing for you."

"Rishi. After everything..."

He reached across the table, squeezing her hand reassuringly. "I get it. But maybe this time, it's different. Maybe this time, it's not about making a mistake but about taking a chance."

Saanjh sighed, a mix of uncertainty and hope in her eyes. "What if I mess it up again? What if I can't move past my past?"

"Meet this Yuvraaj guy. Who knows, maybe he'll surprise you. He is Yuvraaj Modi after all."

Yuvraaj Modi was one of the finest guys in Ajmer. Both his parents were doctors but he chose to be a lawyer. 29 years old, Yuvraaj first saw Saanjh at a family function and insisted his parents that he wanted to meet her. Saanjh's parents were delighted to know that. But Saanjh, she had no idea what to feel and what to do about it.

She sighed softly, setting down her spoon. "I don't know, Rishi. I just have this feeling it's not going to end well."

She was still confused why a guy like Yuvraaj would want to go for an arranged marriage set-up. He could have dated any girl in the world and might as well gotten married and settled. 

Why does he want to meet me?
She thought.

Rishi chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Chal koi na, phir tera woh fictional material dhund lenge. Pura Jaipur ghoomenge, tere waale ke liye." (No worries, then we'll find your fictional material. We'll roam all over Jaipur for your guy.)

His infectious enthusiasm brought a genuine smile to her face. Ishani, Pallavi, and Rishi—they had been her pillars of support through thick and thin.

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"Another prince charming bites the dust?"

Saanjh's elder brother, Samar, emerged from his room in a perfectly tailored grey suit that complemented his six-foot frame. His dark hair was neatly styled, and his piercing blue eyes gleamed with mischief as he entered the room. Samar's build was imposing yet graceful, reflecting his confident demeanor and the authority he carried as the elder brother.

"More like a disaster in fancy clothing. I think I'm cursed." Saanjh rolled her eyes affectionately at him. ""Seriously, Bhai, is it too much to ask for a normal conversation without someone trying to impress me with their wealth or connections?"

Samar chuckled. "Well, maybe you're just too intimidating with your brilliance and beauty."

She gave him a glare.

Their father, Shreyansh Mittal, spoke up gently. "What happened, beta? Did something go wrong with Yuvraaj?"

"Wrong?" She tried not to raise her voice. "What even was right with him? You think he wanted to marry me? Saanjh?"

Her parents looked at each other confused.

"He wanted to marry Saanjh Mittal, daughter of The Shreyansh Mittal." Her brother stated in place of her.

She looked at him confused.

"It's simple. Mumma Papa were so invested in his parents' background, they forgot to have a background check on him."

Shreyansh, took the iPad from Samar, who had been browsing through photos. As he swiped through them, his expression shifted from confusion to concern, his eyes widening in realization. Yuvraaj was a struggling lawyer, already corrupted and no connections in the legal world for survival. Everything he said was a bluff and it wasn't hard for Saanjh to find out the truth. 

"Well, at least we know one thing now. Saanjh doesn't need a prince charming. She needs a private investigator first." Samar spoke, with a hint of mischief.

His attempt at humor brought a small smile to Saanjh's lips. "Maybe I should hire one for the next guy."

"Why does she even need to get married? Are we not enough for her?" Samar pulled her in his arms and stated. She smiled at him.

"She is enough for herself." Her father declared. "But we would love to see our daughter getting married. That is our only wish."

"What about him then?" She asked, pointing at her brother. "Bhaiya should be the first one to be sacrificed."

Samar chuckled and released Saanjh from his embrace, holding his hands up in mock surrender. "Hey now, don't throw me under the bus so quickly. I'm far too young and handsome to be sacrificed."

Saanjh rolled her eyes playfully at her brother's theatrics. "Oh please, you're practically ancient compared to me."

"I think we should drop the idea of her marriage for a few months," Shreyansh declared. "She is too young to be dealing with all this drama."

"Dad, aren't you missing the whole point here?" Samar asked, "She is too young to get married anyway."

"There is no age criteria of marriage," As Anushka Mittal's words settled in the room, a contemplative silence descended briefly. "I have two children, but none of them are ready to fulfil my wish. I only want to see you guys getting settled and have a happy married life."

"Not every story is a fairytale like your and dad's, mumma." Samar stated. Saanjh sighed. She knew she was the unlucky one in love.

"You have yours. What is stopping you then?" Anushka raised her brow at her elder child.

"I have my whole life ahead. I cannot just throw it away for marriage."

Their mother let out a dry laugh. "So whatever you have with Naina Jaiswal, is that mere a fling?"

The mention of Naina startled him.

"Mumma -"

Saanjh opened her mouth to stand for her brother but her mother stopped her midway. She had her eyes on her son.

"I love Naina. We know we will get married someday. But now is not the right time. I have this business to handle. She has her career to take care of."

"Your father had his business to handle and I too had my career, but we still got married. We too loved each other and we were hardly in our early 20's."

"That was when Chandler Bing wasn't even a character." Saanjh groaned. That made her brother laugh.

"Sweetheart, these are today's children. Of course, they will find their love. Just give them their time. Samar is already keen to marry Naina, Saanjh too will soon find her perfect match." Shreyansh stood up for his children.

"We saw what happened when she found her perfect match the last time." Anushka mumbled but it was heard by them all. Saanjh stood there shocked. Shreyansh shut his eyes, and Samar -

"Mummy. What the actual -"

Saanjh stormed out of the room, leaving the three to relish the aftermath of the words of Anushka Mittal. The men of the house knew she had crossed the line by saying that. Everyone in the family knew how sensitive the topic was, yet SamRiddhi had to push the buttons.

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The next morning, the family gathered in the dining room. Soft rays of sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow over the polished wooden furniture and ornate table settings. The scent of freshly brewed coffee and the faint aroma of pancakes lingered in the air, adding to the comforting atmosphere.

The Mittal's had a ritual, whatever and however busy the other night was, they'd have the next breakfast together. There was no bargain to that.

Shreyansh Mittal occupied the main chair at the head of the table, his demeanor calm. SamRiddhi sat gracefully on one side, Samar and Saanjh took their seats on the opposite side. All of them were ready to go to their respective work.

"Today is your first official class, Saanjh. All the best wishes," Samar said, leaning over to affectionately kiss his sister's forehead. Saanjh smiled appreciatively, her expression calm as she took a bite of her pancake.

Anushka spoke gently, her eyes on Saanjh. "We'll be waiting for you to come home early. We have a party to attend later."

Saanjh chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Just another evening of drama, I suppose."

Anushka's expression softened. "I'm sorry, beta. I won't press you about marriage anymore. I want you to take your time to heal, and know that I'll always support you, no matter what you decide."

Saanjh nodded gratefully, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders. She looked at her father and mouthed a thank you. She knew he would try to talk to her mother, make things a little easy for her.

"What's the occasion for tonight's party? And who's throwing it?" Samar asked. He was so occupied with work in the last few days, he had no time to check his calendar to mark the day.

"It's Kanika Kasliwal's eightieth birthday celebration. The Kasliwals are hosting a grand event in her honor." Anushka smiled warmly.

The Kasliwals were an esteemed and affluent family in Jaipur, known for their longstanding legacy in the world of jewellery.

To Saanjh, these parties were more than just celebrations; they were elaborate displays of wealth and status, where societal expectations and superficial pleasantries overshadowed genuine connections. She had grown up attending such gatherings alongside her family, mingling with people whose lives seemed adorned with opulence and extravagance.

While she appreciated the respect and admiration for elders like Kanika Kasliwal, these grand social gatherings often left her feeling out of place.

There goes another night to drama, drama and drama.

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Hi All.
What are your thoughts on the chapter?
So we meet the Mittal's.
Isn't Samar just adorably handsome?

Do you guys believe in arranged marriage set-up?