The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows on the walls of the cramped apartment where Sarha lived with her stepmother and stepsister. The air was thick with tension as Mrs. Kurana scolded her for the second time that day. "You call this clean? I can still see dust on the shelves! You're not a child anymore; act like you belong in this house!"
Sarha's heart sank, but she kept her head down, scrubbing the wooden surface with a rag. "I'm sorry, Ma. I'll do better," she murmured, fighting back tears. Nita, her stepsister, perched on the edge of the sofa, snickered, her eyes glinting with malice.
"Better? This is what you call better? Pathetic!" Nita chimed, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "Maybe if you spent less time daydreaming about princes and more time cleaning, we wouldn't have to live in such a cleaning, we wouldn't have to live in such a pigsty."
Sarha stifled a sigh. Nita thrived on conflict, and any word from Sarha would only provoke her further. Instead, she focused on the task at hand, her thoughts drifting to the future-what it might hold beyond these walls.
The doorbell rang, a sharp sound that echoed through the apartment. Mrs. Kurana's eyes brightened, and she straightened her back, smoothing down her dress. "Finally! They came" she announced, her voice tinged with excitement.
Nita rolled her eyes. Sarha's heart raced as she wiped her hands on her apron, anxiety knotting in her stomach. She had heard the whispers-this was a marriage arranged by her stepmother to get rid of her. What kind of man would want her? She was confused that why would any guy would agree to marry her knowing that she is not so beautiful
As the door swung open, there stood mr. & Mrs. Patel....
"Welcome. Mr.patel" Mrs. Kurana cooed, her voice dripping with sweetness. "I trust you had a pleasant journey?"
"Not too bad," he replied, his voice low but steady. "Traffic was a nightmare." He scanned the room, his gaze landing on Sarha.
"she is sarha" Mrs. Kurana said,gesturing for Sarha to step forward. Sarha hesitated, her heart racing. This was it. She forced a smile, one that felt foreign on her lips.
"Namaste" she said bowing her head alittle
"namaste beta"mrs.patel replied with a smile
"Let's sit and talk" Mrs.Kurana said as they nodded and followed Mrs.kurana inside the house and sat on the sofa...
"Where is your son?" Mrs.kurana asked
"Oh he is coming with his grandpa" Mr.patel said as Mrs.Kurana and Mrs.patel started chitchatting
Sahil pov
I was sitting in my office with my grandpa who suddenly came and told me that he wanted me to meet a girl for marriage
I sighed, why don't they understand I don't want to get married to any gold diggers. I want to fall in love first and marry the person whom I love
"Grandpa you know tha-"
"No excuse, your 30 years old now and I have given you enough time to find a girl but all u do is sit infront of the computer and work. And by chance if any girl is interested in you, you reject and not to mention because of your cold behavior everyone are scared of you"
"Grandpa you know na how girls these days are"
"I know beta that's why I thought of an plan"
"What plan?" I asked as he leaned forward and told me the plan
"But they must have enquired about us"
"I told the matchmaker to give fake information" he said as I nodded....The plan is great and will work 100%. I got up and dressed up and headed out with grandpa to Mr.kurana's house
After a while we reached and press the door bell, we did not came by car and as per the plan I got dressed up poorly and acted as a disabled...if the girl is nice she will agree to be with me even after knowing I am disable and poor and if she is not then she will refuse..
The door opened and i saw a beautiful girl, she looked at me with disgust and went inside....
I shook my head and sighed, she is the one grandpa want me to get married with? The first impression of her is so bad I wonder what will happen next...
Grandpa pushed my wheelchair as he got inside the house....
As we got inside I saw another girl standing lowering her head and suddenly she looked up as our eyes met for a while and it's like the world stopped around us...
I felt a tingling feeling inside my chest which i never felt before suddenly Mrs.kurana spoke making us come back to our sense...
"This is sarha, my eldest daughter"