No Choice: You Were Always Mine

I entered my house furious at Ishaan's behaviour.

I heard my gran asking, "Beta, how was it? Was he nice and well mannered?"

On the other side I could hear my mother shouting, "Is he the one?"

Of course, I can't forget my sister who had one main priority, "Is he handsome? Does he make you drool?"

Ignoring all of the intruding questions, I ran towards my bedroom and slammed the door shut.

"Beta, did we do something wrong, why are you so angry?" My granny asked as she opened the door. She remained at the door, afraid that I would lash out at anyone who comes near.

"Nothing Dadi, just leave me alone." I said, trying to remain as calm as possible.

"Yeah Dadi, leave her alone she needs some private time to fantasize about her to be husband." My annoying sister Akshara said, having a habit of always minding everyone's business but her own.

At my sister's words I lost my temper and threw a pillow right at my sister sadly she caught it.

"Sis are you trying to kill me, how can you make a pillow a weapon also. Dadi, Samaiya doesn't love me." Akshara said while pouting to my grandmother. Looking at the youngest crying and the oldest red with anger my gran had to think fast on her feet.

She coaxed my sis saying, "Aksh, don't cry come I'll cook whatever you want. Let's leave your sister alone."

With that I was finally alone. I screamed in my pillow full of frustration and annoyance.

"Aaahhhh

How dare he tease me, What, does he think himself as, the most handsome man? That stupid flirt, arrogant prick.

Even if he was the last man on the planet I would not marry him.

'Dear, wife' so nauseating." I continued to scream till my voice went hoarse.

While Samaiya threw a temper tantrum, all of her family members had gathered for a top-secret meeting. Akshara turned off a few lights to make the atmosphere more dramatic.

Hence under dim lights the family meeting began.

"I don't think she liked him," Akshara stated starting the meeting.

"How does it matter if she likes him or not? It's an arrange marriage, with such a nice family, she has to accept." Grandfather said displeased about the current situation.

"What if she wants to look at other guys, father?" Mr. Agarwal asked.

"From the get go I told you that giving her the supposed freedom of choosing was a bad idea. She always had only one option and that was Ishaan boy." Grandfather said, always believing that it was his way or no-way at all.

"Dada please, we all know how stubborn sis is. She would never accept someone who was forced on her." Akshara said while rolling her eyes. These old people, they can't even understand the basics of women requiring their sense of freedom.

Mrs. Agarwal who was quite all along finally spoke up. "Aksh, stop arguing with your grandfather." At that Akshara felt mad at being scolded at and tried to talk back, "But..."

"Aksh, listen to your mother." Mr Agarwal said, not giving Akshara a chance to throw a tantrum.

"Thank you. Now Everybody listen up, I've got a plan."

"What is it?" Gran asked, curiosity flickering in her eyes.

"Let's just remove all her options." Mrs. Agarwal said, her voice filled with excitement.

"What do you mean?" Grandfather asked intrigued by his daughter-in-law's words.

"From the beginning we had arranged bad prospective grooms so that she would like Ishaan more…" Mrs. Agarwal stopped and looked around the room to give a dramatic appeal to her idea.

"Why don't we just claim that those are all her options and that there are no more people interested to get married to her." Mrs. Agarwal said in one breath, happy about her smart solution.

"What if Samaiya says that she will wait for other offers to come." Grandmother asked, liking the direction that her daughter-in-law was going towards.

"Good question, mother. We can make either you or father pretend to be ill and request Samaiya to get married soon as that is your only d.e.s.i.r.e. Knowing how much she loves you and father, she would say yes without even thinking twice." Mrs. Agarwal said, feeling proud of the scheme she came up with.

"That's a wonderful idea," grandmother screamed, as she felt a huge burden was slowly being lifted off her c.h.e.s.t.

With this everyone agreed to Mrs. Agarwal's idea and quickly went into the details of the plan to make sure everything would be perfect. They called their future in-laws to tell them about their idea and to start preparing for the upcoming wedding. Ensuring them that Samaiya would be happy to get married into their family.

They also talked to Ishaan explaining how he had to step-up his game and that he needs to do his best to woo her daughter. They explained how she may be stubborn, arrogant and has a short temper but deep in her heart she was a truly nice girl who cares about everyone around her.

Hearing his mother-in-law go on and on about her daughter put a huge grin on his face. "Don't worry mum, I know. Your daughter is the most perfect person I have ever met."

"I am happy to see you care so much about her. You know what to do, I've got to go Mr. Agarwal seems to be pretty moody today. Have regular meals you are too skinny, Goodbye son." Mrs Agarwal said, feeling very lucky having Ishaan as her son-in-law.

Ishaan had a sad smile as he ended the call. It has been a long time since he felt the warmth of a mother around him. His mother had died when he was in High School, that's why he moved, his father couldn't stand the lingering memories of his beloved life.

This family he was going to join would probably brighten his monotonous life.

P.S here are the meanings to the words I used

1. Beta- child, an endearing way of calling someone much younger than you.

2. Dadi- grandmother

3. Dada- grandfather