A week has passed since my cousins's wedding. The past one week had been really hectic for me working on my research paper and back to back counselling sessions.

I submitted my research paper thesis to a publication journal and finally I am free. Today is Friday so I am totally relaxed for the rest of the weekend. Me and my friends planned a date after work since it has been so long we met. Kidding, we just met a week ago but yeah we are dramatic!

I suppose I haven't told you guys about my friends right? Let me tell you, I have two best friends. Mithya and Sanaya. We have been besties since my high school days. We three are the golden trio. Sanaya is the naughtiest in our group. She is bold, confident, and mischievous. Mithya is the same but she is more level headed than Sanu. You can say I am the innocent one out of us, though I can be pretty mischievous if I want to be!

Mithya is an architect and she works for a big company here in Mumbai. Sanaya is a marketing manager and works in the same company as Mithya.

Due to our busy schedules we couldn't meet the past few weeks regularly so after work today we are going to meet in our favorite cafe. As soon as the clock strikes 5 I left the hospital and went to the cafe.

As soon as I reached there, I went in to see both of them already there waving their hands at me.

"Oh my god! I feel like it's been ages since I saw you! How are you my baby?" Sanaya said wiping her fake tears and hugging me tight. I was laughing hard at her dramatics.

"I am great darling how are you!? And how are you Mithu?" I asked hugging Mithya too.

"We are great! now that our project is successful! We had to work our asses off this previous week for this project. Phew! I feel so relieved now that it's completed!" Mithya said huffing in relief.

"That's great! Thank god our busy days are over. I submitted my research thesis this week and I had to stay up late at night this whole week for completing it. Finally I submitted it and I hope it turns out good"

"When will the journal people you submitted to, will contact you?" Sanaya asked waving the waiter over to us.

"I think in week. I am pretty sure they will like it. Because the topic is a current issue going on in mental health field so I am confident they will like it." I said smiling proudly.

"That's my girl and I bet my ass they will. After all Sanaya Pandey's best friend wrote it." Sanaya said smirking smugly raising her invisible collars making me and Mithu laugh.

Soon we ordered something for ourselves and engaged in a conversation. We three talk a lot, especially me. People always think I am a light speaker and stays calm and quiet. But people who are really close to me knows that I am a big talker. My friend's always say I am the most talkative person they have ever seen!

"How was your cousin's wedding by the way? I believe it happened last weekend right?" Mithu asked sipping on her drink.

"Yeah it was so good. My cousin and her husband are made for each other!" I gushed out telling them how good the wedding was.

"That is nice! Now tell me did you meet any hot and sexy guys?" Sanaya asked taking a sip of her latte smirking at me.

I choked on my drink listening to her and a blush started forming on my face as I remembered the dark-eyed man.

Looking at my flushed state they both sensed something and started squealing like teenage girls making me shush them as all heads in the cafe started to turn our way.

"SHUT UP! Both of you. You are drawing attention, stupid people!" I silenced them angrily.

"You shut up and tell me who is the guy!? I have never seen you blush like this on the mention of a guy and let me tell you, you are still blushing" Sanaya demanded me to tell her.

"Okay okay guys calm down and don't shout I will tell you" With that I started telling them about how I met my dad's friends and their family which included her handsome son. They both awwed at me as soon as I ended.

"Oh my god! My baby is growing up look at her perverted mind! I am so proud" Sanaya said wiping her fake tears. I face palmed myself. Why I am friends with her again?

Mithu shut her up and asked me "Do you like him Adi like do you have a crush on him?"

What do I tell her? Since that day I have been dreaming of him every night! I met him once in my life and I don't know how he has this effect on me this fast.

"I don't know maybe I just have a silly crush on him? I guess? I mean I have never met him before that day. I just met him once and that too for a few hours. I just think it's a silly infatuation" I said more like assuring myself that it's a crush.

They both didn't talk about this after that and changed the topic. We spent some more time together catching up on stuff and gossiping and soon parted ways to go to our respective homes promising to meet again soon.

As I reached my house I saw my Bade papa's car there and I got very excited. It's always fun when they come over to our house.

I went inside to see all of them having a serious discussion. I frowned thinking what happened. As soon as they saw me they stopped and my badi ma came and hugged me.

"Hi bacha how was your day?" She asked smiling caressing my hair.

"It was good Amu ma just a bit tiring but I went on a coffee date with Mithu and Sana and my energy is restored again!" I said excitingly.

She chuckled "That's great beta how are they by the way?"

"They are good even they are free from their works now since they submitted a project."

"That's good! Adira go and freshen up I will set dinner and then we have to tell you something" Amla ma said looking at dad and Bade papa.

Why do I feel like some big bomb is gonna fall on me? I looked at my siblings but even they averted their eyes from me. Now something is definitely fishy.

I freshened up and came down for dinner. Dinner went silent with everyone looking at each other and me looking at all of them. What is happening? Why are they behaving so strange?

After dinner I went to clear out all the dishes and dad called me to the living room and made me sit beside him. Not being able to take the tension I asked them: "What happened to all of you? You are making me worried. Please tell me what's wrong?"

My dad sighed and took my hands in his looking into my eyes.

"Princess you know I would never do anything which is bad for you right?" Okay now I am super afraid. Why is my dad talking like this? But I chose to ignore my thoughts and responded.

"Dad I know you always want the best for me. I trust you" I spoke softly squeezing his hand making him smile.

"Okay so you remember the Dixit's? I introduced them to you in your cousin's wedding?"

"Yeah I do papa" I said confused how they are related to this.

"So they liked you very much that day and they want you to be a part of their family...... They asked for your hand in marriage for their son Arjun. They are coming this Sunday to see you" dad said making me freeze. So this is the bomb that was gonna drop?

Marriage? This soon? And to Him??

Looking at my hesitation and dilemma bhai spoke: "It's okay doll if you are not comfortable we will deny. It's your choice okay? You need not get married if you don't want to" he said as his protective brother instincts took over him and my other brothers Sanjay and Ankit agreed with him.

My Bade papa smacked his head and spoke:

"Shut up three of you. I understand she is your little sister but she is also a girl and it is the right time for her to get a loving companion in her life. Adira beta we would never do something which will hurt you. It's your life and also it's not necessary you marry right away. Just meet them and then we will see. Sharmila and Rajeev are great people trust me. We all used to be so close almost inseperable during college but then with our work lives coming in between we had to part. And your dad and I have seen Arjun he is an amazing man and we believe he will keep you safe and happy. Just give it a thought. Meet him and if you don't like him then it's fine. We will search for another guy for you whom you prefer. Just give it a thought"

Now I am in a dilemma. I know my family wants the best for me but this is a very big step. It's not like I don't like the guy. For God's sake I have been crushing on him ever since I saw him. It's just I am scared what if he don't like me? Anyway what would go wrong if I meet him for once? With that thought I agreed.

My family was so happy and even if my brother's were sulking I know they are happy for me too. Looking at their bright faces I knew it was worth it.

Now everyone are waiting for Sunday to come....