Ahan, a 27-year-old CEO of a thriving startup, sat in his dimly lit office, surrounded by the faint glow of screens and the hum of machinery. The city skyline twinkled outside his window, a blur of neon lights and steel. He rubbed his temples, feeling the weight of deadlines and decisions. Love was the last thing on his mind – he'd given up on it, focusing all his energy on building his business from the ground up.

His office, a reflection of his mind, was a mess of papers, empty coffee cups, and scattered notes. The walls, once a pristine white, now bore the scars of hastily scribbled ideas and forgotten reminders. Ahan's eyes wandered to a framed photo on his desk – his parents, smiling, with him as a kid. He smiled, feeling a pang of guilt. They'd been nudging him towards marriage for months, wanting him to settle down.

The pressure was subtle but constant. Every family gathering, every phone call, ended with the same question: "When are you getting married, beta?" Ahan had grown accustomed to deflecting it, but it still grated. His parents meant well, wanting him to experience the joys of family life they'd had.

His phone buzzed, breaking the silence. It was his mom, her voice warm and familiar.

"Hey, Ma," he answered, expecting the usual reminders about settling down.

"Ahan, beta, I've been thinking... your dad and I found someone for you," she said, her tone hopeful.

Ahan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Ma, please. Not now."

"Ahan, listen. She's lovely, studies design, and her family is like ours. Just meet her once," she persisted, her voice gentle but firm.

Ahan hesitated, knowing he'd say yes eventually. His parents had been nudging him towards marriage for months. "Okay, fine. Set it up."

His mom sounded thrilled. "I'll send you the details, beta. Call her tomorrow."

Ahan hung up, wondering what this 'someone' would be like. Would she be another checklist of parental expectations, or...?

He leaned back in his chair, lost in thought. His mind wandered to his friends' weddings, their Instagram-perfect couples' photos. Was he ready for that? Did he even know what he wanted?

The clock on his wall ticked past 10 PM. Ahan stood up, stretching. Time to call it a night. He shut down his laptop, grabbed his keys, and stepped into the cool evening air.

As he drove home, his thoughts lingered on the meet. What would she be like? Would they connect? Ahan shook his head, chuckling. He was overthinking. It was just a meet.

He pulled into his apartment's parking lot, greeted by the friendly chatter of neighbors. As he entered his flat, he noticed his best friend, Rohan, sprawled on the couch.

"Dude, what's up?" Rohan asked, eyes on the TV.

Ahan flopped beside him. "Mom's setting me up."

Rohan's eyes widened. "Arranged marriage vibes?"

Ahan nodded. "Yeah. Just a meet, though."

Rohan grinned. "Go with it. Worst case, you get a nice dinner."

Ahan chuckled, feeling a bit lighter. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.

The night wore on, with gaming and banter. Ahan's mind kept drifting back to the meet, to her. He pushed it aside, focusing on the game.

Later, as he lay in bed, the day's thoughts resurfaced. What would tomorrow bring?

Ahan's eyes closed, and the city outside his window faded into the night. Tomorrow waited.

The next morning, Ahan woke to his phone buzzing. His mom had sent the details – Aneet, a 23-year-old design student. Ahan smiled, curiosity piqued. What would Aneet be like?

He spent the day lost in meetings and deadlines, but Aneet lingered in the back of his mind. As evening approached, he found himself checking his phone, waiting for...what?

Ahan shook his head. This was ridiculous. He wasn't even sure he'd like her.

But the thought lingered.